Stalking John Smith...

You're probably quite sick of me now, go on be honest, I do tend to go on, and on... and on...

Managers carrying out my annual Personal Development Assessment, have been known to ask if it was still daylight, when we eventually emerge from a windowless room...

So today, to give you a rest from blethering, mithering me, I thought we could have a musical interlude, a sort of 21st Century version of TV's Potter's Wheel!

As our friends over the pond will understandably be glued to TVs watching precious new moments in history, and I reckon won't even find the time to blog or read today... I thought I could treat you all to a few moments with one of the greatest rising young stars of British nu-folk

- That's folk music for those of you over 40...

I find as I segue into my mid 40s and my son grows away beyond my grasp, GJ and I have a little more time to go to gigs when we can, and to explore new music.

I was excited when I first saw this young singer-songwriter guitarist, when he supported John Martyn at The fabulous Sage, Gateshead, and indeed I have been stalking him ever since.

Of course he doesn't know... Well maybe he does now? Oops!

"His name, you say?"

"Why, it's John Smith".

"Who did you say again?"

"John Smith!"

"Honestly?"

"Yes!"

Blurb: "John Smith is the guitar man from Devon, (now living on the banks of the Merseysippi, when not in his VW car touring from gig to festival), and quietly becoming recognized as one of British Folk's most exciting new voices.

He has toured with and supported John Martyn, Davey Graham, Tunng, John Renbourn, Martin Simpson and Jools Holland and is currently working on his new record. John is a totally independent artist".


This is a quirky video (lasting 3.06 mins) that was produced to illustrate his somewhat magical song, The Magician, from his first album - Hope you like it...




His sort of hallmark piece is this one, Winter (5.14) with John tapping the guitar on his knee as if it were a drum - It always makes for a silent audience, as you can't quite believe what you are seeing and hearing:




You might know Cara Dillon better, so here John performs on her video for If I Prove False (5.48) - a very traditional folk song. John occasionally performs with Cara's band:



Finally, for the younger ones, here's John's own version of The Queens of the Stone Age, No-one knows... Electrifying! (3.59):