so i get to go home tomorrow for a few days before heading back out on the Gemma Hayes tour for another 8 dates. Really looking forward to being back in Belfast for a while and seeing my family and friends. The tour with David was a really special time. David, Francie, Slim and Beige all treated us so well and made us feel just part of their tour and wee family on the road, so big massive thanks to them. Sitting in Chip's front room with Matt (one of Chip's sons) and Ben (partner of one of Chip's daughters) are discussing grafitti and tongues on trainers! They are both into Hip hop in a big way which is a really cool community of people actually. I am not very clued into it all but they are kind to me :)

Anyways, these two tours seem to be paying off in terms of record labels being able to come and see me play. Chip is as usual a sensation and people are even beginning to ask for discarded whisks in the way that people do for drum sticks which is funny and cool too!

I am continually blown away by people telling me that my songs mean something to them. I feel very, very unworthy of appreciation like that and am just glad to be able to make a connection with people or to somehow assist in other people feeling.... something... whatever that might be....

So, you go on stage. there are people there to hear you. There are people here who have never heard you you want to impress. You are trying to communicate your songs in the most honest and soulful way. Then...... there is all this free beer. It's the easiest thing in the world to have a skin full every night, initially to help you feel less nervous... to get into the zone maybe, cause it's there.... Grand every once in a while but multiply that by 150 shows a year or whatever and then try going home and being normal. mmmm..... So! If anyone has any good ideas? I am thinking of giving myself, or even being given, tasks to complete in every town I go to to give me another place to go instead of beer land! Fun things maybe that will maybe become a good habit for me? I know this is a wierd one but as a man in Bel x1 said the boozy charm can only get ya so far... xx

love the duke xxxxxxx

Believe me when I say when you have seen one scaby dressing room, you have seen them all! So here we are in Glasgow, at the Bar Fly on Clyde Street to be precise. As anyone who has ever toured will know, the glamour of performing on stage is the tiniest part of an existence mainly revolving around - "will the free food in the dressing room be even slightly varied from the previous 15 nights", or - "will the sound system actually work?" or for the most part of time - just hanging around! For a more full and much more eloquent study of life on the road I should direct you to aqualung's web site - aqualung.net and go to Ben's tour diary.

On the other hand I also know how lucky I am to be doing this. I love performing on stage to people who seem to really appreciate the music. In fact I LOOOOVE IT!! So I am prepared to put up with all the little querks familiar to any fellow travellers. I miss everyone at home though. That bit really is shit and I wish somehow that bit didn't have to happen. However, my family on the road is pretty special too. My good friend Chip Temperence Society Bailey is a constant source of companionship and is currently enjoying the discovery of Fopp record and book stores as well as his usual diet of cooked breakfasts and sliced ham in the dressing room! David Ford is a gentleman and is becoming a good friend. His performances are passionate and he is constantly working hard at inventing new textures and instruments to surround his songs. The most recent is the wonderful use of a type-writer. Tom Waits once said that recording music is all about texture, breaking eggs and throwing in the shells too.

Joining David "Dog" Ford on stage are Francis "Francie," "Law" Law one of the lovliest people you could meet and Ben "Jokeman Tennesse Slim". Jokeman plays bass in the Late Greats and a brill person to be on the road with. On sound and our driver designate on the tour is Baige, a wonderfully patient and helpful tour manager who has saved our audio bacon on a number of occassions already this week! I am probably sounding gushing but the world of touring is a wierd place and it's good to have good people around you. You enjoy them while you can.

So Glasgow it is. Another night. I hope another great show with some amazing people. If it weren't for my never ceasing thoughts of home I would be the luckiest person around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2CfuqcUGE

In less than 5 hours I will be sound checking for the first of 2 nights supporting Van Morrison. I can hardly believe it. I have begun collecting his early albums over the past year, albums such as St. Dominic's Preview, Veedon Fleece, Astral Weeks and Moondance. Before that I owned Hymns to the silence and Avalon Sunset. I remember hearing the album Hymns to the silence at my sister's house in Belfast and buying it that afternoon cause I was so blown away. And now here I am playing with him.... shit!! I have no illusions about him listening to my set nor am I busting to meet him, I know he likes his privacy and probably hates enthusiastic fans. Suffice to say I am just excited about hearing his show and being influenced some more by his music.

Chip has come over from England to play a stripped down kit consisting of big bass frum, stumf fiddle and cymbals; Rea has come down from Derry on trumpet, accordion and vocals and Jackie Flavelle is jumping up on double bass for a couple of tunes. So, I am gonna lift my head up and try and tilt it into the stream tonight for half an hour on stage. See ya later xx