tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40229981369729468302024-03-19T03:17:54.532+00:00the first supperthoughts and musingsedgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-11088771391426669552023-09-17T21:09:00.001+01:002023-09-17T21:14:24.320+01:00Hull and Leicester <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuUhSUqrctJN4fsxNUo2cZbyP51ZTvvf4Vn_91wAlEBEdpdr7gBocNqPs8mkJS_tzoCKeUQf_cKYqF4T-PQebO10l67YRTzjedpX--akAFUC_ujiA0wgtVPGi6ph1nwYr-T8IBRxFKdhUMtvcNSELO4xHdJr6KrMRwazv1WiuVn7GKwXfLidnIVaPoYA/s771/image_6487327.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="543" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuUhSUqrctJN4fsxNUo2cZbyP51ZTvvf4Vn_91wAlEBEdpdr7gBocNqPs8mkJS_tzoCKeUQf_cKYqF4T-PQebO10l67YRTzjedpX--akAFUC_ujiA0wgtVPGi6ph1nwYr-T8IBRxFKdhUMtvcNSELO4xHdJr6KrMRwazv1WiuVn7GKwXfLidnIVaPoYA/w281-h400/image_6487327.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now the production process of my new album BREAK THE DARK is complete the masters have been delivered for manufacturing along with art work for the packaging. I’m actually relieved that my part in it is over along with any responsibility for the final stages. It’s been a very long process and has had some very intense times I’ve loved making it and now it’s in the hands of Cherry Red / Esoteric who are well equipped to do it justice by way of promoting it properly. I feel very privileged to have signed to a major company. I think I deserve it but still it’s not usual at my age. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So the record will be released on my birthday the 27th of October and the official launch date will be on the 11th of November at the DONKEY IN Leicester.I will be playing this show with my son Luke who will be playing his own set of beautiful songs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will be playing WRECKING BALL ARTS in Hull on the 10th November. These will be the only dates I will play this year. If you can get to either date I can promise a night to remember I will be playing some songs from the new album, some old songs and a couple of favourites.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Please check out developments at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550306140254"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550306140254</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peace</span></p><p><br /></p>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-62159500817103968882023-08-30T16:22:00.006+01:002023-08-30T17:33:53.980+01:00BREAK THE DARK<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA0LKbXfkWhvV0Gqm8bnhfB6Sjf-pjNyWXArdWwTATnUghPC0L-qN0tMfANFbuB_tBJVj57vTqIFti2nX4JhydP3AQHe638UBpzb8-N7wcEYzyy9dklmS6ncZUDgP6eQRR7miKd8k4YGY2hh08Gx1T9QitFGe5IZlvcL0HmMq3AJk9qNU2mif2ukPWVY/s1710/IMG_0331.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1710" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA0LKbXfkWhvV0Gqm8bnhfB6Sjf-pjNyWXArdWwTATnUghPC0L-qN0tMfANFbuB_tBJVj57vTqIFti2nX4JhydP3AQHe638UBpzb8-N7wcEYzyy9dklmS6ncZUDgP6eQRR7miKd8k4YGY2hh08Gx1T9QitFGe5IZlvcL0HmMq3AJk9qNU2mif2ukPWVY/w509-h455/IMG_0331.jpeg" width="509" /></a></div> Photo Dave Randell <br /><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hi folks. It’s been a while. I hope you are coping as best you can in these strange times and under this ignominious government. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As some of you will know I have a new album due for release on the 27th of October. It is called BREAK THE DARK. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I began this work many years ago, when the Edgar Broughton band finally split up. I sent some instrumental tracks to Steve and Arthur in the hope that something would arise out of them. They were very different from the usual EBB offerings and my attempt at reinvention. Nothing really came of this, but the tracks remained on my computer and occasionally I worked on them. I was writing new songs simultaneously with this and for some months these </span><span style="font-size: medium;">occupied me completely and those original instrumental tracks were more or less forgotten. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Occasionally I would play one of them and decide to work on it. I was surprised how easily the first few lines of lyrics or a chorus began to form itself in my mind, and in the pages of my notebooks. At the same time Covid was raging through the world and the UK and I was settling into a pseudo hermit like lifestyle. I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t see anyone and all of my purchases were online with food and drink being delivered to my home. Although this had its restrictions, I was quite happy most</span><span> of the time, to get out of my bed and begin to work with my music software where I had last left off. I became locked in to the music and the process of finally making serious strides towards the completion of a new album.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>After sometime, I sent some songs to Arthur, my lifelong comrade and bass player. He liked what he heard and began to work on bass parts for the first couple of songs. The process was quite long but allowed for serious consideration of each part as it emerged. Unlike</span><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>in the studio where money and time is always a consideration we could spend as long as we wanted and be as discerning as we liked about every single note</span><span> that would eventually form the finished pieces.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Arthur would record his parts on his eight track digital recorder and send them to me so I could edit them and place them into my songs. We spoke on the phone many times during the whole process, but never met up in person. On Twitter, I asked if anyone knew of a cellist who would be willing to work with me. Someone suggested a young man called Calle Arngrip, who was based in Sweden and played cello and rock guitar. I sent him a song called Hymn and at his home he recorded some beautiful cello parts and sent them to me. We made four songs together and he also played guitar on a couple of tracks. We’ve never met nor even spoken down the wires but did everything by email. Calle is now living in Scotland with his new wife, and I hope that in the New Year we will work together, in a new ensemble on tour, with my son Luke and a couple of other musicians. My son Luke and my good friend Dave Randell came by to record backing vocals.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Years ago, while working at Abbey Road, Studios on our first album a young man called John Leckie was the tape operator. It was one of his first duties in his new job. John later, worked on superchip with the Edgar Broughton band and so we have known him for a very long time. One day Arthur was speaking with him and mentioned that we were working together again. He asked if he could hear what we were doing. Arthur sent him a couple of MP3s. He liked them very much and offered to mix the new songs. John has been responsible for some of the greatest productions in contemporary music for several decades, including Radiohead, Muse, The Verve and many more. So this was a wonderful thing, and something very unexpected.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These new recordings have been a genuine labour of love, something I am very proud of.It’s taken a long time, but I am very pleased with the results. As I write this the final stage of mastering the songs is being undertaken and the graphics and artwork for the Cd case and booklet are also nearing completion.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I will be playing a few live gigs in November and will post them here very soon. There are a great deal of issues and thoughts I would like to post here and I will do so over the coming days but I wanted to touch base and announce the new album.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am also on X / Twitter edgar broughton@instantainicus</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550306140254">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550306140254</a></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More later. Be happy. Stay safe.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Edgar Broughton </span></p> <br /><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-31441589662974444612020-12-26T22:52:00.002+00:002020-12-27T17:35:42.291+00:00Find the quiet. Stay safe. <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD0x3dvrkuozCnnO78D4W_36lO1tvTx2rZ4nROJQGIMHhxVDDWKeHkxZJ_PqRVT4PnsfZa0SMWGnCmrdqfU8bTOl1tDS2k7xWENSkdYFoTTJwkOcgWdYlMSI5kho1MliG3goHyKA14yo/s2048/5B5FDE9B-F2B3-4D0A-BFCE-CCDBCECB2AE0.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD0x3dvrkuozCnnO78D4W_36lO1tvTx2rZ4nROJQGIMHhxVDDWKeHkxZJ_PqRVT4PnsfZa0SMWGnCmrdqfU8bTOl1tDS2k7xWENSkdYFoTTJwkOcgWdYlMSI5kho1MliG3goHyKA14yo/s320/5B5FDE9B-F2B3-4D0A-BFCE-CCDBCECB2AE0.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wish I could be out in the world of water and wilderness. I am inside with my medicine drum, singing bowls and flute and a range of tech trickery that offers escape to the geography in my thoughts. I’ve sorted my fishing stuff to the point where after years and years I know where it all is. This is some achievement because I leave a rod and bits of gear in other peoples houses who tolerate this old fishing fool. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s good to be engaged and to not worry about the things I can’t change. I could think of myself as a prisoner of covid in my own home but I choose to be on a quest, taking a very belated “gap year”, albeit in a small physical space. I don’t have a garden so I tend to the flowers in my digital music recording system while hopefully, digging out the weeds. I’ve chosen to use the time to try to be more positive and creative because of covid. I don’t care what the politicians say I am living by my own rules of survival and have done so since this first began. The best way to win a fight is to not be there if you can’t choose your battlefield and stratagem. So I choose to not be there. I go no where at this time. That’s the down side or one of them. How ever Ive found these strange times can have all sorts of unexpected upsides that offer unique opportunities to invest time in new ways of seeing and doing things differently. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m not going to comment on any of the machinations of our leaders or their minions. Now is not the time for me to add to the poisoned feast of things to worry or be depressed about. Today I’m not going to be concerned with the things beyond my control or capacity. The things “I can’t do any thing about” are in “ their box”. There are several “boxes” in my mind. One is “Things to worry about” but it has clear priority over other boxes so that I can act more easily on the things I must and can do some thing about. It’s quite simple until contents spill out and into other boxes. But if I practice managing the system regularly and don’t neglect the necessary rituals involved, then depression and anxiety are knocking at the wrong door. It’s not fool proof and I have to use a variety of acquired tools to make it work. Positive and absorbing distraction is a good friend. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are very difficult times for many of us and some of us are more affected by worry and depression than others. I don’t want to minimise this or claim there are easy solutions for all. How ever it was astonishing to me to find that I could have much more control over how I respond to a crisis be it small or large. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s good to share and ask for help. I find I’m talking on the phone more these days sharing good and bad stuff with my friends and colleagues. We often find small ways to help and support each other. Men are getting better at this but in my experience, generally speaking women are still better at listening and offering reasoned, empathetic input. I’m always grateful for this. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The issue of our mental well being could be said to be trending. It’s a good trend. As a result people might speak up and ask for help and guidance and we should be on the look out for them and also for those who might still suffer in silence. Let’s not be ruled by archaic norms and useless conventions. Time to look after ourselves and each other with ever more care. Time to get used to new thinking as the planet increasingly continues to sign post the changes we all need to make. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stay strong. Stay safe. