Patient records

I've just had some bad news from the Belfast Cathedral Arts Festival where my Artist in Residence post kicks off on 29th April in that their offices were burned out in a fire last Saturday night, they've lost all the usual office accoutrements, computers, records, much of it is irreplaceable. I only found out today, how incredibly unfortunate is that. Still, and to the organisers absolute credit, all is going ahead and promises to be a classic of type with some seriously A star guests including Bill Drummund, soup maker extrordinaire and former KLF muso journeyman of considered aplomb. I recall with some affection stealing the titleOne Great Artist [track 4/Ironing the Soul] from Bills book 45 [which if you haven't read I can pretty much swear by and recommend highly]. There's only enough room in Bills kitchen for one great artist...it says so in the final chapter. He also wrote that how to have a hit single book which I've never read but always meant to...perhaps if I did...best not go there. The good looking bloke from Black books is also on the festibill, as well as Arthur Scargil and Alistair Campball [or is it Cambell], it's either Camp balls or bells which sort of brings us back to Soup if you follow. I'm there for the whole nine days and expect to be dashing between venues and improvising a lot. Leaving much of what is to be done in life to the last minute should suit me pretty well...well, we'll see. I expect to be dipping in and out of various venues, playing supports and hosting the odd shindig, looking forward to it, it'll be my first extended stay there. Thanks be to Debbie Johnson, music writer at The Liverpool Echo for the recent Vinny Peculiar feature [16.4.04] which is winging it's way to the main site...or here, depending on the web space...best VPx