Writings and pictures
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Trio tour recap
The musicians on this tour were John Jones, Ray Cooper and Al Scott. Read John’s reflections and stories from the tour on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/johnjonesoysterband This may be a long read but there are quite a few photographs … Being Tour Manager for a trio and touring in England is very different from touring…
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The music of Jones Cooper Scott
Having rested after 3 weeks on the road, and before I write about the tour, I want to write some comments on the music. I only came across Oysterband around 2005, on their Big Session tour when I went to see Show of Hands, their support act. I was immediately captured by their music and…
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A Step Up …
This next tour is geographically but not politically over Europe’s roads (but we do hope that both may become true again in my lifetime). John Jones has asked Ray and Al Scott to join him to tour as a trio. See www.johnjonestrio.org and they asked me to be their tour manager for the UK tour…
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Café9 Sheffield
There is a lot of driving when on tour and sometimes it becomes a pleasure. Today, we drove along the winding roads with view of the hills in from the Welsh border, then across the Pennines and into Sheffield. I’d only ever seen Sheffield before when driving north or south on the M1 so it…
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Presteigne
This is the third time Ray has been invited to play in Presteigne. It’s always a delight as he gets to play the grand piano that they keep in very good condition. The Assembly Room is a lovely venue for a concert. Local company Translight have installed a range of lights and we had Soundzaround…
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The Prince Albert, Stroud
The Prince Albert is a lovely pub on the outskirts of Stroud. After a short drive up from Netley and lunch at Gloucester Services, we were warmly welcomed by Lotte and Miles. The German audio company D&B have a depot in Stroud and have donated equipment to The Prince Albert to give them an enviable…
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Netley Chapel Sessions
It was a long drive down from Derby to Netley which is on the south coast near Southampton but were able to stop for a break near Oxford. It was lovely to arrive at St Edwards Church, to catch a glimpse of the sea and to be welcomed by John and Sonja who run the…
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Derby Dubrek Studios
We were accompanied on the drive down to Derby by storm Claudia which meant rain and surface water on the motorway. Thankfully nothing like the flooding elsewhere in the country. The Dubrek Studios have facilities for rehearsing and recording as well as a small venue. It’s well designed and sound-proofed so that in the venue…
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Return to the FortyFive
Wednesday was a return visit to the FortyFive Vinyl Café and Listening Room in the centre of York. The café had only been opened a year when we first visited but it had left a very positive impression and we were happy to be invited back. To read more about this unique venue, please click…
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Band On The Wall
This was the first time Ray has played solo in Manchester and he was especially proud of his debut being at Band On The Wall. It’s an iconic venue, hosting live music since the late 1930’s. It was originally The George and Dragon Hotel when the owner installed a stage high up on a wall…
A Visitor On Europe’s Roads 