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peace</span></p>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-14252690904961965502020-05-25T21:04:00.000+01:002020-05-25T21:09:27.659+01:00hunker in my bunker<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you are all well and coping with the times we find ourselves in. I have listened to the government fools who continue to disappoint with errors of judgement compounded by their lies. I have decided to ignore their confusing offerings and hunker in my bunker. I will have no contact with my fellows or ever be outside when they are. I will hope that my reclusive life style will not deprive any one and that when there is a vaccine we can all get together to discuss the plan of action to over turn the values of the old brigade on a massive scale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We can surely see the damage caused to the very fabric of all that serves and protects us by government's economically driven obsessions and their evil off spring Austerity. This dishonourable and deceitful government has still not fixed the tower blocks at risk from fire and yet there are millions available to fight cover 19. It simple isn't it? The virus kills freaks like Jacob Rees Mogg as well as poor people and Cummings doesn't live in a tower block. Its not entirely their fault. The national aspirations and objectives are poor and mistaken and the culture of Westminster is toxic. It doesn't work any more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought that the polarisation and subsequent resentments caused by Brexit would be the big one and similar, in some respects, to the rifts caused by the miners strike. I was wrong the significant polarisation and rift might well be between people who participate in getting rid of this unworkable political structure of ours and those who continue to simply ask, "well what can you do"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you can't march you can sign the petitions that are rocking the whole of Westminster. Hundreds of thousands of people are signing dozens of petitions that high light the tragedy of errors that this government has wrought on us. I remember the first 38 degrees petition that really worked. It was very early in their illustrious history The petition was aimed at preventing the Tories from selling our forests to speculators from over seas. This would have denied access to the UK public in almost all of the forest land that we can still enjoy. The petition garnered thousands of signatures in days. The government backed down and completely abandoned the planned sell off. It works so please join in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have decided that during this period of lock down I am going to learn some new things. I have done a four part email course around yoking, the Sami vocalising. Its some thing I love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After dabbling for some time I have been learning to cook authentic Japanese food with the help of NHK tv and great on line food suppliers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">pork ramen with pickled celery, spring onion, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">wakame </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sea weed </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">nd soft boiled egg</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have bought a Native American styled A chant flute. It has two air chambers side by side at the mouth end. One is a continuous drone and the other side of the flute is for melody. It was made by a guy in Wales who makes all kinds of flutes and shamanic drums. I thought it would be very nice to play the flute during a quiet fishing spell where a fast Norwegian salmon river is running rapidly, through a forested ravine. I dream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have also bought a new drum and a beater / shaker. Good medicine. Good vibes. Out demons out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm knocking it out on Thursday for NHS and front line workers. The snake beaters are made by a guy in Ukraine. His work is very special. He also makes drums. I'm talking to some folk in Hungary who make beautiful sounding framed shamanic drums with a very special feature. They are tuneable with a small bicycle pump. I want one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok these are tools of my trade but do I need them? Actually I think, with the exception of the snake beaters, indulgent and possibly an heirloom, I think I do need them. I have a plan. I also think there is merit and some personal satisfaction from buying functional art from the maker, especially right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So that's me for now. Got to get back to the recording. Its going especially well and I have lots of time to experiment and finish and re mix stuff to my hearts content. I work when I want to at any hour of day or night. Considering what is going on out there Im managing quite well in here and thankful for each day. Stay safe.</span><br />
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-91653994614726710042020-04-01T23:38:00.000+01:002020-04-02T06:42:57.110+01:00the silent enemy<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here I am self isolating in London the epicentre of covid 19 in the UK. I haven't been posting here for some time and to be honest I have enjoyed the break. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been writing and recording my new opus and it creeps ever nearer towards completion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like most of us I have lots to say about this strange time we are living in. This lack lustre leadership has shown their contempt for us through the whole of their enforced austerity. If a small percentage of the money being spent now had been allocated to the welfare system and the NHS, we would be infinitely better off than we are today. We were told there was no money tree by Cameron and May so where are the billions needed now coming from? People might be forgiven for thinking that as soon as it was clear that the pandemic could and would infect the rich then billions could be found to fight it. Remember how Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto was reviled by the Tories as ridiculously expensive. If it had been actualised ten or more years ago we would not be in this mess of low capacity. Corbyn's manifesto was a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of fighting covid 19.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some time ago the government was subjected to a test to see how a pandemic would be dealt with. It failed miserably and according to an ex Tory MP no steps were taken to address the issues high lighted by the test. Of course the most damning indicator is the lack of protection for NHS staff. A week ago the govt promised a heightened level of tests for NHS staff. The test kits are still unavailable. Yesterday the govt spokes person declared that testing kits were dependent on chemicals in scare supply. Today several companies have said that they have plenty of the chemicals required.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The UK Department of health wanted the UK to stay in The EU Early Warning and Response System to combat pandemics. No 10 has refused to stay signed up because they don't want this to impact on a clean break from the European Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is the possibility that farm produce will be difficult to buy if crops of vegetables and fruit cannot be harvested. Most of the Europeans that picked our food for us have gone home and most will not return. Many will not be allowed to return. So are all the Brexiteers who "wanted their country back" and the cessation of free movement of people, willing to get stuck in on the farm? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Visas of foreign NHS staff, that are about to expire, will be automatically renewed. I guess even the Brexiteers don't want to die through lack of NHS staff so principals can be suspended, due to self interest, when it suits. Of course such consideration did not apply to the Wind rush victims of the government’s so called Hostile Environment policy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we can all see the lack of transparency from our English government. The Scots seem to have a much clearer, honest way of communicating with out much back tracking. A more European attitude perhaps. I believe we should all be wary of the new powers that govt have afforded themselves. I fear that increased authoritarianism might undermine our basic rights still further. The Tories have stealthily whittled away many employment and civic rights long before this emergency. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what is good today? Still we are here. We love and breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My local shop keeper has offered to deliver food for no extra charge. He even offered to keep a tab until I had cash. I’m not keen to visit an ATM yet. There is plenty of this unsolicited good will pouring out of people but there will always be a percentage of folk who are destructive and dangerous. They are ignorant and damaged and life has made them selfish and greedy or needy depending on how charitable you feel towards them. No amount of pleas to get in line, to save lives, will register with them enough for them to change course. At the same time the best of folk are working day and night to save our lives at great risk to them selves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope there will be a great deal of new thinking after this. Some of us will be reluctant to spend money with the countless profiteers who see this as a commercial opportunity. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope it is the end for companies such as Sports Direct, JD Sports and Witherspoons who only changed step when they were embarrassed into it. We don't really need what they sell.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Actually this applies to much of the stuff in High St Stores. It isn't just the online competition hitting sales but I think it is also an underlying but growing lack of desire for what is on offer. In the same chain of shops in any town you can buy exactly the same offerings. A great deal of the crap on sale is extremely detrimental to the health of the planet. Most of the shops will soon be flogging 5G phones. 5G technology and High definition streaming is adding to the carbon foot print of the world in a massive way. Apparently streaming produces the same carbon foot print as all air travel. So we have to make choices and this crisis across the world might focus all of us to choose more carefully and more safely in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">NASA have announced that their satellites can film the earth more clearly than for thirty years. Can we halve air travel at a stroke when things return to a new normal born of a new reality? Do we need to drive a car so far, so often and with no passengers? Can we better care for our poorest and most vulnerable? We stand together now so can we stand together for a more meaningful and worth while existence for every one? We need to restore public services to a workable level and re evaluate who are the most important members in society. If we are to pay the top money to the best of us then who should get it? After this is all over I think many of us will have new ideas about that and the way this free market world has let us all down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With time to think I hope we might all challenge our own ideas about what is our status quo. I hope we can find new ways to be more effective with out doing so much damage to the possibility of a future for the youngest of us. I hope we can find some new happiness in the new reality forced upon us by the silent enemy and that our personal victories will encourage and sustain us towards a better place for every one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be safe.</span></div>
edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-73407957114345176662019-11-26T21:45:00.000+00:002019-12-03T23:48:45.560+00:00A righteous mission<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Down the years the Edgar Broughton Band was always up for a benefit gig in a good cause.Nothing has changed and as you can see my son Luke is deeply in the mix with this one. I know he has worked very hard to make this work along side special folk who really care what happens next and what happens next to the people most in need of our help and support.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be the oldest performer at this gig, the youngest a fourteen year old young man. I feel honoured and proud to be involved and thankful, knowing that I can still support and physically contribute to some thing righteous. Enough said for now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The links below will give you all of the info you need. Please come along and join with all of us on what I feel sure will be a very special and unique occasion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Event Page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1218059158381604/">https://www.facebook.com/events/1218059158381604/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lesolidarity.co.uk/">https://www.lesolidarity.co.uk/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.after18.org.uk/">https://www.after18.org.uk/</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">BUY TICKETS </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4333706?fbclid=IwAR33paiaWauH0HFlfGpCOiKL8riw-OygQbHsQw7JdOAnJH5k1lDcglpVERI">https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4333706?fbclid=</a>f</span><br />
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What have we done<o:p></o:p></div>
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to the children?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why do some of them run?<o:p></o:p></div>
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from <o:p></o:p></div>
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the light<o:p></o:p></div>
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can break the dark<o:p></o:p></div>
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Trees all shattered and white<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the ashes of things<o:p></o:p></div>
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we never needed<o:p></o:p></div>
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no one goes home tonight<o:p></o:p></div>
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the rain keeps coming<o:p></o:p></div>
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like we deserve it<o:p></o:p></div>
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I close my eyes I can see<o:p></o:p></div>
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The all fall down and the left behind<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those in gravest jeopardy<o:p></o:p></div>
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The all fall down for miles and miles<o:p></o:p></div>
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What have we done<o:p></o:p></div>
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to the children?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why do some of them run?<o:p></o:p></div>
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from<o:p></o:p></div>
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The light<o:p></o:p></div>
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can break the dark<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some one to hold<o:p></o:p></div>
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to be held by<o:p></o:p></div>
