After playing at Threshold Festival last weekend and finally shaking off a cold I was eager to get back on stage and play some more music for people. Fortunately I was offered a slot at ‘Unplugged at The Sink’ on Thursday. It’s a new acoustic night hosted by singer-songwriter Thom Morecroft and Sian Williams. You can read a little review of their first outing HERE.

It was a lovely night in a great little venue with lots of happy faces and funky wallpaper – you know it’s a great venue when there’s funky wallpaper! It’s a tiny little place with a good atmosphere for acoustic music. At times it felt like I was playing to friends in someone’s living room – that’s the kind of environment I find my music works best in!

Anyway…in the several days between Threshold and this new gig my cold decided it would make a comeback! Incredibly frustrating but it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t play a few songs. Luckily I managed to get through my set without driving everyone away =P however it’s lead me to taking a break from singing for a few days (again!) whilst I try to shake it off properly this time! Fortunately I have a few days before I return to The Brink for Art.Love.Local on the 22^nd Feb.

So whilst I’m not playing I thought it would be a good chance to share some new music with you. It’s always lovely to see new audiences and meet new musicians at shows but it’s also nice to see familiar faces, to play on the same stage as musicians that you’ve crossed paths with before, to make new friends who you can support and watch grow as you too try to make headway in the world of music.

Two artists whom I have bumped into several times at live shows and become friends with since wandering into the Liverpool music community are Simon Maddison (of Silent Cities) and Thom Morecroft. I love discovering new music and so as well as using this blog to keep you up to date with my own songs, sharing them with people as far and wide as I possibly can, I really enjoy being able to use this platform to share music from other artists who I really enjoy listening to. Two things that really draw me to an artist are their lyrics and their voice. I love discovering unusual vocals; really listening to the tone and how creative someone can be with their voice. I think it’s primarily because it’s what drives my own music and it’s something that I’m constantly working to improve and develop. Listening to other vocalists is somewhat of an education for me and it’s always inspiring to hear a fantastical singer-songwriter.

Simon (a.k.a Silent Cities) entered the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge alongside myself and around thirteen other songwriters. Whilst I received the audience award he received the Judges award for his song Brother of Fur (video below). He’s a fantastic songwriter and seems to really be making tracks in the music community here. If you haven’t already heard his stuff then you should check it out HERE. If you like what you hear then show him some support; like his Facebook page and let him know! He’s recently put together a full band and is working on creating a fuller sound for his music so if you live in theNorth Westlook out for upcoming shows! I’ve not got around to catching a performance with the full array of instruments but I’ve heard only good things!

Thom Morecroft is another artist with a stand out voice! I’m not going to try and describe it because he’s got plenty of videos and tracks up online and I think the best thing you can do is just go and listen to them all! A genuinely lovely guy who as well as playing his own shows amongst writing and recording has begun hosting ‘Unplugged at The Sink’ in order to promote other local artists. Recently he’s begun performing songs with accompaniment from Elle Schillereff (video below), another fantastic voice, who bring fantastic harmonies to Thom’s songs. Again I urge you to go and check out his music…HERE. Go show him some love and like his Facebook page!

Just this week I received a comment on Facebook from a girl called Kathleen in Pennsylvania saying ‘thanks for sharing some great musicians to add to my listening library’. It spurred me on to write this blog. I hope you enjoy listening to these musicians and that this blog had provided you too with some new music to add to your listening libraries.

Remember to support independent music whenever you can – we work hard for the love of doing it! Help build creative communities and share the things you love with those around you =)

love&peace,
rob x

I’d been looking forward to Saturday 11th Feb for a long time…I felt a healthy mixture of excitement and nervousness for a good few days before the date finally arrived. It was of course the day of my performance at Threshold Festival in Liverpool.

Not only did I manage to get myself a slot on the Liverpool Acoustic Stage but I was also asked to co-host the stage. This was a fantastic opportunity for me as a new musician on the Liverpool music scene and I am incredibly grateful to Graham Holland of Liverpool Acoustic for asking me.

The day was one of three over the weekend in which Threshold took place. I believe it’s one of the biggest grass roots indoor festivals in Europe and it overcame some massive hurdles in its second year to even happen at all. After the CUC closed its doors at the start of the year the festival’s usual venue was pulled out from under the organiser’s feet but instead of pulling the plug they pulled together managing to talk lots of different venues within the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool to participate. This created a multi venue event that played host to hundreds of musicians, a great deal of which were up-and-coming unsigned acts. Myself being one of them!

I can’t express how fantastic it felt to be part of such an amazing creative party! Being relatively new to the music community here I felt very privileged and grateful to be added to the line-up. So I’d like to say a big thank you to the organisers, the promoters (especially Liverpool Acoustic) and all the people who made it happen from the volunteers to the sound guys.

