Thursday 21 December 2017

Toys or tools for guitar


the vox MV50 AC and a typically sized effects pedal to show scale.

a pencil on top of the speaker cabinet 
to show the miniature scale of the whole set

I am not going to go on and on about the above. I just want to say this is one of the most extra ordinary pieces of work gear I have bought for many a year.
The MV50 comes in three flavours, Clean which is an American styled sound and it is very clean. Then there is the Rock version which is self explanatory with a good modelling of the British rock amps like Marshall. The one I chose is the AC which is a version of the famous Vox AC line. probably the most famous of these amps is the AC30 made famous by the Shadows and the Beatles. Brian May of Queen uses eight Vox AC30s.

The MV50 AC has a lovely sustained chime and a very useful overdrive with lovely over tones. The amp has a 50 watts rating with two speakers and 25 watts with one. It has a headphone / line out which is great for recording and a new kind of valve set up. Portable and well built this is a great tool.

Enough to say working with this amp is addictive. I think it offers high value for a low price and provides a solution to what to do about an on stage spare amp, what to take to the pro studio that doesn't need a transit van and two roadies or what to use in your bedroom studio.  I am teased with getting the extra cabinet for work on my new album.

By the way the pedal in the photo is the JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive Guitar Effect Pedal. At the price of £39.43 it is probably the best value overdrive pedal going, It is alleged to be a clone of a very expensive US pedal. With the MV50 and my 71 Fender stratocaster it gives great results.


peace 

in the bleak midwinter





The UK Christmas spend has been estimated to be more than £78.69 billion in 2017.

A new NHS hospital in the UK with 210 beds cost £75 million plus another £15 million for roads, equipment and infrastructure. That's £90 million.

UNITED KINGDOM achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 31.9  and ranks 34th of all the countries analysed.

Latest official figures show an estimated 5,174 people were forced to sleep outside in UK in 2016.

The lives and futures of millions of children are in jeopardy. We have a choice: Invest in the most excluded children now or risk a more divided and unfair world.

1 in 10 young women in UK cannot afford to buy sanitary products.

It is estimated that 20% of all Christmas presents are unwanted and unused.

Why don't we protest more? Why don't we care enough to stop austerity?

Leaked report on mental health crisis in UK indicates a rise in suicides and that 75% of people needing help / treatment are not receiving it.

The Trussell Trust is the largest food bank network in the UK, and it handed out around 41,000 food packs in 2009/10 compared to 1.2 million in 2016/17.

Every year we are warned that if the High Street Christmas spend is not enough our economy and therefore our quality of life will suffer. How mad is that?

"I am not dreaming of a white Christmas" - Homeless young woman aged 19.

Why are thing such a mess? Could it be that it is because we want the wrong things.

Why does the UK government increasing appear to be a reactive body that can only see a problem when it is critical to their re-election. Then they act too late with too little? Perhaps it is because they don't know what to do. When questioned in the House of Commons by the opposition leader about the recent UN declaration that austerity had seriously harmed the well being of disabled people, May replied - "There are more employed disabled people than ever before".

While so many are with out essentials, Christmas is a mostly indulgent, bloated festival of self interested greed that doesn't extend to the poor and dispossessed though, it is claimed to be a time of love and good will to all.

Will things have improved by next Christmas? It partly depends on what you want. Time for real change?


peace



Tuesday 21 November 2017

update


photos by SD photography


A week ago i was packing and checking my guitars in preparation for the HRH Prog Fest in North Wales. Next day my friend and some time roadie John, set off from North Cornwall to pick me up in London and drive me to the gig. We set off at about 2.30pm and arrived at around 7.30pm. With one brief stop we made good time.

Our chalet on the Holiday camp site was quite large and well appointed. It didn't take long to get the place warm and get ensconced. John had intended to catch the last act of the Thursday night show but never got around to it. By 1.30am we were both in our rooms and ready for bed. I knew John would sleep after his mammoth drive from Cornwall but I was surprised when I woke up feeling refreshed and ready for action at around 9.30am. Well, ready for action, might be a slight exaggeration. It takes me an hour to wake up ideally.

