I’ve had a great time doing a couple of gigs this weekend. On Friday night I supported Jackie Oates at the Howard Assembly Rooms at Opera North In Leeds. Lovely venue with a high domed ceiling and a great acoustic sound. I met Jackie at the Folk Awards last month and it was great to hear her play with her band. Afterwards we all headed back to the City Inn Hotel for a couple of late drinks and a chat before bed.

Yesterday morning I headed over to Birmingham on the train to support Chris Wood at the Red Lion Folk Club. I’m a huge admirer of Chris’ writing and knew it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed at a gig. Somewhere between venues I managed to lose my capo, and Chris, after watching me frantically turning my rucksack upside down in the dressing room to find it and reassuring me by repeating the words ‘give it up mate, you’ve lost it, it’s gone’, lent me his for the duration of the gig. Cheers Chris!

I hoped that opening for Chris would mean playing to a listening audience, and I wasn’t disappointed. The concentration in the crowd during both our sets was almost palpable, a real treat to play to. Many thanks to Chris and Della who run the Red Lion and who generously fed, watered and housed me for the duration of my stay.