The festival itself was great fun, unfortunately I was only able to attend on the Saturday but I made the most of the day and saw as much as I could. I performed my twenty minute set at half two in Elevator Bar and then spent the rest of the afternoon introducing other acts onto the stage alongside Graham Holland. It was a great chance for me to meet lots of other acoustic musicians from the local area and beyond. Everyone was incredibly friendly and it made my role as co-host a very enjoyable one. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who played and also to everyone who came along to watch. One of my personal highlights was a performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Robert Mulder along with his band – lot’s of energy and very catchy songs! I urge you to go and check out his music if you haven’t already come across it before.

The stage also saw brilliant performances from Dean Elliott, Léon Pearce, Oxtoby, Rob Vincent, The Big I Am, Mary McCombs, Alan O’Hare, James Munro and Hedda Aronssen. So many talented musicians, so many smiling faces, such a fantastic afternoon.

Once the stage had wrapped I got the chance to visit the other venues, art installations and food stalls! It’s safe to say the Baltic Triangle was buzzing with activity. It’s always great to see venues full of happy people so it seems fitting that the rest of the night was spent in the Nordic Church with friends enjoying tea, cake and lots more lovely music!

All in all a great day and a true sign that in harsh times creativity will prevail; music will be heard coming from the old factories, people will dance in the streets and grass roots communities will always thrive and grow within the concrete jungles that so often seem to stifle our imaginations. If you put a smile on one person’s face your endeavour may be considered a success.

My smile was one in a sea of many.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and made it possible!

I have a photo album on Facebook from the Saturday at Threshold HERE. Feel free to download and use the pictures but if you post them anywhere I would be grateful if you could photo credit ‘Georgia Stuart Photography’. Thank you.

love&peace,
rob x

As you’ve probably already read, for the past week or so I’ve been suffering with the flu! It’s just rubbish, I had to cut short a visit to the studio, cancel my first scheduled show of the year and was unable to do a Live Acoustic Session for January. Not a great start to the year but it’s motivated me to get on with things…I just want to sing!!

The first day of February saw me feeling quite sorry for myself, unable to play at the Old Roan’s Live Lounge in the evening I decided that I should do something vaguely music related which didn’t involve singing.  It was time to hit the road in search of some interesting locations for a photo shoot. I know, I know…not the wisest of things to do with the flu and not really that musical but I needed to get out of the house!

There’s a really fabulous second hand book shop in Frodsham called the Cheshire Book Centre that I figured would be a really cool place to take some promo pics. It’s a bit of a hidden gem housing over one hundred thousand books with lots of old & rare treasures! After introducing myself I asked if we could shoot some photos and they were more than happy to give us free roam of the shop. So firstly I’d like to say a big thank you everyone at the Cheshire Book Centre for being so kind!

So these are the shots! They’re all taken by the fantastically talented photographer Georgia Stuart. As you can see it’s one of those book shops where you’re just surrounded. All the books have their own history, places they’ve seen, people they’ve enlightened, each page of every book aged and wise. Can you tell that I love the place!? If you’ve never been and you live nearby or you’re in the area then go check it out. You can find out more about the place on their website.

And…the good news is, I think I’m almost rid of this flu! So, in anticipation of me being better and being able to sing I’ve announced a live session date…January’s ‘A Little Late’ Live Acoustic Session in February! I figured it’s better late than never so cross your fingers that my voice is back haha! It’s going to be the first live session of the year so be sure to tune in on Sunday 5th at 8pm (UK time). Have any questions ready and I’ll try my best to answer them in between songs.

Look forward to chatting to you all again!
A big thank you once more to Cheshire Book Centre.

Over and out!
love&peace,
rob x

So it’s nearly the end of January…already!! I’ve just realised that the last time I wrote a blog entry it was Christmas and therefore I realised that my blog is very out of date!

January has flown by very quickly. It’s been one of those months where I look back and wonder where on earth the time has gone. I had it in my head that January would be a rest month, I managed to take a week off down in Devon at the start of the month and then work seems to have taken over my life.

I look forward to a time where I can spend all of my waking hours writing songs and performing, meeting all of you guys on the road and putting all of my energy and focus into being creative so that I can share lots of new music with you all.

It’s a bit of a balancing act with work at the moment but I want to really step up a gear this year and produce some great things for your eager ears to consume (that sounds a bit strange but I like it haha!) It’s been nearly a year since I released Before the Dawn and I’m starting to feel that it’s about time I embark on a new project.

