(Almost) Spring Newsletter 2016.
Deadlines and decisions
Welcome to Tom's irregular newsletter
Cracking day here Gromit.
Clear, bright sunlight. Still too much rain in the ground but crisp, cold and bright. So i'm up here in the office with a brew, the view and the warm.
upcoming gigs and music
Here's another bit of music from the upcoming cd...an instrumental which has no name at present....so its currently called 'long merkin'! Suggestions please.....
https://soundcloud.com/tom-doughty/long-merkin-less-boomy
This week I am mostly eating nuts and practising some singing for a couple of days in Orchard Studios, vocal recording for my CD.
March is busy:
13/15th Rehearsals with sextet in Bristol
18/19th RMMGA in The Cotswolds
26th Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival
30-4th Bahrain with Charles Hazlewood and The Sublime group. ✺
✺ (We are a sextet, without an official name, formed from the Paraorchestra)
April and onwards sees a festival in St Ives, some work in Devon, an audition for a singing role in a National TV ad; and back home for a few snippets in and around Manchester.
News
Free Guitar project, needs work.
Some years ago, after a glass of red, I bought Jesus on Ebay, from a Mexican. Thing is, (right - self justification kicking in) I fancied a lap guitar with 8 playable strings and 4 drone strings and I thought I could convert something. So I found this wreck for 50quid, (plus shipping), ....When said thing arrived, it had a faded imprint from an old sticker saying 'Jesus is Lord', which made me wonder about playing 'Devils' music on him....
 He was also sprayed in red candy metal flake and had car filler covering a few cracks and looked like he'd been in some kind of a fight. As I like rescuing broken objects, I had a plan was to add a few tuners, reduce the fingerboard for the drone strings to run underneath the playing strings and generate a whole new sound. I'm good at starting new projects, but not so good at seeing them through. Jesus has languished in the cupboard for too long and I realised his fate lay in woodworking equipment, time and commitment that I don't have......so he's here should anyone like to take him on, so to speak.....
 
Gigs
Since the last newsletter, there's been variety. The routine of no routine, always different audiences, reactions, music and places.
I did my usual appearance at The Wirral Guitar Festival.......Roy Wood was there too - I played in front of a poster of him looking about 30 years old - Methinks its time to get an up to date picture.
And then a gem of an afternoon. I was approached by Salford University to provide a (their word, not mine) "Masterclass" (hehehe) to their Contemporary Music degree students. Such a young, receptive bunch and an absolute pleasure to be be able to pass on some knowledge and music. No bull, it was a privilege and an afternoon I won't forget in a hurry.
Upcoming
I'm in the studio next week, some vocals and guitar to finally finish the fifth CD.(thanks to Tony Goodall and Iain Paterson who have helped me with the project thus far)....Will I have it dusted by Easter?
Will Mary Berry be offended at my tribute song to her?
Can anyone tell me how to stop my dog from digging up the Garden??
The prospect of upcoming work in Bahrain, both to the public and various Embassy Officials feels exciting. What will they think of my song Zimbabwe?
Will Mr Cameron confiscate my guitar on the grounds of irrelevant disability entitlement?
Travelling to St Ives for gigs various in the Campervan feels pioneering, even though it isn't. We've never travelled so near to Lands End. Will we get there?
Will I be selected to work with Blink Productions in a National campaign with the Producer Dougal Wilson? http://www.blinkprods.com/d/dougalwilson
Will anyone claim or repair Jesus?
Bye for now
x
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