Souped Up

John rings to remind me not to go to Yorkshire; there are two Shipley’s apparently so I thank him for that and reconfirm the address. We have a Soup night with Bill Drummond this evening and speak of the possible traffic chaos to come on this bank holiday Friday. I’ve just arrived in Blackburn for lunch to meet up with Jamie Holman, [tompaulin songster and good friend of mine], to collect some DVDs the band recorded the other week with the students at Blackburn College [where Jamie lectures]. We’re enthused and excited because all has turned out as well as if not better than expected. I watch the performance in the media centre basement studio whilst Jamie dashes back and forth into the classroom to extend a somewhat heated Goddard debate. It’s always a bit odd watching yourself like that up close warts n all fashion [which in my case is true as I have a bit of a lump on my nose which the lights keep hitting on, or perhaps that’s just my vanity monitor feeding back?]. The students we met whilst filming were perfectly decent and charming and sweet so thanks be to them from all of us for their efforts. They deserve the best of passes. I leave mid afternoon and get stuck on the M1 arriving at the pretty little hamlet of Shipley around six o’clock. John and Chris are playing football in the garden and Bill has started cooking already. Early evening is spent meeting people and partaking in the perfectly wonderful hospitality. A little later on and Bill speaks on the history of the Soup Line to the gathering in the garden then the soup is served. Then I play a 40 minute acoustic living room set to around 25 people. It all goes off pretty well if not exactly riotously. We say our goodbyes. John and I debate the differences between the Soup gigs, the different strokes for the different folks as I drive him back to Derby where we meet up with Chris the tree surgeon once again. Bill is knackered and has left already and Gimpo is camping close by with partner Mo. Once again we recorded the show with Gimpo’s camera and a mini disc player. It sounds pretty good all things considered. Also to the people who bought Cds I thank you most kindly for that; feel free to notify me on your thoughts and reactions once you’ve had a chance to listen. On the way home I get flap jack and costa coffee at Keele Services and consume them in the shadowy stillness of the forecourt. They had a fox in the shop here not so long ago according to the guy on the till. VPx