Beggars Fair Blog

Yesterday we caught the Train to Romsey for The Beggars Fair...Its a free all day music festival which takes place all over the town in Pubs..Parks..on Stages, Churches and the Abbey...I was at a Pub called The William IV...There wasnt a P.A, so I had to "Busk" it! I Had to shout above the usual pub noise and had to sing even louder...I positioned myself real close to the people who were listening and played for all my worth...I really enjoyed it as it was a no frills, rough and ready Acoustic performance which the name Beggars Fair would have be proud of.. I did plan to play some quieter more sensitive songs but hey "you pays your money"! ( or begs it ) If your in the area next year go along and have a fine free day of music in a typically English small old Town Setting...

Beggars Fair in Romsey

Beggars fair in Romsey tommorow, Saturday 10th July...you can catch me at The William Iv from 2.45...Heres the web address... www.beggars-fair.org.uk Theres free music on all day all over the town and I'm really looking forward to it! Hope to see you there....Come and say hello...Pictures and post tommorow evening.

Two Gigs on one Summers day in Eastleigh

Heres a couple of snaps of the gigs today in Eastleigh...I played in Stones first and then The Litten Tree....Had a whale of a time...We went along to the Bandstand a little later on and listened to some Folk.....A lovely time was had by all! Thanks to The Point Arts Centre and to Marie Negus for booking me to play... Heres a video of Underneath The Horse chestnut Tree in The Litten Tree

Warming up for The Eastleigh Festival

I'm playing Two sets today... 2-2.30 at Stones...and 3-3.30 at The Litten Tree in the centre of Eastleigh..Its a warm up show for The Eastleigh Festival thats happening on the Leigh Rd Recreation ground next weekend..I'll post some photies tommorow....Hope to see you there....

The old walled garden gate in Wales

Heres a few photos of the inspiration behind a new song I've written this week called.. "Through the old walled garden gate"....The lyrics are all about finding solace and peace in a magical, spiritual or physical place.... A place where you can be refreshed and renewed... These photos and video were taken on my partners Fathers farm in Wales... A magical place itself!

We're Scooting down to Wales.......

We are off to Wales for the weekend....Going to spend some time relaxing, playing/writing songs and watching the mountains from the window of a caravan...
Heres the new afternoon dates for the Art House in Southampton....I play a mellow set for a couple of hours while you enjoy your tea and cake....
Sunday 18th July
Sunday 29th August
Sunday 12th September All from around 2pm until 4pm
Sunday 17th Oct
Sunday 14th Nov

Also I'm playing at the opening of The Art House Summer show on Wednesday 7th July
At around 6pm...

Anyway must scoot!...hope y'all enjoy your weekends whatever you do....

All the best........Jim

The Art House and Bandcamp

Played at The Art House yesterday and had a great time...There were some American tourists there who were really appreciative of my music, Thanks for the "tip" guys!....Also thanks to Kathryn for buying the C.D and for asking for it to be signed....Made by day!
It was the first outing of "Daisies and Dandelions" and it was received warmly....It can take a while for a song to really become part of you but when it does it is such a rewarding experience...It's not just the learning of the words and melody..You need to connect fully with the song and engage with it spiritually....I've had people ask me why I don't know the song when I wrote it...Well it takes time to absorb the song and be able to recall it at any given time....even Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen forget words sometimes!

Also I will be putting up some dates soon so if your out there in Blogland and fancy coming along to hear me play then I would love to see you....I'll be the one with the Guitar!

You can now Download my music at Bandcamp..Here I have my album "All in good time"
So if your into your downloads come and see me at jimchorley.bandcamp.com or just click on the link up in the top left of this page....

Thanks for stopping by....Jim

Daisies and Dandelions

Went down to Wales to spend a weekend in the valleys....finished off this song in a caravan on my partners fathers farm...Its about a man wanting to go back to where he was born and raised at the end of his days...The title refers to him remembering the simple yet beautiful things of his youth...Heres a verse and Chorus...

Sans Dreads......

Heres a few photos and a video of the Big Chop.......My Partner Lorna and Daughter cut them in the woods near to our house...it was a very calm and peaceful evening and very humbling to do it for such a deserving cause...Thank you for your donations and kind words. Enjoy!

Dreads.....

I'm cutting off my Dreads on Friday 14th May for a firemans family charity thats been set up in Shirley in Southampton, after two Firemen lost their lives in a tower block fire near to where I grew up. I have had them for six years and I have grown rather attached to them but now is the time for change and to be able to do it for this cause is truly humbling.My partner and daughter will do be doing the deed. Heres a before photo and I will post some of the "big chop" tomorrow......

Maltings Festival in Farnham

I played at an Arts Festival at The Maltings in Farnham,Surrey today. Quite often I play unplugged but today I used my Acoustic amp. We had been to the arts day before and so I was pleased to play downstairs in the "Cellar Bar" Thanks for listening and all your applause and I would like to say a special hello to Kate who came and introduced herself after the gig....Also to Nick for booking me to play..Thank you. I'm playing in Guildford at The Tup on the 19th August...I'll be putting up Live dates as I get them so keep checking back!

Railway Inn Winchester......

I played at The Railway Inn in Winchester on Thursday night...If you were there then thanks for listening. I had a ball!... Also thanks to the bands for accommodating the Acoustic acts (especially Obsessive Compulsive)....it was great to launch my website and to thank Martin ( the website builder.....can he fix it?...yes he can!) for all his help and support....The photo below is from when I played upstairs last time at The Railway.....Also dont forget to get in touch through my website to register your "raffle ticket" number to be in with a chance of winning a copy of my album, "All in good time"
See you soon......Jim

Hello and Welcome to my blog...

It's really an exciting time to be launching my website and blog.

Here I will keep an update of gigs, videos, songs, photos and anything that is relevant to my 'songwriting' world.......

Here's a flyer for some Sunday shows at The Art House in Southampton...



The next one is on Sunday 20th June from 2pm onwards.

It's a cup of tea and slice of cake afternoon where I play unplugged for a couple of hours........Come along I'd love to see you there.........

Check out the Art House if you're ever in Southampton

http://www.thearthousesouthampton.co.uk/