I was due to play at 2pm so it was the breakfast shift as far as I was concerned. After getting ourselves organised for the day we made our way to the venue and after a smooth and quick line check, I was ready to go. Last time at this gig I went on after a couple of bands so I was a little concerned about how many folk might be in the venue as i was starting the proceedings. I needn't have worried. There was a large crowd when I began and they were so nice. They listened and responded positively to every thing I did and said. It was lovely. Always determined to finish on time, I keep an eye on the passing time but I found myself unusually, with two minutes left at the end of the song The sound don't come. The stage manager thought it hilarious as I proclaimed " Shit, I'd better leave it there then. The audience laughed, I said my farewell and left the stage. It had flown by as is always the case when it's going very well.I have to say technical support at the HRH gigs is excellent. Quick and effective technicians providing great sound and lighting.





After the show I bumped into Mick Box and Bernie Shaw from Uriah Heap. We keep meeting at gigs recently. It's always nice to say hello. I think back to the days we first met on a German tour. None of us could have guessed we would still be playing at the age of 70. Mick reached 70 in June.



John and I left the gig at around 4.30 and drove back to London with just a short break. John dropped me off and set off for Cornwall arriving at around 4.30am. He has amazing stamina. I am very fortunate to have the best people looking after me. I am spoilt. My very good friend Rambling will be taking me to the next and last gig of 2017. I'm playing Southampton Uni with Carl Palmers ELP Legacy so that could be interesting. 

I have some more gigs on the Gigs page in 2018. I'll be playing with Roger Chapman in Leicester, London and Newcastle. After that I will be playing the Kinross Green Hotel and Golf Club and then Skegness British Blues and Rock Fest. I'm taking all of February and most of March off to record. I plan some bass fishing in the Spring with the Bradshaws in Cornwall and a trip to the West Coast of Ireland for some bass fishing with guide Henry Gilbey who I have always admired. I can't think much past the Spring right now and Winter is far from done with. Thanks to all for your kind birthday wishes and greetings. I have had the best year so far and I shall milk it to the end ha!

I have a few days off now until the Southampton show so I will be writing and recording the album. I began to think about possible titles a few days ago so that is always a good sign that things are finally, properly under way.

Christmas looms and in my next post here I will be having my seasonal rant with a few seasonal statistics that I think will give pause for thought. Meanwhile I have to declare that I will be spendng some of Christmas with my brother and other family members this year. A family gathering is some thing Steve really wants so it would be churlish to be missing. I have a caveat or three though. I won't be playing any party games and there will probably be a few other rituals I may have forgotten and am not willing to re visit. That said i will play my part and try not to be the grumpy old man ha! Only joking!




Look out for my next post - In the bleak mid winter.






peace









Sunday 29 October 2017

70 still buzzing

the wreck of the Brighton pier

The photo above was taken by Alan Obee in the evening before the show at the Real Music Club some weeks ago. I really like the photo very much. Thanks Alan. It was lovely to see you and Jude.

Quite a lot has happened since I last posted here. I went up to Leicester for a couple of days to hang out with Luke. Oxfam put on a series of pop up gigs across the UK and Luke had elected to play the Beeston gig not far from Leicester. After a short rail journey we arrived at the pub in time to see a young woman already playing her set. She was quite good but hardly any one was listening or paying her any attention at all. She battled on in a way that showed she is used to this. I am always slightly shocked by the volume of the loudest noise makers at these times. The people who, four pints into the evening, are speaking loudly enough for people to hear across a room. When the song is a little louder , sure enough the noise maker ups the volume to maintain the annoyance felt by any one trying to listen.

Luke followed a singing uke player who was not good but who had a weird factor that was interesting if just one small, unintentional step from being comedy. I stood watching Luke with a group of guys who had been at the Focus gig I had just played in Nottingham. To our right a group of people sat chatting very loudly as Luke went through his first couple of songs. I leaned across at one point and asked "why don't you make some noise". They calmed down a little and some left. Three remaining women sat still chatting but then Luke played his heart rending version of the Kate Bush song Running Up That Hill. The whole pub was silenced and from then they listened in near silence to the rest of his set and the applause grew with each song. A very satisfying evening and well worth the time spent.

Next day was Luke's gig he'd organised for the landlord of the Western Pub in Leicester. This was a great success on so many levels. Along with some very polished singer, song writer friends of Luke, I was the guest artist. I played just before Luke and had a great time. The pub was full and there were people in the beer garden that couldn't get in the room. I think Luke was at his best and played a longer set than usual, to a crowd that know his material and get where it's coming from. Some of us sat at the back singing along. That made me proud. All good.

