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Mon 1^st March

What a beautiful day! I’m going to try and get some recording done…

We now have wireless internet which should liberate the writing muse. I can write this diary while in bed even. I might do that tonight, before reading a chapter of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s about time I read it again. Have a nice day – as they in America. With a Wigan accent though.

All the Best - Jonsk

Sat 13^th Feb

I just want to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who came on Thursday night and helped to make it so special. It’s not entirely sunk in yet just what happened but it‘s been giving me a really good uplifting feeling as I remember different moments. And it’s always great to see old friends too…

Yesterday afternoon I did some entertaining in a different kind of venue - a care home. It was actually just as rewarding as Thursday nights’concert – and that’s saying something… I’ll be doing a few more care homes and I wouldn’t be surprised if tales of some of the things I get up to find their way into this diary….

Till soon – All the Best - Jon

Tues 2^nd Feb

Evening all. A very strange thing happened in January. I lost use of the part of my brain that does diary updates… how weird is that. It went on the blink exclusively for January. Now it’s working again as if nothing had happened….

January was none stop. And that’s unusual for that month. I can’t remember anything about it. That probably ties in with the technical brain problem I had. Everything is just white when I try to remember…

Anyway I was at an open mic tonight at the Black Horse in Limbrick nr. Chorley. It was a really wholesome uplifting night and I’ll likely go back one time…

I’m off to bed though now so, till the next time…

All the very best

Jon x

Christmas day

Wishing you all a great Christmas time. There’s nothing I could possibly add to the queen’s speech….

(actually I’ve managed to avoid it up to now)

Jon xx

Tues 1^st December

In a Match of the Day 2 style I’m going to do a two good two bad

Good. 1 – I’ve recorded some great stuff for my album After the Carnival with James Budden who is a master of the lower frequencies

Good. 2 – I’m involved in a group with old friend Stephen McNally, Rab and Tim and I’m enjoying it a lot

Bad. 1 – I did a load of great work on my Gallery with some smashing new pictures and then forgot to save it and lost it all

Bad. 2 – My album won’t be ready for Christmas {although after all this time the end is in sight…)

See you soon + All the Best

Jon

Thurs 12^th November

Well, I’ve been doing a bit of work on the Gallery on this website. There’s more to be done and there’s no writing just pictures, but I feel that’s quite poignant… I think there’ll probably end up being two or three galleries. Gosh, they could even be themed, I just brainstormed! How exciting would that be?! There’s quite a few little snapshots I took with my mobile and it tells it’s own story…

See you soon

Jon

Sun 1^st November

Hello there folks. I’m just back after a trip to Shipston on Stour and Bristol, with an open mic night in Gloucester thrown in. Oh and an afternoon’s busking in Cheltenham. All topped off by a fabulous curry in Middlewich on the way home, well the M6 had been a nightmare so I thought I deserved it.

Anyway there’s a lot to be done to finish off my album but I’m back on track with it, having lost the thread for a while. It’s going to be called After the Carnival and will be all my own songs with probably an instrumental on there too. Most of the main performances are down and there’s instrumentation to go on it too now………. Excuse me, I just had to leave the room as Ron Moody was singing Reviewing the Situation next door, and you can’t really miss that can you. Anyway, so once again, I’m excited about getting this CD out and I think you’re going to like it.

Well I must go now as I’m in Hindley tonight. I must pull out all the stops.

So I’ll catch you later

All the Best - Jon

Mon 14^th September

Hello there. There’s loads to tell you so where can I start. Well me and my son went camping in Belgium a couple of weeks ago… We started in Heuvelland (not too far from Dunkirk and near Ieper (Ypres)) which is one of my favourite places then went up to Antwerp and on to Turnhout from which we went to Holland, including Eindhoven and Germany. I had my guitar and a very small PA with me but I only played for myself on a couple of occasions. We were too busy having a good time playing football, swimming, eating ice cream and following the wonderlust. My lad was delighted we made it to Germany and kept begging to go to the exotic places on the motorway signs, like Amsterdam and Paris. I felt the same way but needed to be an ambassador for common sense or we’d probably be in Nepal or somewhere like that by now. It’s that old devil called school which was at the back of my mind… My favourite place was Antwerp which impressed me deeply – not least because of the great bands that were playing in the streets there. Our introduction was the station which is probably the finest I’ve ever seen. When we left there were loads of people dancing tango in the front bit of it, which was a real eye opener. I’d like to see that on Birmingham New Street! Anyway after clocking lots and lots and lots of miles my alternator gave up on the M6 near Stoke! I was a bit tired after driving back from Antwerp and Dover, getting home at 7am in a recovery van after 24 hours on the road. Life’s an adventure though.

