Reunited with my Gordon Smith and an old Red Delta 3 T-shirt
Last outing this year for the Christmas hat
Rockin with Bob Melrose and Bart on drums

30/12/13 - 66: The White Horse, Bodle Street

2 songs at Open night

        • Leaf
        • Sanity
My 66th and final outing of the year and a relaxed evening at the White Horse. Jayne joined me on BVs for my two songs. I've really enjoyed playing live over the last 11 months and have met some great people and listened to some top performances. It's a strange world, but one I can highly recommend!


Below: Playing live at The Green Man in Ringmer - 15/12/13 - I'd rehearsed Ghosts and Life's a race with Helga and got Chris (Bass), Banjo Dave and Lisa to join me for a bit of fun on Going down the road feeling bad - I'm booked into a new studio tomorrow to start the next album (View from a window) - It's all go!
19/12/13 - 65: The May Garland, Horam


5+ songs at Open night


    • Tick-tock
    • Ghosts
    • I like to be sad
    • Sanity
    • Johnny B. Goode
Last outing before Christmas - my old Gordon Smith had been sitting in its case for over 10 years, so I thought it was time to give it some new strings, a polish and a play. A very quiet night, when the band sometimes outnumbered those listening and I actually played my first song to no one. On Sanity, I used my old echo (echo) pedal, which was fun. Bob joined me on bass for my last three tunes and we got a drummer up for my (bad) Chuck Berry impression. After finishing my set I switched to bass for various tunes led by Bob Melrose. I made a bit of a hash of some of them, but Bob was good and it was a laugh.

16/12/13 - 64: The White Horse, Bodle Street

2 songs at Open night

      • Ghosts
      • It's all over now baby blue
Christmas hat night and my effort wasn't a winner with the judges! A busy and jolly evening - Helga joined me on Ghosts and I returned a little later in the evening to play one of my fav Dylan song.
With Helga on Ghosts and Life's a race
The full band Going down the road feeling bad
2 x Bud, a flute and a Christmas hat
15/12/13 - 63: The Green Man, Ringmer

3 songs at Open night

      • Ghosts
      • Life's a race
      • Going down the road feeling bad
Danny McEvoy draws my hat 15.12.13

02/12/13 - 60: The White Horse, Bodle Street

2 songs at Open night

      • Spiders and snakes
      • I like to be sad

Billed as a 'Comedy Song Night', a different kind of challenge for my 60th Open mic night.

Not really my thing, but I'd prepared 'Spiders and snakes', as that song had always made me laugh when Bin, (frontman of Live Evil) used to play it at parties back in the 70's. For my second song I took on the challenge to write something on the day. I used a basic 12 bar in A theme and knocked up some lyrics. A lot of work for a one-off performance, but, it was an interesting challenge.

10/12/13 - 62: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

      • Ghosts
      • I like to be sad
I'd written Ghosts during the day as a rather bleak Christmas song. It was the Six Bells Christmas special so I wore a hat decorated with tinsel and decided to give 'I like to be sad' its second outing, which had involved giving the lyrics a few tweaks to keep it relevant.
Making an effort with a decorated hat

06/12/13 - 61: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

6 songs at Open night

    • Leaf
    • It's all over now baby blue
    • Tick-tock
    • Me and my Uncle
    • Spiders and snakes
    • You're gone

With only a small turnout I got a chance to play twice and do three songs each time. This isn't what the promoter (pub) wants, but for me it's good and it makes it very relaxed and allows for a bit of chat, you can even make mistakes and not feel quite so self-conscious. I did my two new songs, along with a fav Dylan number, they all use the same tuning and then I had a bit of fun with the next two songs, before getting Jayne to join me on BVs on 'You're gone'.


01/12/13 - 59: The Green Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

      • Leaf
      • Tick-tock

Another busy night with loads of players. A chance to play my two new songs unplugged (no mic and PA) on the Martin. I wrote Tick-tock a couple of days ago and performed it with the aid of my metronome ticking away at 120BPM. That's quite fast for me, but I just about managed to stick with it.