Next was the Focus gig at the 100 Club. Sound check was a joy and they gave me longer than I'd had in Nottingham so that was cool. I had a chance to say hello to the Focus guys who seem to be a very friendly bunch. I got the chance to hear a bit of their set. Very clever but a bit lacking in emotion for me. I love the flute playing keyboard wizardry of Thijs van Leer and the other guys are very good but it's not for me.

I had a very nice time with a very European audience. Most listened and others chatted. Some how it didn't seemed to matter. Its always like that at the 100 Club even when you are the headline act. It's cultural. Ha!
There were quite a lot of Dutch people come to see their heroes and that gave things a nice flavour. It was my first solo performance at the 100 Club and it was nice to see a few friendly faces such as Shoreham Steve and Oxford Pete and co.

Next a trip to see Blade Runner 2 at the Waterloo Imax cinema. 
Grim, bleak, cold, cruel and raining. Gone is the exotica of the street markets with noodles to die for and creatures made in Labs. It snows or rains forever. It's so desperately sad when every one is a victim and essentially slavery, unfettered greed and it's wider philosophy are the causes. 

Visually stunning and dripping with class. A sound track that is almost minimalist but with massive dynamics and full of emotion. I have some criticisms of the sound track but I'll keep them to myself. You judge. Go and see what must be one of the great films of our time. 

Back in the room......I am working hard on my new album and enjoying having uninterrupted time to do it. I am really enjoying fitting together the pieces I have been working on for the last few years, since By Myself. 

I am also working on two online projects where the musical parts, vocals will be performed by several contributors remotely. The parts are individually recorded, at home for example, and then posted online from where the separate parts can be downloaded and combined into a finished piece. It is something I have wanted to do for some time now and to be invited onto some one else's project is very exciting and challenging. 

This year is nearly over already as the clocks go back and winter settles. I've had and survived my 70th birthday so now I look forward to the next adventure. 

Look after yourselves and each other.




peace










Friday 13 October 2017

fish and trips

on the road again
It has been some time since I last posted here. The reason is very simple in that I have been relaxing on a mega level and of course getting a lot of fishing in. I have also been writing new material for next year's album release and I am happy and some what relieved to say that work on the new recordings is going well.

I took my usual September break with a gig in the middle at THE BRICK OUT HOUSE FESTIVAL at The Admiral Rodney Inn Cricket Ground in Hartshome near Swadlincote. I didn't realise until I arrived there that the gig was a benefit for Heart Foundation. It was a successful endeavour which made a nice profit. All good. There was a section of the audience who thought I was too preachy but thats me. It is what I do and the level of messaging is dependent on the audience and my perception of their response. I did go on about Brexit a bit and suggested the serious problems we all face are simply because we want the wrong things.

in a cause after my own heart

Since the early days I have been used to people coming up to me, saying things like “ I didn't come here to be lectured but to be entertained”. I understand but if a person is offended by my position and does not feel entertained they probably shouldn't come to another gig. In terms of entertainment I think I qualify and people seem to enjoy my political observations and song related stories so I don't worry about it much. On the other hand I met a lot of people pleased to see I am still flying the same colours and people who tell me that I represent them to some degree. That is what I really care about.

a little day boat perfect for getting in smaller places

Prior to the the trip to Derbyshire I had been totally engaged in the pursuit of pike and perch on the Norfolk Broads. After my second cast on Wroxham Broad I hooked decent pike but with a furious shake of it tooth filled jaws it threw the hooks and escaped. On the next cast I hooked another and this time it was landed on the back seat of the boat. It was a feisty fish and went back in the water easily, racing off like a torpedo. I thought this was a great start and boded well for the coming days. As it turned out this was the last landed fish for some days and I suspect changing weather with regular rain in the evenings, messed with the catch rate. I had a couple of other pike and lots of nice perch on worm bait but I prefer to catch a clever fish with the way I work a hard or soft plastic lure in the water. I say if they are there then I will catch them but it is not the absolute truth.

a nice pike




Strike pro baby buster jerk bait - 10 cms - 25 grams
minus 2 x treble hooks, 
the lure that took the pike above

It was getting chilly as I finished my set in Swadlincote and I was thankful this would be the last open air festival of the year. Autumn was making it's presence felt and the leaves were falling in abundance. There is some thing special about singing in the open air, with a good sound and the sound was great. I had really enjoyed myself and now it was time to get back to the wonderful waters of Norfolk.

