Back from two blinding gigs over the weekend that have recharged my batteries and helped We Shall Overcome make a difference once again.

Friday I returned to Old Cinema Launderette to open for the peerless Grace Petrie in a reprisal of the gig we played together this time last year. Always a joy, an honour and a pleasure to share a bill with Grace, who delivers absolutely every time and lifts the spirits of everyone present in that way only she can. Inspirational stuff as ever, and she even let me sing with her!

I took backing vocal duties on her ‘Coldwaterproofjacket’ a song I love very much, and although I don’t have a Bucket List at present, should I ever decide to make one, that will be one less thing to drop in it.

Saturday I played Hartlepool in a special #WSO2019 event put together by the amazing Edwin Jeffries. The gig was ‘An Evening With Frances O’Grady’ as the TUC General Secretary spoke and took questions from the floor before some shouty bloke with a maraca in his shoe drove the serious people away and had an awful lot of fun with the rest.

In all seriousness though, the response from the good people of Hartlepool to our We Shall Overcome appeal for food, warm clothing, toiletries and sanitary towels was incredible and completely filled my car front and back! On top of that, an appeal from the stage for help led to me being able to send £150 to someone none of us will ever meet, 300 miles away, who had her power cut off and was unable to light her home or feed herself. Fantastic solidarity from everyone there and I must salute both the crowd, and especially Edwin, for helping change lives.

There now begins a run of dates which will leave me fit to drop, but which should crunch up 2019’s gearbox and get the show on the road proper.

Here’s where to find me….

2nd YORK– Crescent Community (with Jess Green)
4th SHEFFIELD– DINA (May Day Event)
5th BARNSLEY– May Day Festival Of Solidarity
7th LONDON– Three Wishes Pub, North Harrow (Venue tbc)
18th WAKEFIELD– With Banners Held High
24th REDCAR– Claxton Hotel (Momentum/WSO Event)
25th OLDHAM– Strummercamp Festival
26th STOCKTON-ON-TEES– Political Songs Open Mic (Hosting)

In the meantime, Grace’s tour continues and I’d urge you to get to one of her shows if you can. We share a bill once more at May Day Festival Of Solidarity on Sunday May 5th, but you can also find her here…..

30th April CAMBRIDGE– The Junction
1st May READING– South Street Arts Centre
2nd LONDON– Cecil Sharp House
3rd ASHBURTON– Ashburton Arts Centre
4th BRISTOL– Bristol Folk Festival
5th BARNSLEY– May Day Festival Of Solidarity
7th STROUD– Prince Albert
9th YORK– Black Swan Folk Club (Sold Out)
10th BIRMINGHAM– MAC
11th TRELAWNYD– Trelawnyd Memorial Hall
12th LIVERPOOL– Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic
17th EDINBURGH– The Dissection Room, Summerhall
18th GLASGOW– Oran Mor

Highly recommended.

I’m sure, just like me, Grace would be mighty glad of your company.

Keep up you lot!

And a big thank you to Jenny Rohde for sending over the pic of us singing x