We start with February this year. January is always a tricky month to get going and after the excess of the Christmas holidays, it’s time to feel normal again in February.
For me getting back on track means playing gigs! We kicked off the month with an acoustic gig in Chesham, (the last stop on the Metropolitan line for Londoners). The Drawing Room, run by Richard Elkington, is a wonderful little venue that is also a restaurant and art gallery all rolled into one. The gig was sold out and we were literally in the midst of the audience who were also eating their dinner. There was also a telecast to the floor below so people could watch and eat there. I was joined on the bill by Steve Rogers (Paul Rodger’s son), an amazing singer-songwriter in his own right, and Treanna Morris, another gifted musician. There were also children and pets in the audience so that was a new one for me. It’s a real treat to play in front of an audience who are there to hear the music and I was accompanied by Juba on his Cajon. Check out the website.
Drawing Room 1
Drawing Room 2
We also had four back-to-back gigs and added keyboard player Adam to our sound this month. We played The Boogaloo in Archway, then Nambucca in Stoke Newington, The Boileroom in Guildford and Phizzfest 2 in Wimbledon.
At the Boileroom we were very excited to support Little Fish – who we are huge fans of. They are electrifying live and bring a dose of real, raw in your face rock. Juju the singer/guitarist has a great voice and a pretty amazing guitar set up, so you do not even notice that there is no bass. Sissy & The Blisters, a local Guildford band who are starting to get plays on Radio 1 were also on the bill and got the crowd into a frenzy. As it was recently Juju’s birthday, we sang a special version of Happy Birthday using the tune from their song ‘Am I Crazy’- which we had great fun doing.
Phizzfest 2 completed our quartet of gigs in Wimbledon. The idea of an all-day festival in February is a great idea and judging by the big crowds, I wasn’t on my own thinking that! Wimbledon Grove is a great little pub venue, with a proper stage.
Phizzfest
Adam on keys
On another note our regional radio campaign kicked off and MaW and I found ourselves on a train to Kenilworth in the Midlands to do an interview and acoustic session at Touch FM for their ‘First Break’ programme, which broadcasts all over the Midlands. It’s always fun doing radio interviews as you never know what they will ask you! The presenter was lovely and we played them ‘Undercover’ and went back to London. As the Midlands is the home of metal and I played ‘Paranoid’ by Black Sabbath on the train home.
“Think I’ll lose my mind if I don’t find something to pacify”.
Touch FM
Rock on!
Anita