With no boat for the next days the plan was to find a variety of good fishing marks in the areas that could be accessed by road. I don't drive so I am always reliant on another fishing companion with a driving licence as well as a fishing licence. The fishing was slow and almost at the end of it, on a river I had not previously visited, I caught a quite small but furious little male ( jack ) pike. Pound for pound it was a monster with aggression in spades. When I put him back in the water I wondered if he might make a 30 pounder one day or be eaten by his mum. Where there is predation the cannibalistic violence under the surface of any water is extreme and regular. In the Spring time even fish that don't normally eat other fish will take a small lure that imitates a small fish, indicating they will take a small live fish at this time. This is especially true if their space is invaded during spawning. I have caught roach and even a carp on ultra light, small bait fish styled, plastic lures at this time.

I know you are in there some where

I am always sad to leave the water but always looking forward to the next adventure. Next on the list was the gig with Focus at The Rescue Rooms in Nottingham. Strangely Luke and some friends were going to see Gary Numan at a venue which is literally the next door building to The Rescue Rooms so we all hooked up and they came to see my set before heading off to see Gary. I must admit I have few memories of playing with Focus back in the old days but I remembered the keyboard and flute player Thijs van Leer. From what I heard at the soundcheck I don't really get the band but Thijs is a great musician. His vocoded keyboards are really special and at the end of their sound check he sound checked his flute playing a virtuoso piece perfectly. Really lovely! That woke me up and focused me for my sound check.

I had been a little apprehensive about this gig. I wondered if Focus fans would get me at all. Quite a few folks had come to see me so that was encouraging. I needn't have worried. After Red Star the audience was on side and I had a ball. My song The sound don't come for Mick farren is going down well along with On the news and others. As the set went along I really settled into things and had a great time. I'm getting used to playing 45 minutes before various prog rock gigs. It is very interesting and I love the lack of pressure on me. I had to leave the gig before Focus played in order to get a train back home but I shall check them out when we meet up again for a show at the 100 Club next Wednesday.

Next I am travelling to see Luke play in Beeston tomorrow evening and then I will be playing a guest spot at his gig in Leicester on Sunday. 




It will soon be Winter and my 70th birthday looms large. I don't have any plans as yet but I suppose I should celebrate it. Not sure I care much though. Last gig of the year will be at the HRH Festival in North Wales on November 17th. It has been a special year for many reasons and I have had a great time touring around meeting people from all over. I will be taking bookings for A fair days pay for a fair days work gigs for 2018 from now forward so email me if you are interested.

I will report back on the upcoming events soon.




peace

Friday 1 September 2017

a new day real music club


a new day in the ephraim gardens - photo dave randell

The contrast between my previous Fair days pay gig in Caterham and The New day festival in Faversham was probably as wide as could be. From a quiet garden to the huge stately, Edwardian Ephraim gardens.

With a start time of 1.30pm for my set, it was an early start and not my favourite time to set out for a show. Ramblin' Dave Randell, my good friend was my driver for the weekend and we left my house before 9am. Aaagh! Actually I had sensibly gone to bed early ( for me ) and had slept well so I was feeling very good to go.

The drive was uneventful and we made good time out of London heading south towards Kent. We picked up Chris, one of Dave's old school mates, on the way and after a few wrong turns due to poor signing we arrived at the festival site. The sun was shining on a glorious summers day which was a relief considering how random the weather has been at times.

Having parked up next to a field of traditional Kent hops we headed up field and over a delightful little stone bridge and into the Shindig stage area. There were plenty of crew on hand and it was very obvious that they were all professional and very willing to service the artistes needs. Soon I was sitting under a small gazebo with a steaming cup of tea. Wonderful! I am easily pleased but these small things really do make all the difference. 

