Times a healer

It was a saturday.. just over four years ago.. the 9th March.. i woke up in a police cell…

The night before had been normal all but for a memory loss due to an episode of disassociation… the facts of which i have spoke openely about on numerous podcasts, radio interviews and at my gigs.

Anyway as my mum said “everything happens for a reason “

No one got hurt, my pride and perceived life was severly dented.. But as humans we repair and we crack on..

This was the catalyst and start of my writing journey which then lead to me performing my words.. in leon form and then as The Dirt… my mum was right!!!..

The event is not something to celebrate, but remember… the now is for celebration..

In five weeks the Dirt unleash “Agitator” our first album. Recorded with kevin Foy in his studio and released with GBR. Happy daze will be promoting the launch night on the same day as we share a stage with some cracking bands.

As Leon i continue to gig, plug my two books and travel to some amazing gigs. Continue to write for a new project and meet amazing creatives…

This year i have some amazing events and since coming back from japan i have been busy.. both leon and The Dirt have gigged liverpool. And leon has performed at the iconic boons tea party invited by clint of the inspirals.. featured at events and started veterans poetry workshops..

Over the next month or so i will be at the following…
Feature slots in Hull, Keighley, Nottingham and Mossley!!
A fest in Birmingham and a Mouth slot in Manchester!!

The Dirt also head to todmorden golden lion for a album launch warm up…

There’s a featured leeds date to announce soon for end of March too.

So.. here is a few pics and posters of what is happening over the next month..

Mad as a march Hare!

So.. a new month.. back from japan four weeks now.. three great leon gigs under my belt – long story short (mcr)- broadly speaking (Bury) – drop the mic (mcr). And a Dirt headline slot in liverpool with last stop sound at outpost. Not forgetting back hosting poets corner on MANCUNIAtv..

Big thank you to all who have faith in the Dirt delivering a sonic osych punk set. And to those embracing my spoken word!.

This month is busy so ive created a gig guide. Hope to do this start of every month or even week before.

Let me tell you about March!!

4th – @prescot_cables_fc  match performance 3-5pm
Then @eagleinn salford with @smpresents.events 7-11pm

5th  Stockport @mrsboonscakes at @thisisbask

9th – Liverpool for @outspoken_events on Bold st luttle green door.

18th – Nottingham –  @wearenonsuch message in a bottle

23rd Manchester  @m.o.u.t.h.mcr in Ardwick

25th The Dirt. We play at goldenlion todmorden with @darkmatterproms

28th leeds – @bonedownlag

29th Manchester @mancuniapresents poets corner..

So heres a few pics if Feb actions! And gig posters!

Picking up nicely

So.. having been back from japan for three weeks.. my first aim was reduce salt as blood pressure rocketed – Achieved! Second .. get Leon busy.. achieved.. gigs are coming in nicely too. Featured slots around the north and beyond. Two gigs done so far inc a feature at Bury Broadly Speaking. Next up is Drop the mic in Manchester on Sunday!!..

Theres plenty to go at through spring and im now planning summer before a japan return!!.. next aim The Dirt…

We have been working behind the scenes.. scheduling gigs, rehearsing and plotting media reveals around thevAlbum launch… all going well..

First gig is this saturday in Liverpool then we head next month to the legendary Golden Lion in Todmorden.. after that is the album release and launch night at The Peerhat in Manchester… we are so excited.. lots of tickets sold so we are hoping for a busy night with great bands!!

Haikutourist is busy.. its a new angle for me and allows a new platform and outlet of creativity… lots of insta and twitter posts around this side!!!. On the gigs here is the spring list for Leon words….

Buxton – spring festival

Keighly – spoken word

Leeds – bone down poetry

Mouth – Manchester 

Hull – A way with words

Manchester – drop the mic 

Im March and April i will be dipping my toes, ankles and calves into the wirkshop sphere.. on line with company of makers and in person in nottingham with message in a bottle…

Both books are still for sale via me or Lulu.com (i dont recommend amazon). As is my kids pocket book tedfywocky tales…

Anyone need an gig MC/compere or spoken worder.. come shout me up..

