Turning point

Nice steady week has been had busy but nice… On the gig front the peerhat for astral elevator was ace. Nice to be involved with some great bands and even do an impromptu jam with pals Gardenback.. the underground independent music scene is thriving!!!

Took my foot off the pedal until Sunday but I was planning and plotting.. gigs for me and The Dirt, 2022 is forming nicely for the music project. Gig talk with nice appreciative folk…

Also creative workshops with phantasmagoria (Ashton under lyne) are in the pipeline… Half term October and sessions for young and older.. we are making a story book!!.. with teddy wockys. Yep you read that right!!.

Sunday brought about a crackin gig up at tap select in Oswaldtwistle.. new stomping ground.. but nice to hook up with some familiar faces .. punters and poets… Next Lancashire stop is 4 Nov in Blackpool!!!.. bootleg social…

On Monday I got to do one of the most rewarding sessions.. At turning point addiction services in Manchester. A talk and performance around talking myself out of trouble to about 12 folk.. most of whom were service users… Loved it and I’ve been invited back.. maybe a quarterly residency is on the cards!!!!..

In gigs news social media has the info.. but I’ve been chuffed to accept two gigs with Gaz when (happy Mondays) for his acoustic and Q and A gigs around Manchester in November.. and some in December with The jade assembly…

So.. the train keeps ploughing on.. gigs are plenty.. charity work is fulfilling… The dirt is coming to fruition… Also keep an eye out for interviews.. one recently with the lovely Tahira Rehman will be on line soon. And I have another today!!!..

Next stop is Stockport on Friday.. my pal Rochie launches his book and I get to share a stage with the immense Deja Vega… Tickets still on sale via Dr feelgoods bar ticket link…

As usual.. here’s some pics…

Road trip..

Last blog seems ages ago.. lyne ta gone on including a week long road trip to the south coast and back via a few friend stops..

Gigs at lock 91 for punk in Drublic, Freshers all dayer for deco records and the Sunday showdown at Stretford brew chimp seem a lifetime away..

Since then I’ve dropped the musical genius half of The Dirt project off at Heathrow. Sachiko is in Japan and returning mid October.. rehearsing starts full on then.. we have an EP to promote and release then get ready for live gigs in 2022..

So.. this last week flying solo has still been fun.. I visited the south coast l, received refreshing news from an old army pal and got to share some verse and chat at Mangangs Wednesday meet up in Southampton.. I also while nearby hooked up and watched the brilliant Blinders!!

I then went to Bristol met a couple of mates and got to perform at Ebeneezer gate pocket park. A great community creative space on north st.. which is an area I love.. networks done and potentially new gigs there to follow.. I also got to catch up with York pals Bull who performed at the Louisiana..

A calm night pit stop in Shrewsbury followed where I saw miles hunt and Ian prowse do their cracking acoustic sets!!

A North Wales stop didn’t go to schedule but a return is planned… a random stop in Manchester for an astral elevator gig where new mates were found.. when doors close others do open…

Then for the last night I went to Liverpool.. an open mic at the cavern run by Ian prowse.. yes i did natter to him in Shrewsbury!! Great night l, and I’ve been invited back…

So.. there it goes.. a crackin trip. Gigs as punter and performance. Me and the cat had a tip time in the camper.. so any promoters come find us.. me or The Dirt.

Next gig is Wednesday at the peerhat Manchester for astral elevator..

Anyway here’s a few pics..

Talking Dirty

So.. I’m going to be talking all things The Dirt. A resurrection of a plan my now wife and I had as we we entered the first lockdown.. fuzzy, noisy and edgy guitar effects and loops layered with my spoken word.. we did put two self produced EPs a n bandcamp as experimental stuff of what we wanted to create..

Now she has moved to UK from Japan and we have the capability to progress we have started rehearsing and ate looking bat taking The Dirt live towards the end of 2021. This will coincide with a hard copy EP released with golden believers records – GBR.

A six track set is planned like the EP and it’s sounding great.. sachiko works a pedal board to full effect!!..

So anyone reading this. Please pass onto promoter and venue folk.. two gigs are in agreement so far and we hope to spread the sound further!!.. stand by for further info..

Meanwhile I continue with Leon action.. tonight I am with Sayin at the old abbey tap House.. MCR.