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take you gently by the arm<o:p></o:p></div>
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When you’re hanging on by finger tips<o:p></o:p></div>
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a kindly word<o:p></o:p></div>
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can break the dark<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flags lie tattered and torn<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the of middle dreams<o:p></o:p></div>
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turned into nightmare<o:p></o:p></div>
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The seas are sick and tired<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shock waves coming<o:p></o:p></div>
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No where to hide<o:p></o:p></div>
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I close my eyes I can see<o:p></o:p></div>
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all will fail when few succeed<o:p></o:p></div>
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wont be enough to buy some time<o:p></o:p></div>
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The all fall down for miles and miles<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those in gravest jeopardy<o:p></o:p></div>
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The all fall down and the left behind<o:p></o:p></div>
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The all fall down for miles and miles<o:p></o:p></div>
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What have we done?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-11445319376054168542019-09-29T18:28:00.001+01:002019-09-29T19:04:32.359+01:00Underground in Eden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a hard time getting through the screw ups before the British Airways flight to Prague we finally took off a couple of hours late.I won't bore you with the details. Suffice to say the increasingly limited infra structure and reduced airline resources has not limited their greed and tendency to overbook flights while cutting staff and increasing fare prices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were met in Prague by Teresa, the promoters daughter and Jimmy her boy friend. What a delightful couple they are and great company. The time would soon come when they returned from Broumov to Prague and we would miss their interpretation skills. Russia was the language people were forced to speak until the regime was finished and so English is spoken mostly by young people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John my tour manager and I were happy to arrive at our destination near the Polish border after a three hour drive.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6X_iuP5d5r_uP9p44i2g4cTBeatgH-DTzDuc09Sz_6USKGDL1PHLeRS3QfmxiFZ_9JyoRKrfhIN1hgPR4HYjJEhVpiTTxtqArpxbXfDxXU6a7spxKQfqnqGVljRPp1keohRmc4RbwEI/s1600/6EFEF524-E4B0-43A7-AEBB-508B103E3D9E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6X_iuP5d5r_uP9p44i2g4cTBeatgH-DTzDuc09Sz_6USKGDL1PHLeRS3QfmxiFZ_9JyoRKrfhIN1hgPR4HYjJEhVpiTTxtqArpxbXfDxXU6a7spxKQfqnqGVljRPp1keohRmc4RbwEI/s640/6EFEF524-E4B0-43A7-AEBB-508B103E3D9E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">stanislav dasha, our hosts, and me</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We arrived at the home of our hosts and found ourselves in a lovely garden peopled by strange statues and a very well trained German Shepard, a dog called Franky, short for Frank Zappa, who is one of Stanislavs favourite musicians. Frank was very well thought of in the Czech Republic after the collapse of the Communist regime and was made minister of culture by president Vaclav Havel, the dissident who became Czech President. Stanislav was also a dissident who served his people and went to jail for doing so. Therefore the title Underground Club Eden has a much more </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">relevant meaning than it might in other territories and the term underground and its dissident connotations, still resonates through the Czech society, even though the communist vote in the last election was almost 13 percent. Freedom from communist rule was hard won and is a reminder that freedom should not be taken for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stan once invited Havel to a family dinner at a nearby restaurant. The president turned up with a full security and police escort. We watched a video of the event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stan and Dasha's home has a small hotel facility on the upper floor and this is where we all stayed. My good friend Walter Krucker was already waiting for us. We had previously met in Slovenia when Walter arranged for me to play a FDPFAFDW gig. He had arranged this public show also. It was great to meet up again and we were to spend a few long hours in the night chatting and drinking cognac. Dasha spoke some German so Walter a native of Switzerland was able to facilitate some translations through Dasha with Stanislav.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeHv60LUvtOy0C1BJVFiPT9rpyyORq-lJhs4pA4eLihKeN0gXJUc_yJyDu_2TyM3gSJCyG8ooJtD2QHnkUPge5afEqozOpBC80Io9VNY-vryFbGJdzA921x3r0eotP6cqH0DKn7J5nZI/s1600/7zDwxJg5tK5gND9Sk1o7Ivg7pse4QMPQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="550" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeHv60LUvtOy0C1BJVFiPT9rpyyORq-lJhs4pA4eLihKeN0gXJUc_yJyDu_2TyM3gSJCyG8ooJtD2QHnkUPge5afEqozOpBC80Io9VNY-vryFbGJdzA921x3r0eotP6cqH0DKn7J5nZI/s400/7zDwxJg5tK5gND9Sk1o7Ivg7pse4QMPQ.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffCjIHSUANUFgyq2UgswWU4rFyssiCH5I2XyvZAoSn6DtvZZ0llvdCY0sENn_ayYCewcNtDCZ9xwbkhRzNQFDgF_AWLA10Zx7-Cw7NLbQGT_0BiihuAkvTmO3P_VK1TvDmg7JgMUWyQ8/s1600/FA67C50B-C230-450C-A1D4-5817D3BF2484.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Eden a musical and social paradise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">We arrived on the friday and I played the festival at Club Eden on the Saturday. I was concerned before the show that while most of the audience did not speak English my lyrics are important and my stories supplement the songs. I need not have worried the audience was a delight. They were attentive and warm and gave me a very good reception. My encore was Evening Over Rooftops which most of them seemed to know. It was a great experience me for me. The other bands were an interesting mix of mostly underground based music and a very slick top of the bill in the form of ex Lou Reed bass player Fernando Saunders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">The club has a great industrial atmosphere. It was a factory. It retains the post regime vibe and has a wall of pride featuring Havel and others and a wall of shame featuring the despots of the world. It has a few relics from the struggle scattered around the place. For any one interested in modern history and music this is a must visit place. Both John and I are very interested in history so it was a treat to be there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Below are some of the strange creatures in the garden I referred to earlier. I believe that they are made from materials found at Eden when it was a factory and during its transformation into a club.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4OQpwgTid8pQiTwegpJowKOP8MjerU4L19nXISJRmdKngGbUt9144tJ2oPFlg1WzwCjhlBAV1kTH0JYLrDWM2E_-6KM2VlnzbkC8QnTn-HGJCkED5WcDsNXtfyIyRd1LDOKc4ArOZDg/s1600/62626FAF-EA19-46A0-8F7C-13E10ECA3CC8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4OQpwgTid8pQiTwegpJowKOP8MjerU4L19nXISJRmdKngGbUt9144tJ2oPFlg1WzwCjhlBAV1kTH0JYLrDWM2E_-6KM2VlnzbkC8QnTn-HGJCkED5WcDsNXtfyIyRd1LDOKc4ArOZDg/s400/62626FAF-EA19-46A0-8F7C-13E10ECA3CC8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6wrPPGpE4RXC8H-OzsFWyCCPaE6u04KH-3aCX1cYt7wmXuTVDsUk116ytIW2QspntDnDd8F_T7CaDSthgmDgorPPxOJSL4oX6R5w3VqlVFVWPtBbZzrycgSwpuiXe_NKrvShJqk0U4o/s1600/A8BD2B6C-5543-4013-B1CC-FA9067873E7C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6wrPPGpE4RXC8H-OzsFWyCCPaE6u04KH-3aCX1cYt7wmXuTVDsUk116ytIW2QspntDnDd8F_T7CaDSthgmDgorPPxOJSL4oX6R5w3VqlVFVWPtBbZzrycgSwpuiXe_NKrvShJqk0U4o/s400/A8BD2B6C-5543-4013-B1CC-FA9067873E7C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZh7yYZ9glrBxyroXQDNVi1izelAW2nV9y4RxfKAj9BuL0Gno8Ysclf9givn4Fowbmjda6OFu2bZUH5hfUCM9VklRE18VX1bGFJwd9nh0XXHDG68OSuticSTuw_aTCP_JXFDzPeAbfdw/s1600/depositphotos_48244751-stock-photo-church-of-saint-margaret-sonov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZh7yYZ9glrBxyroXQDNVi1izelAW2nV9y4RxfKAj9BuL0Gno8Ysclf9givn4Fowbmjda6OFu2bZUH5hfUCM9VklRE18VX1bGFJwd9nh0XXHDG68OSuticSTuw_aTCP_JXFDzPeAbfdw/s400/depositphotos_48244751-stock-photo-church-of-saint-margaret-sonov.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">abandoned church on a hill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next day after the gig we visited an abandoned church on a hill near Stan and Dashas house where The band Plastic People of the Universe played. They were jailed during the regimes hold over Czech. It was sad to see the decaying building which will fall to pieces at some time in the future. Some of the ceiling looked decidedly dodgy as we climbed the stairs to the roof. Stanislav had obtained a digital translator which worked well providing we had a phone signal. We also began to use Google translation which worked quite well for a freebie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a nearby forest Stan showed us a cross which he had carried there to commemorate the murder of priests by Czech soldiers. Stan is an amazing character.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later on in the afternoon Stan took John, Walter and me to a carp lake where we chucked in a couple of hooks buried in bread balls and waited as is the way with carp fishing. We didn't catch but that is ok. Its fishing not catching Its not for me. I like the action involved with Lure fishing and the mobile approach. It was a lovely evening though and very peaceful by the silvery pool in sunshine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next day we said goodbye to Walter who was headed home to Vienna. I am sure we shall all meet up again for another episode.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The high light of our last day was a visit to the beautiful Benedictine monastery in Broumov. Stan's friend Jacob is a guide at the monastery and John and I were given an exclusive guide to the most beautiful ancient building I have ever seen. It is amazing that this edifice was built in the middle of a wilderness on a single road running through it. The chapel was destroyed by fire and entirely rebuilt in 8 years we seems impossible now, never mimd about back then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The monastery is huge housing a massive library of books where we looked at ancient maps of Europe including the UK. John is very keen on geography and maps so he was thrilled. The monks were treated very badly by the Russian occupation but the Russians restored rooves to maintain some records which ironically saved much of the brick work below from collapse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jacob was so keen to tell us the salient facts in a fairly short time and was a very articulate guide. He speaks for or five languages and loves to practise his English. We met up again for dinner that night and he was very useful as a translator now that Walter had left. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbe9B_Q72d1rXrzghQ1xBehPvYJ3_K18j0r4Gv0T19CvMB3wWo0elPzvo_kS6O_Q-coyr6C7THEGvsagmEVT5QKJonoyGLpdlkA1JjgOCrpOT53NlpEtPFSx86mNdUz4pbYiAuzRRmhQ/s1600/210B175D-0B1B-4159-B1FD-727C553FDF89.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbe9B_Q72d1rXrzghQ1xBehPvYJ3_K18j0r4Gv0T19CvMB3wWo0elPzvo_kS6O_Q-coyr6C7THEGvsagmEVT5QKJonoyGLpdlkA1JjgOCrpOT53NlpEtPFSx86mNdUz4pbYiAuzRRmhQ/s640/210B175D-0B1B-4159-B1FD-727C553FDF89.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the abbot with the devil on a chain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we came to the end of a wonderful trip and after some farewells and photos Stan drove us part way to the airport in Prague. Later we met with one of Stan's daughters and her husband who was to drive us the rest of the way. What a trip! I won't forget a moment. Thanks to Dasha for her kindness and excellent food and thanks to Stan for being a special human being.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace</span></div>
edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-9835824337953520012019-08-09T19:00:00.001+01:002019-08-09T23:49:09.160+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hi folks. Come along to the Half Moon in Putney, London on the 21st of this month. Take a break from the madness of living in the UK and join me in my madness. It’s a more entertaining experience and fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">New songs and stories from life. Folk songs for NOW. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come along and say hello. </span><br />
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<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-23447856984643131072019-07-03T15:38:00.001+01:002019-07-03T15:38:13.713+01:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi Folks</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have spent most of the last six months recording and writing. I think I am more than halfway through a new album. Long way to go though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve also played some very enjoyable gigs. We just got back from Clam Rock in Linz, Austria. This was an extra ordinary setting in a castle grounds. Barracuda who promote the festival, provide the best back stage experience for artists I have ever seen. The half hour massage after my show was sublime. It’s nice to be spoiled a bit., once in a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Misprint. I hate it when a screw up is down to me. If it’s what I describe as external then I can live with it. The massive anxiety, that used to play a large part in my performing experience, abated over time as I have learned to accept what I can’t change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So this down to me. Some time ago I posted new gigs on the site. I mistakenly put the date of the Summer of Love fest in Kent as July 2nd when it should have read August 2nd. Sorry for that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I intend to begin posting here on a regular basis very soon but I am very busy trying to finish recordings right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take care. Be happy. </span><br />
