Jo Bywater

Threshold Festival and LSMedia

jobywater — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:03:36 +0000

A great weekend was had as I reminisce with a very welcomed cup of coffee in Oomo, Smithdown Rd….

This weekend was Threshold Festival, held in the Baltic Triangle of Liverpool. I had the pleasure of performing for Mellowtone on Thursday night for the festival press launch, my artwork prints were on display all weekend in the Blade Factory and I also performed a gig I loved in the cafe of the Nordic Church on Saturday early eve. Both gigs had great audiences and reminded me of the plus points of the Liverpool music scene. Much like last year it was a perfect setting for seeing artists all in the same places, ones that I don’t really see much because everyone is usually out gigging in different places. There’s a great spirit and energy and there’s nothing like having a long list of bands to go see whilst swanning around with beers in hand.

Threshold had to do a quick re-shuffle this year as the arranged venue of the CUC had announced its closing. When all is said and done, to manifest something of this size in such a last minute effort is an acheivement and a half. Hats off to Kaya, Chris and the rest of the festival crew. I hope it returns next year!

As for this week….I will be heading to LSU on Wednesday to perform live in session for Mr Ian D Hall’s radio show on ICON. Good times!

Jo x

Bob’s Folk Show session

jobywater — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:04:58 +0000

This brings me to Feb 2012… already. Tuesday (31st Jan) I headed down to Chertsey on the train to play on Bob’s Folk Show (www.radiowey.co.uk).

I’m fairly new to radio sessions but 2011 brought me a spurt of them and after booking in for this session in October last year I realised it had arrive pretty quickly. I’m mostly pretty confident and chilled with this situation, the worst thing that tends to happen to me if I think about it (which I try not to..) is that I start to think I’m going to forget my lyrics whilst live on air .. it’s not happened yet…

I REALLY enjoy journeys and so heading down via London with a coffee and a book and my guitar was great fun for me. I get all philosophical and creative. I felt like a muso…:) a proper one. So… Bob’s Folk Show.. I met Bob in Chertsey and we headed to a pub where Keith Moon used to drink. A beer, a halloumi sandwhich and some good old convo about being independant and sticking it to ‘the man’ we then headed to the radio shack which is next door to the hostpital in Wey. Awesome proper studio, bit of vintage about it, I loved it. Bob’s massively into his music so we chatted and he introduced me to some artists he liked and then we did 2 hours of his show. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to play 9 of my tracks live inbetween listening to some fab independant musicians. Great show, great bloke and I’m looking into sorting some gigs down in London in the next few months. I stayed in a hostel that night in Pimlico and as I arrived at midnight (after Bob very kindly drove me after the show) I had the amusing situation of having to negotiate making my bed in the dark whilst 12 other people were sleeping. I like random. I woke up pretty early and walked out the door to see the Thames and for a little saunter across London . It was a beautifully lit morning…

If 2012 is all like this I will be HAPPY! I urge you to check out Bob’s Folk Show. If you’re into decent, high quality acoustic music that’s not generic…..

Jo x

Radio Merseyside Interview

jobywater — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:29:13 +0000

I finally got round the uploading my awesome Radio Merseyside experience from Dec 2011. I spent time in the studio with Folkscene host and legendary Liverpool Harp player Stan Ambrose. All of the tracks from my album were played and I got chance to do some talking., great

I’m heading down to Chertsey on Tuesday (31st Jan) to play live on Bob’s Folk Show at www.radiowey.co.uk. The show will be live from 9pm – 11pm…

Until then!

Art Magic

jobywater — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:24:50 +0000

Just a quick update as to the artwork I have been working on over the last couple of months. I finished my illustrations for the childrens book by my good friend Victoria Bragg. This is called ‘The Boy with Wings’. I completed my parents Christmas present painting…finally! and at the end of the year I was commissioned to paint a picture for another Christmas present. Done and Done!

There are other things in the pipeline and I will also be uploading my Radio Merseyside interview over the next week or so. For further details about my artwork please visit ARTWORK.

Jo x

Festives, newness, Southern Comfort and Lime

jobywater — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:06:00 +0000

As my final mail of 2011 I mainly wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported and enjoyed what I’ve been upto creatively this year whether it be music or art. Cheers! And thanks to those I’ve shared the gigs with. It’s been a great and varied year. My favourite!

2011 started off with my album released and ready to gig. I spent the year sending messages to magazines, reviewers and radio shows and got a significant amount of positive feedback. All the reviews i’ve had so far are on my website and I’ve had some great local help from Seven Streets, LSU, Liverpool Acoustic, Radio Merseyside, Nerve and this month Good Vibrations gave me my final review of the year.
Nationally I had positive reviews from FATEA, R2, MU Mag, The Girls Are and Americana. In terms of radio I had a fab experience on ICON Radio, KVFM and ‘Folkscene’ on BBC Radio Merseyside after being invited by Mr Stan Ambrose. As his only guest I had the whole show and had my entire album played. Definately a moment of pride and acheivement. There’s has also been great support coming my way from Bob’s Folk Show to the South!

