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