What I like to call ‘Phase One’ has come to close. The aim was to get the ball rolling again and get some gigs under the belt. Taking what I could get and singing to anyone who would listen. As it happens the ball rolled in the direction of the Milton Keynes and Northampton with a handful of events at Olney Wine Bar at their ‘Open Mic Night’ with Leon Jay. Leon then opened the way to a gig in Stoney Stratford at ‘The Cock’ which introduced me to Dave Godfree and the boys from ‘Terrapin Train Station’. They asked if I could support them in Bletchley and again in Northampton.

The pace was picking up but the highlight from those early days was a concert at the School where I teach, Summerfield, in Milton Keynes. Everyone in the address book was invited and most of them showed up which was an awesome privilege. I also need to mention the fact that getting a band to support me in these ventures has worked out beautifully with Matt Peacock on percussion, Zoe Joy Harries on Bass and Jon Dawe on Electric throwing their lot in and making that night at School on 25^th May something of a dream come true.

Phase One also included getting a website up and running which has happened thanks to the amazing talent and dedication of Steve Wilson who has put in endless hours of support and encouragement throughout and sorting the myspace.com thing out.

 

There was also the need to get some of my newer songs recorded and after having a go at doing them myself at Easter time things came to a despairing mess as I couldn’t get anything like the sound I wanted and everything was starting to sound the same. I needed something fresh as so I turned to my brother Simon and his considerable skills in the sound engineering department, (dwightsounds.co.uk). He really captured the sound that I wanted for the newer stuff and with Faith McDuffie chipping in with some background vocals on the Ghana song ‘Your Light’ it was another privilege come true.

So far so good, ‘Phase Two’ involves taking a bit more control over the gigs and trying to get more in Bedford where I live. Recording some more songs and finishing off the website.

Thanks a lot to everyone for your support. This is fun, I heart singing these songs.