Shino-B Dance up a storm at the Mo Woods Show!

This weekend Just gone boasts The Big Bike Bash! I'm honoured every year when they ask me to perform there! each year it seems to step up a notch. Like an addiction, each year it has to be bigger and better. This year didn't disappoint as I was lucky enough to be joined by 3 Talented Dancers from Shino-B Dance Crew. Lead by Shino-B Founder Thom Jones: a Talented and innovative Dance Instructor and choreographer. I was impressed by Thom's ethos and enthusiasm and care for the talented young people under his tuition. His thoughts on mental health, self assurance, esteem, and confidence building in young folks today in this challenging world.  When we met in Starbucks a couple of months before the performance we discussed idea's for the up and coming and show and what Jordan, Amelia, and Joe could bring. I saw video's of them performing to my live tracks which was so exciting. Musically it meant lengthening the introduction and shifting about the set to create the ambience, tension and perfect opening showcase for these young bloods! My talented MD Aidan Hampson helped me piece together a 32 bar (give or take a few) intro for "What do I have to do" Despite the rain that started just as the set did, they did amazingly well and worked so hard to bring it! Adaptable and friendly they blended into the live situ, like they'd been there the whole time. (maybe I'll keep them) You'll be seeing them soon at my next show so keep subscribed to hear more. Thank you guys!!!! can the Mo Show get any better? apparently it can!!! :) 

Left to Right: Thom Jones, Joe Vickers, Jordan Stephens, and Amelia Melton

Left to right: Jim Cutts, Stu Brewer, Chris Welch, Mo Woods, Katie Delaney, Aidan Hampson Rich Sticker. 

Jordan Stephens, Joe Vickers, Amelia Melton

Photographs above courtesy of Kelli Edden Stephens.

The Stage Door !

The Stage Door & The Mo Woods Band Burn Down the house! 

I was so pleased to be playing at the Stage Door. It was In the planning since Feburary with thanks to Ben Dlugokecki. As it was my first one after taking some recovery time off after a back operation, I was anxious to see what I could really do & achive. well..   The gig was a massive success and then some! We played third in the bill of the nights showcase acts. Hanging out with them was a privilege and we made some great new friends. We listened to the 17 Year old Max Elmore open playing some acoustic covers and some of his originals. Then was the wonderful folk inspired band Court Rogue. The Beautiful young hot Thing Sasha Lauryn closed the night with her inspired original material and wonderful unique voice and style. look out for her!

I was excited to welcome to The Mo Woods Band. Katie Delaney. She kindly agreed to sing some backing vocals for me and boy did she! Katie’s, is A highly experienced singer that I have had the pleasure of singing with before in MH and she even stood in for me once or twice. She was on fire Friday and enjoyed it immensely. She had a lovely smile on her face the whole time, just like me. Not only did she wow the crowd, she impressed the pants off of the other band members. Its a pleasure to sing with someone like katie, she has a great kind spirit, she’s professional and calm. Just the Gal you need on your side.

I had the first time pleasure of having Stu Brewer on lead guitar, and he left everyone breathless! A man with amazing stage presence, and such a clever player! His effects he brought to the Mo Table didn’t go un-noticed or un-appreciated.

I’m am so grateful to the rest of the Mo Woods Band. Paul Tasker-Sax, Paul Hawkins-Trumpet, Rich Stickler-Organ & Piano, Timmy G-Drums, Aidan Hampson-Bass.

The images from this event were kindly shot by Kelly Hampson, and provided by Aidan Hampson Photography. 

Thank YOU!!!!

I wanted to say a massive thank you to those of you who supported me and came to watch the show! if you didn’t manage it this time, i’m currently planning another performance, and hopefully they’ll be more news of this soon.  Keep subscribed to hear more and keep an eye on my FB and Twitter feeds. 

This Friday! 27th April. Incognito Winchester.

I’ll be singing some laid back Jazz with the talented Steve Christie on the house piano. Come along and say hi, grab a drink and sit back and enjoy. I love Winchester and its always lovely to sing there.

Balancing Creativity and Work

Have you ever decided on that special something you'd like to achive and ended up somewhere completely different along the way?... and its not exactly what you had in mind?

Sometimes you spend so long doing something that you think you need to do to reach your goal, and it leaves you no time to: "BE" and just be creative, or allow things to manifest naturally and become what you desire. So you've decided what you want? now you need to balance and organise yourself in a way that allows your goal to be possible but not in a way that compromises your expression and feelings. 

"All you can do from past experiences is honour each one, and take forward as the lessons you've learnt and reasons to be grateful"

But getting this balance is tricky. You want to achieve a goal, and need many factors to achieve it and most of all ENJOY IT. I appreciate you reading on while I take you through my 3 points and concepts to hopefully benifit.

1. Enjoy what you are doing and your journey to where you want to be.
2. Let go of control. Stop pushing.
3. Be kind to yourself, and others. for the love of god be kind. 

Enjoy what you are doing and your journey to where you want to be. There's a core belief that runs people. Some think that you need to suffer for your art, live in pain. and if something is easy then its just not worth having. I used to very much think like this. Life is too short for pain. Remember this: Your pain and complaining is not impressing anyone. So Live in the joy that you creating and "being" 

Let go of control? well.. how am i supposed to do that? i hear you say? well. Its all very good wanting something but trying to push it so hard that it causes discomfort or pain is not living up to your greatness! (yes, some of you may not believe this but its true. your capable of greatness)  So make your intention clear. Be clear on What you want, release it out to the big wide world and enjoy the process, but try not to live in the future. Give up the: What if's, When will i? I need this to happen. Perhaps write down your goal, keep it somewhere you can see it everyday and give it some love. 

Be kind. This one my friends is the most important thing you will ever learn. Once you master the art of deciding that the thought in your head thats kicking around telling you that:  you've done nothing, or that you should just give this up as you've gone backwards, They are better than me, my work is terrible and the big one: "whats the point" is something you'd like to change, then your in business. Deciding to be kind to yourself when you fall, or feel like you've failed is the most powerful gift. Shake off the victim coat and enjoy the sun. Step up and rise again. The same applies to forgiving others. On your journey to any goal you'll meet all kinds of different people, some may even be friends or family members. I'm very lucky that 90% of people around me are super supportive, but there are a few that couldn't give two hoots. Some may not believe in your goal, they may want something similar for themselves and choose to feel envious instead of supportive, some may not get it or appreciate your hard work,  and what its taken to get there...  You can't be responsible for how someone treats you in this life but you are responsible for how you react. Choose Wisely.  Send them your good wishes and compassion and let them go too.Ce La Vie. 

Just let it go.

"Deciding to be kind to yourself when you fall, or feel like you've failed is the most powerful gift"