There Goes Summer

So its been a while, hope you are all ok. Since last we spoke I have been engulfing my self in music. It started in July when myself and my friends went to the beautiful latitude festival, despite the showers it was a great weekend, with lots of music.

About a week later I performed on a bandstand in Belper with Amy Notman, Lucy Milford, Jonathon Cundey, Chris Preston and Mark Lilley. Despite being told that we were to play alternate sets with a local steel band, we ended up doing the whole thing as they never showed up. We were saved by the experience of Amy and Lucy and their catalogue of songs, without them we would have looked quite stupid. Although judging from the pics below (courtesy of Mark Lilley) I think I was beyond help in the looks department anyway.

Then came August and the Moseley Folk Festival This has to be one of the quaintest festivals I have ever been to. For starters it is set in a hidden private park right in the town centre.

Moseley Park is unique. Less than 2 miles from Birmingham city centre. Unaltered for a 100 years. 11 acres of peaceful parkland, a beautiful lake packed with fish and surrounded by trees.
Moseley Park is a private park. You need a key to get in! So it's not 'institutional' like many public parks can be. It's a park out of time - some parts of it, such as the Ice House, go back 200 years.
(© Copyright 2006 Moseley Park & Pool Limited)

It is also an extremely friendly, real ale & cider swilling oasis, with some of the best music around.
Besides it being almost non stop rain on the last day and myself having a major stomach upset, it was fantastic, as the pics below will testify.
Highlights: John Tams, Seth Lakeman, Ruth Notman, The Destroyers, Waterson:Carthy, Rachel Unthank & the Winterset.

John Tams

21st century gigging

Ruth Notman

Then in September I saw the Stray Cats in Brixton. What a fantastic band but what a weird audience.
Don’t get me wrong they looked great all quiffed up and gave the whole gig a sense of authenticity but they never moved. Usually when you go to see a band that plays 80% of songs at a high tempo you start to move your legs, nod your head or even bounce up an down but not this crowd. Although they were obviously enjoying it they never moved, perhaps it was the sticky beer laden floor.

(photo by hwatson78)

My First Unrequited Press

Click Image for larger view.



Go Here for online version.

Go here to Purchase album.

Come & Get It

It is finally out there.



My Debut solo album 'Unrequited' has now been released on Pullfocus records. You can hear a few of the songs on www.myspace.com/mjohnsonuk (including the fantastic duet with Amy Notman) plus if you like what you hear why not purchase a copy. You can buy it from itunes, Cd baby and Pullfocus shop (more digital outlets will follow). click one of the links below.




CD BABY

PULLFOCUS SHOP

It's Here

My new solo album has arrived. Purchasing details to follow.

Chasing the Devil

I start with bad news. Due to unforeseen circumstances the gig at The Cross on 26th March has been postponed. As of yet I don’t have a new date but keep checking back.

On a better note the solo album is nearing completion.
Last week I recorded the female parts for the duet Getting Scared and was blown away by the fantastic voice of an angel. I won’t tell you who it is yet, only that she is one of the midlands stars of the future ( I have to keep something as a surprise) .
Also I have decided to include a new song on the album which I wrote about a month ago. It is called Chasing the Devil and is an up tempo guitar -filled- orchestral voyage, you’ll love it.

This week also saw me acquire the talents of Boston (US not UK) photographer Diana Lemieux who has kindly agreed to provide the images for the albums artwork. Its looking fantastic.
Check her out:
www.flickr.com/photos/dlemieux.

So this is what is left to be done:

Mix Chasing the Devil
Sign off the artwork
Master the album
Seal it with a kiss
Post it to you.

The new track listing:

She’s out of her head
In your arms
Spinning
Pop Love (keep me a secret)
Don’t let it drop
The ballad of Billy James
Chasing the Devil
Just of you
Getting scared
Lost
Rip the town up
Softly


The release date is most likely to be the end of April, beginning of May.


Don’t forget the gig on the 26th March is postponed.