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<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-7602388650652372072018-12-25T19:16:00.003+00:002018-12-25T19:17:45.155+00:00Be safe and well and have a massively satisfying new year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well here we are again. Almost the end of another year. The gigging year ended very nicely for me. A trip to Haugesund for the Haugaland Prog and Rock Festival in November turned out to be special. I did a few songs with new friends Arabs in Aspic during their show, and I had a great time hanging out with them. It is likely we will collaborate on a recording project next year. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was nice to have the roar of a band behind me and I really had a great time during my solo set at he Record Fair on the following day. I bumped into many old friends and made a few new ones. John and I had a really good time and John has a high opinion of Norway and the people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last gig was at the famous Band on the wall venue in Manchester with Focus. I enjoy playing their gigs and I like their audience a lot. I seem to be able to connect with them although my music is very much of a contrast with Focus. It really helps that the band are very friendly as well as interesting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apart from this I have been recording and recording. I seem to have become quite obsessed with the entire process and I am pleased with it all. I guess I am almost half way through toward the finished product. Luke will be heading this way soon to help out with some vocals and orchestrations. Certainly writing posts here has taken a back seat to the recording but so has the fishing so you know I am very serious about my next release.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>COMPETITION</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The winner of best caption for the cartoon above will receive a special mystery package in the new year containing a few goodies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please write your captions in the comments section below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Have a fun holiday. Be safe and well and have a massively satisfying new year.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">peace</span>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-69648344051389480472018-10-05T18:45:00.000+01:002018-10-08T14:41:53.196+01:00this is the life<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should first explain why I have been
so long writing about the Basel adventure at Oli and Angelika's skate
boarding park. When John and I returned I had to get back into
recording. I am currently working on nine songs at this time and they
are all in various states of completion. I'd had a small confidence
dip. I love playing live and that is all going as planned but I began
to worry about the details of the album taking shape.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Working on my own I had expected to
find a few blank days along the way and a little self questioning is
grist to the mill. Then some thing extra ordinary happened. I was
working on a song called Eulia which is a combination of the word
eulogy and the name Julia. I knew the song was important which is not
a word I use with regard to my own material. Any way I had been
listening to the song and others when I decided to turn the vocal up
a good deal more than I usually would. I was astonished. Small
imperfections in guitar parts disappeared and as I did this with all
of the songs so, they all sounded much better. I was very pleased and
all my doubts vanished.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People have commented that they could
not distinguish words clearly enough in the past but I guarantee this
will not be the case with these recordings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So just before my annual, seriously
obsessive fishing trip, I felt happy with all the hard work done on
the recordings and I felt I deserved the coming adventure. All good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dorset, South Devon and the Norfolk Broads were the venues for the
best fishing ever. The trip was a mega fishing adventure with
beautiful scenery and decent weather. It was blissful. So many high
lights.There was time to write a new song and complete the lyric for
another. This is the life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John and I arrived in Basel on a warm
late afternoon. It was unusual because I was to play on the same day
we flew in which I dont usually do. We drove directly to the skate
board park where I was to play for Oli and Angelika and their
friends. It was Angelika's birthday.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The skate boarding park was built by
Oli and Angelika and the skating community, on land provided by the
local authority. There is a few years left on the lease deal after
which they will move to another site, again provide by the local
authority.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My first impression as we drove into
the area was the warmth and friendliness of every one around. Some
people were already skate boarding around the tracks and jumps. It
was fascinating to me, as some one who has never been on a skate
board, to see the ease with which they seemed to float around
effortlessly with the odd unavoidable glitch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After some wood fired pizza and some
sparkling water I was ready for action and feeling good. The skate
boarding park also housed a variety of small buildings and caravan
like structures that reminded me of the recycled/upcycled dwellings
John and I visited in Trondheim. Music floated out of one and some
one was playing keyboards with a north African wind instrument. It
was like a fragment of Free Town Chritiania, the community in
Denmark. It was very nice to see a place for artists and others
together in a great space. There was a small bar and some food was
available in a couple of small cafe areas. As it grew dark the lights
on the skate board park added a fiesta effect and the music playing
for the skate boarders was very cool and appropriate for the
activity. A great atmosphere, very nice people. I was very relaxed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Angelika, yours truly and Oli</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was to use the PA system provided by
a local punk band who were really hot and nice guys. They played
before me in a container. I was astonished to hear how loud they
played in a metal box and I pulled out wanting to protect and sustain
my fairly good hearing after years of massive volumes of sound abuse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even more astonishing was how good it
sounded outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was ready. It felt a little strange
at first but I got into my stride and had a great time. It ws so hot
with every one packed into the container. Some one opened a side door
and cool air rushed in. It was magical and I got lost in it all. I
poured it all out and I was exhausted at the end. The bottle of cold
water that John handed me at the end was like manna from heaven. It
was a long way to go and I am always the guest of the best kind of
hosts so I have to try very hard to touch people or it fails. Job
done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oli dropped us off at our hotel after a
couple of cognacs and after a well earned sleep we met up with Oli
and Angelika who drove us to a superb family restaraunt just over the
German border. We ate a fine lunch and then headed back into
Switzerland to a magnificent Roman amphi theatre. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">amphi theater</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The semi ruined
structures have been cleverly restored and the ampi theatre is used
for a variety of performances. Nearby there is a museum which depects
how dwellings were laid out and it houses some extra ordinary
artifacts and fine metal work in bronze, gold and silver. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryeaQVC6wd7TdY7lUlpAwssPP3U9sBUvGK3Tlwlpnw82KclBij4h26t-j_n7dUZ8992ySc2sDyPfe6tOun9L1V9raxZNCaZ7jcQxk-Lptryk9ynExEttxXfBeQ8kCb7mwBrwEm0T6wHc/s1600/2018-08-18+13.22.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryeaQVC6wd7TdY7lUlpAwssPP3U9sBUvGK3Tlwlpnw82KclBij4h26t-j_n7dUZ8992ySc2sDyPfe6tOun9L1V9raxZNCaZ7jcQxk-Lptryk9ynExEttxXfBeQ8kCb7mwBrwEm0T6wHc/s400/2018-08-18+13.22.04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A very fine gold roman plate. probably </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">a gift to a person of importance</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It showed a
good deal about the Roman way of life in very accessible way. We also
looked inside a a nearby Roman baths. There was good information about
the way the baths were used and who used them. It was a fascinating
little tour. John and I are both interested in history and the
landscape it lives in.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the roman baths</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'd had a great time. I'd enjoyed my
gig and playing for my hosts. It was a great pleasure to meet Oli and
Angelika. They are very cool people and are making a positive
difference for folk while enjoying their sport. May they flourish. It
was a strange and happy coincidence that our hosts in Norway were ski
jumpers and our next hosts were skate boarders. Thank you Oli and
Angelika for a very special time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-10231650707283093592018-08-28T20:59:00.001+01:002018-10-08T14:54:11.132+01:00In Trondheim<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the 8th
August my tour manager John and I checked into a hotel at Gatwick the evening
before our flight to Trondheim in Norway via Oslo. We had intended to chill in
the hotel, eat some dinner and sleep. We had only been in our rooms a while
when we came to the conclusion that it might be cool to go for a drive rather
than sit for a couple of hours in the Travel Lodge. Last year </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">when we stayed at Gatwick, before a flight, we
headed for Brighton where we had fish and chips on the beach. For a change I suggested we
head for Devils Dyke not far from Brighton. This has many memories for me and was the site of a free
EBB gig that landed us in court long a go.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">devils dyke</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We drove along the lumpy road that
leads to a very ugly 60s built pub. It is a monstrosity which seems so out of
place in the surrounding beauty of the landscape. John loves his geography so I
knew he would be blown away by the huge expanse of chalk hills that rise up and
then down abruptly to the valley below the hill we stood on. A skilled operator
was showing off his drone which looked quite spectacular against the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fading light and dramatic vista. After the intense heat we had all been suffering from the wind was cold and so we left and
headed back for dinner at the hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The flight
to Oslo was fairly uneventful though delayed but we made our connection for the
flight to Trondheim. The waiting around and delays grow ever more irritating
and debilitating so I won't bother recording the details here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The flight to Trondheim passed over some of the
wild countryside I love and as we landed I felt already at home in my favourite
foreign country. John had not been to Norway before and as always, he was
devouring the sights and scenes with great relish. Our meeting at the airport
was made extra special by the wonderful VW van that was to convey us to the Smeby
home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the edgar mobile</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this stage
I want to tell you something about our hosts. Both Jostein and Helena Smeby
were Ski Jumpers who competed in national and World championship events and
at the Winter Olympics. This was very interesting for John and myself because
John is an all round sport fan and I have always watched ski jumping in awe. It
seems to me, to be a ludicrously beautiful and dangerous thing. Jostein, who has coached Helena, says he
misses the rush and Helena is quite determined to make a return to to the
sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile Jostein is a teacher at
a local school and is the leader in the band Arabs In Aspic. Helena is a lab
technician at a nearby milk supplier. They have two of the happiest little kids
I've ever seen. They are Wilma and Felix. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the
special things about this trip was that we had been invited to stay for a few
days. This is always special giving the opportunity to really engage with folk
and get to know them. The next day was supposed to be about sightseeing or
fishing but the rain poured down and we became more concerned about the concert
in the garden which was to happen on the following day. I felt quite tired so a
day lounging around in good company was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>very welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A succession
of Jostein and Helena's friends came by and it was very convivial and very
interesting. They all love 70s music and especially if it is on vinyl. A couple of the younger ones seemed to like some of the music since the 70s so that was cool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point it seemed like every one had ski
jumped or was ski jumping. One of the younger jumpers had named his son Edgar.
