Last Days of Darkness Fades Tour

Hey peeps,

Wow! What a trip! This has been the trip of a lifetime. A tour where my darkness has faded. There are still elements there which come to the surface from time to time, but such is life. The dark side that lingers within is what makes me who I am. It drives my creative side and pushes it, but it no longer is at the forefront of my mind. The last few years have driven me to the edge, but the power of music, of songwriting, of composing and recording has driven it out. It's a therapy of sorts. Ridding the self of those daily crushing moments.

Thoughts of tour .....

I have been blown away by the reception of the audiences. Starting in Amsterdam 4 months ago ..... I remember it like yesterday. The nerves before the opening show. The reception of the audience who loved the performance. From Amsterdam to Berlin - wow! What a cool city! Here I met the most amazing musicians who were so welcoming at all the amazing venues that the city has to offer. From Berlin to Horlandz to Hamburg - Beatles Platz, playing in front of a random crowd of people who sang along with each song at the top of their voices. Another moment blown away. From Hanburg back to Berlin, home of the Dead Sea Captain,  and onto Paris.... well .... no words but strolling around the city on a rare day off was a highlight of the weekend. From Paris back to Berlin - that place is like a magnet!

Upon leaving Berlin I spent a wonderful evening in Rennes, France. My hosts were wonderful, very welcoming with the most comfy bed! It definitely beat the backseat of a bus! A couple of days in St Malo playing at the Route du Rhum festival before heading to Jersey, where I had a great time with the kids. And played a couple of nice relaxing open mic gigs.

Since leaving Jersey in November, I have played in Lyon, Annecy, Chanay, Chamonix, Bellegarde and Geneva.

Some big thanks here to firstly the venue owners who have put up with me over, and welcomed me to their audiences. The Chanay Crew for providing laughter when I needed it most. You all know who you are. Thank you to the various hotels that put me up, and provided guidance on the best things to do in each city. Thank you to the drivers, am the worst sat-nav in the world so am glad you were able to find the way each and every time. A huge thank you to my management team, you deserve an award! Huge thanks to the fellow musicians who joined me on stage over this tour. You guys are amazing and I have a huge respect for you all! Thank you to www.wilsoncreative.co.uk for the fantastic work on the EP on CD and to www.lathetothegrave.co.uk for the amazing 7" vinyl. Finally, the audiences who have listened, who have enjoyed the gigs, without your attendance I wouldn't be able to express the feelings and thoughts that have been written into each song!

Best memory?

I'd have to be honest and say it's an amalgamation of all the times I played the single The Darkness Fades. There is a raw emotion in this song and the lyrics always take me on a journey. I find this song so powerful, depending on my mood it can be played quite softly with the rhythm swaying the emotion. But at times, the emotion is stripped back and I play the song with venom, anger and spitting out the lyrics, in a spirit of relief. That's the beauty of this song it kicks me in the heart, and I have to find the expression from within.

Thank you to everyone I've met on this wonderful trip.

I'll play a sneaky Belfast gig .....

Then it's back on the road on 13 January with a return to Berlin - the Barkett on 14 January!

Cheers guys,

Love J

Xx

My Son, My Joker, My Padawan

My Son, My Joker, My Padawan

words by Justin Curran 

Will you know me
When I see you again
Do you know of the effort I've made
And the letters I've sent

Not a day goes by
When your not in my thoughts
I miss holding your hold
And the smile and pride that brought

I don't want you to struggle
To think I've let you down
You are always in my heart
Deep down my heart is buried in the sand

I love your sweet innocent smile
When you asked if we can be best friends
Of course we are my son, my Joker, my Padawan
Best of the best until the bitter end

I haven't walked away
I just need to find me
I need to be the best father
You are a huge part of my journey

This is so very hard
Cos I miss you so much
But I'm always here for you
Just beyond touch

Please know I'll always be here
Never too far from you
I only wish I could hear your voice
And I'd tell you how much I love you

But that time will come
When I'll hold your hand
I'll continue to write to you
One day you'll understand

I love you my Joker, my Padawan, my Son

xx xx

Johnny Walsh's Pub - Vieux Lyon

Hey folks,

When this tour was booked and I knew I would be near Lyon, it only made sense that I would spend a night on the stage at Johnny Walsh's Pub in Vieux Lyon. I last played there 17 and half years ago. It was like stepping back in time, and there was a great atmosphere there.

