Oh gosh yes it"s on facebook. I've loved the Strawbs  since my youth and this is like a family member has died. I only met him once, at a concert, we had a few words and he signed my ticket . RIP Dave ,  you gave me so much joy and comfort through music.

A unique voice has been lost to us.

Very sad news

Just seen that Dave Cousins died today.
I am so sad. Strawbs are one my favourite bands.

Naomi Bedford’s Campfire Festival.
An annual one evening festival hosted by Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds (Men They Couldn’t Hang)
A couple of hundred people gathered in a beautiful wooded glade. Paul Simmonds performed songs from the MTCH canon which rarely get an airing by the full band ably assisted by fellow band member Bobby  Valentino on fiddle.
Naomi Bedfords Ramshackle Band, also including Paul Simmonds, ended the proceedings.
There were also less formal sessions around a large campfire.
Jugglers and tightrope walkers added to the general atmosphere.
All in all, just a beautiful evening in wonderful weather.

Fantastic day in Hyde Park, if more than a little exhausting. Van Morrison in fine voice and cheerful to boot. Wonderful start with Into the Mystic, followed by several from his (very good) new album. Not many of the “hits” but a few rare tracks like a lovely Lord, If I Needed Someone. Very surprised at the closer - Summertime in England, which I have never heard him do live before. Great version of Gloria as the encore.

By contrast, Cat Stevens included a lot of crowd pleasers - Wild World, Father and Son, First Cut and Where Do The Children Play to name a few. Other than his brief Cropredy appearance, I had not seen him before. Also in good voice and came across as a delightful man.

And then to Neil Young. A storming set, he seems energised by his new band. As he sang, rock and roll will never die, and it won’t as long as he performs like this. I had seen the set list from Glastonbury and he made several changes, starting with a very surprising Ambulance Blues, followed by a brilliant Cowgirl in the Sand. A lovely Goldrush, finishing with Old Man before a couple of very raucous encores, ending on Rocking in the Free World. Plenty of enthusiastic workouts - Hey Hey My My, Cinnamon Girl, Southern Man, Love to Burn. I had worried based on recent albums that he was running out of steam, but on this evidence there is a lot left in the tank. Long May He Run. ( No he didn’t play that, it’s just that I have been listening to Decade!)

Sad news - Jeff Lynne's cancelled his last ever ELO show in Hyde Park on Sunday due to illness. Sharing in case anyone's due to go...

One of the messages I got from Jude from when I first got involved with local radio. She and Simon were very supportive. I was finding my feet in the radio world and was yet to discover promoters who would send me promo CDs. It was one thing to get mp3s from friends on the local music scene but to receive music from those two felt really quite special.

Jude… always loved, forever missed ❤️

Amen! It was such a joy to have her here as part of our community.

Jules