Folk on the Lawn 2015

I'm on my way to the lovely 'Folk on the Lawn' festival in Tintern, South East Wales this Summer...So excited to play songs about my Cariad in her green and beautiful Cymru. I've never played 'Welshmans Daughter to a welsh audience so I am very Gyffrous ( excited ) indeed!

In their words ' The 'genre' we encourage is the rootsy, the homespun, the innovative, the chance taking but within a basic folk/roots/acoustic format. We would see the festival as the antithesis of and remedy for the X Factor, 'tired folk' sort of thing.

Day 2 of '28'

Day 2 of my 28 songs over 28 days project...This one is called 'Sweet Lorna June' and was filmed this  very afternoon ( Monday 2nd February ) in the freezing wild woods of Winchester...

                                      Remember to come back tomorrow for day 3 of '28'

28 is here...

I'm filming 28 original songs over 28 days this February...Here's the first one out of the bag...Live from SoCo music project,The Courthouse, Eastleigh...No 1 of 28 it's 'Here to Stay'

                               Remember to come back tomorrow for the next instalment of '28'

Make no Bones 28 is nearly here !

The Wimbourne Folk Festival 2015...

So excited to announce that I will be playing The Wimbourne Folk festival on Saturday 13th June,,,I'm on The Garden Stage at 12.40...Looking forward to it has warmed the cockles of my heart on this cold  and grey January day.

Three is the magic number...

It's on it's way....

So this is New Year and what have we done...

Before I start I have to thank Dr Winston O'Boogie for the inspiration for the title above ;)

So here we are in a new year with the dust gently settling on 2014...The Christmas lights have faded...The pine needles have started to fall and our thoughts turn to the future and what 2015 may hold.

 In retrospect though ...2014 was a fantastic year for me musically...I set out to play at least one gig in every month of the year and my expectations were exceeded...and some!

 From Acoustic clubs to restaurants...from Folk clubs to Art centres and from pubs to living room concerts...2014 was both a varied and rewarding musical experience...

It was grand to play a number of festivals over the Summer including...The Bath Folk Festival...Larmer Tree on the Wiltshire/Dorset border...The New Forest Fairy Festival in Burley...The Ventnor Fringe Festival on the Isle of Wight and Southampton's Music in the City event...

I also graduated with a masters degree in songwriting in July from Bath Spa University...To place it in context, I left school without any qualifications back in the 80's with my ears ringing with The Clash and my heart pounding to Rebel Reggae sounds...This musical sustenance has been a solace all my life but in the back of my mind was a whispering voice that I knew one day would need to be answered...Undertaking the masters was more than a challenge and so much more than rewarding...It has given me a renewed confidence and rekindled the fire for songwriting and it's possibilities.

So turning to 2015 and the road ahead...I have already booked a number of festivals and gigs and have started recording for a new project to be aired in the Spring...I recently had new photos taken and will be launching a new website in the not too distant future...Keep your eyes peeled for news coming soon!

In closing I would like to say thanks to everyone who booked me to play in 2014 and continue to support me in 2015...and thanks to  everyone who took the time to have a chat after one of my shows and tell me how much you enjoy my songs and lyrics...Those connections have been priceless...Music is a communication that transcends everything...

May you all know blessings in abundance in 2015 and beyond....



                                           

Hope to see you at one of my gigs this year and in the words of Sal Paradise...keep burning!

New Year 2015

Happy New Year to one and all...Spent a peaceful passing of the year in the sea shanty shack with family and friends...The Ginger (non alcoholic) wine flowed freely ...The fire burnt brightly and 2014 passed into 2015 with a large helping of songs and smiles :) May the year ahead be creative, loving and joyful x
P.S Thanks Chris' Mum for the surprise phone call at the end of the video...Great stuff!

Testing...Testing...

Recording guide vocals for 'Pull it up boys'...Part of a new project for 2015...Keep em peeled ;)

Singing sea shanty's....

Thanks to Charity at The Pound in Corsham for the lovely review below...Would love  to make a return next year :)

“It was a pleasure to welcome Jim back to The Pound, Corsham. His unique sound was warmly received and everyone was singing along to sea shanty’s by the end, it was a delight to hear!”

On a wild and wet October evening...

We wandered over to Wiltshire last night for The Pound festival in Corsham...Just as we arrived the heavens opened...I wasn't sure if anyone would brave the wild and wet October evening but it was grand to see a fine turn out...and you all brought your fantastic singing voices with you as well...Thank you it was most appreciated :)

Corsham and The Pound always make me welcome and I was so pleased that you all enjoyed joining in with 'Pull it up Boys'...'You've got to have Faith' and especially 'Corsham Town'...

All together now...'So wherever I may wander and wherever I am found...There'll always be a part of me that's in Corsham Town...In Corsham Town'

Heading over to the wild west...

Taking a trip over to the wilds of Wiltshire on Friday night to play as part of Corsham's Autumn festival...I'm playing an event called 'Free Friday' which does exactly as it says on the tin...It's FREE to get in and it's a FRIDAY...I'm the featured artist for the evening...Playing two autumnal sets of wild woods,Welshmans Daughters and Woebegotten wanderers...

See you in the Cafe bar at 8.30pm

http://www.poundarts.org.uk/festival/EventDetails.aspx?artid=2994

Meeting with The Bishop in Winchester today...

I've got an acoustic meeting with The Bishop on the Bridge in Winch today...Its the first one of three gigs I'm playing there ...today and then Sunday Nov 9th and Sunday December 14th..all at 3.30pm-5.30pm...See you there.

Music in the City 2014...'Pull it up Boys' at The Platform Tavern Southampton

Great gig at The Platform Tavern in Southampton as part of the annual 'Music in the City' 2014 event...I played here and in the historic Undercroft vault on Bugle Street...So proud of my home-town and its history, people and musical talent...Can you see or hear yourself?..or perhaps both :)

Gracie Forever x

May Bank holiday in Horatios Garden...

Looking forward to playing in Horatio's Garden today...It is in the grounds of Salisbury Hospital and is a garden dedicated to a young man who lost his life whilst on an expedition to Norway...http://www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/horatio/ I am playing for the patients of the spinal unit and am feeling blessed to be able to share my songs with them and have a sing along in the Spring sunshine...

In Corsham Town In Corsham Town...

The Pound Arts Centre is in Corsham in Wiltshire and I played on friday evening to a very warm and receptive audience...It was a pleasure to play as everyone joined in with my sing along songs and not only that, they all clapped and cheered in all the right places!...I played 'In Corsham Town' at the end of the night and it was enjoyed by all with it's lyrics about the local area...I met some lovely people who were kind enough to give me some great feedback about my songs and how much they had connected with them...It is truly inspiring to hear that a lyric has touched someone's life...Thanks for all your kind comments...It is very much appreciated.

All the best to Elliot, who is learning guitar and taking an award to further his aims of becoming a songwriter and performer....He travelled with his Mum, Michelle, all the way from Marlborough to hear and meet me as she wanted to give him the experience of what it is like to be a solo Acoustic Artist ( What a fantastic Mum...He will go far with all your support I am sure!)...I was honoured to help with Elliot's fledgling career ...Hope the interview will help you and give you some tips Elliot...If you ever want to email me about anything please do...info@jimchorley.com

So if you are ever over in the Wiltshire area and are looking for a day/evening out... I thoroughly recommend Corsham and The Pound...They serve great tea and cake as well...Here's the link to them...www.poundarts.org.uk

Thanks for the booking and for the cups of camomile and refreshments...Hope to see you all again soon.