May Day Festival of Solidarity, the event organised by Tony Wright and meself (above) has to be one of the best days of my life. Packed venue, great spirit from the crowd, incredible speeches….and the music! Well, that was UNBELIEVABLE!

Grace Petrie made me weep with joy.

Quiet Loner stormed the Acoustic Stage with a lesson in songwriting.

Headsticks showed just why they are getting the plaudits right now.

Steve White & The Protest Family made us dance and laugh and sing.

Serious Sam Barrett gave us serious guitar envy!

The Hurriers stormed a hometown show!

The Wakes played one of the best sets I’ve ever seen. Ever.

Attila the Stockbroker closed us down with a stormer.

I got to sing ‘Ironmasters’ with Attila and Phil Odgers!

And sit in a corner spellbound….apparently.

And Lizzie Nunnery & Vidar Norheim were superb, Alun Parry raised the roof, Black Lamps stormed their comeback…..and The Originator, Ste Goodall, is BACK. So good to see him fighting fit and strong. I am still buzzing NOW!

Next up is We Shall Overcome, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Tony and myself are already plotting 2017……watch this space.

MASSIVE THANKS TO IAN PARKER FOR THE INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHS.

Apart from Grace….I think that one was by Val Colvin.