Well, on Saturday some other people had been doing some travelling. I was setting up my gear at the Hunter’s Lodge in Charnock Richard when two friends of mine from Essex walked in. You did look familiar… It was one of those double take moments, and it gave me a much needed lift that night I can tell you. Big thanks…

Also I just have to say yesterday at the Boar’s Head was the best one so far. It’s so relaxed I can do what I want and it’s all the better for it. Looking forward to the next, which I’ll post in the gig dates very soon when I know when it is.

Anyway you know you must have had a good time when you’re sunburnt to the shape of a vest.

This was one place by the side of the road where we cooked our dinner.

Catch you soon

Jon

Sat 22^nd August

Hello people. I just need to tell you that I swam in Wast Water last week. In my underpants. Shadows and late evening sunlight hung over the screes. It was one of the finest things ever.

Oh yeah and on Thurs I played at a crayfish party in Ikea. I kept a leaflet as a memento. It’s entitled ‘Songs for Crayfish Party’s’. It was a brand new experience for me and one I thoroughly enjoyed, and I had no idea they’d be soooo tasty. (Incidently the oooo in soooo is intended simply to prolong the o sound you hear in so. Pronounced wrongly it would sound daft!)

So I’ll catch you later…

All the Best

Jon

Tues 11^th August

Yo there! I just want to tell you a few of the things I’ve been up to. First, I had another trip to Yorkshire and I started in York The Black Swan Folk Club is an inspiring place to play and the whole experience made me turn the pages of history in my imagination. Also I met a wonderful lady called Maria who is from Spain and who turned out also to be a singer. A magical singer and musician.

Next day I walked around the city and the whole York experience was the inspiration for a new song which I’ve called ‘Echoes from the Stone’. I have so many memories of that place that I’d forgotten about. Also I kept thinking about my mum… Also I found a book by Peter Robinson called ‘Cold is the Grave’ which I started reading with much interest, firstly because I’d met him at Beverley Festival and had a good chat, and ultimately because it’s a cracking book. It helped get my mental ink flowing with the song…

That night I was at Elloughton in East Yorkshire where Chris Howard and I performed our most rousing set ever, probably…

Anyway when I got home I’d got an email from Maria so I sent one back saying come over to our house if you want to and play a few songs. Well, she took me up on the offer and we spent the night singing and she gave me some much needed Spanish elocution tuition! Also a little bit of flamenco technique. It was amazing… Me gusta mucho hablar espanol y tocar la rumba! Check out Maria's Myspace songs.

D’you know there’s loads more to tell but I’m off to bed cos we’re going camping tomorrow and it’s a bit late…

See you soon

Jon

PS and sorry if anybody turned up at the gigs I couldn’t do because of swine flu. Thanks for your support.

Tues 23^rd June

hello reader. I just got back from Beverley festival yesterday then I was playing at The Royal Oak in Wigan. It's been the busiest time I've had in a good while recently, and I've totally enjoyed all the collaborations that have been coming off and all the different kinds of audience I've been challenged to entertain. I love that challenge though sometimes I need a bit of time to prepare...

At Beverley the concerts I was asked to play at went well though I feel I've much more to give at these festivals. The experience has given me focus. I very much enjoyed meeting people that I don't always get the chance to meet and that's been very stimulating. The atmosphere was very amicable though I did feel it missed having sessions in the pubs. Not that I did too much about it myself, until late Saturday night with I got my fiddle out with two lads from Driffield singing songs and playing guitar. It had to be done.Also I got my guitar out in the campsite before I went home and my nice next tent neighbours thoroughly appreciated it.