26/11/13 - 58: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • Leaf
    • Spiders and snakes
I wanted to try a new song that I'd written last week. It still needs a bit of work, but I'm pleased with it and am hoping to record it quite soon. A friend used to play 'Spiders and snakes' at parties when I was a teenager and it still makes me chuckle. A mellow and enjoyable evening with some great performances.


17/11/13 - 55: The Geen Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

  • Me and my Uncle
  • Going down the road feeling bad
After a busy weekend on the cycling front, it was good to just relax, enjoy the evening and play a couple of songs featured on my favourite live Grateful Dead album.

Another Danny McEvoy original 17.11.13 - Danny's threatened to cover one of my songs!

29/10/13 - 51: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • You're gone
    • Sanity
I'd missed the last two night's at the Bells, so it was good to be back and on the day after the release of my latest album, 'Stories to be told' it was a chance to give it a plug and play two of the new songs.

See Chris Mansell's Blog from the Six Bells Folk & Blues Club website - 5/11.


17/10/13 - 49: The May Garland, Horam

3 songs at Open night

    • Guardian Angel
    • I went to America
    • Stories to be told
Electric night and Bart joined me for my three songs. I joined Ruth and co (Bart, Bob Melrose & John Oddie) for a bit of lead guitar on Johnny B. Goode and then I switched to bass, for an extended jam with Bart, Bob and John - loud and a good laugh and that concluded my 48 hours in Horam!

21/11/13 - 57: The May Garland, Horam

5 songs at Open night

    • Sorry
    • Me and my Uncle
    • House of the rising sun
    • Black magic woman
    • Johnny B. Goode
Took the Telecaster along and was going to do three (two for the first time at an open mic night) of my old songs that I'd prepared, but got side-tracked by the availability of Bob Melrose and the full May Garland house band, which including Bart & John Oddie. Messed up Sorry, which was a little embarrassing and then had a bit of fun with some of my standard covers.


12/11/13 - 54: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • Me and my uncle
    • It's all over now baby blue
A couple of covers - tried a bit of a tuning and capo thing on the Dylan song and made a bit of a hash of the lyrics. Some really good stuff tonight from the other players. Chris Mansell has given me an extended slot on 18/02/14, so I'll need to sort out something with some other musicians to make for an interesting set.

20/10/13 - 50: The Green Man, Rimgmer

3 songs at Open night

    • You're gone
    • I went to America
    • House of the rising sun
I had champagne with Jayne & Helga beforehand at Helga's to celebrate the completion of my new album, Stories to be told. Having just put up videos on You Tube for You're gone and I went to America, they seemed the obvious songs to perform - Jayne joined me on BVs. I finished with an impromptu version of Housing of the rising sun, ably accompanied by Helga, Banjo Dave & Chris on string bass. A very enjoyable evening.


My 50th Open mic night - It all started on 30/01/13 after a suggestion from Philip Rackley, who joined me on my first three outings before sending me out solo. Thank you Philip.

You're gone, with Jayne Ingles on backing vocals 20.10.13
18/11/13 - 56: The White Horse, Bodle Street

2 songs at Open night

    • You're gone
    • I went to America
Another busy night with loads of players - I was on quite late but was pleased to be joined by Jayne and Lisa on backing vocals and John Oddie did some great lead work.

04/11/13 - 53: The White Horse, Bodle Street

2 songs at Open night

    • Me and my uncle
    • House of the rising sun
Something different - you had to play songs written in 1963. Having taken my dad out to lunch with my uncle, it seemed a logical idea to work out a quick version of the John Phillips (1963) tune, Me and my uncle. The version I know and love is by the Grateful Dead. I asked Terry Lees to join me on both songs and he generously agreed - Terry's acoustic playing is right out of the top drawer.

03/11/13 - 52: The Green Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Wrong place wrong time

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of my mum's passing, so I played my 'mum' song, which was tough but got a lovely response from those in the room. It was great to see four of the guest musicians who feature on my new album and despite zero rehearsal as a live unit I got them to all join me for a rendition of Wrong place wrong time - a special evening.