I could never have jumped myself but I like the thought that there might be a
ski jumping star of the future, named after me. I wish him health and happiness what ever he does.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After consuming considerable amounts of good cognac and good conversation on the previous evening and into the early hours, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John and I cut back on the following evening
before the day of the performance and retired a little bit earlier. The rain
held off in the morning and by mid day in spite of the odd shower, the sun came
out and it seemed we were set to have our gig in the garden as planned.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">post performance</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A pig was
roasting and the garden was a hive of activity. Everyone was working flat out as they had been for many days planning
and organising the event. After a sound
check with Jostein at the mixer we were ready to roll. The weather stayed warm
and bright and I played and sang my heart out. Simple as that. There was
nothing left after one encore. The audience was as good as it gets. They
understood me and that is the key. These people had only really known me
through the EBB catalogue but they embraced the re invention with warmth and enthusiasm.
Most importantly Jostein and Helena were very happy and satisfied so job done.
Mission accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later we all
piled into transport to take us to down town Trondheim to a small club in a
cellar where <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arabs in Aspic were to
perform a free show as a rehearsal. Most of the equipment was set up when we
arrived and Jostein set about getting his guitar gear together. Soon they were
knocking out their contemporary version of 70s prog rock. The songs are sung in
Norwegian as well as English. They have a tough core with tight arrangements
and screaming keys with some great vintage style organ licks and impossibly high backing vocals. The drummer and
the bass player have obviously been round and round their parts until they seem
effortlessly smooth. The whole is not smooth. It has jagged peaks and fat blocky dynamic frequencies at the centre. The percussionist while new to the band has moments which
are spell binding. With a little refinement it will be special and unusual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Josteins guitar playing is unusual in that he
rarely plays a double speed part. Actually I get very quickly tired of so much
prog guitar that runs around at top speed with no emotional content what so ever.
The guitar work is very studied, heavy and some times sweet and melodic and there is an emphasis on precision. This is true
of the band in general but not to the exclusion of playing a bit loose in a good
way. The lead vocals don't seem to be so importantly stated as the music but that works and the overall vocal delivery fits like a glove with the music.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In many ways their music would not usually be among my fave genres but the Arabs are not just another flabby prog covers band but are a well drilled outfit who love prog and believe in what they do. Back in the day I
winced a bit when the term prog was mentioned in the same breath as the EBB. Having said
that I can admire such commitment to a time and a vintage sound that stands up today, especially when so
much hard work has gone into it all and it rocks. Arabs in Aspic rock.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It looks like we might be rocking together if
plots and plans come together for a festival appearance in the winter where it
is intended that I sing a couple of songs with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">our captain</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day we
went on a boat trip to a little island that used to be a prison holding the
more notoriously dangerous criminals. From the fort we could see where the old
viking strongholds had been situated and why they were there. The rain fell a
little on the way back but it was a pleasant change from the excessive heat of
recent weeks. The buildings along what is essentially a canal are beautiful and
protected by law. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwiV8d4g3TP03fCaVbKA57PiYMEG9ZTzqCTfGD78iVTy5TEvTyo5VDU8446QuLHr-OFf3echRebdHmTFhRX0cf1lhz4PvOE4m4ORw9NUqg7GWWjDH4l3JHeLSP1ADII9h0yvADgswAY4/s1600/2018-08-12+16.32.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwiV8d4g3TP03fCaVbKA57PiYMEG9ZTzqCTfGD78iVTy5TEvTyo5VDU8446QuLHr-OFf3echRebdHmTFhRX0cf1lhz4PvOE4m4ORw9NUqg7GWWjDH4l3JHeLSP1ADII9h0yvADgswAY4/s400/2018-08-12+16.32.52.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">along the canal</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the boat ride we went on a guided tour of an alternative
community in a largely industrial area. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8SOdHIsq78vuRxTsiEjZx2Enh290UEOMVaA60hg6Ol0DLyQmV9f-1wI1mG-MAl60_neLvM5rppY7hvB7VhWK2Ldo0HYsnn9TJZWC6fxNkCYy3V0S8PDCxcGK_Ei06rw_n6JcY29QZLo/s1600/2018-08-12+19.09.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8SOdHIsq78vuRxTsiEjZx2Enh290UEOMVaA60hg6Ol0DLyQmV9f-1wI1mG-MAl60_neLvM5rppY7hvB7VhWK2Ldo0HYsnn9TJZWC6fxNkCYy3V0S8PDCxcGK_Ei06rw_n6JcY29QZLo/s400/2018-08-12+19.09.56.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">recycled housing</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An old German submarine pen dominates
the scene on the other side of the community by the water side. Most of the
housing in the community is built from re cycled/ up cycled materials. There is
a communal garden and a free shop where people take stuff no longer needed and
others take it for their own use. There is a cycle repairer who fixes up and
build bikes from bits and pieces. The local authority planned to trash the
whole area including some old workers housing with a view to housing more
industrial facilities. This was overturned and the community arose out of
the decision. Can we have more of this please?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After some refreshment at the community pub we headed off to meet
with Jostein for dinner at the top of the rotating restaurant that dominates
the sky line a mile or so from Jostein and Helena's house. This was so cool
watching the city go by as we ate. Eventually we could see the island we had
visited by boat earlier. The light is special as the evening wears on. It never
really gets dark in the summer unless it is very cloudy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZavFFrlBpGy75-qmK7MKsrXe4f3H3_gScbGLur6a2F5bCCf52DA9CeY6IguznlC1jIyNibaFgOnudu29WjbkoGqCUZadnxx2WU8YyYQdjOgbpHQYLFONmXL65JlGPgOO9XnOj1tP15U4/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZavFFrlBpGy75-qmK7MKsrXe4f3H3_gScbGLur6a2F5bCCf52DA9CeY6IguznlC1jIyNibaFgOnudu29WjbkoGqCUZadnxx2WU8YyYQdjOgbpHQYLFONmXL65JlGPgOO9XnOj1tP15U4/s400/IMG_0981.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">in the rotating restaurant</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Julia is a
Polish woman who is an accomplished artist. She had been visiting for the
concert and is working on the sleeve design for the new Arabs live album She
has made previous art works for Arabs records and is a good friend of Jostein and Helena. Julia was always asking John and
me if we needed anything so often that she decided she would be our new "Mom".
She was concerned when we told he she could have a day off and then we decided
it would be Mothers Day so she could have a day off with a good conscience. It
was all great fun. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Late one
night she began to tell John and I something of her life as a child in Poland and
then she told us the story of her grandmother who survived Auschwitz. I have
been working on a song and now I had a story which inspired a lyric. We
discussed a series of paintings that Julia might make around the story and we
both agreed we had provided each other with something to make as creators. Win
- win! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mention this because this is an example of how travel and engaging
with new people can bring great creative possibilities. I have a couple of
ideas about re working some of Jostein and the bands work and if all of it
comes together in any form this will have been a very productive as well as very
satisfying adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had spent
some great days with lovely and clever people. The kindness and hospitality shown to us by everyone was overwhelming
at times. Of course our special thanks go to Jostein and Helena for inviting us
into their home and for looking after us so well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D9uHAtqgTQnhBciefF5AzNGGx_C8th2SlTdM0I-rOMdnx-C2UwC86A2ICS5AANPUQ_uWcfLUc4lo98c95EI-HfUKBmQkghCLsCb_-cwro8UCncy1k41RnUHi81OWxgAVq91pw8GaIYg/s1600/2018-08-13+14.12.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D9uHAtqgTQnhBciefF5AzNGGx_C8th2SlTdM0I-rOMdnx-C2UwC86A2ICS5AANPUQ_uWcfLUc4lo98c95EI-HfUKBmQkghCLsCb_-cwro8UCncy1k41RnUHi81OWxgAVq91pw8GaIYg/s400/2018-08-13+14.12.59.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Helena, yours truly and Jostein</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Arabs
in Aspic are<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jostein
Smeby: Songwriter/composer, guitarist, vocals and mixing<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eskil
Nyhus: Drums<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stig
Arve Jørgensen: Keys and vocals<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Erik
Paulsen: Bass and vocals<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alessandro
Elide: Perc<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to Julia for being Mom. Thanks
for the boat trip to Boatowners: Thor Erik Larsen and the man with the lamp,
logo and everything, Otto Johnsen. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks
for the great welcome at the airport with the man with the van local drummer
and teacher Trond Bernhard Olsen, who is also the drummer for 5 local bands.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look
forward to the next episode of our adventure.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Switzerland adventure post will follow in a day or so.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace</span></span></div>
<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-52935911054765166802018-08-05T22:52:00.001+01:002018-08-07T15:43:29.287+01:00A working, living church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ReJ7gHZp6U6Fu1-g72SArb1-duGvR9rsmRHdj1xW3Jey7WPi34vZWze2ePEfhCjwQyXwVsVq9S8j0wrgSrFlYrz_r1UQrMW0I2qmbP0kx4karxqYnC6GL4w95syE8SiA9ueOIpMQrIo/s1600/%2521cid_7E00099D62BC43DCB53EADFF2E6FF2B3%2540DCARPC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="539" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ReJ7gHZp6U6Fu1-g72SArb1-duGvR9rsmRHdj1xW3Jey7WPi34vZWze2ePEfhCjwQyXwVsVq9S8j0wrgSrFlYrz_r1UQrMW0I2qmbP0kx4karxqYnC6GL4w95syE8SiA9ueOIpMQrIo/s400/%2521cid_7E00099D62BC43DCB53EADFF2E6FF2B3%2540DCARPC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">pic by dave randell</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think I
have found my current favourite gig and it stands high among the truly great
venues I have played. St John's church in Farncombe is a working, living church
and well loved judging by its condition both inside and outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived in good time for a sound check.