It's a little while now since I was on the Isle of Man and I fell in love with the place. I often look out from Brinscall Moor or other vantage points on the mainland to see if I can see the island. One time a couple of years ago about this time of year, when the sun sets behind the Isle of Man, after sundown I could see it so clearly that I thought I made out the the colour of sea around it, though I couldn't describe it to you, and its mountainous shapes. I stood dreaming.

Well the feeling that I had whilst standing there was so close to the enchanted feelings I had whilst my feet actually walked upon that distant shore that I feel no dissapointment at all. What I mean is that I will still look out in that direction with wonder and longing, and the

sea there really was that same terribly inviting colour that I saw from eighty odd miles away. My dream is still intact.

All the Best - Jon

Thurs 30^th April

Well, we’ve now moved house and have a new addition to the family. We have a daughter and we’re over the moon. Also I’m more organized here than I’ve been before so it’s onwards and upwards…

Love Jon

Mon 9^th March

I just thought I’d try and relate to you a tale about something that happened at the weekend. We were driving through the Lancashire village of Brindle and on the Whittle le Woods side of that village is a farm shop which sells Mrs Dowson’s ice cream. Well, we’d had our first course at Oliver’s pizza place in Preston. So I thought if we got some Uncle Joes Mint Ball’s flavoured ice cream we could drive about a half a mile to a place with a truly splendid view and have our scenic seconds. So Mary went in to get it. After about twenty minutes she came back with a dangerous amount of the stuff. As they don’t sell the little pots in the Uncle Joes Mint balls flavour any more the kind lady said well why don’t you get three big ones, it works out cheaper anyway. On reflection, perhaps she didn’t mean us any harm, but any one of these things could have happened. We might have not had the willpower to stop eating it once we’d started. We might have got hyperthermia from a drop in body temperature due to eating too much ice cream. We might have over-faced ourselves and it all could have ended in tears. We might have wanted to fight each other in an attempt to commandeer each others ice cream. We might have believed so strongly that we’d died and gone to heaven that it might actually have happened.

Now get this. Mary, a woman, says Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball’s ice cream is better than chocolate.

What more can I say.

See you soon - Jon

Sun 8^th March

Hello. I’ve no idea what I’m going to write but I just wanted to give it a go. Probably so I might remember what I’ve been doing and subsequently, possibly, who I am! We’re on the verge of moving house here all being well. Having said that, I’ve had interesting emails recently from Staffordshire and Yorkshire concerning concerts, so I’ve no complaints. Also the concert at The Hunter’s Lodge is shaping up to be very memorable indeed. On top of these and other things, Mary’s very close to the end of her pregnancy!!!!!! SO it all happens at once doesn’t it. I’d not have it any other way…

I need a rest after even just saying those things.

Oh my god!

We enjoyed very much seeing Will Watson this evening at The Boar’s Head.

See you soon

luv Jon

Wed 26^thFeb

We just watched the film ‘From Hell’ about Jack the Ripper. I’m needing cheering up. Very good film though I thought.

Check out this link to Miami singer/guitarist Midnite Johnny. John and I are going to be putting a concert on together in late March somewhere in south Lancs. Details apperaring very soon. He’s completely awesome and I’m more than a bit excited…

Now that’s cheered me up. I can go to bed now….

Till soon

Jon x

Saturday 31^st Jan

I’m back awake after being in bed for four hours. I was tired because last night I was up till seven finishing my tax return.

Anyway I want to tell you about my new bike. I’ve been riding like it’s been going out of fashion. Actually, bikes did go a little bit out of fashion but I think more people are going to get riding them. It makes a load of sense, especially when you get one of the modern ones like I’ve got. It’s like riding a Rolls Royce and having all those gears you can flick through so easily it’s seldom hard. I rode to my Dad’s in Wigan from Chorley and back yesterday. In fact I’m going to ride round to all my friends and show it off because I feel invigorated.