The sound check was a joy and I was very happy with the onstage sound in a very short time. Brian responsible for the onstage monitoring had worked with the Edgar Broughton Band in the past so it was nice to hook up again. My mate Dave set the stage up perfectly for me with all my bits and pieces in all of the right places. Drinks near by , set list at my feet and ritual red towel in reach. Small details but so important for smooth proceedings. Special thanks to Stage manager Trevor Rapson for looking after us so well.



photo - dave randell

With two stages the change over timings had to be precise. The first band were followed by the next on the other stage and it was soon time to get ready for action. I noticed a few people heading for the stage I was to play on but when i was announced I was surprised by the number of people out front. This gave me a huge lift and I was soon rolling through Red Star. My song The sound don't come for Mick Farren, went down especially well as did Six white horses. It all went very well for me. The set eased by nicely and was very warmly received. I told a couple of short stories to support a couple of the songs, mindful of my 40 minutes allotted set time. It seemed to be done very quickly and I came off stage buzzing all over. Totally satisfying. 




photo - dave randell

A great gig is always dependent on external factors and a combination of well executed plans. The stage crew and other staff play a large part in this and on this occasion every thing worked like clock work.

After the show I walked out front to sign a few albums and stuff and to chat with folk. There was a young couple from the New York who had come over mainly to see me. I was very flattered. I was so pleased they enjoyed my set. Later it occurred to me that it would have been awful had they been disappointed. I chatted briefly with a lot of people and finally ended up in the welcome shade of a beer tent where my brother Steve and family sheltered from the burning sun. We spent some chill time together before they headed off to Hastings. Lovely to see them as always.

Dave and I hung about with Chris for a while. We visited the artistes catering tent for sandwiches and fine local ale where we sat in the shelter of some large oak tress overlooking a lake which screamed FISH. I might just take a very small rod and reel if I am invited back. 
Chris elected to stay at the site for the rest of the days bands so Dave and I headed for the car. Soft Machine were just starting their set as we walked towards where we had parked so for me, our exit was perfectly timed.

It had been a great day out in the sunshine and we were home in London quite early. Tomorrow would bring my third appearance at The Real Music Club in Hove. This is one of my favourite gigs and this time Luke would be on the bill.
In the morning Luke arrived and we all set off to Brighton with Dave on another lovely summers day.




luke in full flow - photo - dave randell

The Real Music Club is housed in The Brunswick pub not far from the sea front in Hove. I like it mostly because it is about a community of musicians and supporters providing an intimate venue for a diverse range of music. It isn't about making money and a lot of voluntary work goes into making it the very special venue it has become. The sound check went well thanks to Lewis the sound engineer. 




photo - dave randell

Luke started the proceedings with an accomplished set of songs including his cover version of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill. You might think me biased but I swear this is the best version ever. The songs Battersea, The Letter along with others were as haunting an as evocative as ever and he finished with a new song. I was pleased to see how the audience connected with the music and how Luke has grown as a performer over the past few months. Yes I am his very proud father but catch him and you will see why.




photo - dave randell

The Kites followed. They are a three piece close harmony folk group with a tinge of jazz. They are polished and make a very sweet blend with three voices, guitar, ukelele, xylophone and cajon. Some very nice song writing was evident here and the delivery provided a seamless journey through a range of diverse and some times surprising topics. 

So the bar was set quite high by the time it was my turn to play. I think I just poured it all out. Having an hour to play as distinct from the forty minutes at the festival on the previous day, allowed me to play with the order of songs and extend the stories around the songs. 




photos - dave randell

The sound was sublime and I enjoyed playing so much. I experimented vocally a little bit more than usual and found a few new tones. I think this might have been my best performance at the Real Music Club. As always , I look forward to the next time. It was special to hook up with old friends like Shoreham Steve and son at the gig. It was very cool to finally give guest tickets to Alan Obee and Jude who won a blog competition on here a while ago but were unable to come to a gig until now. Lovely to see you all.


It had been a great weekend. So good to see Luke in a venue where no one knew his work and to see more evidence of his ability to connect with them. Lovely! We arrived home quite late after a stop off for fast Indian food at an M25 services. Not bad compared to the other poverty stricken offerings elsewhere on site.The plan was to get to bed early but instead we watched LFC thrashing Arsenal 4-0. A great end to a great week end.



peace

Monday 21 August 2017

from Volce to Caterham


Feo


My trip to Volce in Slovenia was a delight. I had not been to Slovenia before so I was particularly keen to play this FDPFAFDW gig. Some time ago I was asked to play at what was to be a celebration of the life of the poet Ivan Volaric FEO. My invite came from my new friend Julija Ursic who was Feo's girlfriend in the past. Feo was a poet, artist, musician / vocalist and he was an Edgar Broughton Band fan.  He was a powerfully creative being who tackled every thing with dedication and passion. With the exception of a translation of a poet he admired, Feo preceded all his published writings with a verse from one of my songs and in one book a verse written by Steve. Later when I heard recordings of him singing I couldn't help noticing the similarity between my style and his. I was told he did try to emulate some of my my singing. I would have liked to have met him very much. I feel sure we would have had much in common.


