i've been playing some kind of musical instrument since i was eleven years old. i used to play trumpet, euphonium and other brass instruments, but these days i play guitar, bass guitar, tin whistles, synthesiser and odd bits of percussion. i wouldn't say i could play any of them well, but it keeps me occupied.
right from when i first started learning to play, i've been in some kind of band or group. right now i'm involved in a number of projects:
the dogs see themselves as bristol's finest roots-pop band. everyone else sees them as bristol's ugliest band of any description.
the dogs are:
the only recording of the dogs available to the general public is their version of ursula (the swansea song), which is on the everyone by everybody else compilation, available exclusively from the barclay james harvest fan club.
after over a year of resting and coming to terms with such horrors as proper day jobs, painting houses and full consciousness, the dogs recently re-formed to play at a friend's wedding party. other gigs have been mooted, but right now i have no idea when (or even whether) they will happen.
a one-off project to make another barclay james harvest cover version, candle was essentially myself and mike working with the mysterious "boys with the toys" in their studio, and getting some help from jonjo for backing vocals. the version of medicine man we did is due out real soon on the their light still remains compilation from the barclay james harvest fan club.
the project between mike, myself and jd didn't work out. however, mike and myself are plotting towards forming another top secret project. more news if any of these plots ever get anywhere.
i keep all the songs i've ever written in a white ring binder. a couple of these songs are in the dogs repertoire, but most of them aren't for one reason or another. i'm working (slowly) towards getting some half-decent recordings made of these. i might even see if any music publishers are interested in them. once i have some results, i'll put some audio files on this page for your listening pleasure.