Over the last 12 months my gigs were a little chocolate box of mixture. December culminated in two great gigs, the penultimate in LLanberis, Wales after which I went mountain biking in Snowdonia and the final gig of the year at Sound Women in Huddersfield, which was preceded by a traffic-laden, 4 hour journey from Liverpool!

Work – wise I’ve spent an incredible time building up my guitar students and also taken on more commissions art-wise. The most recent two being illustrations for a childrens book and a painting for a present I’m half way through for a customer in USA.

My plans for 2012 are of the writing kind. New music for the new year and the forming of a tour, possibly Europe. I’ll definitely be gigging as ever around the UK. Plans for the capital city are afoot. 31st Jan I will be playing live in session on Bob’s Folk Show. www.radiowey.co.uk

My album Cycle Grace Pulse Break is for sale at www.cdbaby.com.jobywater2
My blog and updates are as ever to be found at www.jobywater.com

The shows I’ve done and art I’ve created will very soon be on the site!

Again, many thanks and I wish everyone the best for the end of 2011 and most definitely 2012!

See you there

Jo x

Mountains, biking, Radio Merseyside

jobywater — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:30 +0000

Fresh from a weekend doing some fantastic experiencing of the Welsh mountains I’m still not aching like I thought I would.

Sunday night I spent the night in the Heights Hotel Llanberis after gigging there, waking up in Snowdonia was pretty amazing. Veggie breakfast and then onto a seriously hilly but very beautiful mountain bike ride. At one point the sound of a Jet seeming to be in the air actually manifest infront of our faces and shot down the valley, Top Gun stylee good fun. A walk onto Devils Kitchen ensued. Beautiful. At one point I nearly skidded off the road on the way back because a confused sheep couldn’t decide whether it needed to run infront of my speeding wheels or not…….

The last couple of weeks have brought me some good radio experiences. I was invited to be interviewed for Folkscene on Radio Merseyside by local Harp legend Stan Ambrose. This aired last Thursday and tonight. I will be putting it up here at some point soon.

I also recently received this link for my KVFM session.

My last gig of the year is coming up on Friday 16th Dec at Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield. Sound Women. The day before my birthday

I’ve also just finalised some illustrations I’ve been doing for a children’s book. There will be some examples up here very very soon I’m sure! A completely new experience was had, I learned much and hoping to do more illustration-type wor.

December excitement!

Radio and Snowdonia giggage

jobywater — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:15:17 +0000

Hey all,

Last week was a great experience for me having the opportunity to perform live on Mr Ian D Halls radio show at Liverpool University Station. I had the priviledge of playing 2 of my own tunes and having a little chat with the man himself in his championing of Liverpool music, both old and new. Ian gave me a great album review earlier on in the year for LSM so it was a pleasure. A very hospitable experience was had. Part of the show was that I choose an influential song. After having 2 months to make this decision I still managed to show up at the station with 8 CDs in my bag…..finally resting on ‘Indifference’ by Pearl Jam. It was a toughy! I then went on to play a set at CUC for Ronan Boyles night. A satisfyinly musical day. This coming Friday (2nd Dec) I shall be heading to KVFM to play on the Christmas edition of the Orange Show with Alicia Rose and a whole host of local musos. Should be a good one.

The last few months have been decidedly art-based and with my art and guitar tuition ventures starting to take off all is looking good. Bring on my birthday, Christmas and the New Year! I also became an Auntie for the first time in November. Happy Days

Next gig is at Heights Hotel, Llanberis Wales on 11th Dec, then Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield 16th Dec.

Jo x

Art Adventures

jobywater — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:30:15 +0000

Last week I was commissioned to paint a birthday present for one of my guitar students parents. For me it was the perfect request of a painting in my style with a bit of a brief of what they wanted the vibe and the intent of the picture to be. After studying a few family photos and letting my imagination have an extreme wonder this is what I came up with. The result being some very happy customers….happy days.

The rest of my artwork can be found here

I also do illustration, logo design, merch, posters etc…many things creative. For those looking for an original present and like what you see drop me a message and we can talk more…

Jo x

12 Bar Club gig POSTPONED

jobywater — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:42:20 +0000

Unfortunately my gig at 12 Bar Club London has been postponed due to a situation out of my control but I’m in the process of rescheduling it for before the year is over..:)

JO x

12 Bar Club and Bob’s Folk show

jobywater — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:56:28 +0000

After an awesome gig and day of art-perusal in London a couple of weeks ago i find myself heading back down there for a nice social chill and a gig on 16th October. Lucky, lucky me booked myself a slot at 12 Bar Club on Denmark st. Door £5. I’ve also just organised a date to perform in the studio on Bob’s Folk Show on 31st Jan 2012. Though it’s seemingly far away I’m pretty sure i’ll be there pretending not to be nervous quicker than expected . Bob will be playing one of my tunes on 11.10.11 for those who want to tune in! I listened to the show last week and there were some great artists on, definitely recommended.

I also have 2 tunes (Let Go & Disclaimer) on the playlist at Women of Substance radio for the next 3 months. Happy Days!

Currently spending much time teaching guitar, drawing illustrations and analysing the world down to its quantum physical particles.

Bring on the Autumn