Cultivating New Orleans Music In England – The End Of An Impossible Dream

My band, 'Forty4', actually playing to a rare Northwest audience in 2015 who did actually dig our music! Sadly, this club has ceased to operate which is a huge blow to the Northwest Blues circuit. Photograph by Lucas Campbell.

Some things you shouldn’t even try, but what the hell, if the recipe looks good on paper, then why shouldn’t you have a go? Unfortunately, even when the ingredients are right, the cooking is perfect and the dish is served with passion, adventurous cuisine can often fail to arouse the taste buds of regular diners.

Alan Wills – The Death Of A Giant Taken Down In His Prime

I shouldn’t normally be overly moved at the untimely death of a passing professional acquaintance, but in this case, Alan Wills had a persona and presence too effectual to be left unnoticed by the many people his greatness touched. Today has been a difficult day for me and my colleagues, unable to shrug-off the tragedy… Continue reading Alan Wills – The Death Of A Giant Taken Down In His Prime

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 14/07/12

If I were lucky enough to meet Robert Plant and be allowed to say one thing to him, it would have to be; “I get it.“ After watching Alison Krauss & Union Station perform to a sold out Liverpool audience, it’s understandable how being the singer in one of the biggest bands in Rock history… Continue reading Alison Krauss & Union Station, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 14/07/12

4REAL – The Manic’s in Liverpool

The Manic Street Preachers, Liverpool Guild of Students, 08/10/10 It was early last week that I took the call. An old friend phoned and asked me if I fancied going to see the Manics on a free ticket as he’d been let down last minute. “What’s the venue?” was my first reaction, seeing as I… Continue reading 4REAL – The Manic’s in Liverpool