Until my next update.. get creative.. get aware.. get healthy.. x

Where to start

So.. 8 weeks away.. 7 of them in japan.. now its back to business.. leon gigs, workshops and launch of an album by The Dirt.. we kick off thursday!!!

While in japan i created haiku tourist.. its what it says on the tin.. while touring japan i created haiku on observations made with photography. Very varied and interesting to do.. ill be keeping it up while on my touring.. may even drop a book in the future!!

As for leon for great events in February.. 9th – long story short, mcr feelgood club. 16th – broad st social in Bury. 26th – drop the mic mcr bsnd on wall. And my poets corner slot at mancunia tv

For the Dirt we play outpost in liverpool on 25th February for last stop sounds.

March is looking busy to with a 3 event workshop with company of makers helping ex veterans… leon stuff to announce and a Dirt gig at The Golden lion in Todmorden

Album presale is going well.. both vinyl and CD with band extras have sold out.. general presale continues on bandcamp of golden believers records.

We are still floghing T Shirts via socials and books of lyrics/poetry by leon.

Heres some pics and posters to kick off the regular blod restart!

3 weeks silent

Firstly happy new year… akimashite omedetou gozaimasu from The Dirt band.

Very quiet as ive been in Japan for a few weeks. Experiencing a new style xmas and new year.

Gigs in 2022 were mega got to share the stage with many talented folk. Book tour was ace experience as was diving onto new stages, spreading new verse and getting The Dirt music out there.

Reflected alot this last few weeks, now prepping for a return in 4 weeks. Got some great events planned for music and spoken word. Announcements are starting to drop through on socials.

Still writing.. taking pics and enjoying life. Emailing folk.. waiting for replies.. some dont come.. but thats an artists life i guess.. its not rejection.. just a different direction.. focus on those on board the train.. not those who wait on platforms or who move in the distance.. self awareness is lesson 1 from 2022..

Enjoy the new yesr.. hope it brings happiness.. heres a few pics..

Rising sun

Thats it.. year over for performance activity. 2022 has been a belter for both Leon solo and the Dirt. Ta to all who came to gigs, put stuff on, bought merch and gave ace reviews.

From book launch and autumn gigs to festivals for leon, highlight has to be shiine solo set, conducting remembrance sunday, and opening verse for EMF. But last gig at punk in drublic comes a close second at salford lads club. As does bearded theory in gails tea tent!!

Mancunia tv has been a great experience hosting poets corner and meeting some top folk. Ive had some great guests that continue into 2023..

The book “dont believe the Hype” is ticking along nicely as is ” talking myself out of trouble” now im reaching new audiences!!.. oh and the kids pocket book is doing ok too. Ta to all who gave got one!

Next year there are some juicy slots booked that will start getting announced soon.

As for the Dirt, i am loving it. The record is due in April. Vinyl and CD. The singles on bandcamp are getting great reviews, so we are well chuffed. And the live sets have been mega. We have played some ace cities -Manchester Newcastle Sheffield Leeds Liverpool London Nottingham and some other great independent venues – Snug and salty dog take a bow!.. ta to all promoters who took a chance in our first year. I hope we paid you back in noise reverb energy and passion..

Next year we have a string of gigs either booked confirmed or talked about. Looking forward to new places and also going back to dome faves!!.. important one is 14.04.23 in Manchester with Happy Daze its the album launch. So spread the word and save the date!!

Agitator is 11 tracks of alt psych sonic punk that we loved creating with producer kevin Foy. Keep an eye out for more info!..

So we are nowin japan for 7 weeks. Kicking back.. sight seeing, relaxing, socialising and been alternative tourists.

Back in 2023.. its time to Agitate..

Ignorance is bliss

Is the title of one of The Dirts tracks released officially tomorrow.. on Bandcamp friday!! Something new to get giddy about.. two tracks from our album to be released next year… a taster!

Tomorrow is also a big day as i tread the boards at Salford lads club with punk in drublic.. i was honoured to be asked by the iconic venue and chufffed to have the award winning comedy/poetry night involved.