Four of the five guest musicians featured on my new album Stories to be told join me for a rendition of Wrong place wrong time - 3.11.13 - Photo: Banjo Dave


House of the rising sun, with Helga, Banjo Dave & Chris on string bass 20.10.13
16/10/13 - 48: The Horam Inn, Horam

3 songs at Open night

    • Life ain't been easy
    • Run
    • Sanity

My first outing at the Horam Inn - a new open night run by Meya Rein. I'd been working in the studio all day on the final mixes for my new album, 'Stories to be told', so I started with a couple of my old songs before finishing with Sanity. Tomorrow night it's the May Garland - Two nights in Horam (sounds like a live album).
Live at The Horam Inn on 16.10.13 - Photo: Meya Rein

18/09/13 - 46: The May Garland, Ringmer

3 songs at Open night

    • Black magic woman
    • Sanity
    • Sorry
After a couple of pure acoustic performances it was time to go electric, so I took the Telecaster and an echo pedal along. I started with a full band performance of Black magic woman, which featured four percussionists, including Bart & Alison, Bob Melrose on bass and Chris Mansell on lead guitar. It went down so well we played it twice!
I then tried out some new ideas using the echo pedal on an up tempo performance of Sanity, which also featured Bob on bass and the quartet of drummers plus Bart's backing vocals. John Oddie joined us to do slide and backing vocals on Sorry. John then led the band on some country blues to close the evening. Great fun, loud and a good laugh.

15/09/13 - 45: The Green Man, Ringmer

3 songs at Open night

    • My son, from baby, child to man
    • All of the time
    • Stories to be told
No PA, so took the old Martin along. I'd only played 'My son, from baby, child to man' once before and had made a real hash of that performance, so it was nice to give it another go and get it right. I followed up with two songs that will feature on my new album, including the title song Stories to be told.
Arthur Brown (of Fire and Crazy World of Arthur Brown fame), who lives locally played and we had a good chat after. He was an interesting man and he was complimentary about my songs - nice bloke. Arthur is currently touring and you can find out more at arthur-brown.com

03/09/13 - 43: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • All of the time
    • Stories to be told

A chance to give my two newest songs a live airing. All of the time, is a simple acoustic number, whilst Stories to be told, is more of a high tempo rock song, therefore not ideal for the solo acoustic guitar, but it's an interesting challenge trying to deliver it in this format.


24/08/13 - 42: Helga's Birthday Party, Ringmer

2 songs at Open stage night

    • Life's a race
    • Sanity

A lot of the regulars on the local open mic scene attended and performed at Helga's birthday bash. There was some great food and some top performances, and this despite the rain. 'The sky drowns the land whilst the people sing out' (lyric taken from my song, Sanity).
Sanity with Helga - Photo: Jane Ingles
I opened with Life's a race, in memory of Rose Hills, (a cycling friend) who'd been tragically killed the previous Wednesday after a collision with a truck - whilst out cycling with her husband, Mick. Helga then joined me on flute for Sanity, which seemed appropriate after such a sad week.

18/08/13 - 40: The Green Man, Ringmer

4 songs at Open night

    • Wrong place wrong time
    • Sanity
    • Inside of you
    • You're gone

A pure acoustic night and not an amp in site. An enjoyable evening for me and my old Martin. Joined on all four songs by Helga and her flute, which worked well. Did one old song (Inside of you) from the back catalogue and the rest are new and being recorded for my latest album, Stories to be told.

04/10/13 - 47: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

5 songs at Open night

    • Guardian angel
    • Little red car
    • You're gone
    • All of the time
    • House of the rising sun
House of the rising sun with Chris Mansell - Photo: Ruth

I started with a couple of my old songs from the 90's, before getting Jayne and Lisa to help me out with some backing vocals on two of my new songs that they are recording with me on Monday (7/10). I finished with House of the rising sun and was joined by Chris Mansell on lead guitar. Another relaxed evening and along with the habitual covers it was good to hear some thoughtful original material.

