London Calling

So Spriggan Mist marched on London .....in fact contrary to my last blog ..this was the 3rd time we had ventured into the Smoke! Percussionist Andy Wilkin bowed out at a semi acoustic gig in Mortlake last year. The other was a private party in Ruislip where we had Armen Gevorkian guesting on the drums.....ah memories......quickly crushed ....as this London adventure was a different kettle of frogs! This was for The 40th anniversary of the Pagan Federation at the Archangel in Kensington...this was with the new band and in the great company of established folk prog rock band Magic Folk who were headlining! The stage was small but the event huge!..and after suffering threats of having our mixing desk ceremoniously shoved up my nether regions from Rie the Sprigs manager after I remarked how nice it was to get a professional on the desk (she reliably does our desk usually) we finished our sound check and scoffed some food as all sorts of Witches, Druids and teddy bears (yes there was a man in a teddy bear outfit ...said it was a druid thing....??!?!?!) soon filled the club.
The wonderful Kate and Corwen kicked off proceedings ...now I’ve seen them before and they do melancholy medieval atmospheric brilliantly...but on this occasion they went uptempo and had the dance floor packed with robe clad peeps dancing making the whole area look like a medieval banquet....Corwen plays this instrument which looks like a She –wee in fact hands up... Kate referred to it as a she –wee and I didn’t make the connection as to what a she- wee was or is...so I had the honest and genuine belief that he was playing an instrument called a she –wee. Corwen if you are reading this let us know what your she –wee is? And how Maxine can get her hands on one...instrument that is not a she-wee.


I actually wondered if Spriggan Mist’s brand of folk inspired Rock was going to go down quite as well as Katem and Corwen ...and I have to admit during the quiet bit of our set I did wonder as I saw a few gaps in front of us that maybe ...we were the wrong music ......but then Gary looked at me...I looked at Max and there was that face of lets sock it to them... and then we did.... full tilt....Gary teetered on the edge of the stage his remote guitar bug allowing him freedom to get into the crowd ...I could see he was itching to go in so I helped him with a knee up his backside then he was away the crowd were back on the floor (they had only gone to refill their glasses!!!after all they were all Pagan)

it was hot it was sweaty but they were there bouncing up and down with me and the Fluffmeister as Max belted out electric life.......Colin was spanking the kick drum like he hated it Bex with her Cello turned up to 11 bowed away as the closing notes of the song rang out the cheers and whistles got louder ....then on it went... jumping and stomping right to the encore of Gypsy Witch! A great night ....job well done....we sold some CDs and got a few more gigs off the back of that performance so we were all very happy. Even Magic Folk bass player...Ben Glover commented on the set and “What a finish” Magic folk were brilliant I hasten to add, love their music however i just felt they went on a bit too late and after Kate and Corwen and us had got that party vibe going their prog rock brilliance was rather misplaced I did however enjoy their set, Heliopolis a favourite of mine at the moment...must play some on my radio show.

On the way home we had the pleasure of Rie and Fluff in the back of the Sprig mobile and it was about 0045 when we reached the rather rough suburbs of London ...we were all thirsty so Wifey directed me to a garage which was on a night service from the hatch jobby. So out Fluff and I climbed both of us in stage gear me in my black kilt Fluff in his knee high boots, bandana etc...At the hatch were two black Hounslow type geezers buying their rizlas ....

One of them had the trademark jeans around the thighs bases ball cap slightly a skew more bling than Mr T. He took a double take at the pair of us.....
“Hey Man what’s dem den!”
He pointed his ringed finger down at the kilt”
I replied “They is legs innit”
He replied “Yeah you like Vikings or summink.?..it’s like wid da kilt an all dat?” Didn’t want to really correct his lack of history knowledge kilt? Vikings? Etc?
I said “ No we are in a band just been gigging in London...innit” thought get down with the lingo less likely to be rolling around the floor with the chap.
“Awlright like wid da pipes innit ?”
“No I play bass we are a rock band” trying to look as rockstar as I could possibly could.
“Respeck man you is looking cool innit ya I like dat ..looks like Vikings innit...where you like headin now?”
I was going to say to an after gig party full of drugs and page 3 models but checked myself....
“Going home innit....”
He smiled as he strutted off he said “You ave a good one ..”

I jumped back in the Sprig mobile and headed for the safety of the Berkshire border...before you knew it we were home...innit!
Photos on this article were taken by John Steane with whom many a hug was had ....and the chorus of "We love you Johnny "belted out from the Sprig mobile everytime he and Bex drew level at lights in london's streets

Fluffy Cheese off the Leash

“You can’t see it can you?” Mother Dearest looked at Max’s eyebrows intently moving closer.

“See what we enquired?”
“The thread”.....yep you guessed it Max had her eyebrows threaded and Mother Dearest was looking for the thread. I held my head in disbelief.....and with me with pen poised to jot down anything you lot in blog land might find amusing too.....