 On the 31^st of this month I shall be going into the studio to record a single and then February sees me returning to the live scene with several shows lined up around Liverpool. Included in those dates is a slot at Threshold Festival on the Liverpool Acoustic Stage. Not only will I be performing a twenty minute set but I’ll also be co-hosting the stage with Liverpool Acoustic’s Graham Holland. I’m really excited about it and I feel like it’s a great start to the New Year. You can buy weekend & day tickets HERE! Also check out a preview pod-cast by Graham Holland featuring tracks from all the acts that will be playing on the Liverpool Acoustic stage including myself!

I’m incredibly thankful for all of your support over the last year, I’m constantly surprised and overwhelmed by the feedback and messages I receive from people and it inspires me to continue writing and playing. I genuinely can’t thank you enough!

My new year’s resolution is to tip the balance towards my music, producing more new material, recording more videos, playing more shows, keeping my blog more up to date and ensuring that I’m always striving to give you guys something back in return for all your support!

February feels like it will be a good month to start the ball rolling again. For the last few days my throat has felt like I’ve swallowed a packet of razorblades (not a nice image I know), something which the British weather somehow manages to inflict upon me at least twice a year! However not being able to properly sing and practice for the last few days has made me more determined than ever to get back into my music and so I will approach February with lots of energy and determination!

Here’s a list of my upcoming gigs in Liverpool so far…it would be great to see some of you there!
1st Feb – Old Roan
11th Feb – Threshold Festival (Liverpool Acoustic Stage @ Elevator Bar)
24th Feb – The View Two Gallery (Liverpool Acoustic Anniversary event)
2nd March – Barcelona Bar
31st March – Barcelona Bar 

I look forward to making some new sounds to share with you!

love&peace to you all and thank you again for your continued support!
rob x

*Note: This track is no longer available on Soundcloud. You can watch the video by clicking HERE.

Hey everyone! Just to let you all know my Christmas track, ‘I Just Want Christmas Back’ is now available to stream and download on my Soundcloud page!*

My sisters and I when we were a lot younger (obviously!)

I wrote it last Christmas whilst living in Brighton. I was unemployed and with money being tight I found myself stressing about what I was going to buy everyone. I figured that Christmas shouldn’t really be about ‘buying’ things for people, it should be about ‘being’ with people. It’s difficult to get away from the commercial side of Christmas and this song was kind of inspired by that feeling. It’s part cynical, part comical. It’s just a bit of fun really but if you find yourself relating to the lyrics then great! Every year I try and avoid the last minute rush, the chaos of presents and consumption…every year I end up falling into the trap. I think most people can probably relate to that!

Enjoy yourselves, spend time with your family and friends and try not to get too stressed! Spare a thought for those who are not as fortunate, those that find Christmas difficult and always remember that the best memories are those of people not presents.

I hope you enjoy the song. You can stream the track and get a free download HERE*. Share it with all your friends and family and have a great Christmas!

Lyrics & chords

Here’s the guitar tabs/chords and lyrics so that you can play/sing along! I expect to see some videos guys! Enjoy!

I play the song with a capo on the 2nd fret. Below are the chords/tabs assuming you are playing without a capo – simply use the same chord shapes if you decide to play with a capo.

    G     Am7   Cmaj7    C*

E|--3------0------0------0----|

B|--0------1------0------3----|

G|--0------0------0------0----|

D|--0------2------2------4----|

A|--2------0------3------5----|

E|--3------0------0------0----|

C* – C shape moved down two frets

God it’s come around again,
Pews won’t fill as fast as shelves restocked until the very end,
Have we lost what it’s about or was I blind and it was always like this?

Maybe I’m just about that age,
Sick and tired of every page,
In the newspaper telling me there’s only five days left,
When I was young, it seemed that these songs were music to my ears,
Now in every shop, like it not, they’re played until their death and mine!

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
There’s a ringing in my ears,
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Is it that time of the year, again?

And I don’t want to break the illusion,
But it seems there’s just a little confusion,
I thought Christmas time is meant to be,
About spending time with family,
Instead of waiting in line,
Shopping and stressing when you’ve spent your last dime,

The seasons been hijacked,
Santa’s been kidnapped,
The sleigh’s come off the track,
I just want Christmas back,
Just want the old Christmas back

Maybe it’s not too late yet,
If I write a letter to show him that I’m real upset,
Oh Santa, if you’re real wish you’d come and help me steal,
Christmas back off of those money making scumbags,

Santa’s been kidnapped,
Took him in his own sack,
Hired an impostor and put him in a red hat,
They gave him loads of cash,
To put him in those coca-cola ads,
Where did you go?
I just want Christmas back

*Note: This track is no longer available on Soundcloud. You can watch the video by clicking HERE.