Really busy at the moment getting ready for more guitar shows..and the orders keep rolling in.  I did an open mic on Thursday in Brum with Freddie Pirotta on keys...and his old mate Wagner Carrilho from the X-Factor turned up...the crowd loved it! 

Just back from the Crewe Gutiar Fair..and had a busy day. It's very pleasing to see how interested people are in my guitars...of course some people just don't get it...but plenty do seem to get what it's all about, and get bitten by the bug.  A busy day at Crewe has left me with lots of guitars to make, as I'm out almost of stock on some lines and I've got more orders to fulfil..so thanks to all who dropped by to see me.

It's been a busy few weeks, launching the Homegrown Music Collective, announcing the date of Boxstock, the UK Cigar Box Guitar Festival, and doing my first two guitar shows of the season. Birmingham was a great success, my first 2 day show, but unfortunately I was so busy and sold so much stock I couldn't manage to fit in the Newcastle show the following weekend. East Lancs was another busy show, so now I'm trying  to get my back orders cleared (as usual) and get some more stock made.  In May I've got the challenge of the NEC Music Live to face, so I want to be really well-stocked for that. I always enjoy doing the shows..it's very hard work getting ready for one, and the show days are long, but at least with the NEC it's on my doorstep, so the travelling is pretty easy.


I've also got another "Make and Play Day" at a local school coming up..so I've got to prepare 30 cigar box guitar kits..again they are hard work both in the preparation and and the day itself, but it's great at the end of the school day to see the kids taking home a guitar they made themselves.

I've been out on the road again hawking my wares to the public.  Leeds, Bristol and Haslingdon on Lancashire over each of the last 3 weeekends.  It's hard work, but always creates a lot of interest.  Sometimes it seems my guitars are just TOO unusual for people to want to break out their wallet on the spot, but I think quite a few folk go away with a nagging little thought that they might like to have one....and over the next week or so I get phone calls or emails The CBG bug has obviously infected the guitar acquisition part of their brain and it sort of takes over.

Anyway...looking forward  the Cigar Box Gutiar Festival, and to seeing friends old and new on 16th October....back to my workbench to get that backlog of orders shifted.

John

Phew, things are really  hotting up!!! I've got the 2nd UK Cigar Box Guitar Festival coming up in a month..and things are shaping up nicely. Great venue, helpful staff...and lots
to get ready for the day!!! Following day my band ChickenboneBlues ar eplaying, and the next weekend its my good buddy Catfish Keith direct from the US of A...don't miss these two great gigs!!! Don't forget to support these events and buy your tickets NOW!!!

Last weekend I did Birmingham Arts Fest, with a street stall for UK Cigar Box Guitar Nation, live music all day from myself, Crossroads Blues Club and Hollowbelly..then a quick trip over to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Centre for a gig by Hollowbelly!  What a day..nice weather, appreciative crowds, lots of interest..and a storming performance by Mr HB!

Did the first guitar show of the season at Leeds last weekend, and got another in Briostol this weekend..so busy busy busy!!

Apologies to anyone who's ordered a guitar off me and it's still in the workshop..I'm doing my best!!!

Got as few more guitar shows under my belt...Manchester, Thirsk and Preston..all of them stirred up a fair bit of interest in my creations.  There's a summer a break now until it all kicks off again in August in Cumbria with the next show...but watch out for one in your area!

I've recently handed over the day-to-day running of The Crossroads Blues Club to ace harp player and good buddy Tony Stokes, so I've got a bit more time to go and play..well, that's the theory, but I'm very busy with custom guitar orders at the moment.

As well as the 2010 edition of the UK Cigar Box guitar Festival, I'm pleased to announce that the following week at the same venue (23rd October, thepublic, West Bromwich),  I'm arranging a gig with the wonderful string-twanging Catfish Keith, direct from Iowa USA.

I went to a guitar workshop with Jim Crawford on Saturday afternoon..and came away with a fistfull of new techniques and loads of inspiration.  If you are a guitar player and have never been to a workshop, I heartily recommend it....it is simply the best money you'll spend.

This was the third workshop I've been to with Jim...and there's always a huge amount of information to take in...ideas to help refine your technique, new chord shapes, licks, harmonic progressions, different ways of looking at the fretboard. 

I know lots of you people love guitars, and always want to buy more of 'em...but believe me, spending £30 on a half-day workshop like this will do you a whole power of good, much better than owning any number of fancy guitars can ever do.

Anyhow...I've been selling plenty of Cigar Box Guitars and stompoxes of late....so I need to get cracking to replenish the stocks for my next couple of guitar shows.

It's a while since I posted...but I've been busy building guitars! I've done 2 guitar shows, Newcastle on Tyne and Bacup in Lancashire, so getting stock together has kept me busy, and I'm now back in the workshop getting on top of customer orders.

Up-coming shows are:

Sunday 11th April - Crewe Guitar Fair, Crewe Alexandra FC
http://www.b-visible.co.uk/businesses/72/southcheshire2010.jpg

Sunday 16th May - NorthWest Guitar Show, Haydock Park (with Randy Rooster and JuJu Cigar Box Guitars)
http://www.guitarshows.co.uk/manchester.htm

23rd May - Yorkshire Guitar Fair, Thirsk Auction Mart
http://www.b-visible.co.uk/businesses/72/23052010.jpg

Almost sold out of guitars..so I'm working hard to replenish stocks. I'll be going to the first UK Slide Guitar Festival on 23rd January in Atherstone, Warwickshire, so I 've got to get cracking with more DiddleyBows!

Details from perce@percyparadise.com

Well, New Year's eve and business is still pretty decent, got a Diddley Bow and 4 string reso to get checked, packed and out the door to new customers.

It's all a spur to keep me building, as you good people out there seem to like my guitars. Here's one which will be on sale soon..my first licence plate guitar..I'm very pleased with it, both in terms of looks and the sound.
"Get your kicks, on Route 66"!

Welcome to the ChickenBlog!!
So, it's Christmas Eve, there's snow on the ground..and I've just published my first ever website..and my first ever blog post. I'll try and keep you up to date with news on new builds, gigs and other actualities of great import.