I was accompanied by Martin, a local musician who I played with in a band all those years ago playing festivals all over France! He accompanied me on lead guitar and backing vocals, and his percussionist joined us on the Cajon. The songs took on a life of their own on stage with these two jamming along. The Darkness Fades, Stay Strong  - I'll Be Your Guide and Lost in Space were well received by the audience.

Amazing memories being made on this tour! Don't want it to end!

To hear these songs coming alive was simply amazing!

Thank you guys!

J xx

Friday & Saturday gigs in Switzerland & Francs

On Friday I played in Geneva, amazing city, very welcoming and the crowd was wonderful. The set went down really well, I really enjoyed playing and let out the stresses which were building up. My poor guitar felt the passion whilst I was playing and unfortunately by the last song I was down to 10 strings as opposed to 12! Fantastic end to the gig, where I was bought espresso and chocolates by couple of audience members.

Last night, Saturday, I collaborated on the opening of a photography exhibition in Made in Davanod, Bellegarde. The atmosphere was amazing from the beginning! Marc Sanche Photographe was launching his photographic exhibition, the photos are simply stunning. Some night time photos, some self-portraits expressing the dark side of the mind, and he has some incredible silhouette style urban photos. He's a very talented young photographer who doesn't have any inhibitions in explorimg his style. This guy has a good future ahead of him. If you are in the area this exhibition lasts until end of February at Made in Davanod. These photos are all for sale ... tempted to buy one! It was a pleasure playing the opening of your exhibition - being a photographer myself I'm really impressed! Well done!

The gig was great. 3 x 45 minute sets, the audience were interested in the story behind the songs and understood as I explained the concept behind the album. Playing with the light and dark side of the mind. Where there's darkness you can find light, where there's light darkness can be around the corner. Due to my mood yesterday The Darkness Fades was played with a blind fury and by the time I finished the song I was drenched in sweat, and the venue was silent listening to the word. After finishing I felt a sigh of relief from deep within and during the first interval CDs and Vinyls were being sold at the merch stall.

Thank you to the hosts at Made in Davanod - I can't wait to come back and play this venue again soon! Thank you to Marc Sanche, you are a very talented individual! And finally, thank you to s wonderful, attentive, warm audience!

J xx

Lyon ...... a trip down my musical memory lane.

I lived in Lyon nearly 20 years ago. I spent a year teaching English as a foreign language at the Lycée Condorcet in St Priest. It was a great experience living in Lyon and I've cherished those memories over the years. A university friend of mine, Damien, was living in Bourg en Bresse outside Lyon and he used to travel down to Lyon at weekends. We had heard of this pub Johnny Walsh's in Vieux Lyon where I was living and we needed some Guinness. We stumbled upon Johnny Walsh's one Saturday evening and the owner Adrian aka 'Yer Man Ado', was playing. His style was amazing, real folky, blues and trad. I joined him for a few songs. I ended up as his bass player. I played some solo gigs as well at Johnny Walsh's that year, and at L'Antidote (also on Rue St Georges). We also played a load of festivals in the alps that summer of 2000, a few of which have given me great memories over the years. It was great I gigged virtually every Friday and Saturday night when I was there, sometimes solo, sometimes as a duo, and sometimes with the Johnny Walsh's Pub Band on bass. I think the great thing about Ado was that he taught me strumming techniques on the guitar, which I still use to this day.

I visited all the old haunts yesterday and amazing how it all comes back to you. I knew every street, every nook and cranny. The top photo shows Place Bellecour, the statue and the ever impressive Fourvière up above. I lived in a studio apartment 2 streets away from Fourvière, and it brought back the greatest memories.

To top it off I played an absolute blinder, and sold a few CD singles. Now to spend the day testing these 2 harmonicas!

I'll be back in Lyon next Wednesday and I can't wait.

Chamonx

Took the van to Chamonix this weekend and what a stunning resort! À gruelling drive down through the mountains but when you arrive the view is simply spectacular, the moon was shining so brightly when we arrived on Friday night that it looked like the snow on Mont Blanc was glowing in the dark. One thing that always hits me when I travel through mountain ranges is how insignificant we are in terms of the size that surrounds us!

Sunday morning was spent exploring a bit, with an amazing Reblochon Burger which was to die for!

Played a lovely 2 hour set in the afternoon and the songs went down really well, and signed a couple of CDs for audience members.

I can't wait to come back and play here again! Off to Geneva now for tonight's gig!

J xx