After it's postponement last October, the Police finally came to Manchester on Wednesday night, the 2nd of two 18,000 sell-out concerts as the comeback world tour nears it's end.


To hold 18,000 they open all the seats, all the way around including those normally curtained off behind the band. This is where we sat! So we got the back view of the band. Different certainly, but nonetheless good fun! There was sound facing our way, which was actually pretty good for once, unlike previous Sting gigs I've seen there. It was compelling to watch Stuart Copeland giving it his all for nearly 2 hours, and the whole thing was well worth the wait. Being where we were the atmosphere wasn't 100% but it's one of those nights I'll take a lot away from and remember fondly. So that's 2 more of my all-time heroes I've now seen within the last month, not many more to go at now.

I did the Chemic Tavern open mic on Thursday night, playing the opening slot I performed 'It Will Pass', 'Whiskey', 'Gods&Angels' and 'One Of Us'. Not the greatest reception given how early it was, but the venue is dead right for those sort of gigs. The size and semi-darkness provide a good atmosphere.

I skipped off to near Carlisle on Saturday to play another amazing wedding venue with Atlanta Soul. It rained solid all day, as it was the first day of summer after all! This time it was a hall that was actually someone's house, and when it's the daughters' wedding what better way to celebrate than to have a marquee holding 200 people in your back garden?! Just another stopping off point on my UK tour of strange and wonderful places to play.

Having made it home just as the sun came up I then had another solo gig on Sunday night. This was at my regular haunt the New Inn at Barwick-in-Elmet. It was a solid night, a little quieter than normal (8 people instead of 12), and I got to play some more of my original material to an audience that knows me pretty well now, on my 8th visit. That rounded off another busy week just in time to start the next busy week.

I still need to tell you more about Paradise Street, but if you can't wait take a look in my top friends on myspace. The page is now up and running and I'm updating regularly.

I've also been making some breakthroughs with internet radio. I'll let you know of any showtimes, but I've certainly made some interesting contacts. I also found time last week to nearly complete the mix of another song for the Paradise Street album. It may be finished for autumn, but as with Peter Gabriel, I'm not saying which one.