Why I’m starting to gig again.

I’m 31. I spent most of my teens and twenties playing music in all kinds of places, from dingy open-mics to huge festivals.

By 2008 I was tired. I’d released two albums and two EPs on my own label, had been self-managed (with help and support from great people), and had blindly given everything to ‘the music’ for ten years.

In mid-2008 I pulled some shows and went in to musical hiding. Other areas of my life blossomed – I married my best friend, discovered the magic of running, and rediscovered my heritage through work at The London Irish Centre.

Through 2009-2010 I continued to write. I also spent a lot of time on the folk club scene in London, where I witnessed masters of story-telling and authenticity. I also ran a huge number of shows for other artists, and got to see things from the non-performer side of the table.

In late 2010 I decided to record a number of songs that I’d been working on. I planned to keep it simple – record at home and release online. Feedback has been great, but something was missing.

No matter how happy I was with the recordings, or how much people seemed to like them, the process was/is not complete. The buzz, the connection, the vibe, whatever you want to call it, it’s the magic that (for me) only comes when you’re playing live to a roomful of people.

It’s that magic that first brought me to the stage and it’s that same magic that is drawing back. I played my first proper set in three years a few weeks back, and the switch is flicked.

I can’t wait to bring my new set (currently under construction) to your eyes and ears.