Lyin Eyes x 3: In an Irish bar I heard a man sing Lyin Eyes (a line from my new song 'I went to America') and tonight we had two versions. Loft (who runs an Open mic night at The Green Man) did a version on 15/09/13. Back in the 70's, my band Live Evil used to do this song (with me on bass) and I can still sing along to the whole (it's a long one) song word perfect!


05/09/13 - 44: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

6 songs at Open night

    • Run
    • All of the time
    • Stories to be told
    • Life's a race
    • Sorry
    • Black magic woman
Took the Martin along and performed unplugged, which I prefer from the usual vagaries of the plug in and go PA world. It makes life much easier, as you're not worrying about sound, mix, mic technique etc. We were in a small/intimate room and with only six players everyone got a chance to do a few numbers. The usual open mic format of two songs in a night is all good and dandy, but a chance to actually relax, play a few songs and interact with the audience was great.

I did my first four songs on my own and then John Oddie joined me on slide for Sorry. John will be playing slide and doing some backing vocals on the recording of this song for my new album, Stories to be told. Thought I'd finish with a cover and again with help from John, I gave Black magic woman a go. Thanks to Ruth for running a very enjoyable evening.


20/08/13 - 41: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • Wrong place wrong time
    • Sanity
I was a late arrival, due to a double booking with my cycling world. By the time I got up to perform, most people had drifted away, but it was still a good opportunity to try two of the new songs with Helga on flute. I'm back in the recording studio next week and hopefully my recent live work will have helped shape the songs.
14/08/13 - 39: The May Garland, Horam
    4 songs at Open night

    • Stories to be told
    • Sanity
    • Life's a race
    • You can't always get what you want
The May Garland evening is morphing into a much more rocky affair than your normal acoustic open mic nights. Took the Telecaster and small Vox amp along to try a new song (Stories to be told) that I'm working on. With Bart on percussion, it sounded great, but sadly I made a bit of hash of the vocal. Still, I'm pleased with the direction the song is taking, and it has given me the title for the new album.

Helga joined us on stage and added some great flute on Sanity and I finished with my L-E-L failure song, Life's a race. Got back on stage a little later, to do one of my Stones covers - with one of the other female performers taking the lead vocal. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and my ears were ringing on the way home!

Decisions - acoustic or electric, or maybe both?
06/08/13 - 38: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

      • You can't always get what you want
      • It's only rock 'n roll (but I like it)

Another night, another challenge. It was billed as 'A Special Acoustic Rolling Stones Theme Night', so I picked a couple of classic Stones songs and worked out my own arrangements. Went down ok, with a play-along and sing-along on It's only rock 'n roll and I liked it.

See Chris Mansell's Blog from the Six Bells Folk & Blues Club website.

Rolling Stones night and I'm in a Grateful Dead T-shirt 6.08.13 - Photo: borrowed from Six Bells Folk & Blues Club website
04/08/13 - 37: The Green Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

    • Life's a race
    • Mr preacher man
Took the Martin along for a bit of proper unplugged. After my failure to finish L-E-L, I played Life's a race, as the lyrics help tell the story. We finished the evening with a bit of a jam led by John Oddie, in memory of J J Cale, who'd died the previous week.
23/07/13 - 36: The Six Bells
Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


  • Wrong place wrong time
  • You're gone
Back to working on my new material. Played both with Helga on flute, which adds real colour to the songs. There were some great players doing their thing tonight, some of whom I heard for the first time - very enjoyable evening.

17/07/13 - 35: The May Garland
Horam

5 songs at Open night

  • Never tear us apart
  • The future's so vague
  • All alone
  • Mystify
  • Johnny B. Goode
Something a little different: I took my Shadow electric guitar along and old Zoom guitar processer and played my first four songs with Bart on percussion. We ended the night with a big jam on Johnny B. Goode, featuring Bart on drums, John Oddie on electric guitar and Bob Melrose on bass. This was the first time I'd played electric for some time and I really enjoyed it.
09/07/13 - 34: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • Never tear us apart
    • Mystify
Aussie night at the Bells and I did a couple of my fav INXS songs. On a beautiful summer evening, we kicked off with a bit of BBQ and then everyone headed indoors to hear a diverse collection of Aussie themed music. A fun night and an interesting challenge for me, working out acoustic arrangements of these two big rock songs. See Chris Mansell's review.
Aussie night required a silly hat, shades and flip-flops 9.07.13

07/07/13 - 33: The Geen Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night


  • What happened to our love
  • Never tear us apart
Second road test for one of my INXS covers ahead of Tuesday's Aussie night at the Six Bells.


