Also exactly one month until me and Danger support Beans on Toast at The Shipping Forecast (Liverpool), and a week this Thursday that I begin hosting the weekly Thursday acoustic nights at The Jacaranda Liverpool. And a week on Sunday I begin to co-host the Sunday open-mic with Sarah Bridgewater.
I’ve also been having conversations with Danger about a collaborative album he’s putting together in the new year with some of the veterans and up-and-comers of the local music circuit. He’s a good cookie.
On Sunday the 30th of March, Fleetwood Mac came to Liverpool to play at Threshold Festival. Well, not physically THE Fleetwood Mac. Or even Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, the popular tribute act.
This was the last song of my set that evening in the Baltic Triangle, where I had been hosting the District stage for many hours. The talented Jord Hewitt was behind the mixing console.
‘Big Love’ was a song which originally appeared on FM’s 1987 LP release ‘Tango In The Night‘, which I believe was the first album my Uncle Simon ever bought on compact disc. It was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic; reaching #5 in the US Billboard and #9 in the UK. I’m sure it was a hit on other charts in the UK and US, and in other countries, but for some reason, no one feels this is worth mentioning so it hasn’t seeped into my anorak-brain yet.
The incredible Lindsey Buckingham, who held the pen behind this track, had originally intended this to be a part of his third studio album but for reasons unknown to me this ended up being a Mac album. He can’t have been that keen on the idea though: he quit the year of release. Musicians do that sort of thing. They make these albums and then they run away.
Fleetwood Mac wouldn’t include the song in a live show until Buckingham’s return in 1997, where he famously brought the track out somewhat stripped down. Stripped down arrangement-wise anyway. That ridiculous hybrid picking he does is something I cannot even dream to touch.
Photograph from this set at Threshold 2014 taken by Helen Basil in District – ‘Big Love’ Fleetwood Mac
Last night me and the band (bassist Adam Lewis, drummer Chris Cousineau and guitarist Dominic Brooks) did a cheeky little set at The Cavern Pub at the Monday Club. The lovely Ian Prowse was looking for a support slot for an Amsterdam gig on the 31st of May at The East Village Arts Club in Liverpool. Suffice to say we unfortunately didn’t get it, but it was great fun and we wish him for the best for the 31st. I feel Ian raised far too many expectations for the audience that night with regards to telling people I would be on later throughout each half hour as a ‘sexy beast from Shropshire’.
I’ll also be making a return to Shrewsbury to play some sets at The Dolphin Alehouse this Thursday from 7pm before their weekly open mic starts up at 9pm on Thursday 15th. I haven’t been back to my hometown for a while so imagine my Mum will probably be in the audience.
Then Friday I’ll be playing at the Commercial Hotel in Chester from 8pm onwards. Looks like I’ll be able to catch the train home if it finishes at 10pm!
21st Played in Theatre 1 in the Unity Theatre for the opening night of the Liverpool Acoustic Festival on the same bill as Robert Vincent, Anna Corcoran, Ewan McLennan, Andy Pink and Shannen Bamford. I was billed as a “veteran” of the Liverpool music scene. Went for delicious curry with Mr Vincent afterwards
22nd Played at Unity again in the bar during the daytime bill of the LAF
23rd First full band practice with Adam Danger Lewis on bass, Dominic Brooks on guitar and Chris Cousineau on drums
