Tales from the Rails – repainting stripes once earned

It’s just as well I’m currently reading Amanda Palmer’s ‘The Art Of Asking’, otherwise I wouldn’t know what I was doing here. I’m in Cromford (“Not gonna lie, sounds grim”, someone texted me on my way). In fact, Cromford is far from it – a beautiful sleepy village close to the peak district with one …

Tales from the Rails – touring with Marillion: Crutches, Cables and Flight Cases

Remember when I opened for Marillion on crutches? Sometimes you can feel moments turn into memories. The premise to this particular savings deposit in my memory bank was quite absurd. I had a fractured ankle, two torn ligaments and the opportunity to play four of the largest shows for me to date. Knowing the opportunity …

Tales from the Rails – Baby You Can Drive My Car and All The Other Beatles Puns

“What’s your business in the US?” “Where are you coming from?” “Where are you heading?” We had rolled up to the US border between New Brunswick and New England and my heart immediately started beating faster. The line of questioning was carried out in the usual harsh tone of voice. The more routine questions were …

Tales From The Rails – Oh Canada! Bright skies, Open Doors and the Amish

I’m drinking cappuccino in a coffee shop in Worcester Massachusetts. It’s 8pm and I’m thinking on time and how it could possibly be that there are only five shows left to this tour. For those of you who follow my writings, you may have noticed that there haven’t been any for quite some time. It’s …

Tales from the Rails – Cambridge Folk Festival & the Sea of Heads

Last Saturday I had the absolute pleasure of performing at Cambridge Folk Festival and I’m still floating on a cloud of fuzzy happiness. It had been one of those dates, seemingly forever in the future, until it was suddenly the night before as I was packing up my small assortment of guitar leads, the red …