Remember a few posts ago when I had to use someone else’s photo of playing the Olympia? Well now I have my very own!

This was the fourth time this year I’ve toured in Ireland. The Olympia was the best venue I’ve played there by far, even better than the Dublin o2 Arena. It has character and history and there was a real feeling of connection between stage and crowd. It was nights like that that are the reason I love doing this so much and I very much hope to return one day.

Other highlights include the deeply suspicious food at Abrakebabra, the wonderful radio producer Aonghus McAnally, Arthur’s Day celebrations, seeing Molotov Jukebox, and wonderful Dublin friends old and new.

We played better each night, and great gigs at Castlebar and Belfast were also further proof that there is something I find deeply appealing about the touring … Read the rest

Poor blogging! But irregular posting means I’m busy, not idle. Even still, I’m sorry!

It’s certainly a challenge to be a modern artist – not that I’m complaining because the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, but there seems to be an infinite amount of work to do, much of it not involving playing instruments and writing songs.

I go through a love / hate relationship with blogging and social networking for example. I love the idea of openness, am eager to let people in, and relish the unity of it all. However, when I’m doing something awesome, it doesn’t always cross my mind to tweet about it as I’m too busy enjoying whatever it is about it that’s awesome. I believe in living in the moment, and in that moment the person in front of my face is more important than Facebook. Ever hung out with someone who’s on their … Read the rest

As you all no doubt know by now, the idea of being stuck in Dublin drinking Guinness on Arthur’s Day is pretty much a massive WIN for me.

So you will understand my delight in announcing a mini tour of Ireland from 23rd – 26th September with (almost) a full band. We’ll be supporting Hermione Hennessy, following her long run at the top of the Irish album charts…

24th September – The Olympia Theatre, Dublin
25th September – Royal Theatre, Castlebar
26th September – The Empire, Belfast

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster now.

I’ll be selling the first few preview copies of my new album too, so I hope you can make it!

jake

PS it’s possible that photo isn’t of me, but it is the right venue…… Read the rest

Sometimes you get those special moments when you realise how lucky you are to do what you do. I had this especially strongly this week shooting the video for Freddie Laid The Smackdown with some of the loveliest people I’ve worked with yet.

For two gorgeous days we ducked and dived around the woods and fields of north london singing, digging, and getting in the way of the sacred north london park trinity of ‘mums with prams, cyclists and joggers’. The vid involves a bunch of us as 1920s American convicts doing hard labour and getting marched around.

Along the way we made a bunch of new friends, I got stung by a wasp a few times and Miranda tried tomato ketchup for the first time. I can’t wait to show you the edited result once it’s done.

Thanks to everyone involved. Production team, actors, make up(!), everyone – was … Read the rest

I’ve never really busked before – perhaps I should? It’s not cos I think I’m above it or anything, and I know what it feels like for lots of people to walk past you as if you’re filthy scum cos I used to be a chugger. I guess I just never got around to it.

I was delighted to be asked to play at the prestigious Station Sessions therefore – quite a nice notch up from busking as it involves performing on a nice stage in the middle of St Pancras International Station. We got such a good crowd too! I’m so grateful to everyone who took a few minutes out of their busy day to listen to us.

The video of the day, made by the excellent Blindeye Films – can be found on YouTube here and on the Station Sessions website.… Read the rest

We done a whole load of these this summer, and I wish I’d been able to do a blog post about them all, but I just wanted to quickly say how much I enjoyed Aestival. Thanks to Tom and Tobias for tech and bookings on the day and Lisa for providing such tasty cocktails! x… Read the rest

Tucked away in a little corner next to Soho Square in London is the beautiful Chapel of The House of St Barnabas, and a few weeks ago we had the privilage of putting on a night there.

I’m not a religious person as it happens, but there you can’t help feeling different in a venue like that compared with a normal gig venue. Reverberating acoustics, ornate paintings, stained glass windows… it all adds to the sense of occasion. Plus we’d sold out, so the stage was really set.

Lucinda And The Fox and also one of my closest musical friends Tom McQ performed superb support sets to a wonderful crowd. Some great new friends of mine at Crispy Duck Productions offered to film the event too, and the results just look magnificent! I’ll be uploading some really soon. Thank you also to Nadra at Quintessentially Soho for co-promoting the event!… Read the rest