There’s nothing like a slightly empty-looking patch of diary to prompt the self-employed to renewed marketing activity …

The Filthy Spectacula are going through a purple patch at present. Last Saturday, we made a rapturously-received return to Midsomer Norton:

This Saturday, we’re back at one of our favourite venues, the Yellow Book in Brighton. Last (first) time was a wild and exhilarating night, so if you’re on the area get on down, it can only get better the more people we know down there (I’ve done a few south coast gigs with this band and others since, so it should be a corker!). And the week after, 3 December, we break fresh ground in the brave new world of … Northampton. Can’t say I know much about Northampton. Is it where Kinky Boots is set? That would be great.

Behind the scenes, however, we are also squirrelling away getting Filthy nights of debauchery (well, I can hope … long coach journeys, Subway for dinner and expensive beer more like) lined up for you in 2017 (though, as you can see, we’ve got some in already). If you’ve got that hot tip for the venue or event that needs our sounds enough to make us rich (or, again, realistically just capable of paying the rent) buying them from us, then get in touch. No, really! We only bite if you suggest signing up to a wedding music agency or paying to play in a ‘showcase’.

Meanwhile, in my other office, the Kindred Spirit band (full five-piece prog-folk monster version) diary is looking quite well populated for next year. We’d like to keep it that way though, so send suggestions for that band our way too – we’re sort of less black, more green, less swearing, more invoking the spirits of the trees. You know the deal by now.

Elaine and I are finding the west London pub circuit slightly tight around the middle, however (too many breweries and landlords tightening their belts, alas). So we are taking our patented genre-spanning covers-focused combination of crystal-clear vocals, textured guitar and barnstorming fiddle from its bar gig roots to the function world, where I think it already belongs. Please take a look at our new online face (and leave us a review if you’ve seen us and are feeling kind!), and you absolutely must watch our new video showreel, showing highlights of the repertoire, performance and ensemble we’ve achieved up to now:

Onwards and upwards! December and New Year are already really busy for me (some more bookings I haven’t even had time to list on here), I’ll catch up with you all in January if not before …