Gig of the year, though there’s been a few plausible contenders this year, has got to be opening for twice Grammy nominated US folk and blues artist, Guy Davis! It was a Jumpin’ Hot Club gig in a great venue – Gosforth Civic Theatre – with an attentive crowd. I played my original songs, new and old, and a little instrumental piece and it went down really well. My first gig in Newcastle since before the pandemic. I loved Guy’s show, lots of songs from his new album, The Legend of Sugarbelly. Like it says on the album sleeve, the songs were ‘reflect music from an earlier time’. If you get the chance, go and see Guy Davis.
So much has been going on since I last posted but I should say something about Kurlew‘s first single. It’s an upbeat acoustic number called Quite The Catch. It’s out on Spotify and all the streaming platforms and available via bandcamp, iTunes, etc. Check it out and tell us what you think.
Studio Update
After a lot of research, planning and generally getting ducks in a row, I am finally getting stuck into demolishing an old garage / outbuilding and making space for a new music room and home studio. Lots of plans and exciting things ahead – watch this space. We are still on with the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ where we can – Bev’s got the old beams from the garage to make new raised beds in the smallholding.
For the work with Kurlew and the studio-to-be, I am blowing the dust of the old toppet-hill.co.uk website. I created Toppet Hill Records as a DIY label to release my first set of recordings way back in 2002. Various initiatives, activities, events, etc will go out under the Toppet Hill banner in 2025. Head over there to join the mailing list if you like.