29 Nov Winter 2025 Update News and Gigs
Thanks to all friends old and new I’ve met along the way during my 2025 gigs, I’m settling into a much less frantic and very enjoyable summer festival season in the last few years!
Of course I had a big enforced break in the summer of 2024 after my accident at Southwell, lovely to be back there and Wickham in 2025. I’ve been a fixture at both of those almost from their inception and hope to do it all again in 2026.
Southwell is happily established in their best site yet, an absolute delight. It was Wickham’s second but my first year on its new site, which is also a fabulous improvement on the muddy mountaineering we had got used to for so many years.
Whitby Folk Week, which I’ve been attending almost every year since 1968, this year had its 60th anniversary and we owe all the hard workers down the decades a big thank you for keeping it going and giving us such great continuity in our lives. For the second year running I was honoured to be booked to play as a duo along with Chris Parkinson – thanks Sue, Mel and Pat! Even after countless performances there, I still can’t get used to the raked stage in the Pavilion Theatre and the backstage area still remains a rabbit warren, to be negotiated anew on each visit.
Coming up to date, I recently had my first ever solo lunchtime restaurant gig at Rusty Shears in Whitby, which turned out amazingly well, every seat full and a few turned away, with Whitby pals going back as far as 50 years turning up. There are benefits to a long career when you see so many friendly faces from different eras in your life!
Gigs are starting to materialise now for 2026 – I’m at a stage where I just sit back and enjoy the chance to play whenever it presents itself – with time, the gigs get fewer but all the more enjoyable for that. Two upcoming shows in particular are going to be very special. They are the Jimmy McHugh Memorial Concert in Glasgow in January, and Ely Festival in July. The McHugh family in Glasgow have played a major role in Irish music in Scotland, it was a pleasure to play and socialise with them ever since my first Scottish gigs with Tom Napper in 78/79, at events, sessions and fleadhs in Scotland, Ireland and London right through my time in the Battlefield Band and beyond. It will be a blast to see that welcoming Glasgow crowd again. Likewise, Ely is a festival where I worked for many years as a sound engineer and was warmly welcomed into one of the most friendly event teams anywhere, always culminating in memorable Sunday nights when the remaining beer in the bar just had to be drunk, accompanied by rock’n’roll until the early hours. Not sure if I still have the stamina for that, we’ll see! On one memorable year I wrapped up my job on sound on the Sunday and was given a final concert spot with Chris Parkinson on the evening. We’re due to repeat that this year for their 40th anniversary, thanks Sue for setting that up!
Apart from that, highlights will be our usual St Pat’s weekend gigging marathon in The Rogues, and a charity concert with Gaelforce and others in Loughborough.
My partner Maggie has resurrected her acoustic songs session, which lost its venue last year, it’s now taking place in Cawood – watch my facebook page for news of that. Last night was the first one and already we are looking at a larger room in the Jolly Sailor pub to accommodate all the musicians and singers.
Gig listing now
10/01/2026 SOLO Jimmy McHugh Memorial Concert, Glasgow
13-20/03/2026 ROGUES multiple St Patrick’s Day gigs TBC
11/04/2026 SOLO with Gaelforce and others, Loughborough.
12/07/2026 DUO with Chris Parkinson, Ely Festival
TBC Southwell, Wickham, Whitby festivals, watch this space!