Well...hello again everyone..no excuses,I just haven't been motivated really to update this site. I don't know why....But I'm back on the case now. I see-with horror--that the last time I wrote anything it was snowing ! -and Georgette jones was due to visit me in the studio. She didn't turn up,nor was there a call from the band member who arranged her visit--not even a phone call. It seemds that some corny story about unfilled -out work permits was put out as an excuse, but the real reason I find,was that an agent had stepped in at the last minute and miss Jones played a very lucrative tour in Ireland instead,leaving everyone else in dear old England to sit and twiddle thumbs.   I wish Miss Jones every success in her profitable ventures...but please,don't call me to interview,watch,or even acknowledge her future possible visits to the midlands eh ?

Ah well...on another tack,I have been wondering about country music in general..and worrying. Alan Jackson wrote about "murder on music row"..the words are horribly prophetic...All I see,for the best part of my visits to country shows,are single artists working to backing tracks (o k in a pub,or small bar)  but at large clubs ? Perhaps there is a male/female duo that LOOK promising....and you realise that (say) the lady is purporting to play keyboards(in reality another backing track) and the male posturing along with multi tracked backing voices,often without having his guitar plugged in (I once -recently  sat through the first half of a set with the guy playing excellent lead breaks not realising that at some point he had stood on his lead and was plainly cheating ...the lead was 3 feet away fer crissakes ! )  And then pay 35 pounds($50) to go to a BIG country festival.travel miles..--..to see 70's bands headlining.! ! ,They are polished,yes...but ANYTHING to do with country ?....NO !  Now ,don't get me wrong, I like lots of different kinds of music...but if i go to see  Status Quo, then I really don't want to listen to "waltz across Texas" or "Settin the woods on fire"by them. Ergo,if I go to a country music festival,i don't want a re-run of recycled  60's and 70's pop bands on (even if there ARE more than one original members in the band)...."Old Hank wouldn't stand a chance on today's radio" is  immortal to me,thank you Mr Jackson.

And there ,I think, is the reason for my lacksadasicle approach of late to this blog..journal..whatever you want to call it....so now I will stop moaning. Because,despite all the downside...the still are some decent hard working bands out there...working for relative peanuts..downsized perhaps from 6 to 4 members, on the road,struggling to keep live, genuine  country music  going. I wish them well...and there is an open invitation to  call me,or visit the radio station and tell everyone about upcoming dates,record releases...etc. the number to call is 0121(if you are outside Birmingham) 374 2891.....or e mail me..on this site or at "bigcity radio . org.uk" tell me about your experiences,dates,gigs..how you see country music going etc...as you must already know,the radio broadcast is on Wednesday evenings from 7 pm till 9 pm...type it into your p c and listen in....call me...write to me..just get the meaning and quality of the music across.

To my friends across the Atlantic in the U S A who get in touch...thank you for your messages and words of support...in fact thank you to EVERYONE who takes the time and trouble to write...it means a lot to me. Now I promise not to fill this journal up with repeated complaining articles.I WILL try to keep it positive..but please ........give me something positive to write about...Tell me of your festivals...your gatherings...your thoughts on "our " music. the big record companies can't have it all there own way ..and only by keeping it live and developing can WE keep it alive and kicking.

keep safe and well everyone

Tony