The sun had been punishing in the south for days and only now did a little rain
begin to fall from the leaden skies promising some cool relief from the
grinding heat. This was another support gig for Focus who I am really warming
to, both as performers and people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As soon as
we entered the church it felt very welcoming and it was obvious that the assembled
crew and helpers were well used to putting on gigs here. Julian, the promoter
has been putting on shows here for 11 years which amounts to over 200 shows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That says a lot for the church and
relationship between the organisers, church and community. There was absolutely
nothing wrong with this gig. Everything was well honed and my sound check took
little time at all. I was very happy. As soon as the sound check was finished
it was outside in the cool air in the midst of a soft cool shower. Getting a
little damp was a pleasure. The high temperature began to slowly drop a little
and I think all in attendance were thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The dressing
room was the vestry in the church and was filled with the trappings and garments of
the clergy. This was an indication of the kinds of acts playing at St John's
and the respect and trust shown by all to all. I must admit I have come across
a few acts who might not have shown the same respect in such an environment. Perhaps I am being a little harsh. No I am not. I have just thought of one hooligan
band I would be reluctant to share any space with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> pic by dave randell</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The church
soon filled and what a delightful audience they were. There were a few of my fans
there and a few more who might have heard something of me but I soon realised
most had not seen me before. This always presents something of a challenge but
one that I embrace. It is a good opportunity to test new songs as well as the
few old songs I still play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sound in
the church was simply perfect and I revelled in it. Everything sounded so clear
and the natural reverberations in the building were exquisite. I played for 45
minutes and I think my only error was not playing The Sound Don't Come. The
audience was so nice to me and I left the stage buzzing all over. Job done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> pic by dave randell</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Focus soon
followed and they were on really good form. The crowd loved it and I could see why.
Actually they are a class act and better than all the other prog acts I have
supported in the past few years. Most of them are like pale cover bands of
themselves and one band I played with last year was just an hilarious parody of
better days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So time to
hit the road and back to London with Ramblin' at the wheel. It rained some more but as we entered London
it was clear no rain had fallen and another boiling humid night was coming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really
enjoyed this gig so much. It doesn't get any better and if you ever get the
chance to get out to Farncombe for a show don't pass it up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since the
gig I have been mostly recording and trying to keep cool. The recording is
going well but I get blocks every so often and lose faith in things. It doesn't
last. I know it is part of the process, for me, so I quickly get back in the stream of things.
I'm off to Norway at the end of the week for a few days and the from there to
Switzerland for a couple of days. I must admit I am starting to look forward to
everything these days. I don't want to miss anything.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to Dave for looking after me and for the photos.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace</span></span></div>
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<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-84908468344059684342018-07-18T20:44:00.000+01:002018-07-18T20:58:27.964+01:00a dream summers night<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksCJDlAtAp2IUhSruy0OA5aNMzw795dOSOa3nG69JBZBFdjtQSz0flwXX3Z6cqZHgk3exS0XdBilH4_reawYSIolpHKI1U2SJMDLNKJuUnMNCp0TFtdJxpqKmr89lE_FGJuSwrvlDHhM/s1600/%2521cid_3E9CC85E-30D9-4924-BE4F-1F06EEEC080F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksCJDlAtAp2IUhSruy0OA5aNMzw795dOSOa3nG69JBZBFdjtQSz0flwXX3Z6cqZHgk3exS0XdBilH4_reawYSIolpHKI1U2SJMDLNKJuUnMNCp0TFtdJxpqKmr89lE_FGJuSwrvlDHhM/s400/%2521cid_3E9CC85E-30D9-4924-BE4F-1F06EEEC080F.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a dream summers night</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In sweltering, humid heat my tour manager John picked me
up to drive us to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heathrow for the next adventure in Switzerland. We like to
stay in a hotel the night before departure. I also try to arrange a flight
after mid day. I remember when air travel was much more enjoyable and faster.
The time spent hanging around and the increased number of delays is as a direct
result of more people travelling with less resources on the ground. In other
words, the inconvenience experienced by air travellers is caused by simple greed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Our flight was delayed by about forty five minutes so
not the best start but at least the show was not scheduled until the following
day. Our next adventure in Switzerland will be one where we fly in, play the
same day and return on the following day. That will be a bit more pressured but
do able. The train ride from Zurich to our destination was a treat. The trains
are modern, run on time and are very comfortable. The contrast with recent rail
debacles here is massive. I like travelling by train and would do so more but
for the poor reliability here in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Our host Kurt Mathis picked us up at the station in
Kreuzlingen which is near Lake Constance. The area is very scenic and very
clean. People do not drop litter here or anywhere else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I never know what to expect when I am travelling to a
private show but I am never disappointed. Kurt turned out to be a very pleasant
and interesting host. I had met him previously at one of the Chappo gigs at the
Shepards Bush o2 show but only briefly. Kurt took us into town for dinner. John
and I went for the Perch Frites made
from the fish called Zander. Delicious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After our dinner we sat up until around five in the
morning drinking fine cognac and getting to know each other. part of the night
was spent around the fire Kurt had made in his garden. We all acknowledged the
power of fire and how we all gravitate towards a fire in the open, no matter
where we come from on the planet. It was a great night. I don't do this often
these days although John and I have had a few similar sessions over the years
we have been working together. So finally, to bed and I slept like a log.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I'd had all sorts of plans to visit places of local
interest but it was so hot I opted to loaf around as preparations were being
made for the evening party. The stage was the decking under a balcony of the
new house Kurt's brother is building. The garden is large and the whole place
was once a factory. A very neat PA system was set up and a hunt for a suitable
seat for me was set in motion. Soon I had sound checked the system and I was
very pleased with the sound. The sun was hot but there was plenty of shade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The time passed steadily. My bedroom was a 2 minute walk
from the stage so it was perfect for preparing for the show.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kurt had hired a woman to run a bar and a couple who
served the best barbecue ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Slowly Kurt's guests began to arrive and the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DJ kicked off with a good old selection of
the good old days tunes. After sampling the barbecue it was time to perform. As always I had compiled a set list before setting out but I never keep to it. Of
course this is not really possible with a band where things are set out with specific
keyboard sounds and other constraining but necessary chronological events in
mind. Occasionally I would change a song order on stage but rarely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Halfway through my set some young people began heckling
from a garden nearby. I returned fire with some very strange universal/ non
language based noise which my audience joined in with. We all had a laugh about
that and I continued. My audience was so very attentive and very appreciative. John
reckons I played the definitive version of Belle of Trevelyan. I had been
recording vocals on it some days before the trip so that seems to have helped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The recording of the new album is going well but slowly and I don't mind. It
will be finished when I am totally satisfied with it. It is a lot to do by myself
but I am enjoying it very much. I do intend to collaborate with a few others as
things develop but there is a way to go before that. My mate Ramblin has
dropped by to do backing vocals and we have been having fun recording his Korg
drum. It is an amazing tool filled with exotic sounds and designed as an instrument
to be played rather than programmed. Excellent!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I have been editing my novel The Instantanium and
writing new sections. It has been a retreat for me for many years. Somewhere to
go to when I need or want to. Now it is time to finish the thing. I could go on
and on with it but the time has come to call a halt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The temperature in Kurt's lovely garden dropped a little
as I worked through my set. The audience called for an encore. Actually I felt
exhausted. I had poured myself into the songs but I had to return to the stage
for my lovely audience. I cracked out a version of There's a hole in it and
that was me done. All good. I think most had a good time and I know Kurt had
the best time. he had gone to enormous lengths to make this party and my stay
with him a success and it was that in spades. My hosts always look after me
very well and this was no exception. I had a really great time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Sitting around the fire again after most people had
left was a lovely way to come down after a gig and the company was special. The
people who hang around in the early hours are always cool to me. They are still
awake for a start and they usually have great tales and wisdom to share. After
a few more glasses of cognac and some great interactions I left for my bed. I
wanted to be fairly fresh for the flight home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Next day I got up at about midday and made my way into
the sun baked garden. John was about with Kurt. We took a few photos,
breakfasted and Kurt took us to the train headed back to Zurich. Everything went
smoothly after that and we arrived back at Heathrow on time, collected the car
from our hotel and headed to London.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After dropping me off John was heading home to
Cornwall. He is one of the few men I know who still loves to drive and he is as
good a driver as I have ever had the pleasure to be driven by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He texted me at around 2.30 am to let me know
he was home safe. All good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We'd had a great time. I like travelling with John and
he looks after me very well. We are off to Trondheim in the north of Norway for a few days next and then on to Switzerland again a couple of days later. Thanks from both
of us to Kurt who made it all worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">peace</span></div>
<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-42740165542562555622018-07-04T22:20:00.000+01:002018-07-04T22:30:29.090+01:00tantula<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSx4OTh4dTWD262Y_uVLKpWb5bvHLEm5qRfvA54NoJ6w7HVKoqJqxczO614S75WakFpidufYC7xJqWXoxJ6QOeSIZOETkqQUWgcPrer19SOL4LUh1xWzt7cJ8SgeZRQVV_ABnXQpFrrQ/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSx4OTh4dTWD262Y_uVLKpWb5bvHLEm5qRfvA54NoJ6w7HVKoqJqxczO614S75WakFpidufYC7xJqWXoxJ6QOeSIZOETkqQUWgcPrer19SOL4LUh1xWzt7cJ8SgeZRQVV_ABnXQpFrrQ/s400/Untitled-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hi all. I
know a few folk have been concerned about the lack of blog posts and why they have gone away for a time. I can
assure you all is well with me. As always, thank you for your kind consideration and support.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to
take a break from my usual activities including writing here. A change or two
is as good as a rest and feeds the musical brain and connections with the muse.
Sometimes I come to a point where I am doing what I am doing because I've been
doing it, not because I am developing something. The development is important
along with new things to know and assimilate such as how to propagate the tantula (see above). </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been recording the new
album and not doing much of anything else. It is going well if a little slowly
at times. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Early
on</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I realised that this album will be a first,
in so far that this is the first time I am making exactly what I want. That presents a new challenge around the responsibility for the end result. It is some times daunting but also exhilarating. I think
and hope the result will be surprising in some ways. While some of the songs
will be familiar, others will be new and very different from my usual music.
