#1: return to gigs! (and friends' releases)

One month in to this whole 'person with a website' thing and it occurs to me that the having of a blog is probably insufficient unless I contribute to it. With this attitude in mind, I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter on the homepage in case I do one of those sometime, too.

It's been a mixed month, with as many joyous re-openings, first-gig-backs and other life affirming moments tempered by the, still inevitable feeling, cancellations and postponements. Still, remiss to complain given the relatively good health I've benefited from this year (even whilst with COVID) and my receiving of dose one a couple of days ago!

Agbeko on the Bandwagon

Agbeko's return was a joy - albeit limited to two 15-minute sets. The team at Manchester's Band on the Wall did a brilliant job with the Bandwagon project at Stockport Market, and re-experiencing the shared energy, synchronous glint-in-the-eye happiness and the profound fulfillment that you get when riding the wave of 10 fellow musicians is something I've sorely missed!

We were also very lucky to be joined by Mali Hayes, on guest vocals. She's brilliant, and you can pre-order her brand new single on the equally brand new Band on the Wall Recordings here. Sadly our full length headline show at the Blues Kitchen in Manchester has been postponed for Covid reasons, but we're working on a reschedule.

Last weekend saw my participation Jazz North's Back to Live residency. I was playing with John Pope Quintet, and shared a bill with Nishla Smith and her band. It was so good to get playing again and hanging out with musicians! A dose of normality. I'm looking forward to Manchester Jazz Festival this weekend. Faye MacCalman also plays in JPQ, and Archipelago's new album is released later this month. Here's the preorder link for that! Faye is also performing a solo slot for Taupe's Newcastle return on 3rd September! Buy tickets! 

The next few weeks consist of finally realising a commission from Lancaster Jazz Festival. I have only ever really released my compositions under the guise of various bands I am in, or founded. So to be asked to write something in the likelihood it will be put out under my own name is a daunting one...but I'm looking forward to finally getting stuck in. In the interested of transparency, I owe my apologies to LJF for the delay. The time I'd initially put aside to focus on this was dominated by my household all coming down with Covid. So pleased to finally go for it!

We're also finalising the mixing for a new Easy Rollers album, recorded in a nice big room during gaps in lockdown. It's a real step up from our previous efforts, and offers some evidence that every four cycles of the moon I can read chord symbols. So keep an eye and ear out for us announcing more about that.

​Stay safe x

Buy tickets for this gig. G'wan.