Never dull but often sad

The last few weeks have been spent getting album artwork completed and off to manufacturers, playing a couple of festivals and building a new studio. I’m really pleased with the way ‘Vegas’ looks. Michael Wrycraft did a fantastic job and I think it’ the best album cover we have ever put out.It will hit the shops next Monday. This Saturday is the launch gig in Cardiff so I’m desperately cramming the lyrics into my head. Played ‘Beautiful Days’ festival a few weeks ago, which was great, though the mud was something else. Greenbelt festival was hot and dry and good fun. Hosted the ‘Rising’ song writing sessions and did a bunch of other stuff. Guests on the Rising included Duke Special, Billy Bragg, Sarah Masen, Robert from Willard Grant Conspiracy and Rebecca Worthley. I don’t fancy myself as an interviewer, much preferring the questions to come at me, but it’s an interesting exercise to come from the other angle.Have been moving my studio set up to a new location as I have had to leave the premises I have been in for some time now. Have actually had something built and were now painting with a ton of gear, wires and instruments waiting in storage to see their new home. Never a dull day.Today will see the funeral of little Rhys Jones shot dead in Liverpool. His Dad’s simple but moving poem brought me to tears this morning. This is a crazy world messed up world, made even more so by the many thousands of other children who will die today from an absence of daily provision that we simply take for granted. The great voice that was Luciano Pavarotti is also taken away today. Many a sad day.