Richard Hawley

Whilst in NY for Mr Springsteen... I just got the heads up about this from my mate Bob in New Jersey - http://www.metropolitanpresents.com/event/1565474-birkin-gainsbourg-symphonic-new-york/?utm_source=MEL&utm_medium=236218

So, I'm going....

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Neil McSweeney promoted by our very own Poppydog at Davenham Players' Theatre, Northwich. Neil just gets better and better....

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Two in two nights - State of the Union (Brooks Williams and Boo Hewerdine) at Biddulph Town Hall, then Slaid Cleaves at the Foxlowe Arts centre in Leek - both part of the Leek Blues and Americana Festival that I'm involved with.

Brooks Williams

Slaid Cleaves


Tonight I'm off to Manchester to see Emily Capell supporting the Spitfires. Tomorrow is Hannah Johnson & the Broken Hearts, then I'm playing myself at the Cock Inn in Leek as part of the Blues and Americana Festival. Then it's up early on Monday to get the Eurostar. Bloody busy this retirement.

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Most recent, the very splendid Stoney @ Greystones on Wednesday, next the equally marvelous Flood Hounds in Sheffield tonight, and possibly (but probably not as it's a bit too much logistics) Matt Howden at the Devil's Arse, also tonight.

Whistle-stop trip to Paris. Arrived Monday night and stayed in a friendly, cheap and somewhat dowdy Brasserie-cum-hotel across the road from Gare du Nord. Tuesday morning I was up bright and early to get breakfast at Cafe Des Deux Moulins (the one featured in the film Amelie), which was about a couple of hundred yards away from Les Trois Baudets. Then, once I'd got my bearings I headed off up Rue Lepic into Montmartre and did a bunch of street photography and visited the Dali Museum. In the afternoon I met up with friend and Cajun royalty Sarah Savoy and put the world to rights over a couple of beers at the foot of Sacre Couer. She's going back to live in Louisiana so it was my last chance to see her for a while.
Gig time came and there were quite a few Brits in the queue. Got in and a mini-disaster as the lady on the counter couldn't find my name on the photo pass list...mild panic, but then I thought bollocks and just waltzed in with my gear anyway...
Chatted to a a nice chap who was filming Lou Doillon about cameras...geek talk...

Lou Doillon came over as much more quiet and sensitive in the flesh than on record - you could have heard a pin drop. Hope she gets a good welcome on Friday in Sheffield.

Next up was John Grant - just him and a guitarist, but an epic set that ended with a stunning version of "Caramel"

Finally, about half an hour after John Grant's set, Shez and Gordon led the charge and got set up for the final set. I was interested to see how the crowd might be split between the acts, reaction-wise, but this was the loudest response of the night. Great set again. Not going to give anything away for those of you who are going on Friday, apart from some photos...




Rest of the photos HERE
My Street shots HERE

Cracking night, in a great city. Even got propositioned by a lady of ill-repute on the way back to the Blanche Metro, opposite the Moulin Rouge...

Same again Friday?

PS - somebody remember photo pass for Nick Barber at Trafalgar Warehouse. Ta. Don't want to get in trouble....

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

After the Sheffield Three Ring Circus (See photos in "Richard's Gigs" section) I flew to Dusseldorf to see the Rolling Stones.
Observations.
1. Mick Jagger is an incredible front man - don't know where he gets the energy from.
2. Keith Richards is a legend and I love him to bits but i wish he'd tune his guitar.
3. The Germany efficiency in getting 50 thousand plus people in and out of the stadium (The Esprit Arena) was fantastic.
4. Dusseldorf is a proper, decent working class city with loads of character.

Pics:

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Now where was I....?

Since the forum went up the internet creek, I've been to :

Buxton, to see the Revival tour with Altered Images, The Christians and Midge Ure. Altered Images (Clare Grogan and a session band) were far better than they were back in the day...


Nottingham to see Eilen Jewell


York to see Bananarama (I know, I know...)

..and also the Cactus Blossoms again...


