Monday 25 July 2016

Isle of Wight Festival, XPO North and the future...

Well, it's been a crazy few months - I've held off writing a new blog because there's been a few more important things happening in the world - as well as a lot of suffering, arguments and unhappiness. 

It's easy to feel helpless when the world feels this messed up - if everyone could just be a little bit nicer, more thoughtful and more understanding and considerate of each other, it would be one small step in the right direction. 

I also want to thank everyone who's supported me in any way over the last few months - it's always noticed and I'm always grateful. 

Travelling...

True to my album title, I drove over 1,369 miles to play XpoNorth in Inverness and the Isle of Wight Festival the day after. Driving through the epic fog and rain of the Scottish hills at 2am on my way back was breathtaking, as was the traffic I encountered in London much later that day.


XpoNorth 

I was very proud to be the only English act to have been selected for XpoNorth this year, a wonderful festival of music, film and art. Here's a video of Darling Boy joining me for a filmed session earlier in the day. Huge thanks to everyone at XpoNorth plus the wonderful Ross Calder, Badger, Kev and Steve Robertson.




One highlight of the visit was wandering randomly in HMV in Inverness and hearing 'Fever' being played in the store! Click here for my excited video clip.






Photo dedicated to my dear friend Ross :-)








I had a tremendous gig at the Isle of Wight Festival playing the hugely popular Kashmir Cafe stage. Here's a very funky version of 'Travelling Man' -


Huge thanks of course go to Doug Alldred (who played a blinding set himself) and everyone at the Kashmir Cafe, plus the wonderful musicians Jon Bretman, Tali Trow, Patrick Kenneally and Dave Holland - plus of course, Sir Alex Gold and Gemma Corker.


Darling Boy is 99% vegetables
Ready, set...
"You've got to have a wristband, my man..."


Interview 

Click here to listen to a great interview I did with Phil Lickley about 'Travelling Man.'



Jon Bretman

Speaking of Jon, who did a lot of great guitar work on 'Travelling Man' not to mention The Foxes (although I just have), he's got a fantastic EP out called 'Profit & Loss' which you should immediately listen to here. 



Just pretending

A few photos from some of the recent acting work I've been doing - I can't wait to show you the moving pictures.

'Interception'


'What You Were Looking For'

LG









































The future...



Much love, 

Nigel. X

P.S. Check out Tali and his awesome cover of '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.'
P.P.S. It's not a huge change in their sound, but Dark Necessities isn't half bad.
P.P.P.S. Read 'Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It's epic. 
P.P.P.P.S. Speaking of Paul Simon - 'Wristband'. Its new and brilliant. 
P.P.P.P.P.S. You didn't fall for the clickbait did you?


"I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is to keep your head clear enough to think." Richard Pryor.

"I never used to believe in fate. I used to think you make your own life and then you call it fate. That's why I call it irony." Gene Wilder