Today I’m at home in London, looking back on a couple of really fun gigs and looking forward to playing in Leicester supporting Paper Aeroplanes tomorrow. On Friday afternoon I took a train from Exeter to Totnes, where dramatic coastlines replaced the usual pepperland-like rolling hills with tiny boats were scattered across the landscape as …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails – The Barge, the Stars and the Radio”
Well, that was bizarre… I arrived at Dorchester South on Wednesday afternoon and caught the bus just in time. “How long does it take to get to Bridport?” “Well, that depends on the traffic”, he replied, the subtext being “you aint from around here”. Never before have I been on a bus that went down …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails – the drunk and the balding & sunny Exeter”
Back in Cardiff, back at the Buffalo Bar, but this time top of the bill – huzzah. To be honest, I was rather nervous as I arrived at the venue on Monday evening, unsure as to whether anyone would come out to see me. To my surprise, the few lovely folks I do know in …
Hurray, back on the rails! Last Friday night I played a show at the Grain Barge in Bristol, sharing the bill with Jess Marlowe and Annette Berlin, who as the name might suggest was a fellow Berliner. It’s awfully difficult to switch back to German when you’re not expecting to speak it, the first couple …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails (Bristol) – Berlin and the Romp”
“We’ve come on holiday by mistake” the voice of Withnail once again in my mind as I clumsily navigate through the turnstile. It’s the day after my show at Totnes.FM Studio Lounge and I have hours to kill. A member of last nights’ audience, a local totnesian has kindly offered to give me a guided …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails (Totnes) – Turnstiles and the last of the summer”
This morning was a little hazy due to last night’s whiskey shots (who’s stupid idea was that anyway? Oh yes…twas mine.). The sun is still warming the large pavement slabs here in Brooklyn and today I’m looking forward to a proper Sunday off. Last night I played a show at Gizzi’s in the west village …
Continue reading “Tales from New York part 3 – whisky and colloquialism”
Yesterday I played a mini set at one of my favourite places in Manhattan, the Path Cafe on Christopher Street and for the very first time I didn’t get lost in the west village and only had to ask for direction twice (trust me, that’s a record). It was so good to be back and …
Continue reading “Tales from New York part 2 – familiar path and the high-strung poets”
I’m back! Last night I arrived in town after a rather difficult three hour wait at border control… I made my way into Manhattan and found ‘Buskers’ – navigated by luck rather than any rational or map and played a couple of songs to a very friendly audience – good start to the trip! Today …
Continue reading “Tales from New York part 1 – skateboards and squirrals”
I’m currently at BBC Wales, sitting on a sofa that’s too comfortable (fear I might fall asleep!) and have about another half hour before I play a live session on the evening show: Just enough time to share a few thoughts on last night’s show. Yesterday I played my second show with Ian McNabb at …
Continue reading “Tales from the Rails (Stratford upon Avon) – The bard and the Harmonica”
Twas a long day in Bristol! After a rather painful 6:30am start I took a train to be at BBC Bristol in time to sound check for my live session at the 12 O’clock show. The BBC is always in a hurry – it is live radio after all – so I was glad I …
Continue reading “Tales from the rails (Bristol) – thoughts on Bill and the long road ahead”