Well, I best try and get some sleep as I’ve a task to fulfill tomorrow night – at The Cherry Gardens… I never seem to be away from the place! It should be a good night…

It’s Zed time for me

G’night Jon

Saturday 17^th Jan

Just want to say thanks Dom, Chris, Mary and Christina and all those who came last night and made the concert such a supercalifragilous affair. We’re completely alidocious about it!

Luv Jon xx

What day is it – Tuesday now.

All right there,

I just have to first point out that the album I’m making will not be called Greetings from next to the radiator. I’ve been with Dom today getting ready for the concert next Friday and I have to say I’m excited about it. Also I’m looking for something to record it and eventually make a live album with. It’s now doing my head in there are so many mind blowingly clever choices and I’ve been reading online reviews. The plot has thickened so much that I’ll probably just get something I like the colour of…

I’m glad for the respite from the cold we’re having and I’m currently a good two and a half meters away from the radiator which tells it’s own story.

One song me and Dom were playing today was Simple Twist of Fate by Dylan. I think he only heard the album Blood on the Tracks a year or so ago and liked that I know most of the songs all the way through. We were eulogizing like nobody’s business about it, saying things so amazing that they could only be spoken once. Using words like eulogizing. Not that word but ones similarly big and thought provoking, our thoughts having already been provoked into it.

It’s time for bed though now…

I’ll be back soon – Jon xx

Thursday 1^st January

Happy New Year and I hope that 2009 brings wonderful times for you.

Also, important progress has been made on the album…..

Greetings from next to the radiator.

Jon xx

Thurs 18^th Dec

Hello everyone. I’m now sat in our living room and it’s warm this time. I just want to say that I was very touched during the Chorley FM interview by all the emails I got – I got a text after from my friend Stan in Australia who was up at six in the morning listening, which just topped it all. That global moment (which included people from all over) was a new experience for me.

Anyway, unfortunately I can’t write for long as we’re going swimming and I’ve got to get myself ready for the trip to Dorset and Somerset tomorrow. I’ll be recording there next week. However, for the first time in a while I feel like I could write a lot if I had the time. So that’s a good sign anyway…………… Actually, Mary’s just said she’s making me a cup of tea which means I’ve a bit more time to write.

Well in that case I’ll tell you about something that I omitted to mention on this page. When I played at the concert in Lark Lane, Liverpool my most prized guitar suffered a blow from a falling mic stand and it suffered a loss of sound quality. So I took it up to Eddy Green in Kirkham… When I got it back – being by now used to playing my other guitar which has a very different feel, I thought it was still nothing like right. But when you get your guitar back in that sort of situation you’re probably listening a whole lot closer which can distort your view if you like… Also my guitar needed a good bit of playing before it came back to life. I spoke to Eddy when I got it back home and spoke with disappointment, though I stress that I never thought it was down to him, just that the guitar was too knackered to be fixed. I found it too painful to play.

Anyway last night I gave it another go, and after a while the magic returned. That guitar makes me feel like the best player / performer I can be, and since that concert I was simply missing a piece of me, until last night. So I’m going to ring Eddy when we get back from swimming….

There just one swig of tea left in the mug now so I’ve just got to say I wish you all a good and happy Christmas.

Take care folks

Luv Jon xx

Tues 2^nd Dec

Hello all. I’m just sat here in our cold living room having watched The Wright Stuff on Channel 5. Heather Small was on and I’m a big fan of hers though I don’t know a massive amount about her, I find her performance mesmerizing. Also she’s an eloquent lady while her compassion most of us will have felt through her singing. I will go and see her in concert someday hopefully…

Well I must get on with things. I should get to write some more very soon though morning’s not the time really – I can only have one thought in the morning, then I dry up. That’s why it’s usually evening or late at night when I write…

See you soon

Jon

Fri 7^th Nov

I was wondering if you’ve noticed there’s quite a few new photos (well most of them are old but will probably be new to you) in the gallery. Also I’ve linked up a couple more my tubes.

I’m lying in bed again. Let me think now about what’s been happening…

For one the recording didn’t go to plan though I did spend some very creative time with James. He knows a shed load of songs and I’ve forgotten a shed load, which I remember on nights like the last one I spent in Dorset…

There’s been two tremendous fundraising concerts that I’ve been involved in recently. Both have given me an incredible lift and put the capital F back in ‘Faith in Humankind’. You can’t beat the feeling of people pulling together.

