Week Commencing 28th March 2011

Typing this on a Sunday for once while watching

3.10 to Yuma starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe

and rather enjoying it, but certainly I am really starting

to think Spring is in the air now.

I ended up going for a beautiful walk round Longford Park

(which has been making more and more of a appearance

in my poems recently I must admit) and managed to do

a bit of writing on a few forthcoming poems (nothing

finished however). 

This week coming, I don’t have any plans for reading

But will be busy in creative projects work. Monday,

I will be trying to work out my new keyboard I bought

Off ebay on Saturday somewhat more still. Did a bit

Of messing around it this evening, not going to be

Easy but it’ll be fun exploring it over the next few

Months and if it works out maybe able to use in

The live A Means to an End set.

Tuesday, IT SHOULD BE band rehearsals

Where I have a rough draft of a new piece to

Consider called ‘Up on the roof’ (Strangeways)

Which is about the Strangeways riots in Manchester

In 1990.

Wednesday, I am going to pop round to see my friend

Olga over her paintings as I think she is going to donate

A painting, maybe two for the charity do I am looking

After in part next month.

Thursday I am at a meeting for a gig in July I am doing,

And then on Friday it’s my friend Zoe’s birthday so I

Will pop out for a drink or two, then head to Cathy’s

For the week-end.

All in all a busy week, no gigs or anything but things are

Building up as always – lol.

Latest News - Week Commencing 21st March 2011

Very little to report this week aside from I have been writing a few bits and pieces.

I went to all of the readings I mentioned last week, W.O.L. Stockport was helpful
as I test ran a new major poem 'The Origin of the Kid' which I think will make it
to part of the live Means to an End set in due course and had fun with two other
pieces (one of which 'Spring is Coming' is blogged).

I found the 'Pass on a Poem' night at the library to a degree ruined by the whaffle
from some of the people inbetween the pieces, but it gave me great pleasure
reading out some Derek Jarman poetry from his 'The Garden' book which is
a amazing book about his Garden and then wandering over to Freed Up Poets
at the Green Room in Manchester. If I am honest, I was a little disappointed
with Freed Up as the audience was really down for the night, but thankfully
it had filled up a little by the time I performed where I read out a love poem
'Chamber Music XII' retitled 'Victoria Park' for the night and a piece that
means a lot to me 'Percy' which I got tons of praise on afterwards.

Spent part of the week-end at Cathy's, so on Sunday I went straight
(aside from a brief visit home) to my guitarist Jeffarama's which we had
a good jam with his tutor Dave (who I think will be joining us a part time
third member) and worked out arrangements for 'The Oirgin of the Kid',
'Forgotten hero' and a slight reworking of 'Tandle Hill', before heading over
to W.O.L. Bolton where a guy called Don parry joined me and Jeff on
stage for 'Tandle Hill' and I did 'Forgotten Hero' solo.

This week however, not a lot has been happening apart from me writing
a new poem 'Up on the Roof' (Strangeways) and a draft of a forthcoming
one 'Catalogue Number'. I've also been working a little bit on a play
called 'Night Game' which is looking promising also (More on that soon).

Gigs wise, not much happening for me for a few weeks until the next
Guitars and Verse in April, and then Cathy's Charity Do, but once they
are out of the way - May is going to be silly season as is July and possibly
September (with August been a month off).

More to follow next week of course (at some point).

Week Commencing 14/03/2011

Week Commencing 14/03/2011

Spring at last is in the air, and my virus is finally starting to shift.

Spring is in the air and the skies are definitely starting to get bluer and bluer,

Even though it is still slightly cold which was a good reason to pack a light

Jumper to go to Stockport Art Gallery for W.O.L. – Stockport.

Considering I have been ill most of March, to go tonight wasl be a bonus for me

With several brand new pieces. I must admit I really didn’t think I would get these

Ready on any kind of level for Monday, but to get wrote what I have completed

Is a major bonus. I don’t think they are masterpieces by any stretch of thought,

But it’s a nice plus just to complete them. (Pieces were: The Origin of
the Kid, Spring is Coming and Marple Odyssey).

There was some confusion there tonight which was very annoying as when I

Arrived in the normal meeting place, there was a few people there already

Saying they were booked in the room and after some confusion they then

Went downstairs and for whatever reason several people arrived,
some of which I knew and was led to the impression that was the group
and left almost straight-away.

Stockport’s W.O.L. is a very small group indeed (9 or 10 people normally)

And to lose people like that because of a breakdown in communication
is worrying.

Rest of the week has generally been chilling as my throat still isn’t perfect

But I shall be over at Pass on a Poem again at Manchester City Library on Deansgate.tonight  and as it stands I’ll be reading a piece by
Derek Jarman on that one from his gardening book, before heading over
to Freed Up Poets @ The Green Room in Manchester to pop along to
their open mike night where I shall be reading probably ‘Chamber Music XII’ and ‘Percy’ (about my long dead Uncle).

Week-end wise won’t be much creative but I intend doing a bit more writing,

And then on Sunday night I SHOULD be at Butterflies in Bolton for W.O.L.

Bolton hindering my guitarist, Jeffarama again as normal – lol.

Must admit also I also went on a beautiful boat trip over week-end over Uppermill

Too, and it was amazing – I must admit.

Week Commencing 7th March 2011

Week Commencing 07/03/2011

After a busy few weeks, the last few weeks in total contrast has been quiet because I have been ill.

Because I was ill, I ended up missing March’s ‘Guitars and Verse’ and also ‘Friday Night live’ Both at Butterflies in Bolton which are both run by Jeffarama (my buddy in Half Evil promotions) and in the case of Guitars and Verse by both of us and also had to cancel several other bits and pieces we were down for doing.