julija

Julija met me at the airport in Venice on a sweltering, humid night. It was 25 degrees at midnight. The drive to Volce took around two and a half hours which gave us time to get to know each other a little bit and for me to get background information to this event for Feo. We shared stories and the kilometres passed pleasantly and quite quickly. I began to get a picture of the artists, writers and musicians and other creative souls who would be my hosts and my audience.  I arrived in Volce at the summer house of Zdravko in the early hours. 


zdravko

I stayed that night in a small roadside hotel. i soon discovered the air conditioning unit and turned it on to Turbo. I woke up in a cold dark room. It was wonderful. I ventured outside. It was like walking into a furnace room. Soon I was picked up and we headed to a very nice restaurant where we had a leisurely lunch in the shade. It was 35 degrees. The scenery in the area is magnificent. In every direction great snow capped mountains loomed up out of the forests and from the banks of the great river Soca with its crystal clear blue waters rushing and falling through deep canyons.


the river socha

I spent some time preparing for the gig in my hotel room and soon it was time to head for the venue which was the garden of Zdravko's summer house. People were busy setting up a small movie screen for a showing of some Feo footage. The stage was set up and soon a small PA system was playing some tunes. 

Soon after I began my sound check. In the garden the vocal sound seemed to die at the front of the stage so I asked for some reverb. It required changing a mixing desk for another but the people showing the film didn't need reverb and so we were all happy. I was very quickly pleased with the sound check. Much conversation followed and meeting and greeting the friends of Feo. There was much said about Feo from the stage. There was both humour and sadness. He was clearly very well thought of by everyone attending. As further testament to this there was a locally brewed pale ale called Feo available at the outdoor bar.


willy the gardener dj

Willy the DJ who was a great friend of Feo's played Feo’s musical collaborations before and after the gig. Willy grows amazing vegetables with out any chemicals and makes salami sausage to die for. 

One of the high lights of the evening was the unveiling of two busts of Feo. The sculptor made a speech about the works before unveiling the statues. Unfortunately it was one of those times when I could only feel the atmosphere but not understand the language. I missed seeing the film footage of Feo as I was tuning up but I could hear the soundtrack in the room I was in. Later I did a small TV interview and then it was time to play. 

The atmosphere was special. After the first song I knew I was in for a treat. After the second song a woman brought a small bunch of flowers she had picked from the garden to the stage and gave them to me. It was a spacial gig from my own perspective. I felt the muses and wallowed in it. Every thing was clear to me and easy. Behind where I sat on the stage, a small creek ran down hill. It gurgled and bubbled lyrically. 

I was explaining where the jolk in the song Speak down the wires came from and why I am fascinated by the Sami vocalising. I decided to make a joik for the stream and it was at that moment that I really felt a powerful thing in me. 
You can see part of the joik in the video The Good Old days via the link here 


After the joik I was all set to push the envelope and in my opinion, played the best performance of this year. People were very kind to me and paid me nice compliments all through and after the show. I was very content. I wanted to be really on song for Feo and all of "his people".
It was still stiflingly warm as I arrived back at my hotel with the wonderful air conditioning. I was soon asleep.


outside my hotel room door

Next day a storm blew up while a bunch of us were having ice cream. It ripped sunshades down and glasses crashed all over the floor. Trees bent in every direction and all of the cafe customers were trapped inside while we waited for the wind and hail to abate. After around thirty minutes we were on our way back to Volce in driving rain. Small trees were blown down in the road and the atmosphere was electric. We were glad to be sheltered in Zdravko’s house as we watched the sky grow black and the lightning began to crash around the surrounding mountain tops. 

I had now moved into Zdravko's house for my remaining time in Volce. Previously Zdravko had been hosting a young theatre group from Italy. He shares his space with visiting artists of all kinds providing accommodation and a venue.
Later, after spaghetti at a local restaurant I sat chatting with Zdravko and Walter and Eva about local history. An old black and white photo, on a wall, showed the hotel in ruins from artillery fire during the second world war. It was a telling image of the level of destruction in this area.

