These are the records which are inspiring me so far this year and my favourite songs off each album.
1) June Tabor – Apples(dancing)
2) Home Service – Alright Jack (rose of allendale)
3) Tom Morello – the nightwatchman – worldwide rebel songs (whirlwind)
4) Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey/Garveys ghost(slavery days)
5)Oysterband – Here I Stand (after rain)
6) Pearl Jam – Backspacer (force of nature)
7)Fairport convention – A history of (who knows where the time goes)
8) Ramones – anthology ( I wanna be sedated)
9)Grateful Dead – Live dead (dark star)
10) The Doors – LA woman (LA woman)

As well as writing songs I listen to alot of music to get inspiration. Heres my top ten at the moment:-
1) Kate Rusby – make the light
2) The hold steady – heaven is whenever
3) Mudhoney – the lucky ones
4) Soundgarden – down on the upside
5) Bob Marley- catch a fire
6) Fugazi – the argument
7) Meat Puppets- no joke
8) Bert Jansch – anthology
9) Pearl Jam – backspacer
10) Banco de gaia – memories, dreams, reflections

1. 1) Hearts of palm – buffalo tom
2. 2) Masters of war – bob dylan
3. 3) Ayitma madjam – tamikrest
4. 4) save the hammer for the man – tom morello(feat. ben harper)
5. 5) Two trains – little feat
6. 6) Faithful – pearl jam
7. 7) Inner peace – eat static
8. 8) sugar magnolia – grateful dead
9. 9) Over the hill – john martyn
10. 10) Oh love – green day
11. 11) Waiting for the sun – the jayhawks
12. 12) Till your well runs dry – peter tosh
13. 13) Theres a planet here – ozric tentacles
14. 14) I cant turn you loose – otis redding
15. 15) Act of love – neil young
16. 16) End over end – foo fighters
17. 17) L.a. woman – the doors
18. 18) The great salt lake – band of horses
19. 19) rotten apple – alice in chains
20. 20) get it hot – ac/dc

• The eternal – Sonic youth
• Ghost – Kate Rusby
• Full moon fever – Tom Petty
• Love is my religon – Ziggy Marley
• Rainy day music – The Jayhawks
• Pronounce leh-nerd-skin-nerd- Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Lightning bolt – Pearl Jam
• Superunknown – Soundgarden
• Specter at the feast – Black rebel motorcycle club

• The Quireboys – beautiful curse
• The del lords- elvis club
• Radiohead – in rainbows
• Black sabbath – 13
• Live – throwing copper
• Teenage fanclub – original album classics
• Goa tribes – volume 2
• Sub pop 200
• Alice in Chains – the devil put dinosaurs here

Music is forever changing and its easy to be caught in a time warp. I grew up in the 90s and listened to alot of the alternative bands, such as pearl jam and soundgarden. Over the last few years I lost faith in contemporary music and could not really connect with the new music coming through. But I find there’s always a handful of good bands every year and recently bought the new gaslight anthem and hold steady albums and really liked them.

My new song visited is a reflection of my interest in history and ancient civilizations. Most people have heard of atlantis and today is regarded as a myth, there are many theories that say it was a very advanced civilization and was destroyed mysteriously about 11,000 years ago. After this three advanced cultures appeared, sumer, known as the “cradle of civilization”, egypt and the indus valley. The sumerians were the first known people to study the stars and develop the written word.

• Neil young and crazy horse – psychedelic pill
• Kate rusby – 20
• Lau – race the loser
• Pearl jam – live on ten legs
• Soundgarden – king animal
• Idlewild – warning/promises
• Gomez – liquid skin
• Alice in chains – black gives way to blue

I will be recording new songs this year and hope to improve the quality. I have 15-20 songs to record with titles such as perception, time and space , rising moon and faith. The new song RITUAL is available to download now and is about the music industry and what it means to be the listener and consumer.

On the 17th of august I went to see pearl jam at manchester, the last time I went to see them was nine years before at the same venue. Being a big inspiration on my music I was looking forward to the gig for many months. After a few beers , we arrived at the arena, gomez were supporting and warmed up the crowd well.