liverpool music

RocknRoll Marathon Liverpool 2021 Gig

Last Sunday,

an early start. 9am performance for RocknRoll Marathon in Liverpool.

40mins of upbeat covers with my acoustic guitar ready to serenade the dedicated runners as they headed back into the City Centre from the prom.

Great gig, loved every minute of it from preparing the set list, playing on a Stage Bus and singing along with the sound crew and runners. It made getting up in the dark for a gig kind of ok…

There’s nothing quite like live music and there’s nothing quite like watching tired people perk up and start singing when they recognise a tune.

Well done runners and team!

x

Rock n Roll Marathon. Stage X.

I’ve found it.  My new passion.

Yes, yes playing for tired people while they’re running..(the power of music and motivation)….

On Sunday 26th May I had been asked to perform a covers set of 90mins playing to the runners (of Rock n Roll Marathon Liverpool) as they passed by through Liverpool City centre.  I got to perform the fab Stage X which was a Stage Bus (a converted double decker bus) that caught runners just coming in from their 4mile windy, rainy stint down the prom.

I had some good fun choosing a set list for this.  With the job of motivating people when they’re tired, making them smile and hopefully join in singing…, I DID play Eye of the Tiger and yes, people sang along…more please!

When the Event Manager, the Sound Engineers (and the sound) and the nearby deli/eatery (thank you Delifonseca Dockside!) were all amazing to deal with, I consider it a great gig 🙂

I hope to see you next year!

 

Beat the January Blues gig

Amazing gig last Friday night with Liverpool Acoustic at 81 Renshaw.

Beat the January Blues.

I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Raphael Callaghan and Al ‘bluesman’ Peters. Cracking night of Blues, slide, songwriting, Very happy. Lovely sound, great crowd….

The first time I’ve done a gig on Peppermint Tea and then got up at 7am the next morning to do Princes parkrun. A different kind of Rock n Roll altogether 😉

x

‘Show Me Down’ Video & Collaboration

A fantastic song written by my good friend David Masson.

Show Me Down.  From his album The Dark Corner.  (both available to buy on Bandcamp)

I loved this song as soon as I heard it and couldn’t wait to put my vocals on there.  It’s the first time I’ve done a duet, and I loved what Masso had done with it.  It’s punchy and pithy and lulling.  I love the sparseness and then the build.  It’s dark and weaving and a bit eerie.  I find it exposing and comforting.

A few weeks ago we shot a video to go with the song.  A video that was, and is lots of fun and filled with oddness.   Testament to the vision and creative skill of Mr Masson who conceived of the whole thing and came back with this….

and it’s also the first time I’ve been asked to choke up yakky stuff for art.

Have a watch and a listen, share and enjoy!

x

Collaborations! ‘Drink Me’ video session wt Grethe Borsum

oooh …..this song gives me the chills every time I hear it!

Me and the fabulous Grethe Borsum (Get Her Band) sat down a couple of years ago with some beers and whisky, my resonator and a means to record. The intention? to do some songwriting…

Approaching collaborations you never really know how it will go until it does. The best I bring to it is to focus everything I’ve learned as a musician and songwriter and try to stay focussed on getting something to come away with, as well as having an experience that nurtures the creative process….it needs to flow 🙂   Admittedly, I was a teensy bit nervous, mostly because I’m used to writing on my own and it feels so vulnerable doing that with someone else.

It turned out that we had a lot to talk about…as the evening passed we crafted and played, had a chat and beer break, repeated this countless times. The result of which is this beautiful, lullaby of a song I get lost in every time I hear. Drink Me.

Proud. Happy.  A genuine marinated shared creative experience.

When Grethe made a trip back to Liverpool last month we got together and recorded this video in Jacaranda, I’m so happy it’s here to share.  Thanks to Grethe for her amazing video skills as well as the experience of writing this song together! Also, shout out to Luke Moore who jumped in and did some videoing for us too.

Enjoy x

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Luke, Me, Grethe

Music for Empty Spaces

Happy November folks 🙂

A couple of months ago I was invited by Roger Hill from ‘The Popular Music Show’ at Radio Merseyside to contribute a song to the Empty Spaces project.   I love a good excuse to write a song and flex those muscles so was very happy to serve up my creative offering.

The project was to write music to invoke / express spaces in Liverpool that are run down and not in use, or in use but how do they feel when they are empty…

For me, I immediately thought of the Atrium in LIPA, a place where I spent much time as a student, a place that many many others have also experience.  It has such a potent atmosphere that I couldn’t resist.   My song is called ‘Always feel like home’.  The show was aired last night.

Jo Bywater – Always Feel Like Home – Music for Empty Spaces Project

A whole host of musicians were involved in this project and you can here their offering here…

Music for Empty Spaces 

Jo x

New artwork and gig updates

This morning I finished my latest job as a freelance designer.  I was asked to design a logo for Liverpool  Independent promotion company Scarlet Tone. The company is run by Matt Swift, Singer/songwriter and at the moment manifests as a monthly run music night.  If you want to know more details head to the PAGE.

These artistic specimens are what I came up with.  As ever it was a pleasure to work with Matt who I have also gigged with many times!

Earlier this month I also finished my design for The Cake Kitschen, Liverpool.   A bespoke cake and cupcake business run by Jo Shelbourne.   The idea was to come up with a pin-up style likeness of the woman herself.  This started off as a pencil sketch and I am very happy with the result!

Logo Design

For quotes for any type of artwork please message me.  I love doing this stuff and it makes me happy when people are happy with it.  Have a look at my ARTPAGE for more of what I do. Whether you’re a business, a band or you want a bespoke present for someone.

Now onto the MUSIC!!!

I have some great gigs and radio sessions coming up this year: These are they so far…..

1st April:  The Lomax, Liverpool

10th May: Cherry Reds, Birmingham

11th May:  The Spring Gardens, Bristol Mark Venus Music presents…..

12th May:  Songs From the Shed session

12th May:  Marlows, Bristol Mark Venus Music presents…….

15th – 22nd May:  IPO Festival Liverpool (dates tbc)

9th June: Burscough Wharf, Ormskirk (Adam Christopher Music)

7th July:  Festival of Firsts, Wirral

11th July:  Icarus Club @ The Pelton Arms, Greenwich, London

14th Sept: Session on ‘Roots and Fusion’ PURE FM

15th Nov:  Picnic Club @ Fuel, Withington

I am also looking into recording a new vid for one of my tunes and plan to write my next albums worth of songs before the year is out!

Take care

Jo x