Well almost a month has passed since the last blog which leaves me quite a backlogue of things to tell you about, mainly on the gigging front.  I've been out playing quite a lot of solo gigs, and I'm still enjoying it immensely.  There's something so comforting for me to know that the only person I have to rely on is myself and that I can practice and then it's all down to me to fulfill what I set out to achieve.

However there are still things I can't rely on, even at solo gigs.....a few weeks ago I got stuck in a huge traffic jam in Leeds city centre on my way to a gig at the Chemic.  Having fought my way through the city centre's one way systems and many traffic lights, I arrived only to find out that the next available slot was at nearly midnight!  A double blow and I came away without having played.

The following week was much better with a return to The Hop in Leeds.  This night has recently changed hosts and I enjoyed the fact I had a really big sound on stage.  It's certainly needed in there for when the trains pass overhead!  I returned to the Chemic again the night after, this time avoiding taking the same route, and went on early for another really good slot.

I've since been back to The Ship and also an interesting night at Verve on 30th August.  Here I opened for a touring American band called The Sweetback Sisters.  They were a last-minute booking due to having a gig cancelled in....Inverness!  The singer said she found it a little chilly in Leeds, I dread to think what they'd have made of Inverness as it happened to be that night when the temperatures touched freezing!  I enjoyed my set, which was played to a listening audience, and the sound was every bit as good as in The Hop, so clear I could hear every mistake perfectly.

Last week I did the New Conservatory also in Leeds, which was my first solo set there.  It wasn't too busy but, like all these shows, I'm loving the process of practice, performance and then more practice!


I've not played one this week due to other commitments, which include standing in with a band on Friday night and then the small matter of the World Stock Car Final on Saturday night in Skegness!  I will blog further when I return from SkegVegas.