The weekend is busy – Fri 24 at Lock 91 for punk in Drublic… Sat 25 at Grafton arms with Deco records… Sun 26 at brew chimp Stretford…

Anyway.. here’s a few Dirt pics attached.. come check us out on bandcamp.. maybe buy a track or more.. https://thedirt71.bandcamp.com/

The Dirt

The wheel isn’t twisted

The journey continues…. The wheel isn’t broken… No limping.. just cruising along a highway of creativity.. meeting lovely folk on the way…

The last few days have been ace.. firstly I’ve spent alot of it in the basement.. with my wife!!.. in 2019 we joined forces and created some music as The Dirt.. put two EPs on Bandcamp and envisaged taking it live.. covid scuppered plans..

As sachiko now lives here and restrictions are lifted we thought lets kick the ball.. get it rolling.. also nudged by golden believers reco26 rds who invited us to put a hard copy EP out there.. so the result is we want to show off the material in its life form.. so stand by.. links to bandcamp are on the links page of website.

The gig business continues.. supporting Johnny brown at the snug Atherton was brilliant.. a great night… Top fella and on form!!.. so thanks to all involved there!! I also returned to mash guru last night for artistic echoes from the mic stand last night. Great fun..

Next up is end of month where a busy week is planned..

24- lock 91 for punk in Drublic

25 – deco records at Grafton

26- brew chimp Stretford

I’ve got a few charity things bubbling around these and as they happen I’ll celebrate the connection made!!.. so here’s a few pics of shenanigans done and coming…

Network gain

Less gigs more networks.. some great chat going on about gigs, talks, and connection this week.. hopefully some will come to fruition soon..

Long story short was great last week and met some great folk from “turning point”. Enjoyed the addiction and mental health themed event.. Simone has got a great event going on. And feel good club is an ace venue..

On Sunday I got to perform with some great bands.. nervous twitch.. Bull.. Helicon to name a few.. Berlin arts lab put in a great event in factory music rooms Barnsley..

Lots of emails, phone calls and messages this week.. along with getting a set together with the wife so “The Dirt” can transfer from a bandcamp project to a live set… Exciting stuff… Keep an eye out for a CD release too… Haha

This Saturday will see a trip to the amazing Snug in Atherton to support the brilliant Jonny Brown (twisted Wheel)… in a sold out gig.. and I’m quiz master at rose and monkey sun 12th.. expect interspersed verse!!

In other news.. there’s more events published which are on all social platforms.. And the book is still for sale..

So here’s a gallery of stuff!! And some up and coming out of town treats!!

Spin cycle

A week of plate spinning again.. two gigs in North Wales mid week. Then back to Manchester for a packed weekend..

Rhyl on Tuesday for Lexifest then onto Wrexham for a gig at yellow and blue.. it’s great work they are doing there and a cracking set up.

Manchester Friday was nuts.. opening set for after all at Gulliver’s then a sprint across Oldham street to get intro set for pals The ventrelles who asked last minute.. then on way home I bobbed into peerhat and did an open mic jam with pal Jade on guitar.. proper anglo-french mash up!!

Miners festival was cancelled Saturday so Sunday took me to Stockport for Indigo bravo gig at the spinning top. I’m almost a local and Monday was a set at wax and beans in Bury for Glaston-bury. The town was packed and met some ace folk!!

This week is steady.. I need to learn new verse!!!

I’m performing at “long story short” in Manchester on Thursday and then Barnsley on Sunday for a psych all dayer at Factory.

I will then take a week off until the Jonny Brown (twisted wheel) gig at the snug on sat 11th…

Nice to be busy, appreciated and wanted.. please keep the gig requests coming.. anyway, here’s some gig pics!!

Busy week

Don’t forget I am still selling copies of my book. Talking myself out of trouble.

Hammer time

A day to stop….. Weekend was busy.. gig with San Pedro collective in Stockport on Friday and “Sayin” event in Trafford yesterday… Talk about talent.. it’s an event for the A game.. can’t fall short.. the folk nattering are immense… Met some new creatives yesterday and some old faces too… Still buzzin it’s a great vibe..

Today I stopped… And gave Emmaus some cash.. proceeds from the sale of “talking myself out of trouble”… photo and info to follow.. but it’s great to give back ..