Toronto, where I saw Russell deCarle (Formerly of Prairie Oyster) perform his CD release show at the Dakota Tavern:

The next night I saw Whitney Rose at the Horseshoe Tavern:


The TakeRoot Festival in Holland:

Sadler Vaden of Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

Margo Price

Chuck Prophet

Then it was Jason Isbell at the Paradiso in Amsterdam:

Later the same night I saw the Cactus Blossoms in the upstairs room at the Paradiso:


Manchester to see Maren Morris:


Stone, Staffs to see my mates Nixon Tate & the Honey Club - and Bob Moston aka Merrym'n:


The Cock Inn, in Leek to see Canadian bluesman JW Jones:


Wolverhampton to see Marilyn Manson:


Dublin, to see both nights of Josh Ritter at Vicar Street:


Finally in 2017, back home to see my friends in Tin Chapel at the Glebe in Stoke:


..and the three-fifths of my own band in their rockabilly incarnation, Hollie Vee and the Hubkaps at Hollie's dad's pub, the Artisan tap in Newcastle-under-Lyme.


I'll deal with the start of 2018 in the next post.

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

2018 so far.

I'm having my bathroom done, so I ran off down to London (I'm a life YHA member so got three nights at the St Pancras branch for £90 - bargain). Caught up with the Rosellys at the tiny Betsey Trotwood pub.


Then, next up I attended the first of three acoustic gigs in the Bethesda Chapel in Hanley - a beautiful neglected building that's been shut since 1984 but which is trying to access renovation funding by putting on lots of local arty stuff. Three singer songwriters, Merrym'n, Emily Jones and John Dhali played three consecutive Fridays completely unplugged - the acoustics were fantastic - no amplification needed (although heating would have helped),
Here's Bob again (Merrym'n)


Then I went away to work for a week in a school in Germany - no gigs! But the following week I met this bloke before his 30th January show at the Walter Kerr Theater....

The next night I attended the show myself. Based upon Springsteen's autobiography it focuses on his personal development and influences in the first two-thirds and looks at his own significance and mortality in the final third. Wonderful show, even if it did cost me an arm and a leg.


The following night, I met up with friend Bob from New Jersey and we took in the Jane Birkin plays the music of Serge Gainsbourg Symphonic show - with a show stealing guest spot from Rufus Wainwright. I did the Carnegie Hall tour earlier in the day which meant I got to see in close-up all the things that were a million miles away from my nosebleed seat up in the Gods.


Friday was the flight home - I got into Manchester at 8am Saturday, drove an hour to Stoke, dumped my bag, packed a day bag and caught the slow train to London. That night it was the Mavericks at the London Palladium:



Then it was up early the next morning to get the train back to Stoke, another quick turnaround and drive through the roadworks of the northwest to get to Bury for night two at the Met!


Next - Steve Knightley in Biddulph, unless something happens on Tuesday...

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Steve Knightley (Half of Folk super-duo "Show of Hands") played Biddulph Town Hall tonight. He expressed admiration for Bruce Springsteen and played his version of "One Step Up". Can't get away from The Boss at the moment.



Next - Adam Holmes & the Embers at Clonter Opera in Cheshire on Friday.

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Friday night involved a SatNav nightmare through every back road in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire to get to Clonter Opera in South Cheshire to hear the soulful folky sounds of Adam Holmes and the Embers. Think a young Van Morrison but more laid back.

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Last Neil McSweeney @ St Andrews Sheffield Sunday 12th November.

Next Son of Man / Long Strung Creatures @ Eleven Stoke on Trent Tonight!!!



Long Strung Creatures @ Hagglers Corner Sheffield 2014

Next Rod Picott Davenham Players Theatre Saturday 17th March 2018

To be fair other folks on this MB are also promoting Rod Picott namely:

Craig



...and efsb....but I couldn't find a poster for the Biddulph gig...no doubt he has one somewhere

The other Craig has that - I just do the website - http://www.biddulphupinarms.com

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk

Went to see the Mavericks in Manchester again on Saturday. Lively, entertaining gig - and they encored with covers of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Chuck Berry and David Bowie...!





Next gig - Colorado's The Railsplitters in Biddulph.

_________________
http://www.nickbarberphotography.co.uk