Between the beaches
UK tour blog 2 - October 2015

Steve beside the sea in Llandudno

Gateshead show
Photo © Carl Chambers

Down in the vaults of the Colston Hall, Bristol

The Gateshead, Glasgow and Leeds shows had fantastic crowds and the dynamic was electric in every sense! A big contrast between the futuristic spaceship style Sage at Gateshead and the impressive Victorian Town Hall in Leeds with its huge organ and ornate auditorium. In all three cities you can see how old industrial buildings around rivers and canals are being transformed into hotels, restaurants and luxury apartments... the odd barge still floating on the water, which also continues to run through mysterious dark tunnels.

And so westwards on to Llandudno in Wales, with it's pristine beach in a scenic bay. Following an enjoyable gig, Jo and I travelled to Harlech to see friends on our day off. Wild and remote with mountains, sea and extensive sand dunes, like our morning trip to the Highlands in Scotland it was a refreshing break.

Back into the fray in bustling Liverpool, our show was filmed for an upcoming live DVD. It had a tremendous atmosphere with fabulous audience and incredible venue. Great that Amanda Lehmann and John Hackett could both join us there as guests too, as with Leicester the following day which had an equally special feel.

The Warrington BSL choir joined us for the Salford show on "Loving Sea". It was beautiful and moving to watch them perform their deaf signing. Again a terrific vibe...

Then eastwards across country to Ipswich, where our hotel overlooked hundreds of boats in the dock beneath circling seagulls...

Both the Ipswich and Bristol shows went really well. At the Colston Hall, Bristol before the show a small group of us climbed down to the cellars below, where slaves were once held. It's a sobering and spooky experience. Then in the hall above I joined Rob Reed and Tina Boothe to hand over a cheque to the Parkinson's society from the vocal version of Spectral Mornings charity record.

Following an amazing gig in Birmingham with an extraordinary crowd, we travelled on back to the east coast... to Southend. From the promenade near the venue by you can see the spectacular pier I visited last year - over a mile along! As the sun set into a spectral evening, Halloween began and the sound of the crowd echoed in my ears long after our final gig of the UK tour was over.

Just a few days now to draw breath and then off to the USA...

My thanks to all the band, crew, Jo, Brian, agents and promotors for making it all happen!