That’s it for now

Till soon - luv Jon x

Thurs 6^th Nov

Hello. I’m just lying down to give my back a chance after carrying my son at the bonfire last night. We went to Worden Park in Leyland and saw their almighty firework display.

(this entry was abandoned after I was commandeered to perform menial tasks… even with bad back)

Thurs 16^th Oct

Hello there again. Just to say that if you were thinking about going to the Wigan + Leigh Hospice fundraiser on Saturday it’s been sold out unfortunately. All the tickets were actually gone like four weeks ago which says that next time I’ll have to get all the details up there much sooner to give you a chance of getting a ticket… sorry if there’s any disappointment.

Catch you soon - Jon

Wed 15^th

Hello there. Just to let you know I’ll be recording next week with James Budden. It’s to be an album all of my own songs, one of which I finished writng a couple of days ago. I had thought that it was finished for some time yet it hadn’t been, which is probably why I didn’t feel inclined to perform it, if that makes sense. Well I know it does anyway…

Also, if you’re fancying going to the fundraiser for Wigan and Leigh Hospice at Madisen Hall in Hindley on Saturday more details will be appearing very soon on Gig dates.

Hopefully catch you soon - Jon

Fri 5^th Sept

Good evenin’. Something happened yesterday that made Mary and me laugh, and probably will for a long time yet. This tall African fellow knocked on the door and when Mary answered he asked her ‘Is mummy or daddy in?........!!!!!!!! It really has provided us with entertainment. He wasn’t from specsavers.

Also yesterday, my son and I had our first guitar jam together. It felt so good!

We’re just back a couple of days ago from a little holiday which included a couple of nights camping in Belgium and catching up with a few friends around England. We appreciate the break and a clearer look at things. The weather was spot on – I can just picture that blue Belgian sky as I look out of the window… what a bleedin’ contrast. Still, all this rain means that there’ll be no hosepipe ban and that has to be a good thing.

I’m looking forward to all the gigs I have coming up. Hopefully see you soon

Jon

Sat 23^rd Aug

Hello there,

after performing at Tommyfest last night with Chris Howard it seemed ridiculous to be coming home, what with all those friends of mine having such a splendid time, and also to be missing all those bands, if Friday nights line up sets the standard. It’s great to be there with all the effusive, uninhibitedly enthusiastic people making certain that everyone has a great time.

I love you all.

Looking forward to tomorrow night at The Boulevard.

Hopefully see you there….

Jon xx

Fri 25^th July

Hola

We’ve just been to the beach and watched the sun go down. Before that the clouds seemed to form compartments of sunlight which didn’t reach the ground. There were nine…

Thanks to everyone who gave me their support at Brampton Festival, it was very enjoyable although we’d been cold in the night camping which just took the edge off me I felt. That said it went very well. It’s a great festival and I was given a lot of respect by everyone, it didn’t make any difference me being on the bottom of the billing… My son explained to me his favourite song over the weekend had been one by Richard Thompson about Baghdad – which English speaking soldiers refer to as Dad. It’s called Dad’s Gonna Kill Me. It killed me when he told me, especially as I worried it might have upset him…

I’ve seen some really great artists this last while and I’d say the one which will have the more lasting impression was in London when I saw Mercedes Sosa, the great Argentinian singer. I’m never going to forget seeing and hearing her – I feel as though I take something from that concert which she came especially to bring me… It’s the closest look I’ve ever had into a world that fascinates me.

D’you know, I thought I’d have more to write about than this, I thought I might not be able to stop once I got going but no, I think it’ll be quite easy.

Oh well, guess I’ll just say nighty night then.

Good night G’ bless

PS – oh yes I mustn’t forget, I’ve put a few links to some interesting youtubes in my links

Tues 24^th June

I was just looking at some Jacques Brel footage on youtube. Absolutely amazing.

