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So… apparently with Downtime also comes Tour time!
One of my main priorities (and distractions) during this period will be playing for Martin Oliver (a good friend and singer/songwriter) along with other close friends making up his backing band. We’ve been playing together for the past 2 years and this is perhaps the most active time for this project. Over the period of July/August/September we find ourselves on something of an interesting music tour amongst a few other talented artists. For more information, events and photos from the tour here’s the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/brought2you
Although i’d usually think of a tour as many gruelling but exciting days on the road in a short space of time, this one is… unique. The dates are fairly intermittent. However so far it has been a cool experience; meeting our fellow tour buddy’s and their music, playing as a part of a tightly knit group of promising musicians and songwriters, each with their own individual style and sound… plus it has taken us to Wales and back twice in the space of 4 days… Now that’s living eh?
Having just about completed a successful trip to Cardiff, the next destination was a small town called Carmarthen, the other side of Swansea. Being by the coast, offering opportunities to see a new place and erm… ‘culture’, and of course with all the likely tour antics that could be captured, i thought bringing the ol’ Lumix was something i wouldn’t regret. So thusly…
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Arriving: The pub where we’ll be both playing and staying thanks to the priceless and unrelenting hospitality of Steve, the marvellous owner and occupant!
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Last minute set prep out the back…
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Gig Night: 4 London based artists performing to a lively and positive local crowd at The Golden Lion Pub…
MILLIE MANDERS
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MARTIN OLIVER
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HEYDON HOHAIA
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NAKISHA ESNARD
I filled in on the Cajón for Nakisha who’s drummer couldn’t make the trip…
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What is soon to replace the after-party… The After-Hangout (in a room upstairs, strumming guitars, messing about and people watching from a convenient window ledge)
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Not particularly flattering for either of them! But it simply had to be posted…
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A Grand Day Out: Steve offered to take everyone around the local area and it’s beaches in his mini-bus… what a great way to spend a short time in Southern Wales, plus I left with some local knowledge. This included the near by Pendine Sands, where a world land speed record record of 174.22 mph was set in February 1927, and also the house where welsh poet Dylan Thomas once lived. Apparently you learn 2 new things everyday when you’re on tour.
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Opposites may not always attract… but they provide great photo moments!
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Racing to the Waves…
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Not a place you’d expect to be face-to-face with a Burmese Python…
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A night stroll… escaping the crunked crowds of meat heads and valley girls spewing onto the streets outside our pub.
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Zippyyyyy…….
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With Wales thoroughly conquered, we look forward to the next leg. Twill be 4 days speeding around East Anglia… I’ve no idea what to expect, all i know is i’ll try to capture as much of the people, places and parties as i can!
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TraveLens 