04/07/13 - 32: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

5 songs at Open night


  • All alone
  • What happened to our love
  • Never tear us apart
  • You're gone
  • Sanity (Chris Mansell on lead guitar)

25/06/13 - 31: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night

    • What happened to our love
    • The future's so vague
A relaxed evening and a chance to dip into my back catalogue and give two of my old songs a first outing at an Open mic night. I've now played 19 of my own compositions at least once to a local live audience. Next up at the Six Bells is Aussie night and I thought I'd try and do a couple of INXS songs; better getting practising, as covers are not my strong suit.

12/06/13 - 30: The May Garland, Horam

3 songs at Open night

    • Sanity
    • Mother Nature
    • You're gone
Another enjoyable evening and my 30th Open mic night. I did three songs, with Bart on percussion, Chris Mansell doing lead guitar on Sanity, with John Oddie doing lead duties on You're gone. I wrote and recorded Mother Nature back in the 1980's and this was the first time I've ever played it live.

11/06/13 - 29: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


      • Sanity
      • You're gone

Playing Sanity with Chris Mansell on lead guitar 11.06.13
Playing You're gone with John Oddie on slide 11.06.13

A good night at the Six Bells and a chance to get Chris Mansell to play some lead on my new song Sanity and then to get John Oddie up to do slide on You're gone. Hopefully, these two excellent guitarists will feature on my new album, 'Stories to be told'.

06/06/13 - 28: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

3 songs at Open night


    • Sorry
    • You're gone
    • Johnny B. Goode


Did the first two songs unplugged with John Oddie on slide guitar and finished on my own with a quick version of Johnny B Goode.

02/06/13 - 27: The Geen Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

      • Sorry
      • You're gone
I tried out two of my new songs with John Oddie joining me on slide. John has kindly agreed to play some bottle neck guitar on the studio recording of Sorry.

Another Danny McEvoy original 2.06.13 - I had to wear my glasses to read the lyrics of my latest songs!
28/05/13 - 26: The Six Bells, Chiddingly
    2 songs at Open night

    • You're gone
    • Sanity

A less frenetic night at the Six Bells and a chance to play two more new songs. I'm back in the Stables Studio tomorrow (29/05) to lay down the fifth new track (You're gone) for the next album.

14/05/13 - 25: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


    • News
    • Little red car

I'm booked into the Stables Studio tomorrow (15/05) to start recording some new material for a new album. I've enjoyed my outings at the local Open mic nights and feel I have benefited from the experience. I will continue to do some, but will now need to focus my time on writing, arranging and recording new songs.

Another busy evening at the Six Bells for Promoter, Chris Mansell. The success of these evenings and the demands for slots means some players are rather unappreciative of all the work Chris has put in over many years running the shows. Some acts just want to turn up, play and then go, which for me misses the principal of these nights, where you support and applaud each act as well as getting your own chance to perform.


09/05/13 - 24: The Underground Theatre
Eastbourne

3 songs at Open night


  • Something to believe
  • Wrong place wrong time
  • Johnny B. Goode

Having booked my next session in the recording studio (starting 15/05) it was useful to try my new song, Wrong place wrong time. And with slightly less players than is normal at the Underground Theatre, we got a third song each - I did a bit of rock and roll.