I’m only just coming round again after the weekend. As I had hoped it would be, Friday night at Carlisle folk and blues club was very special. As a result I’m looking forward even more to nearby Brampton Festival in July. People really appreciate music round there. I stopped of at Haweswater on my way back, where I slept the night, then took the A6 home stopping in Arnside. The journey was accentuated by Uncle Joes Mint Balls. What can I say…

Speak soon - Jon

Tues 17^th June

After an incredibly eventful weekend the feet are slowly arriving back on planet earth. The highlight of this busy time was the cowboys and Indians party that my son had. The sight of the excitement on those kids faces will stay with me…

D’you know, I’ve been too busy watching football to write my diary. Isn’t that terrible. I’ve not suffered too many dull moments recently anyway, not done a lot of thumb twiddling.

I’m very much looking forward to the Carlisle trip on Friday, venturing into pastures new. Very game for that…

Got to go now though – it’s two o’clock in the morning don’t you know!

Night, night.

Jon

Wed 22^nd May

Hello there, well since I last wrote in here the concert at the Gregson was a great big success. Not bursting at the seams though well enough represented, but in terms of the music we definitely hit the mark. After having mixed feelings about the Billinge performance this confirmed to us that we’re on the right track and we all enjoyed it very, very much…Enough for James to want to keep making the long drive from Dorset. Great to see some familiar faces, and to Joe and your mum and dad who came all the way from Huddersfield, wonderful to see you and thanks for your playing – that lifted the night further still…

As you may be able to imagine, I’m on cloud nine after the United European Cup win last night. You couldn’t get a Rizzla paper between them in the end. I do feel for John Terry though… Congratulations to all you United players, I know you all read this regularly, I love your football. One day I’ll have enough money to go to one of your matches. You didn’t let yourselves down. It means a lot to me that you hang on to my every word… Just mention to Alex that if he ever needs any help with his teams talks… Keep it up.

Anyway I’m quite busy this weekend, including a gig at the Raikes in Blackpool and The White Lion in Upholland, so I’m going to get some exercise…

All he Best -- Jon

Wed 7^th May

We went on a little trip up to Lancaster today in order to get some posters up ready for the Gregson Centre gig a week on Friday. As the weather was so glorious we went first for a picnic near Sunderland point, on the other side of Lancaster. It was very peaceful and we were so relaxed that we never ended up putting the posters up! So I’ll have to go up there on my own tomorrow…

I’m going about it differently from the previous one in Billinge, for a start there’s no support, though there’ll be variations of the lineup, including songs from Ed and Rory. Also If my friend Christoph comes along I hope he’ll sing a song or two… We’ll make sure it starts at the right time too. I felt last time that we struggled quite a lot and didn’t end up doing my own songs that we’d planned to do. I aim to make sure we do those especially seeing as I feel quite a lot of my material can really use a band. I plan also to do some stuff with just James on double bass, and just Chris on piano, and probably a few with just me. I’m excited about it anyway as I don’t think you’d get a much better venue.

Anyway this weather has well cheered me up. I’m glad the sun’s not forgotten us, we’re not that bad are we.

I enjoyed the open mic last week, and it was great to sing Joan Blackburn’s ‘Old Cobble Lane’ with her daughter and my friend Pauline. I love those sorts of moments.

Take care and see you soon - Jon xx

Tues 29^th April

Hello. After an eventful last couple of weeks I find a bit of time to tell you about them. Well we went down to Devon for Crediton Festival and included a visit to James’ flat in Dorset and an open mic he runs in Somerset. As the open mic was in a bistro and as he was on holiday our young lad came along and joined in on the bongos, he’s always up for a session. James brought his double bass to the first of two concerts I played in at the festival, at a small church, and it sounded so warm and felt brilliant to playing our organic music so … …organically. No I wasn’t playing the organ. The main concert on Saturday night was a very joyous affair at which I even got the audience panting along on The Dogs of Kilkee and shouting No Never No More to my blues/rock version of the Wild Rover. I actually got fairly nervous before that performance…

This weekend gone I played at a guitar/internet convention in Derbyshire where I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven. There were some heads gathered in that place! Also I was brilliantly well looked after and the free ale aspect of it was not unappreciated…

It seemed unfortunate that I had to leave there to go to Blackpool as I was asked to stay the whole weekend, but Saturday night in The Raikes was absolutely fabulous, so no complaints there at all.

