May began as I hauled home, chasing red lights through the dark after pulling down the curtains on May Day Festival Of Solidarity; but there was little time to reflect before Steve White, Kev Titterton, and meself set off on our second annual ‘Three Shall Overcome’ hike from Scarborough to Robin Hood’s Bay along the Cleveland Way.

The hike gives us chance to compare notes on the political situation at the same time we help raise a few quid for Pauline Town through our post-lockdown attempt to get everyone moving again and sharing their journey in thoughts and photos, called ‘We Shall Overrun’. Just as last year, we filmed parts of the journey, and a video will follow over the summer. If you missed last year’s, it’s here:

Then the gigs kicked in.

There was ‘Ey Up Mi Duck Festival’ where I was the ‘surprise TBC’ for the wedding celebrations of my comrade-in-crayons Kevin Pearson and his long-suffering partner Jo…..

There was a bumper day on the 13th, which took in first ‘With Banners Held High’ in Wakefield on the afternoon…..

…..then the ‘Festival Of Dissent’, a We Shall Overcome event in London, on the night.

That week, I also recorded an interview/session for BBC Introducing Humberside…..

I played a fundraiser in Scarborough on the 19th…..

…..had a cracking night in Ulverston on the 20th for the ‘Five Days In May’ We Shall Overcome event remembering our friend and Comrade, Dave Wood…..

And finished the month at ‘Bearded Theory’ kicking up a racket in the ‘Something Else Tea Tent’ after running into the legend that is Billy Bragg.

In between times, there was a Lithium Joe rehearsal ahead of our gigs later this year, and the launch of an incredible new animated lyric video for my song ‘These Are My People’, put together by Lodge Productions. It’s a fine piece of work and really helps give a second chance to a unity song whose message is for now. You can watch here:

So a busy old month. But throughout, my head and heart were focusing on the upcoming trip to Catalonia.

That, however, is for next month’s blog.

The road awaits.