Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Climbing The Tower of Song


Together with my percussionist Marie, I finally found time to make my first visit to the Tower Of Song on the 16th of July – which, for some odd reason, is a place where some people seem to think (albeit wrongly) they've already seen me perform at -lol!



Although winning over new audiences is something we thrive on, I didn't quite know what response to expect as the venue is a little outside of my usual gigging area. But I was genuinely surprised by the sheer scale of the positive response. Being told time and again that we were easily one of the finest acts to have ever graced the Tower Of Song's stage was a heart-warming experience. Thank you so much, everyone!

 I'm only sorry I can't go back to do a longer set there any time soon – as so many people were suggesting – as I'm tied up with other musical endeavours at the moment. But I will go back one of the Wednesdays, to the Rea River Roots Club at the Tower Of Song, when I have a little more time.

 As well as performing, Marie and I got to watch a host of other acts perform, including Sue Stevens (who runs the Lighthouse Folk Club); singer/songwriter (and the person who set up the Tower Of Song) Tom Martin and cellist Helena Rosewell, the country stylings of the Honky Tonk Boys (Terry Foley and Jimmy Cox); and Lobelia Lawson, who runs Lobelia's Lazy Sundays Songwriters Circle.

It was great to visit a venue centred wholly around live-music that is so well supported by enthusiastic music lovers and performers.

Tom Martin's Tower of Song venue is at 107 Pershore Rd S., Birmingham, B30 3JX. To find out what's happening on any given night just check the venue's website: http://www.towerofsong.co.uk/

PS Thanks to Mike for taking the pics!

Monday, July 14, 2014

July 14th, 10pm, Hour-long Special Radio Show With Brett Huckfield

10pm until 11pm

On Black Country Radio: http://www.blackcountryradio.co.uk/ (Just click on 'Listen Live').

A while back I recorded a radio show with Dr Brian Dakin (AKA Billy Spakemon of the popular, talented folk duo Billy & Lozz) on Billy & Lozz's Black Country Radio show 'Omma N Chain' (That translates to 'Hammer and Chain', as rendered in Black Country Dialect: a reference to the historical industries of the area).

The hour-long show is full of my songs, interspersed with interview sections. To be honest, as it's been a month or two since the interview and I was very busy preparing for my final Advanced Creative Writing exam at the time (with the Open University), even I can't remember what I said, so I'll have to tune in myself to find out -lol!

So whatever I'm going on about during the interview, it's a great honour that they've chosen to broadcast my show on Black Country Day! How proud and pleased am I? :) xo






Black Country Day / Saracen's Head Gig

A huge thank-you to everyone who turned up in time to watch me play, accompanied by my percussionist extraordinaire, Marie Timmins, at the all-day Saracen's Head live-music event on Saturday in Dudley. Especially Judie, Bill, Ritchie and Alex. I know there were a number folks who wanted to be there but couldn't, so thanks to them too for all the messages/emails. 


 Thanks also to 'Black Country' Gaz for inviting me get involved with the Black Country Day celebrations in Dudley. What a smashing bloke! Not forgetting Rovi, the brilliant compere for the event, who, as it turned out, rather surprisingly, had a picture of me on his wall at home (as part of a newspaper photo-shoot with other local musicians, I hasten to add -lol!).

I must have been stopped a dozen times by people I didn't know who'd seen me playing here and there, over the years – even the Saracen's Head landlord, Andy, as I later discovered, knew me from my days playing lead guitar in bands! What with being recognised so often, it was like being famous for a day!

Anyway thanks everybody all for your support, compliments and suchlike, they're all very much appreciated!
 xo
 
 

Monday, July 7, 2014

Black Country Festival gig: 12th July, circa 4.30pm

Upcoming performance in Dudley:

Saturday, July 12th, 2014

There is a Black Country Day related (the actual Black Country Day is on July 14th) all-day, open-air festival gig on the square near the Saracen's Head, in the centre of Dudley.

Free admission

Time: I'm playing, accompanied by my percussionist, Marie, at 4.30pm (or thereabouts). the event runs all afternoon, up to around 7pm, I believe.

Line-up: I don't have a list of all the performers, but my impression, after speaking to Andy, the friendly organiser (who is also landlord of the Saracen's Head), is that it will be an acoustic event (with a full PA system) as opposed to full bands, to facilitate quicker change-overs. Apparently there will also be at least one comedy performer there too. That'll save me having to make any wise-cracks then! :)