Gigs for the year are coming to an end for both leon and the Dirt. Its been a mad year.. lots of solo stuff – book launch – amazing gigs.. great to reflect!!.. already planning 2023…

The last week has been quiet but productive in the background.. t shirt release.. CD design and plotting..

As for the end of year bow out.. heres the gigs left..

02.12.22- leon salford lads club

03.12.22- the dirt in leeds “cancelled”

04.12.22 – leon charity gig in chester

09.12.22 – astral daze 2 fest in Manchester

Winter break!!!!…

So heres a few posters and pics and the new single link –

https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com/album/power-junkie-ignorance-is-bliss

Cloud nine to ground control!!..

So where to start.. the last ten days have been a ride in it’s self

Gigs for the Dirt in london for otherside in shoreditch, followed by Manchester at astral Daze 1 and then onto shiiine on festival for a slot that blew us away with the response received…

Leon also has air in his legs after introducing EMF at Shiiine on in front of a few thousand folk.. and doing a full solo set to a packed seated auditorium..

Coming up the Dirt have two gigs left this year.. Manchester and Leeds.

Leon has one book gig in accrington left as well as salford ladsclub.. a charity gig in chester and a slot in liverpool.

Then its time to kick back for two months… whilst we ponder new moves for 2023 we have an album on vinyl and CD to launch in April .. and a few gigs to announce.. So, things are looking quite tasty for next year!!…

It will soon be time to reflect on a mental year.. but until then there are gigs to do.. t shirts to flog and books to sell… both dont believe the hype .. and the kids book teddywocky tales.. the first book is sold out unless on line but will be back in stock next year!!..

So.. back to business this friday.. so heres picks and gig posters

Ignorance is Bliss

Its the name of the latest track to enter The Dirt set.. peerhat Manchester was the first place to hear it, then karma fedtival in Nottingham. The set is forming nicely with power junkie added previously. Both soon to be released as joint singles on 02.12.22.

We have 5 dirt gigs left before we have a 10 week break with a trip to japan. Next up is london on Friday before back to Manchester for astral daze 1. After that its shiiine on. We get to play the same day as happy mondays, stereo MCs and EMF… wow…. also in December we have leeds and Manchester to finish a mental year!!

In leons camp things are just as exciting. Dont believe the hype is still receiving interest. Book gigs have slowed for november.. as a couple of fests have took prioritises.. leon is doing shiiine too!!!.. but october was cool.. Liverpool – york and Northwich!!!..

At karma fest i got to do vocal jams with a few bands as intro sets.. top weekend that.. ditz… helicon.. floral image.. fruit tones to name a few!!.. wow.. again!

In other news i have a kids book for sale.. in collaboration with Phantasmagoria we have created 12 poetry tales around teddy wockys…. contact me for info!!

So.. the big news is still im doing a feature slot as salford lads club on 02.12.22.. same day as the singles release… tickets via punk in drublic for that!!!…

Anyway heres a few pics and gig posters….

It’s been a while

It has.. and it’s been very busy.. gigs in September have took me to Huddersfield – Macclesfield- Sheffield (there’s a theme!!!).. and Salford to feature at verbose and Shakespeare North prescott to feature at their scratch event.. and not forgetting poets corner monthly presenting slot at MANCUNIAtv….

The Dirt have also had a gig in Sheffield thanks to strange days at their new float along festival… and we went on a road trip to join mates atva psych all dayer catching bands along the way and back…

Also in Dirt land the album is mixed and mastered and ready to order on vinyl for a 2023 release. The artwork will be signed off soon. So we are excited about thst. We will release a single from the album on 02.12.22 parole///ignorance is bliss is a two track for download and airplay.

We have some top Dirt gigs in October. Barnsley this Saturday with noise aka outsider music.. on 20th we join girls in synthesis at peerhat for DHP. Then we head to karma fest in Nottingham.

For Leon over just done York this weekend and I’ve got Liverpool on Sunday at carnival brewing and northwich the week after new moon art collective.. I’m also doingba talk with company of makers tomorrow on line and its free..

Big news coming soon for Leon for 02.12.22.. somethings bern bubbling which will soon be unleashed.. save the date.. its in the 0161 area!!!..

Here’s a few pics and posters..