2011 so far...

As seems to be customary when doing a retrospective of a given period of time, and looking back on the events that have happened in past months, it never fails to amaze you at what you’ve actually achieved...when you put your mind to it.
　
This year started for me on January 2nd when I travelled down to Bath to continue the writing for the forthcoming album, and to start rehearsals for the Black and Blue tour in March. We’d had our Christmas and new year break and were raring to go...I got there, just, when the weather closed in and I spent the first week of the new year alone and snowbound before anyone else could get to me...which was actually very nice after the hustle and bustle of a typical Warne family Christmas I have to say.
　
We spent a month or more writing more material and honing what we had before we headed out in March on tour for what was one of our best in recent years. We’d toiled long and hard to pick a set that would please everybody (yeah right) and were very satisfied with the reactions and reviews we received. It could have all gone so wrong at the third gig in Edinburgh when I lacerated my hand after breaking a shower door at our hotel an hour before stage time, but with luck, and a trained medic on the team, we prevailed and the rest of the tour went off without a hitch...I think.
　
It was then back to Bath for more song writing sessions during late spring and into early summer, interrupted only by the odd jaunt out to play festivals, including the legendary Benicassim , Spain’s biggest music festival, in July...where we really enjoyed Elbow, but were bemused by the attention lavished on the Strokes...who struck us as a not very good Television...horses for courses...
　
As I write this now we’re just about to reconvene after a short break to resume work on the record and, with 5 tracks down, works well and truly in progress, it’s looking good for next year...
　
We’re all looking forward to the convention in November very much too, and it’ll be nice to do something different and see some old and new friends. There’ll be surprises aplenty and it’ll be good to play with our mate Neil Sparkes again for the acoustic show, as well as Mike Peters, Glen Matlock and our old pals Goldblade, led as always by John Robb, who’s also compere for the whole event.
　
Then of course the touring starts again in March next year,and runs through into April in Europe, followed by more festivals during the summer...and beyond that...is, as always, a mystery...
　
Hope to see you all there...

Baz/14th October 2011