05/05/13 - 23: The Green Man, Ringmer

2 songs at Open night

  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Inside of you
Took the Martin along and the songs selected themselves - it's 18 months since my mum died and Inside of you was for Astrid on her 50th birthday.
The latest Danny McEvoy original 5.05.13
02/05/13 - 22: The Cross in Hand, Heathfield

4 songs at Open night

  • Wrong place wrong time
  • News
  • House of the rising sun
  • Johnny B. Goode
With just five performers in attendance, we sat in a ring and played a variety of songs together. It gave me a chance to try my two new tunes, one of which (The news) was not even complete! Ruth did the vocals on House of the rising sun. Chris Mansell, John Oddie and Bob Melrose took it turn to do some lead work. For me it was a good evening, as you get to try things and play more than the usual two songs.


30/04/13 - 21: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


    • Wrong place wrong time
    • Johnny B. Goode
I've started work on some new songs and decided to try one of them and was helped out with prercussion from Bart & Alison. For my second tune, I sellected a bit of classic rock and roll, and even got a bit of a sing along going on the chorus, a first for me!

It was Chris Mansell's birthday, so we got free snacks and cake and enjoyed a good set from special guests, Jimmy Lee and The Edge of Chaos Orchestra. Another great evening at the Six Bells. See Review.

25/04/13 - 20: The Royal Oak, Lewes

2 songs at Open night


  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Life's a race
The Royal Oak run what I'd call a pure folk night and without any PA or amplification. It gave me a chance to take the Martin along for my 20th Open mic performance and I enjoyed the whole evening.
16/04/13 - 19: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


    • House of the rising sun
    • Going down the road feeling bad

Something a little different tonight, as I got Chris Mansell to join me on lead guitar and Bart & Alison (out of shot) on percussion - Good fun. See Six Bells Review.

Rockin at the Six Bells on 16.04.13
11/04/13 - 18: The Underground Theatre, Eastbourne
    2 songs at Open night

    • Inside of you
    • Run

You get a wide variety of acts at The Underground, which makes for an entertaining evening. It's also the only Open mic night I've done from a stage, rather than the more traditional pub floor. This was my fourth outing in five nights - on tour!

Under lights at Eastbourne on 11.04.13 - Photo by: Lisa Jackson
10/04/13 - 17: The May Garland, Horam
5 songs at Open night
  • Inside of you
  • Run
  • Life ain't been easy
  • Going down the road feeling bad
  • House of the rising sun
A good night - I performed the first song solo and was then joined by Bart on percussion for the next two tunes. After a break, I got a chance to play Going down the road feeling bad and House of the rising sun accompanied by Bart and Chris Mansell, who played some great lead guitar.
08/04/13 - 16: The White Horse, Bodle Street Green
2 songs at Open night

    • Life's a race
    • Guardian Angel
Danny McEvoy doing another drawing, whilst I play a couple of my tunes on 8.04.13 - Photo by: John Armstrong

04/04/13 - 14: The Inn on the Green
Scaynes Hill

4 songs at Open night


    • Life ain't been easy
    • Life's a race
    • Run
    • Guardian Angel

Open mic night in your local pub - Inn on the Green Scaynes Hill on 4.04.13 - Photo by: Charlie Middleton

The Inn on the Green, Scaynes Hill on 4.04.13 - Photo by: Charlie Middleton
07/04/13 - 15: The Green Man, Ringmer
A chance to do a bit of picking on the Martin - The Green Man, Ringmer on 7.04.13
2 songs at Open night

  • Something to believe
  • I want to learn
It was another chance to take the Martin along, as it's a PA free night and I gave a couple of my songs their first live outing.
Another great drawing by Danny McEvoy captures the players at The Green Man, Ringmer on 7.04.13
02/04/13 - 13: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


    • Life ain't been easy
    • Guardian Angel
I'd been out of action with the dreaded man-flu for two and a half weeks, so it was good to get out again and give it another go at the Six Bells. Another fun night, with some great performances and I got through my two songs without breaking down with a coughing fit! See Six Bells Review.
Drawing by Danny McEvoy at The Six Bells, Chiddingly on 2.04.13 - that's me upper middle
14/03/13 - 12: Underground Theatre, Eastbourne