This week is nuts… 6 gigs in 7 days… Midweek I’m in Wales… for Two Charity events.. lexifest in Rhyl and at yellow and blue wrexham..

The bank holiday is packed..

Fri – after all gig at Gulliver’s MCR… Sat – miners fest in Moston… Sun- indigo bravo in Stockport.. and Mon – glaston -Bury…

Then I’m cooling off… A bit… But there is a few shenanigans in the pipeline.. Haha…

Anyway here’s the weekend in pics.. Helen millington doing her magic again..

Back on it

After a couple of down days I’m back on the mic tomorrow..

San Pedro collective gig in Stockport… And Sayin to n Trafford on Sunday…

Last weekend was ace.. sharing the stage with some great musicians (proletariat, the battery farm, and Def robot). And performance at Northern green gathering near Lincoln.

Organised by some great folk and with some crackin and informative talks. The Sunday was the boundary breaker.. after Saturdays planned set I got to jam with a band and didgeridoo sound.. awesome.. videos of it are knocking about on my socials…

Tomorrow is also the date I have a track released on most large platforms with Salford musician Sean Buckley.. it’s called Tripper.. so take a look… somewhere!!!..

Next week I’m off to wales.. stuff going down there before a fully booked four days over the bank holiday!!!

Any way.. I still sell books of mine at gigs.. and in-between while at home… Writing… Getting tattoos.. and running…

Here’s some pic shenanigans x sachiko trust a fox and helsmanc

Heads gone

But I’ve got it back… Haha..

After last week’s comedown from the Ritz gig with cabbage et al for John halls benefit gig it was time to get busy again..

Learn new stuff.. write new stuff.. talk CD products with an independent label… Talk charity stuff.. and then get in the gig train again… but I am loving it.. and still flogging the odd book.. instill have spares!!!..

So first up was Long story short at 7 brothers in MCR MQ area. A 10 min slot of story telling.. I knitted 5 verse pieces together.. must have gone ok.. I’ve been invited back for the mental/addiction gig Simone is organising in September!!.. news on that soon.. via Instagram.. Leontpf71.

Saturday was busy… I was invited to The yard – box studios in Cheetham hill.. interview with the great Nathan Parker.. aka parker book.. then it was recording of two verse for the show .. in a cargo container… something new! Look out for the show released in September.. Ep 3 or 4…

That night back local for a gig with Stepford wives at greenfields railway inn . Sweaty… Bouncing and punkd up…

Sunday was “mark my words” an event for Time2talk mental health hub… At Mossley AFC collaboration again with wetlemonproductions.. I gathered poets.. worders.. musicians.. singers and a band to raise cash which we did.. thanks to those who turned up to graft… Perform or watch!!..

Today starts a new week.. new offers.. new plans and ideas… And I must 13- get that new poem gig ready..

Anyway Helen millington has been busy clipping pics of me .. again.. so expect a bit of posting on socials..

This week is busy from Thursday.. here’s what’s going down…

12 – eagle inn, MCR – proletariat gig

13- salty dog, Northwich – louder than war gig

14/15 – northern green gathering fest – linciln campaign stage..

17- mash in Macc – book launch gig.

Come join in…

Dust settles

I cannot begin to describe how significant the recent Sunday gig was for me… Just over two years ago I began performing my recent written words.. only 4 months after a meltdown and waking up drunk in a police cell.. on Sunday 1st August I got to perform some verse at The Ritz in Manchester.. and join friends and local band Cabbage on stage..

This is the story of creativity I want to spread… Performance of “Toy soldiers” to 1000 folk at a benefit gig for John Hall was to say the least overwhelming.. the response and messages received have been brilliant.. so thank you. X

Healthy minds… PTSD diagnosis.. anxiety understanding.. CBT and (still) a course of citalopram. These with the writing changed my world.

I am still buzzin 3 days later.. it has made me realise how much I love writing, performing, and spreading positivity..

There are many gigs planned and natterings of collaborations .. let’s see what the next chapter brings..

Until then .. this surf is too good to ignore..

Next up.. mark my words at Mossley AFC this Sunday with a stack of talented people.. creative all dayer for charity. Skiddle or me for tickets

Here’s some pics of what I love doing!! All credits are on my Facebook page.. helsmanc.. trustafox.. neilwinward… Georgina Robinson…