Now I’ve got to go into town so I’ll bid you a fond farewell ‘till next time.

Bye Bye

Jon

Wed 16^th April

Well I just went down to the open mic night tonight at the cherry Gardens. It’s the first time I’ve been to it in any other capacity than running it. It was a brilliant night. What always gets me about Wigan is all the talent that emerges from the spaces that I knew nothing about although I lives there for most of my life. It’s not that big of a town really and I wouldn’t mind but it’s been most weeks that someone different comes along and surprises you. I think now though, as word has spread people are coming from farther afield to take part….

Something else I must tell you about that’s well good is a little tapas bar/restaurant that’s opened up in Bolton called La Salsa. It’s very reasonably price and I just want to recommend it to you. Not if you live in Spain perhaps, but certainly worth a bit of a trip. We stopped at our friends after and had a singsong, which is even better.

Anyway I’ll be off now as we’re drivng to Somerset tomorrow. By the way though we were checking out Bob Seegar on myspace and lovin’ him to bits. Oh and we have a scanner now so expect some more photies imminently.

Take care now

Jon

Sun 30^th March

Hello there and thanks to everyone who came along to Billinge and helped us to make it a very special night. And that goes especially to all the artists, and helpers. There were some hitches that caused a late start and subsequently a backlog, and this will definitely be learned from! So I must say sorry for that, especially to those who couldn’t stay too late, and to the artists. But thankfully most people could, and did stay late. Quite a lot of people came fairly large distances too – like from Wilmslow and Abbey Village, Blackpool, Astley Village, Stretford, Liverpool, Wirral, Southport, Coppull, Bolton, Darwen, Chorley, Billinge (OK that’s not all that far), Warrington, Scholes, Gidlow, Norley Hall, Poolstock, Swinley, Whitley, The Ribble Valley, Leeds and last, but not least, Dorset!

I loved catching up with people I hadn’t seen in a good long while, albeit quite fleetingly. It’s great to see your faces. Friends from school, family + relatives, music lovers, locals, groovers…

I’d like to pay tribute to Rory, Ed, Chris and James who played, backed me up and performed magnificently. Let’s do it again lads.

I’ll be very much looking forward to next years repeat prescription…

Take care and see you soon

Jon xxxxxx

Wed 26^th March

Gosh, I’ve just realized it’s my brother’s birthday! Anyway, how’s it going? For me this month has been one of the busiest ever and I’m feeling perky now though the last two days I wasn’t much use for anything. I’ve just managed to get back online after our computer had a crash about a week ago. I was in a state of shock at first – suddenly remembering all the things I’d not backed up! Back your stuff up….

Things are shaping up nicely for Fridays concert and it’s great that people are wanting to perform at it with me. There’s not really words for that sort of thing.

By the way I’ve got to tell you Tonights open mic at The Cherries is cancelled due to football .

Anyway I’ve a heck of a lot to do before Friday so I best go now, but with computer’s being much more accessible I should be speaking to you again very soon.

All the Best - Jon

Wed 5^th March

Hello. I’ve just realized I may have been wrong about The Indian Spring, perhaps that would mean a Springtime that lasted into Summer. Perhaps what we had in February, when I last wrote, was a Cowboy Spring. I reckon it was…

Anyway things are hotting up for this concert I’m putting on in Billinge, today I’m going to run through some stuff with Chris Howard (the pianist who played with me at The Mill at the Pier), and me and Ed will be running through some rhythms very soon… The talent I have the good fortune to bring together is frightening!

I’ve been on a couple of trips to the northern Pennines recently, the first of which was supposed to be just a trip to Lancaster with the little fellow, but which was extended a couple of times. I wrote a little poem…

Where did we go

Onwards

And all was shared

In our smiles and voices

The sun upon the rising land

The trust I held in your little hand

Us with time

Time with us

Following a notion

And then another

‘till far off the beaten path

Knowing adventure

Having a laugh

Onwards

Like a rolling river

Onwards

We’ve bought this new camping stove which makes the whole idea of buying a cup tea in a service station more or less ridiculous. So I ought to be a little bit richer from now on…

Drinks all round!