What a great week last week! The Chicago Rock Cafe gig in Windsor was a great little tester session for us to go on and play two days later at The Dolmen Grove True Spirits gig at the Flying Bull in Liss. Max and Gary were both feeling rather under par through colds but got through these gigs I survived another testing time at work, the band keeps me sane in these strange old times...just wish it paid the mortgage too, but can’t grumble, especially after the rather quiet crowd at Windsor seeing family, friends and punters dancing and whooping to Sprigs at Liss made our latest morphing more and more satisfying. Dare I say it, our Bex on Cello even inspired Dolmen lead singer song writer to come away from the gig to dust off his own cello to add some bits to the new Dolmen album due out soon. Bex however came away with concussion due to an unfortunate incident with a falling speaker and although obviously not too chuffed about heading a falling cabinet it didn’t spoil her overall enjoyment on what was a good night.

It was good to see John again too and we have now invented a new pass time that even the Dolmen’s drummer Spankie enjoyed ...yes John hugging! It’s gotta be done he just needs hugging especially when in mid conversation with someone you don’t know ..march right up, arms out stretched.... fingers flickering in unison beckoning the big man. Was a real moment seeing Spankie tell John “Spread the love ” as we all group hugged ......brings a lump to the throat

So after the two gigs last week we are looking forward to Saturday the 40th anniversary of the Pagan Federation at The Archangel in London. We are sandwiched between the medieval sounds of Kate and Corwen who play an amazing array of traditional and sometimes homemade instruments and Magic Folk who seem to have been around forever! Not quite sure if the organisers realise how rocky we have turned. We are looking forward to the gig only the second time Sprigs have performed in London so should be an adventure .

These blogs do come with a serious health warning....Gary aka the Fluffster our guitarist and king of cheesy rock star poses (my fave the on the one knee with other leg outstretched ram rod straight...kills me every time )

Up until now he has been kept on a tight leash. He could only go as far as his guitar lead allowed..this still hasn’t stopped him jumping off stage into audiences .but after seeing the freedom Max and I have with our remote bugs he bought his own!!!.....the leash is off....this means he will be harder to contain.......Gary can now pop up anywhere ....and rest assured he will with the most cheesy of cheesiest poses imaginable!!

The Dolmen

Sometimes in this funny old world of music you feel like you are running down a darkened corridor trying all doors which appear firmly shut. Then at other times every door you try seems to just fly open.....and the light of opportunity just floods out at you.......Lets say Spriggan Mist had a floodlit couple of days! even though rehearsals were cancelled this week due to yours truelly having the dreaded and deadly man flu.
Those of you who aren't familiar with Pagan folk rock band The Dolmen......you should become so ...hailing from Weymouth there brand of stompy folk rock spearheaded by their singer songwriter Taloch Jameson reaches out and makes you jump up and down as if wearing those fabled old red dancing shoes. More on that later.

Behind the folk rock side of things is an extended group of people (quite a large one too) called The Dolmen Grove. The Dolmen Grove was formed in Dorset England where by it still has its main HQ. Over the years the Grove has enjoyed a steady growth with a membership that spans Britain, Europe, America, Canada and Australia... The Dolmen Grove exists as a Spiritual meeting place for all people of all Nations of the Earth. The Dolmen Grove has no hierarchy and its members have no use or need for titles. People have no need for title or label to practice ones personal spiritual path if that path is based upon love and kindness then the heart is open to all things.

Max and I following having camped out at The Grove's Tribal Dreams festival last year were that impressed by it all became members, and have enjoyed the spiritual activities at The Beltaine spirit of rebirth camp recently as well as the cracking music laid on by the Dolmen and guests.

Well on Thursday Taloch contacted us and informed us that the Dolmen grove are going to release a CD were Grove members can contribute to help raise funds for the Grover to purchase their own land to run their own events and to build a place where spiritual practices can take place. He asked if Spriggan Mist would contribute two songs. At this time we will probably submit Solstice which is the last track on the new album due out next month and another not yet decided. the CD should be really good as I know that within The Grove there is some great musicians. To top this off on Saturday Max and I made an impromptu trip to Bookham in Surrey where Taloch and Dolmen lead guitarist Josh were performing as The Dolmen acoustic.
Apart from watching a great show ...(both the Dolmen and sections of the audience that is) we had a chance to sit and have a chat with them and their designated driver for the night Richard who is also a Dolmen Grove member. Taloch explained that at the next Tribal Dreams, he would like to put some bands on on the Sunday and  invited Spriggan Mist to play. although I haven't confirmed officially yet we are still awaiting confirmation from Gill , it is highly likely that tribal dreams will be on our gigs calendar.......

but there is more .......Demios performed at St Srispin's School in Wokingham on Sunday and there is a chance of a trip to canterbury to play the Goddess show ...and of course the album is nearly there!!!!!!!!!!!.. but that can all wait for another blog