Well, you will not be surprised to discover that I did not manage to do a busking session this month. I went out with my guitar with the intention of finding a reasonably quiet spot to just start playing but the nerves got the better of me and I just did not feel confident enough to do it. Not sure what the answer is and I don’t really know how to get started. I have thought that it might be possible to join in with another buskers session and maybe do a few songs while they take a break. I have made contact with a local busker so this might come together at some point.
The Sacred Woods had a run of gigs in September, one was playing as part of Chorley Live and we play a set in a haberdashery shop! Rather surprisingly it went down really well and we thoroughly enjoyed it. This was contrasted by 3 pub gigs that were all pretty flat due to a low turn out. We did our usual thing and played our best trying to entertain, but the few people that were in, although appreciative and said some nice things about us, were not really interested in the music. I always wonder why pubs put music on when they are struggling to get punters through the door, perhaps they think it will be a draw but unless it is relentlessly plugged by the venue it is always going to be tough. One of the pubs had not even put up the poster that we sent to them so it was no surprise when people did not realise that a band on.
I try not to let these sort of gigs get to me but it is always a slight knock to the confidence when you are not getting a decent crowd and the response that goes along with that. But, you just never know where the good gigs are going to come from so we just keep plugging away and at least the good ones outweigh the bad.
I released another album as ‘Jules Bryant’ from my experimental stuff and even though it did not go smoothly again, it did not take too much effort so the free upload system seems to be worth sticking with for now. I have a few plans for follow up albums so I hope to get started on them in the next month or so. Link to Latest Jules Bryant Album
On the solo front I have not performed live this month but have booked on to an open mic for the beginning of December and am going to try a walk-in, at least once, in November. It is surprising how quickly the confidence can drop when you are not performing live regularly!
Kittyhawk has been quiet lately, we had a ceilidh in September and have a couple of events left before the end of the year, but it has been a very quiet year for gigs. We are learning quite a few new pieces for Xmas so hopefully we will manage a few gigs to make use of them.
On the recording front we have put the final touches to the EP for The Sacred Woods and it is now over to Pip for doing the mixing and mastering before we release it. I am hoping this will be before the end of the year as it has taken us nearly a year to get to this point. I am going to do a solo single (or maybe EP) before the end of the year as well, as I am getting so much material I really want it out there.
Onwards…
The sonic journey of Jules Bryant-Funnell 