2 songs at Open night

  • Life ain't been easy
  • Paul
07/03/13 - 10: The Cross in Hand
Heathfield

6 songs at Open night

  • Guardian Angel
  • Life's a race
  • Run
  • Inside of you
  • Little red car
  • Going down the road feeling bad
John Oddie & Chris Mansell playing at Cross in Hand on 7.03.13
This was the first session at the Cross in Hand Open mic night. It is a good space and I got a chance to play two sets of three songs. I enjoyed having the opportunity to play more than the usual two tunes and it helped rebuild my confidence after Tuesday's mare.
13/03/13 - 11: The May Garland, Horam

3 songs at Open night

  • Life's a race
  • Life ain't been easy
  • Guardian Angel
05/03/13 - 9: The Six Bells, Chiddingly

2 songs at Open night


    • Paul
    • My son, from baby, child to man

I'm not sure what happened, but this was not a good night for me. I ballsed up and failed to finish both songs. You feel pretty self-conscious when it goes wrong and I was all for giving up the live stuff. After a generous and encouraging email from (the Six Bells promoter) Chris Mansell, I decided it was best to have another go and headed out for Thursday's Open mic night at Cross in Hand.

Six Bells Review - Scroll down to 5/03/13 - Thanks to Chris for including a link to my You Tube video for Paul.

Six Bells, Chiddingly on 5.03.13
03/03/13 - 8: The Roebuck Inn, Laughton

2 songs at Open night


      • Life's a race
      • Paul
I took the Martin along as it's a PA free night. The Roebuck is closing, so this was to be the last outing at the venue and there was a full house waiting their turn in the limelight - an eclectic mix with some great performers. As I'd filmed the video for Paul earlier in the week, I decided to give the song its first live performance.

Drawing by Danny McEvoy at The Roebuck - that's me top middle - 3.03.13
25/02/13 - 7: The Beacon Folk Club
Tunbridge Wells

3 songs at Open night

  • Guardian Angel
  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Life's a race

    No PA or any amplification - you take a table and play to the room.
  • The Beacon Folk Club on 25.02.13
    20/02/13 - 6: The Lamb Folk Club
    Eastbourne

    4 songs at Open stage night

  • Guardian Angel
  • Life's a race
  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Run

    This was my first outing without a PA or any amplification - you just stand there and hope they can hear you at the back.
  • The Lamb Folk Club on 20.02.13
    19/02/13 - 5: Six Bells, Chiddingly
      2 songs at Open mic night

        • Run
        • Inside of you


      Six Bells Review
      Scroll down to 19/02/13
    Six Bells, Chiddingly on 19.02.13 Thanks to Chris Mansell for taking the photos
    Six Bells, Chiddingly on 19.02.13 Thanks to Chris Mansell for taking the photos
    Six Bells, Chiddingly on 19.02.13 Thanks to Chris Mansell for taking the photos
    Six Bells, Chiddingly on 19.02.13 Thanks to Chris Mansell for taking the photos
    13/02/13 - 4: Wheatsheaf Inn, Willingdon

    3 songs at Open mic night

        • Run
        • Inside of you
        • Life's a race

    This was my first solo performance and I must thank Philip for supporting me on my first three outings and encouraging me to play my own material to a live audience.


    I met Philip Rackley at the Stables Studio whilst recording my album Me and my Martin. With support and encouragement from Philip and after a few rehearsals, we headed out to play a few local open mic nights. They are friendly places and offer a chance to test material, meet likeminded players and in the process develop confidence and technique.

    Solo at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Willingdon 13.02.13
    07/02/13 - 3: Underground Theatre, Eastbourne

    2 songs at Open mic night

  • Life's a race
  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home


    Underground Theatre in Eastbourne 7.02.13
  • 05/02/13 - 2: Six Bells, Chiddingly

    2 songs at Open mic night

  • Life's a race
  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home

    Six Bells Review - Scroll down to 5/02/13

    Six Bells in Chiddingly 5.02.13

  • 30/01/13 - 1: Wheatsheaf Inn, Willingdon

    3 songs at Open mic night

  • Life's a race
  • My mum, Alzheimer's and the Care Home
  • Going down the road feeling bad

    My first Open mic night at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Willingdon 30.01.13

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