It seems such a long time since I posted any updates.

We are now well into the new year and I have found the space (mentally and creatively) to put words scribbled down on pieces of paper over the past months into a song!

I’ve made a little video – I admit I’m out of practice tech wise, but with everything going on in the world, I would rather be out and about, and performing live with real people, rather than being limited to an online presence.

Hopefully this song will cheer you up if you’re suffering from the winter blues!

It was inspired by experiences and events on a road trip last year, either side of playing a gig in St Ives. Although the lyrics might  sound random and cliched, I did really  see the smugglers on a remote beach near Sennen Cove in Cornwall, and often during the trip I felt as if I was trapped in a Tom Waits song. 

Songs do tell stories and for me they are my memories – with creativity and a pinch of imagination of course!

 

It was a fabulous evening with a lovely audience at our gig in the St Ives festival.

 

Songbird Anna (Anna) and I met at a music night a few years ago and decided to collaborate (each doing our own set) for a gig at the St Ives September Festival. Our styles are different but we both  share a love of music and write our own original material.

We hoped our performance would  entertain and inspire the audience with stories of love and the things that have shaped our lives. The venue in the Western Hotel was intimate, the sound was good, we sold tickets  and the feedback was positive. We both look forward to being invited back next year!

For me, St Ives was the highlight of a very eventful two week road trip. It began with the Somerset Jazz festival (see the Tai Chi news), and continued into apples falling from trees in Glastonbury, to an encounter with the Highwayman on Dartmoor, and real-life smugglers in Penzance.

The journey home was relatively uneventful but did include an overnight stop reflecting on the bridge over troubled water!

A good time was had by all last weekend at the Peak District Weekender festival, near Buxton (hosted by the Greyhound Inn, Warslow).

This small, friendly festival is only in its second year and the organisers are keen to keep it going. It definitely has a future and I hope to be back next year!

My one hour set was on Saturday afternoon, and although there were a few “tech” issues, there were a lot of positive comments afterwards.

Sunday was sunny, and the day was spent chilling, sitting on haystacks, drinking cider and watching other acts.

 

 

 

Things are looking a little bit different here at Kokoro-Arte.

These pages now provide a window on all aspects of Kokoro – Tai Chi and Communication, as well as a showcase of what I do as a singer/songwriter.
The environment for performers is very different to when I launched my CD (Wild and Free). 2019 seems so long ago now – it was a time when I felt positive and enthusiastic about performing at small festivals and local events!

Creativity is needed now more than ever before – and I am determined to keep this alive. I will be writing some new songs and sharing them and the stories behind them, with you. Perhaps you’ll be able to catch me at a gig, event or festival sometime soon.

Check out my CD here, on Bandcamp