The Butterfly is a traditional Irish tune. I wanted to air my version in the Spring season to celebrate the beauty. blossom and bloom of this, my favourite time of year!

Click to play on Bandcamp

This track has broken all the rules of the Blues (except the ending!) but it's based on a classic Blues guitar riff joined by a mandolin and hammond organ for a quirky, rhythmic and fairly up-beat 3 minutes of instrumental music! 

The instrumentation is identical to my “live” set-up, so I am currently performing the track at shows. Electric guitar, mandolin, bass and cajon (drum) all run through the loop-station. I use guitar effects pedals for the organ sound. 

Click to Play on Bandcamp or you can find Ocean Blues on your favourite streaming service.

I love the Ocean and grew up around the coast but recently I've had to hold back from going swimming in the sea. Why? Pollution! Global warming is bringing increased rainfall and flooding, resulting in the release of raw sewerage from sewerage stations to enter the rivers. My local swimming spots are near the mouth of the River Exe where people are advised not to walk their dogs on beaches after heavy rains! This isn't a local issue. The state of the rivers has become a national issue in the UK. But the problems go further out to sea with over-fishing and plastic pollution. Certainly many positive actions are taking place to tackle the problems and they need our support. There are talks and agreements to give special protection to a third of our oceans. Environmental scientists (and probably David Attenborough!) are saying we need to be aiming for at least half! The agreements aren't yet legally binding. Big changes are needed as I fear the profits of companies overlook what is the right course of action we all need to be taking to protect our beautiful seas. 

So now you know why I have the Ocean Blues!

Play Ocean Blues on Bandcamp