Walter and Eva were the people who put the Volce people in contact with me. They know an old friend of mine Tony Smith who I did a Fair days pay gig for some years ago. The storm crashed around us as we chatted. I spent the night chatting with Eva and Walter until around 5am. They have both had many years working in the music business and it was very interesting and some times hilarious swopping tales from the road. 

Next day any plans for fishing were suspended indefinitely as the flooded river would inevitably mean the fish would not be feeding. I was happy to loaf around and spend some time with Zdravko. We went for a drive along perfect Italian built roads. You can clearly see the influence left by invaders and dictators. Much of the area of Tolmin was devastated by wars over the past century. Austria, Germany, Italy and Yugoslavia ruled this country until  Slovenia became independent in 1991. Most people in Slovenia have lived under three different flags.

It was still very warm but the storm had cleaned the air. After a delicious ice cream in a lake side cafe, Zdravko drove me through pleasant meadows that were once bloody battlefields. His local historical knowledge was extremely interesting. I learned a lot in a very short time. I remember we both agreed that we should try very hard to never take the peace we have for granted. This is clearly easily forgotten if we look back through recent history.

I thought how the EU has contributed massively to keeping peace in Europe and how the Brexiteers might have inadvertently undermined that. I spoke at length with people over Brexit. Most people wanted to know what I thought. Well, if you read these posts you will already know what I think. I will say the prospects arising from this momentous decision are looking increasingly grim.

My last day was spent on a leisurely journey from Volce to Venice. Zdravko drove me so far to where I met up with Julija and Walter and Eva. We all went for a cold drink by an emerald river where fit youngsters in kayaks were fighting white water. By now I was almost permanently connected to a bottle of ice cold sparkling wager. Zdravko and Julija left us to head home. I had enjoyed being their guest immensely and was sad to see them go. I set off with Walter and Eva for Venice.

The journey passed quickly and I was sad to see the last of my new friends. However I do feel we might all meet up again one day. I hope so. Special thanks to all who made my trip special. 
The flight was late but I was so happy I didn’t care. I arrived at Gatwick at around midnight. The last train had long gone but my local taxi company had a cab nearby so that was a blessing. 

Happy days in Slovenia. It was special.


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the McPartlands minus little jimmy who was sleeping

From Slovenia to Caterham in Surrey. A Fair Days Pay For A Fair Days Work gig in Phil Mcpartlands back garden. I arrived at East Croydon where Phil picked me up. We were soon chatting and getting to know each other before we arrived at the house. I had been forewarned that I had a five year old fan who had Evening over rooftops and Hotel Room on her playlist and she would seek my attention at the earliest opportunity.  She appeared like a little cheerful spirit out of no where, the moment I stepped out of Phil’s van. She clearly wanted to sing Evening Over Rooftops with me and she knew most of the words. What a delightful little kid! 

After setting up the small PA for the gig little Hannah and I had a small rehearsal where I showed her the rests between the lyrics. It didn’t take long and we were ready to go. There was a splendid barbecue to come and I was impressed by Hannah’s patience. She just wanted to sing. Instead, while we sat chatting, she gave a performance on a trampoline.

The weather held out for the evening and though there was a little breeze it was a very nice occasion, especially meeting Phil’s friends and family. Little Jimmy is one year old and he is a proper nice little boy. Two happy kids, always a delight.
After eating some fine barbecue and sampling some of Phil’s home made gin it was time to play. It sounded nice to me in the garden as the sounds rang of the houses all around. My little audience were very appreciative and even some of the neighbours, in their gardens, were clapping.

It was so pleasant and such a contrast from the next gig I am playing at The New Day Festival in Faversham next saturday and the last gig in Volce. I love the contrast and how the music changes slightly according to the environment and audience.

Every one was very kind to me and I enjoyed playing for them and the intimacy of it all. The high light for me, was my duet with 5 year old Hannah. She had such a serious expression as she stood next to me singing Evening Over Rooftops. I will never forget it.

After a few drinks and more convivial chat it was time to leave. It seemed to have flown by. It was a delightful day for me and all went very well. I love these private gigs and as I have said before, I think it was one of my best ideas. I have played a lot of FDPFAFDW gigs now and look forward to more. I always enjoy the company, the hospitality and the opportunity to be a minstrel for the day. My thanks to the McPartlands for making me so welcome.

peace