Phil Bates

Phil Bates

April 15th, 10:03 am

Just back from our short tour in Germany. 6 great gigs in a variety of venues, but all with a great audience reaction. Very gratifying.It wasn’t without trouble, though. At one point, I was the only healthy vocalist, which led to some interesting issues😂It all came right on the end, though. Serious acoustical issues on our last gig at Kristuskirche, Bochum. We have done 4 concerts there now, and all have been fantastic as far as audience response is concerned, but the venue was not really made for loud music, and so there is a fine line above which you can’t go, volume-wise.I think we went over it for part of the gig, but it turned out fine.Sad tour in some ways because these were all gigs we had played before and had great times, but these were our final gigs in these venues.It will be sad to leave behind these great people, both front and backstage, but time, fatigue, arthritic hands march on😂🙏❤️☯️ And especially those onstage, who are all wonderful people - Ralf, Eric, Chris, Susanne, and Steffen.Next week, we have 3 more final gigs in Neuenhagen, Neuruppin, and Magdeburg, followed by more old favourites in May - Dexheim and Bonn, plus a few others.I am excited by the prospect of pastures new, both solo, and in conjunction with Jo on a folky/celtic project we have been promising ourselves for a while.So, in the words of the great Bard Richard Starkey, peace and love to all🙏😄❤️☯️ ... See MoreSee Less

Phil Bates

April 3rd, 11:24 am

Back off to Germany for 11 days in a couple of hours. Just hoping Jo can cope with the travel and the gigs.She has made really good progress and is walking largely with no crutches, or one crutch, but there are bigger challenges out there in the world and on the stage😂9 gigs in April, and 6 in May, with the band, plus one solo gig in Anglesey, and a lot of travelling, so pretty busy for 2 months.But then …..bliss😄 Hardly any gigs until September, and holiday in the Azores with Sarah❤️😄🍾I look forward to seeing a few of you out there. Please feel free to say hello.The smaller village hall gigs I have just finished have energised me, musically, because of the chance to play songs I haven’t played on stage before.I find that I have renewed enthusiasm for playing ‘live’ when I can broaden things out, and play a few favourites that I haven’t had chance to play before.Also very heartened at the positive reaction to my own songs, which hadn’t always been the case.I am still writing, with no particular agenda, commercial or otherwise, so there will be new stuff out there later in the year, alongside the re-release and possible re-recording of older stuff.Anyway, see you soon. I hope for happy (happier😂) travels 🙏❤️☯️😄 ... See MoreSee Less

Phil Bates

März 31st, 6:05 pm

Last night was the last of my Village Voice gigs in village halls around the Midlands and beyond. It was hard work, but I had some great gigs along the way, and met some very nice people. Also, great hospitality in most halls.A very different experience from my usual gigging situation, but very rewarding in lots of ways.I got to try out a few new songs, some of my my rearrangements of Beatles, ELO etc, along with various of my favourite songs. I will be doing more of that, musically. There are still many great songs that I want to rearrange and perform, but haven’t had the chance so far.I am a song man, through and through. For me a great song says all I want to say and hear, and so my mission is to bring as many songs that I consider worth hearing to as many people as possible. It doesn’t matter who wrote it, or which genre or country it comes from, if it is great, it is great😄🙏There have been a few surprises along the way in the way that people have responded to songs that they have never heard before, even some of my own, and this leads me to believe there is much more potential in this.Anyway, thanks to everyone who came along and supported me on this jaunt. And thanks to Ian Gibbons whose idea it was.See you all out there somewhere soon 😄🙏❤️☯️ ... See MoreSee Less