Allo there,

Hold on a sec. I'll just have a wee look at my calendar to remind me of what's been going on. It feels like a lot.

Girvan Folk Festival. It was just great to be back at that festival. It had been years since I had nearly frozen to death when it snowed around my tent which demonstrated the limitations of my open ended domestic sleeping bag.

I enjoyed having my voice back on the Friday and Saturday nights but unfortunately the smoky pub on the Sunday afternoon took it away for the Sunday evening concert. However the atmosphere was electric and that particular spot will go down as one of my favourite ever gigs. Thanks as well to my old buddy Sandy Stanage for joining me on stage. He's such a great player. Also, I enjoy the freedom to sing without playing. One can put so much more into the song. Maybe that speaks volumes about my guitar playing.

A wee batch English gigs.....Leigh on Sea, not great attendance but a pleasure, as always.

Hereford (Nightjar Music) I really enjoyed. Meeting up with loads of old friends. It's an area I'm well fond of and they seem to be faithful to me. Affy guid!

Tamworth too was an enjoyable revisit. They're a bunch of characters I can tell you. Once again a real pleasure. (I love this job!)

The Potteries....same thing! It was a great pleasure to see Lorna Davies' face when I let her hear a demo of her "Songbird" that I had recorded back in December. It was a relief that she liked it.

Wimborne Acoustic was a good 'un too. They are so into running that new club. I wish them every deserved success. Hospitality was exceptional too. Thanks to you all.

Folk on the Moor, Wotter. I'm always afraid to say too much about this club in case it sounds a little too gushing but it is one of the best in the country and I had a great time. It would be nice if the audience had had too. (I'm joking - I think!)

The Scottish folk club gigs were something else. Great to have such good gigs and local. Irvine, The Star (Glasgow) and Girvan for the second time in a month. I was able to get home from these ones within an hour and a half. More of that please. (Great gigs too.) The other stuff brought more pleasure.

The Channel 5 filming of the comparison between my live singing and their amazing £150,000 system's playing of Westlin Winds was interesting. You may see it when it is shown. Watch this space. We may find out when it's being shown.

Naked Truth Volume Two is all done and ready to go. Just awaiting the licence from MCPS and it will be out. I'm very pleased with it. I hope it is enjoyed.

I have all my ideas for the songs for the other new CD. Just got to get them out to the players and we're away. I'm looking forward to that one.

The Studio has been particularly busy, the schools workshops have been plentiful, working in the restaurant a bit.....Gasp! Gasp!.....not much time for breathing. No complaints there.

There may be more I could tell but quite honestly....enough's enough isn't it. I don't want to bore you rigid. Oh! "Too late!" I hear you say.

Bye then. (You cheeky so....)

Ian.

p.s I have a gig at Mill on the Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet on June 19th. Come along if you can. There's a barbecue too.

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NOTE FROM EDITOR (Elaine Hawkins)

Dear all,

Hope you have all had a good Bank Holiday, and the rest of May of course.

During May my computer blew up and, unconnected with that, I also got a speeding ticket - watch out for the "Safety Cars" in Cumbria.  There were also some good things, I managed to see quite a few of Ian's gigs.....

He says that he enjoyed them and we (the audience) certainly did as well ! His voice was superb and the feeling that he put into his songs stirred our emotions.

He has adapted the song from the musical Chess to "I know her so well" and it is just breath-taking. The new song called "Recovery" is a celebration of regained health, family and friends. Great chorus singing!   [Apologises to Moe B for ruining "Touch and the Go" by trying to save the historic venue of St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow from fire by using her ice-cubes to extinguish the out-of-control tee-light.]

It's great talking to people who have seen him for the first time - they always say what a brilliant voice he has and how the songs have moved them to laugh, cry, remember instances in their own lives or perhaps to see things from a different angle .

With his superb voice and friendly, amusing patter - at ALL of the gigs that I saw (seven) - he had the audience in the palm of his hand! He also had us joining in all the choruses.

I can't cook very well, but I love cook books.
There is a place in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria called the Acoustic Cafe (at the Rattan and Rush) that combines food and music. Ian was there on 23/11/02 and will be there again on 20/08/05.
They have produced a book of their recipes, photos of artistes (including Ian) that have appeared there (with a free 15 track CD of artistes (inc Ian)) for £15.99 including postage.
Email acoustictearoom@aol.com for more details or see the advert on http://www.acoustictearoom.co.uk/stop_press1.htm

In August, Ian is appearing in a romantic castle as part of the Peebles Festival - see for yourself at these links http://www.caledoniancastles.co.uk/

castles/borders/neidpath.htm

and http://www.maybole.org/history/castles/neidpath.htm
The tickets are available from the Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre Box Office on 01721 725777. Their web-site http://www.tweedtheatre.org.uk

I have put the old Newsletters up on the site. I also have a few new photos - I will post them there when I have a moment.

Here's hoping the weather improves.....

Happy Listening