Album No.3 Begins...Well it's been a somewhat solitary few months writing new material and making demos at my home here in Buckinghamshire. I've been trying out lots of new songs and ideas, performing finished songs on the most part to Henry (feline companion & co-writer) who thus far seems indifferent to say the least!
 It all seems to be sliding into a slightly more urbane vibe this time around with real attention to detail and I've had a rather intensive few weeks of editing / pre-production trying to get everything to sit just right. Unfortunately all band members currently involved seem to live in lands far away at the moment and as a result there have been numerous lengthy telephone conversions and revelatory text messages at some fairly unsociable hours, all with attempts to try and cement ideas together and discuss the variety of possible arrangements on offer at each stage. We'll be starting work in the studio this week with Wakefield based producer Will Frost who will undoubtedly bring yet another perspective to the table so it will be very exciting to see what we can come up with. Will try to get some pics and video snippets as events unfold...exciting times! :) Happy New Year!Happy New Year! Hoping 2012 brings you everything you dream of. Me and the band plan to be very busy...new songs...new places...new faces....
Can't wait to get started... 'I Do Photography' New DemoBeen messing around with a new song today and decided to throw a demo down. Pretty simple arrangement guitar...piano...bass....cardboard box!
 Will put it on the back burner until I can the band together but here's a little taster for now. Enjoy! Open Mic's & The 'Big Smoke'Well I’ve been back in the London area for a few months now and I must say it’s great to have the ‘big smoke’ on the doorstep once more. I’ve been trying out some of the many open mic’s there are in the vicinity as it seems pretty much any night of the week you can find somewhere to play a couple of songs to a bunch of like minded muso’s. Ah, the big city, truly a songwriter’s playground!
To begin with, was a low key, candle lit affair at a cosy little coffee house in Shepard’s Bush. This is an informal event, no microphones, no monitors, no stage lighting and alarmingly no booze - and therefore nowhere to hide! It’s raw, unadulterated and with the constant ebb and flow of chattering punters who “just came in for a quick coffee thanks”, is bordering on street performance at times. There are a variety of performers here, creative people - singers, songwriters, poets and occasionally bands branching out into the ‘unplugged’ market with stripped down editions of their usual repertoire. We all get to play a few numbers, some more than others and if there’s time left some will get up for a second time and do a few more. The night flows organically with friendly and supportive vibe, most of the material being original, heartfelt and sincere. I have certainly met some great people here in the last few weeks. More recently I found a completely different breed of open mic at a trendy little place on the edge of Soho. Having read the listing on the internet carefully I’m aware that I should be there by 6.30pm or will not be guaranteed a slot to play that evening. Well sure, they all say that don’t they? But then these things never run to time right? They never get that busy? Regardless, I arrive at the unfashionably early time of 6.25pm and am surprised to find a crowded and lively bistro, abounding with designer suits, work chat and white wine spritzers. I wonder if this can really be the place. The barman directs me to a staircase out back - the open mic takes place downstairs in the basement - this is making more sense. But before I reach the bottom I’m greeted by something I’ve never in my whole life as a musician ever encountered at an open mic night...surely this can’t be the queue to get in?! Sure enough it’s a bemusing 15 minutes of standing in line before I get to put my name down on tonight’s bill and I’m reminded that it’s strictly a maximum of 2 songs per artist. This fixture is a fair contrast to the folksy and understated feel of the coffee house; the venue is specially lit with glowing red stage lights and geared up with mic’s, stands and cables everywhere, there’s even an upright piano. It’s purpose made and organised, almost business like. There are around 12 acts on before me and I suspect several more to follow, kind of like an open mic production line. The audience seems to mainly consist of other artists waiting to perform and periodically changes as each artist perform their 2 songs, hang around to watch a few other acts and then slip away upstairs. All the while they are replaced by those who were late for the signup stage who managed to nip out for a bit, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be on for ages yet. This was an eclectic evening to say the least. Amidst the usual cathartic strumming was a teenage R&B artist performing to mp3 backing tracks in the style of Beyonce and soon afterwards we heard from an Estonian fellow practically screaming in his native tongue, all the while hammering away in sheer doom and despair on the house piano - my only wish was to have understood what on Earth he was screaming about! Subsequently an elderly gentlemen dressed as Elvis, complete with gold suit and shades took to the stage and gave us an A Capella rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’. As far as open mic’s go this is hands down the strangest I’ve seen but couldn’t help enjoying the buzz in the air at such a ‘happening’ place. Think I left at around 11pm and the night was still going strong. There’s plenty more to discover in these parts I am sure! I’ll try and keep you posted... 
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