I have heard on the grapevine both nights went down pretty well and it’s likely I will be back on Sunday 20^th March 2011 to support Jeff with Write Out Loud, Bolton where I will probably be performing there (voice permitting).

This week itself will involve a meeting for a charity night on Tuesday night and prepping for next week (Week Commencing 14/03/2011) which will be a fair enough slog all in all (as I will be at W.O.L. Stockport at Stockport Art Gallery hopefully with two brand new pieces to perform), Pass on a Poem @ Manchester City Library, then straight over to Freed Up Poets @ The Green Room (also in Manchester).

There are several things also in the pipeline / maybe’s also now – namely confirmation of an appearance at Chorlton Arts Festival in May 2011 (Date and Venue to be confirmed). An opportunity has also arisen for something at Tameside Arts Festival hopefully in July (as well as another gig I’ll talk about nearer the time) and I have also been in communications with Farnsworth Arts Festival over a possible idea over the summer.

I think Jeff my guitarist and partner in Half Evil Promotions has his fingers in a few other pies at the moment gigswise too including a possible joint gig with ‘Mind’ in Manchester a regular night which is ran at Manchester Buddhist Centre and there is defo going to be a special Guitars and Verse @ Salford Crescent in May 2011.

More to follow as usual. 

Latest News and Views - 21st February 2011

Dear all;

Last week ended up been a bit of a damp quid for me as I went down with

A throat bug and cold that my little nephew has got, and resulted in me

Going off sick which wasn’t very pleasant at the end of the week.

This week as I am not 100% better – I don’t think there will be a lot happening

But I am certainly looking forward to band rehearsals on Tuesday with Jeff

As I am going to try out a possible Keyboard piece with him for future band

Work (Watch this space) and also carrying on work on our latest band 

Piece ‘Before the Curtains Open’.

I am also chairing a writing discussion group on Wednesday night called

‘Poetica’ on Wednesday night at Manchester City Library on Deansgate

In Manchester. I’ve been going to Poetica more off than on nowadays I will 

admit, but I used to go regular certainly from the Middle of 2007 to 

last year, but it can prove a helpful poetry discussion group for writers 

with their work.

Anyway, it starts at 6.30pm and will run onto around 8.00pm or something

So I believe.

Friday this week although I won’t be attending is ‘Friday Night Live’

With my guitarist and partner in Half Evil Promotions, Jeffarama

Over at Butterflies in Bolton fronted by the wonderful Second Hand

Wings who were last time I saw them a three piece female led group

Who really are well worth checking out.

Next Week however will be Guitars and Verse which’ll be fun

As always.

Latest News and Views - Week Commencing 14th Feb 2011

Dear all;

Sorry for the lateness in this week’s posting, but I got a little busier

than I expected in the beginning of the week and never really

caught up with myself then.

But anyway to business, I have already been to two nights (Sunday

and Monday) both Write Out Loud related nights in Bolton and Stockport.

The Bolton one was ran by my good friend and guitarist in my band,

Jeffarama who even persuaded me to go and do some MCing for him

(which I had done twice before over the past few years but never

really felt comfortable doing), and had a really top time doing.

The art that Jeff is developing so, so well at  W.O.L. Bolton

is the encouraging factor for all ages and all ability.

In some ways, it reminded me of the way ‘Freed Up Poets’ in

Manchester back in 2008  when I first started going as you didn’t

know what was going to happen from performer to performer.

All in all, here there were 19 performers here and I think 32

or 33 in the audience in total and for a small bar like Butterflies

in Bolton, that is good going.

I myself read ‘Memories of Moss Side (1981) with Jeffarama

which is our latest piece about my memories of the Moss Side

riots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg114E1oBN0)

and then ‘Before the Curtains Open’ complete with cuddly toy

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfsIJhWeh8Q)

Monday, I went over to W.O.L. Stockport. Stockport in total

contrast to Bolton is a lot, lot quieter and I think attracts maybe

12 people or so (It got 14 I think that night) and is read around

in a circle.

It wasn’t anywhere near as good as W.O.L. Bolton to put it

honestly as I am not convinced the standard of writing is

anywhere near as good, but I enjoyed road testing two brand

new pieces there ‘Peterloo’ which is about a massacre in the

centre of Manchester in 1819 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaPjFHLuM04)

and another new one about witnesses to a murder called ‘Witness’.

bit of early days for both of these to decide what happens

next with them, but if they go well in rehearsal next few weeks

they may appear on other nights either with my band or solo.

No plans for any more performances now until Guitars and Verse

in March, but I will be active doing other stuff next week too

(More news to come).



Week Commencing 7th February 2011

Week Commencing 07 Feb 2011

God, where has the year gone already – only seems

Like a few days since Christmas and we are always

Well heading into February.

Last week itself was the usual rehearsals with Jeffarama

For ‘A Means to an End’ which tightened up our

Newest piece ‘Memories of Moss Side (1981) which

Jeff has produced a very Peter Hook Bass-line onto

It which gives it a pace like running footsteps which

I think works really well with the piece.

We performed it at the 6^th Guitars and Verse event

Last Thursday at Butterflies @ Bolton which was

Certainly the busiest of the 6 nights we have

Done yet, and without bragging too much got 18

People / acts on the open mike and a excellent

Injin Joe who was only little more than a kid

But were mega talented and an audience of

Over 45 at its peak, which pleased me a heck of

A lot.

This week as it stands, I won’t be doing much

As I am back in work after a few days off although

I do have more band rehearsals on Tuesday, where

I hope to have finished a new piece called ‘Peterloo’

(Google it if you are interested as it’s a forgotten

Piece of Manchester history) and we’ll jam around

With a few things and maybe perform at Write Out

Bolton next Sunday.