About me
Formed in 1975, although not actually born until 1976, I'm the result of a night of passion (or, quite possibly, a perfunctory fumble) between my parents. Just over thirty years on this planet, and over half of them with a guitar in my hand (although not constantly - going to the toilet, bathing, driving, etc. would be difficult).
I'm a singer/songwriter based near Carlisle, Cumbria, England. I wear my musical influences on my sleeve and don't try to fit into an idealised image of what any genre should sound like. My music is often categorised in the realms of country, alt.country and Americana (Englisha anybody?), and there's a good bit of that influence in there, but, as a friend of mine said, "Pigeon holes are for pigeons." I like western shirts, but loathe the idea of Englishmen with fake American accents wearing Stetsons singing about being ‘down home on the range’ or other such nonsense. I prefer honesty and straight-forward story-telling. Squeeze, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Guns 'N' Roses spend as long on my turntable as Merle, Hank or Waylon.
The album
My debut album (enclosed), 'Lowlights And Footnotes', includes 12 original songs. The album was recorded, mixed and produced in my own studio and I play all of the instruments (guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, lap steel) other than the pedal steel, performed by Dave Midgley. Mastering was done by Simon Hayworth (co-producer of Tubular Bells who has mastered George Harrison, Nick Drake, etc.).
I'm currently gigging as a solo acoustic act, performing mostly (if not all) originals. I'll play anywhere and need only a P.A. to plug my guitar and microphone into (no chair required!). Preferred maximum set length is an hour (split bills with somebody else performing an hour are a good option).