See you soon

Jon

Fri 15^th Feb

Well, I’ve been enjoying the Indian Spring these last few days. In fact the weather has put me in mind very much of last years trip to Slovenia and I’ve been longing to go there again. Even if I’ve not been that far, I’ve got about a bit these last few weeks. For instance on the trip to Chorlton in Manchester I felt like I was coming home somehow, imagining a time previous in the nearby area, before the war when my Mum lived in Stretford, you just take a right at the end of the road from the folk club and in about a mile and a half on the same road is the house she lived in, the other semi detached house having been bombed in the war… I felt I knew some of those characters quite well, and I laughed a lot at the humour and enjoyed their music loads.

Last Friday I was in Waterloo in Liverpool at Stamps Too where people are absolutely mad for it at 6 o clock in the evening. An awful lot of places only get that keen when you’re just about to stop. Fair fucks to yous…

Also I’ve been playing a bit with an old friend Tony Gibbons. It’s made me feel really good I’ve been playing my fiddle quite a bit too. Oh, I never told you I’d lost it did I. well I’d only left it at Chorley FM in November and I’d forgotten all about that, so I’m now greatly relieved and enthusiastic to play. Anyway Tony’s coming to Southport with me tonight…

In fact, thinking about it I’d best be heading out there so I’ll be catching you soon. First, though, I need to go and sing a song to a little boy…. Any ideas?

See ya soon - Jon

What day is it?

I had to think about that one. It’s now Thursday early hours so I think it’s the31st January. I hope you readers are all feeling good. I must have been feeling good last night in Maghull (Liverpool) when Tony asked me which microphone I wanted to use. I said “the one with the red lead. Red for Manchester United”. I had no idea I was going to say it, nobody was laughing… Even so I still enjoyed the night at that folk club very much and will be returning.

As you may have gathered I’m spending this period, which is lean for gigs, getting out and about to as many folk clubs, open mic night as I can and have a few up my sleeve the next few nights.

The concert that I’ve organized at St. Mary’s Club in Billinge looks set to be a stormer. It’s superb room which ought to hold about 150 cabaret style and there’ll be collaboration with the likes of James Budden (double bass), Ed and Rory from Boomin and I’m pretty sure there’ll be others. Also the Billinge Hillbillies are going to do support as well as a fellow called Paul from Warrington who I saw at the open mic there who really impressed me with his driving finger picking style. I don’t know his second name yet…

So how cool is that?

Catch you soon - Jon

Wed 23^rd January

All right there. I finally feel like I’ve got something to write about again now after been burnt out after new year and struggling to find any proper rhythm. One thing that’s helped get the ball rolling was my visit to Carlisle Folk and Blues Club last Friday where the audience response made everything make a lot of sense again… Then on Sunday in Blackpool where luke with his keyboard and Ben with his saxophone helped get the whole thing grooving. Last Wednesday too, with me + Mary going to the open mic night in Billinge was reaffirming that there’s plenty great people hungry to hear and make sweet music, and me and my friend Simon going to St. Helens jam night last night was thebusiness. Music helps everything else roll onwards towards the spring. Probably the best thing though has been seeing the smile in the eyes of my friend Robin who’s in hospital. He told me that another friend of ours had been in and even had him singing earlier. That’s an incredible improvement….

I’m going to pick up my lad from school now but maybe I’ll see you tonight at the Cherry Gardens.

All the Best - Jon

Tues 9^th January

Hello everyone and I’d like to officially wish you all the best for this more or less brand new year. After trips to Scotland and Blackpool I’ve been a bit worn out but there’s a glint in my eye all the same. Thanks to all who made those trips so very special.

I’ll be speaking to you again soon, and hopefully when it’s not quite so late, I need some beauty sleep.

Take care - Jon xxx

Thursday all day 27^th December

I hope you all had a fine Christmas. We all did here, thanks. Here, have a glass of Jameson’s….

I hope to see you soon

Jon