I've just got home from the latest bout of rehearsals in Hull with Mr David Rotheray and friends. For those of you who haven't come across that name before you will find it sharing the song-writing credits of all the hits co penned with Paul Heaton for that wonderful band; the Beautiful South. Dave doesn't actually sing himself (even though i think he is more than capable) so in all of his songwriting projects he enlists the help of various vocalists such as Sam Brown in his last band Homespun.

With his latest project Dave has selected singers with more of a somewhat folky-er persuasion and i was very honoured to be one of them along with Katherine Williams, Alasdair Roberts, Julie Murphy, Elenor McAvoy, Eliza Carthy, Jack L and Bella Hardy. The album is to be called 'The Life of Birds' and will be released on Proper Records in August, all very exciting!

Understandably Mr Rotheray has plans to tour this fine album but for obvious reasons he can't take all of the singers involved with him! And so Miss Hardy and myself shall be taking hold of the girls and boys parts respectively accompanied by the wonderful Damon Butcher on piano (whose playing style is instantly recognisable as the essense of the Beautiful South) and Gary Hammond, not on organ(!) but on percussion. Oh and David too of course on guitar, bass and pre-song patter.

I first got involved in this project two years ago after being recommended as a decent male vocalist by the lovely Mr Sam Pirt (check out his new band 'The Hut People) and i just want to say a huge thank you to Sam for doing so. I've had and continue to have such a wonderful time working with Dave and his fab songs and circle of musicians and it's going to be such a thrill to finally perform them to the public. And i have to say with such a cheeky line up of people i know the whole tour will be a right giggle! We've got a few dates coming up in August and then some larger blocks in September and August so keep your eyes on the gigs page.

And finally i'm going to close by saying how fab it's been to discover Hull (Kingston upon) as it's such a wonderful city and i especially love the Old Town. Oh and as for the Adelphi Club...    it is THE place for leading-edge music. I'm almost tempted to leave Devon. Almost.

Jim x