I'm having a great time playing with technology and exploring new toys. It is a
lot of fun and I do get lost in it all at times. It is a great place to hang
out, somewhere in an unfinished song. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even fishing has taken a back seat to
recording time. Actually the weather hasn't been great for fishing and now it
is too hot but I am not complaining. When I look around me today I see every
reason to be thankful for my lot. I seem to be increasingly more able to accept
the relatively small inconveniences I experience, without complaint. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm off to Switzerland tomorrow
with my mate John Bradshaw to play a private gig which promises to be very
special. So life is good. When I get back I will resume here with a post about
our trip.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace</span>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-29627854890793168442018-01-23T21:05:00.000+00:002018-01-24T22:54:45.897+00:00on the road again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">bridge fly by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems a long time ago when my friend and road manager John picked me up for a mini tour of the north. He drove from Cornwall on Wednesday morning last week and we drove to a Travel Lodge near York where we holed up until Thursday. It was a couple of hours drive to Newcastle for the next date of The Roger Chapman family and friends tour. I had already played Leicester and London the week before. Two thoroughly enjoyable shows for me. I've decided the Shepards Bush 02 gig is my favourite UK venue. I love the sound in there and the Edwardian interior that still looks fabulous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather forecast for our journeying for the next few days looked a bit rough with snow and ice predicted on all sides. As it turned out, for the entire journey, we some how avoided driving in snow. It threatened to fall in Newcastle but didn't. We'd booked a late leave time so it was around 2pm as we headed for Newcastle on Thursday. We had a great gig there and set out for Kinross in Scotland immediatly after my set. We arrived at around midnight. By now a good few inches of snow had fallen but the roads were clear. The Green Hotel in kinross is home to The Backstage venue. It is a cosy 120 seater with a unique, museum like collection of rock memorabilia put together by promoter Dave Mundell. Dave is one of those guys who brings some thing special to the music scene because it's obvious that he really cares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a decent sleep John and I hung out in the rather plush if tired hotel. It is huge and rambling with nearby golf greens and a trout lake. Next time at the gig I shall get some fishing in. We sound checked at around 6 0clock after a splendid lunch. John had fish and chips and I had Scottish mussels in a chilli sauce with chips and delicious bread. They served a very nice pint of bitter so I was very happy. So nice to be able to eat and sleep so close to the venue. In this case the door of my room opened onto a staircase that lead down one flight to the entrance to the venue. This was perfect on a harsh wintery day when the venue would usually be a distance from the hotel. So, my very large bedroom was a very luxurious dressing room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were wondering if any one would make it on such a wintery night but we need not have worried. The lovely enthusiastic audience were a delight and it was very different and enjoyable for me to play a full set of material as distinct from a short support set for Chappo. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy playing a support role. I like the lack of pressure and I enjoy playing a short set also.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The show went very well and I think I moved it it all forward during this one performance. Like having an extra gear. I played the sequel to Evening Over Rooftops for the first time and that was well received. The song is called A Bowl of Flowers. I also played In The Half Light which I hadn't played for a long time. I've decided to include it more often. I was determined to utilise freshly discovered possibilities at the next gig at the British Rock and Blues Fest in Skegness. We had a day between the Back Stage gig and Skeggy so that was good. We would be staying in Skegness at the Butlins Holiday venue the night before my afternoon performance next day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5Ml1La6oHivfR0DQ3aTMbBbGDaW4wEYMZi6_4yk3srBBO4KjnAVtlohjG44dja_C4pVFe5g3MdS1OymSqGfDfrZxKd1Uc_ac8936ulvFdghRBlcap11ZMIl-GPrn6xLx71XyzuxITM/s1600/2018-01-20+11.45.56-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5Ml1La6oHivfR0DQ3aTMbBbGDaW4wEYMZi6_4yk3srBBO4KjnAVtlohjG44dja_C4pVFe5g3MdS1OymSqGfDfrZxKd1Uc_ac8936ulvFdghRBlcap11ZMIl-GPrn6xLx71XyzuxITM/s640/2018-01-20+11.45.56-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">in the half light</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather forecasts were still a bit grim but still our road was clear as we drove out of Kinross. The miles flew by and after flat acres of grim, desert like agricultural Lincolnshire country side we arrived at Butlins. After struggling to find the block our apartment was in on the Butlins site, we eventually found it. The apartment was a pleasant surprise once we were installed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An early night was order of the day with a 9 am alarm to get to an 11 am sound check. It is not my idea of fun but it is different and I like different. The night before John had scouted the venue and returned with news that it was a cavernous room that would need 800 folk to make any kind of atmosphere. That was a bit daunting but I don't let things like that worry me these days.We arrived at the gig in perfect time and within ten minutes i was doing my sound check with a top pro crew. It took minutes for a big grin to grow on my face as the lush sound of the big rig filled the stage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this cavernous cold place the heating was only just coming on but the dressing room was cosy. The time flew by and soon the very nice young woman who was stage manager called me with five minutes to go. As for the previous, recent shows I had no nerves, just the desire to sing and play.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I peeped through the side curtain and there they were. An audience of about 1800. Now I really wanted to play. I walked out onto the stage and into my second home where I think I gave the best solo performance so far. I feel sure the audience got it and they got me. Enough said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was 1.45pm and the rain outside the venue was turning to sleet. Should we stay to spend our artiste food allowances or hit the road. A combination of leaving for every where as soon as possible and a semi intelligent SAT navigation system had served us well so we decided in favour of covering miles as soon a possible. The sleet turned to snow as we drove but didn't settle on the road. It calmed down as we approached Boston and cleared for a while. Driving rain seemed acceptable given all the snow we had managed to avoid. By the time we were in London the rain was gone and that boded well for John's trip home to Cornwall. I guess the total mileage for this trip was around 1500.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to every one who came and made it a buzzing time. I really had the best time. There were no problems worth a mention. All good. N</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ow a few days off with a little first fishing of 20018 and then I will be recording through February and much of March. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Peace</span><br />
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<br />edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-89434416913610714212017-12-21T21:25:00.000+00:002017-12-22T20:54:15.907+00:00Toys or tools for guitar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDJETfktdgK557I9hNydw7tYn7euGBUhfJ91NBLe0XGigEzFdvKAweKsXKHCRoQzqG-MA1HBxM-BlosRjmkV6JKwJOe4aJnk_lchXOlURGvQz5_QpksQObjQxAfaeVAMoImdHkJK87z8/s1600/File+28-11-2017%252C+18+26+28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDJETfktdgK557I9hNydw7tYn7euGBUhfJ91NBLe0XGigEzFdvKAweKsXKHCRoQzqG-MA1HBxM-BlosRjmkV6JKwJOe4aJnk_lchXOlURGvQz5_QpksQObjQxAfaeVAMoImdHkJK87z8/s640/File+28-11-2017%252C+18+26+28.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the vox MV50 AC and a typically sized effects pedal to show scale.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgDtjODqXiP2vkgc8T5K_NY07mlt9sMeGFHaQp-eJplVR69bEEaGscrFdGPl6GHfxG9zQ1i3vc6Y0PW_bQBOUOeuM8eeLqhMeKyxYgSZw6b9B0Ku82OjTGSAmFQpij0H7cAFWtezQYk4/s1600/File+28-11-2017%252C+18+26+59.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgDtjODqXiP2vkgc8T5K_NY07mlt9sMeGFHaQp-eJplVR69bEEaGscrFdGPl6GHfxG9zQ1i3vc6Y0PW_bQBOUOeuM8eeLqhMeKyxYgSZw6b9B0Ku82OjTGSAmFQpij0H7cAFWtezQYk4/s640/File+28-11-2017%252C+18+26+59.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a pencil on top of the speaker cabinet </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to show the miniature scale of the whole set</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the way the pedal in the photo is the JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive Guitar Effect Pedal. A</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the price of £39.43 i</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t is probably the best value overdrive pedal </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">going,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">peace </span><br />
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-56792501130073805382017-12-21T20:32:00.001+00:002017-12-21T21:26:45.800+00:00in the bleak midwinter<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHZbcmGW5tpUH7_AkVyhQ8OnXUKbmUa0LUgXl4HViwbGh15qUGN8Ca2TiYi4yTgUBtlQK_tpzeZZSYwk2tvirnIQWAFiN_yUG7tQg1LhYiO_Q8XvhPkPAl-gjtG7EwINCt_q4aJScFzw/s1600/ebenezer-scrooge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHZbcmGW5tpUH7_AkVyhQ8OnXUKbmUa0LUgXl4HViwbGh15qUGN8Ca2TiYi4yTgUBtlQK_tpzeZZSYwk2tvirnIQWAFiN_yUG7tQg1LhYiO_Q8XvhPkPAl-gjtG7EwINCt_q4aJScFzw/s400/ebenezer-scrooge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The UK Christmas spend </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">has been estimated to be more than <span style="color: red;">£78.69</span> <span style="color: red;">billion</span> in 2017.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A new NHS hospital</span></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">in the UK with 210 beds cost £75 million plus another £15 million for roads, equipment and infrastructure. That's </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">£90</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">million.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3c3c3b; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3c3c3b; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;">UNITED KINGDOM</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3b;"> achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of </span><span class="country-hpi-score ten-color-5" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3c3c3b;">31.9</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3b;"> and ranks </span><span class="country-hpi-rank" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3c3c3b;">34th </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3b;">of all the countries analysed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Latest official figures</b> show an estimated 5,174 people were forced to sleep outside in UK in 2016.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The lives and futures of millions of children</b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b>are in jeopardy. We have a choice: Invest in the most excluded children now or risk a more divided and unfair world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1 in 10 young women </b>in UK cannot afford to buy sanitary products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It is estimated that 20% </b>of all Christmas presents are unwanted and unused.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Why don't we protest more?</b> Why don't we care enough to stop austerity?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Leaked report on mental health </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">crisis in UK indicates a rise in suicides and that 75% of people needing help / treatment are not receiving it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Trussell Trust is the largest </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">food bank</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> network in the UK, and it handed out around 41,000 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">food</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> packs in 2009/10 compared to 1.2 million in 2016/17.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Every year we are warned</b> that if the High Street Christmas spend is not enough our economy and therefore our quality of life will suffer. How mad is that?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>"I am not dreaming of a white Christmas" </b>- Homeless young woman aged 19.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Why are thing such a mess? </b>Could it be that it is because we want the wrong things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Why does the UK government increasing appear to be a reactive body </b>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".</span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While so many are with out essentials,</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 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.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Will things have improved</b> by next Christmas? It partly depends on what you want. Time for real change?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">peace</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-39414904440215070762017-11-21T18:40:00.002+00:002017-11-23T18:24:47.719+00:00update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZoquqLN3ZrlSf9NTFI4rEMyrGsVIbtN1wCAoq3icMOlO3qXdtpBJzxS-pn0QKcctZ0gWoyXYkQ8vMBba1j2M4a1eKF5m2G5xu9VHjdiqcqvZZkD_DkLbAxUZ-fcfyrlcxv1hhpFY6XU/s1600/23754725_1813657905346705_8595579641455163671_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZoquqLN3ZrlSf9NTFI4rEMyrGsVIbtN1wCAoq3icMOlO3qXdtpBJzxS-pn0QKcctZ0gWoyXYkQ8vMBba1j2M4a1eKF5m2G5xu9VHjdiqcqvZZkD_DkLbAxUZ-fcfyrlcxv1hhpFY6XU/s400/23754725_1813657905346705_8595579641455163671_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">photos by SD photography</span></div>
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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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />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! <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Look out for my next post - In the bleak mid winter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />peace <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-85223806680935034322017-10-29T18:42:00.001+00:002017-11-10T19:45:36.114+00:0070 still buzzing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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t<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">he wreck of the Brighton pier</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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 </span><span style="background: none rgb(255 , 255 , 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thijs_van_Leer" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080;" title="Thijs van Leer">Thijs van Leer</a> </span><span style="background: none rgb(255 , 255 , 255); font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and the other guys are very good but it's not for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There were quite a lot of Dutch people come to see their heroes and that gave things a nice flavour. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next a trip to see Blade Runner 2 at the Waterloo Imax cinema. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am also working on two online projects where the musical parts, vocals will be performed </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by several contributors </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look after yourselves and each other.</span></div>
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-68444565069404869392017-10-13T20:19:00.001+01:002017-10-20T17:52:50.734+01:00fish and trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">on the road again</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I took my usual September break with a
gig in the middle at<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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. </span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in a cause after my own heart</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a little day boat perfect for getting in smaller places</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a nice pike</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2StvOBPNGZNkviZtq6gIUeX5mzbpdOA44mFn7HyhYtzE0U0w4j4-VQGssfs8KlAEGXqyys3gmB3zogVXS7BGqaTS_TtO-XSJg8Nt67_wjpmR0_N3UXQXTEOJ-CKwddxGXCKH8zKxMMn8/s1600/1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="800" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2StvOBPNGZNkviZtq6gIUeX5mzbpdOA44mFn7HyhYtzE0U0w4j4-VQGssfs8KlAEGXqyys3gmB3zogVXS7BGqaTS_TtO-XSJg8Nt67_wjpmR0_N3UXQXTEOJ-CKwddxGXCKH8zKxMMn8/s200/1417.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Strike pro baby buster jerk bait - 10 cms - 25 grams</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">minus 2 x treble hooks, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the lure that took the pike above</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXGQLjoOiFJsngU0A35n-bPcDtZb811F6XRC0ZT5PNvo2m3qZtmGFt0MEPqPf2yujfZW-p_wFRGB9rjjgIe8aYUNYeGgs7HoRpbagA9qDe_2ll3dug-HjtIVbIEycn1l5ro_QILFglP4/s1600/2017-09-30+15.08.03-2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXGQLjoOiFJsngU0A35n-bPcDtZb811F6XRC0ZT5PNvo2m3qZtmGFt0MEPqPf2yujfZW-p_wFRGB9rjjgIe8aYUNYeGgs7HoRpbagA9qDe_2ll3dug-HjtIVbIEycn1l5ro_QILFglP4/s640/2017-09-30+15.08.03-2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know you are in there some where</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="firstHeading"></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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 </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">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. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
will report back on the upcoming events soon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">peace</span></span></span></span></div>
edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-1017314563642788072017-09-01T19:05:00.000+01:002017-09-02T18:37:00.716+01:00a new day real music club<div class="p1">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB2qmGDFdM3B996XpbrrfXlILTVlphGusWzq_GQ8GzbDfghXb7pkq11TB3dUHPJ5aszr2S3RH3Ox2Agr4CBP6n0L5UyuamNfvXZ61-8-PfT4kM3DC8ntvEBMtKPZkfxgK1xfp_sFzySY/s1600/Rob+NDF+2017+19a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB2qmGDFdM3B996XpbrrfXlILTVlphGusWzq_GQ8GzbDfghXb7pkq11TB3dUHPJ5aszr2S3RH3Ox2Agr4CBP6n0L5UyuamNfvXZ61-8-PfT4kM3DC8ntvEBMtKPZkfxgK1xfp_sFzySY/s400/Rob+NDF+2017+19a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">a new day in the ephraim gardens - photo dave randell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo - dave randell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo - dave randell</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the morning Luke arrived and we all set off to Brighton with Dave on another lovely summers day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/lukebroughton5">https://soundcloud.com/lukebroughton5</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-33994265471447692082017-08-21T20:18:00.000+01:002017-08-23T16:34:15.355+01:00from Volce to Caterham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzroqZ3An-7HPvrOnbKqvn9ayZICRH4UicFYXlK6YzJd_E10EIPSMKLDpo9c8Qx1JdAE8EAn3aQmrsgyIKNrajxyddJbCWQ4knkfHdNN4AcK0qhEKOXL5nAS0qfrDsNimwujeauUupRTc/s1600/2017-08-05+14.35.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzroqZ3An-7HPvrOnbKqvn9ayZICRH4UicFYXlK6YzJd_E10EIPSMKLDpo9c8Qx1JdAE8EAn3aQmrsgyIKNrajxyddJbCWQ4knkfHdNN4AcK0qhEKOXL5nAS0qfrDsNimwujeauUupRTc/s400/2017-08-05+14.35.40.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I arrived in Volce at the summer house of Zdravko in the early hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can see part of the joik in the video The Good Old days via the link here<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was still stiflingly warm as I arrived back at my hotel with the wonderful air conditioning. I was soon asleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e 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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Later, after spaghetti at a local restaurant I sat<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Slovenia became independent in 1991. Most people in Slovenia have lived under three different flags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> This is clearly easily forgotten if we look back through recent history.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Happy days in Slovenia. It was special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></div>
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edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-56792657739655187642017-07-17T15:56:00.000+01:002017-07-17T18:01:06.829+01:00no comment? <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hi Folks</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just a quick word or two about participation. It is not mandatory for readers to comment here but it is very easy to do and I would like to hear from you. I would like to hear about your life, your thoughts and perhaps some times a critique of what I write. Plaudits and brick bats accepted with equal interest:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is easy to write comments here. You might have to establish you are not a machine, "robot", via a simple recognition device on here, but thats as difficult as it gets. Tell me what is going on with you or maybe, simply say hello. Its not like no one reads this. You know who you are :)</span><br />
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peaceedgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022998136972946830.post-8158224192579356002017-07-14T10:59:00.001+01:002017-07-14T16:35:27.127+01:00Lovely Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The gig in the pub garden with Bruce Barthol a while ago was very pleasant and the glorious sunshine helped. A very small cooling shower appeared briefly which was welcome. It was so good to see Bruce looking well after recent health issues and good to chat about waters long gone under the bridge and the old times, when were both with Blackhill Enterprises. It was nice to see a few old friends. We should catch up again soon Nigel. Thanks to Ross Hannan and all who made it special. Rambling enjoyed it too and we were back in London by early evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So to Austria with my good friend and road manager John Bradshaw. We were playing <span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">the twelfth edition of the LOVELY DAYS FESTIVAL at Eisenstadt.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">in the castle grounds within the ancient walls of Esterházy Castle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">John lives in Cornwall so we agreed it would be best if he picked me up mid afternoon on the day before we were to fly the head for gatwick to stay in a hotel for the night. It was a good idea and made getting all of the tedious pre flight stuff simple and stress free. We arrived in Gatwick, checked in our hotel and then decided to head for Brighton where we had fish n chips on the beach in lovely sunshine. It felt good. At the beginning of another adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next day the flight to Vienna was with out incident. We were met by our driver at the airport and on the way to his van I took a dive off a very shallow curb and banged myself up a bit. The biggest worry was my right wrist. I was concerned but hoping for the best.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">That evening John and I went to have a look at the gig. It was the soul and jazz day and gave us the chance to check out the place in full swing. We met Paul the promoter and all the main people back stage including the very helpful stage manager Gunter. I love pro set ups and have got used to being looked after very well from a technical perspective. This translates into quick, easy sound checks and glorious onstage sound during my show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As the evening wore on I became worried I might not be able to play the following day but after a dose of pain killers I slept well and in the morning I was sure I could play. A huge thunderstorm in the night had cleaned the air after a stifling, humid 30 plus degrees. As the worry lifted I began to relish getting onstage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the sound check I met up with a guy called Tonto who used to rehearse and record at Wee Mee Nit the studio Steve ran. Tonto<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is guitar Tech for Zucchero who was the headline act. Tonto was in a band called Crown Of Thorns. In my opinion they were the best of the bands that passed through Wee Mee Nit. It was very nice to see him and we had a good old catch up as he worked, tuning and cleaning the numerous guitars in his charge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>sound check </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo j bradshaw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The people poured into the grandiose lawns of the castle and I played my set. I was so pleased with how it went as I was a little uncertain as to how that might work out. I have not played a lot of in Austria.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The aches from my fall were forgotten as I worked my way through the songs. It was a great feeling to see so many young people getting it along with the oldies. I had such a good time I decided to have a wander around out front after my set. I met lots of lovely people who had enjoyed the music down the years and folk who had never heard me before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was time for food so John and I retired to the catering area where the food was to die for. Classic dishes served all day with the best coffee in the world. We got through quite a lot of ice cold carbonated water as the temperature stayed up in the 30s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>inside the castle </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo j bradshaw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">High lights from the rest of the day were The Levellers who reminded me of the EBB in spirit and Uriah Heep who do what they do as well as any one. Still banging, heavy and tight. It was nice to hook up with Mick Box and say hello to the others who I don't really know. Canned Heat were cool and The Doors Alive are an exceptionally good cover band, helped by the singer being a near dead ringer for Jim. I thought Zucchero were impressive if a little over blown but I can see the appeal and why they are so massive in Europe. Not my cup of tea but I get it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So my fall had not spoiled any thing and the trip had been well worthwhile. John and I had a ball. We were well looked after and the overall organisation was near perfect. This cannot be said about the flight home on the next day. Weather screwed up the entire day and we arrived back at Gatwick 5 hours late. John had to drop me off and then drive from London to Cornwall. He is one of the few men I know who still love driving but before he set off we agreed he should check into<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>a hotel if needed. I had a feeling he would do the whole trip and he did. A text at around 3.20 confirmed he was home safe. I stayed up to get that text then fell into a wonderful deep sleep for ten hours. Thanks for looking after me mate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Today I am still black and blue with bruises but recovering and looking forward to my next outing. I will be headed for Slovenia to play a FDPFAFDW gig at the unveiling of a statue to the poet <span class="s2">Ivan Volaric,</span><span class="s3"> </span>for his widow and friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">peace</span></div>
edgar broughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14010798160319281908noreply@blogger.com1