Hi everyone…

I’m in Acoustic Magazine this month! Check it out here or pop into your local newsagents…

http://friendrock.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/james-kelly-lost-ep/

Just got back from Kendal Calling, my first proper festival performance. It was a flipping ace experience start to finish. It was a slightly delayed start which meant cutting the set slightly short, but apart from that minor matter (I was only going to do “What is Love” by Haddaway anyways!) the set went pretty well. It was quite nice to get the set done and dusted on the Friday too (it might have been a much more subdued affair on the Sunday).

Thanks to everyone who dropped by to catch my set and gave me a very welcoming response, and also big thanks to the backstage people on the Kaylied Stage (particularly Neil, Vicky and Julie who helped even when it seemed they had about ten people talking to them at once!). Also a  thanks to Simon Webbon and Band on the Wall for actually inviting me to play in the first place. The festival itself was pretty great too, highlights for me were Honeyfeet (probably the best I’ve seen them which was weird considering it was half the band!!) , the Riot Jazz Band, DJ Yoda, To Sophia, Paris Riots and Goldheart Assembly.

Hopefully see you there again next year!

Hi everyone… I’m listening to the final master of my 7-track E.P for the first time as I type this! Exciting times.. The aim is to get it out before Kendal Calling on the 30th July.. But with printing and duplication still to go it might be slightly after that before there’s an official launch gig etc.. (which is going to be ace by the way… the acts are already sorted!). Watch this space!!

Just got back from Exeter today after playing in the final ten of a competition to play at the Beautiful days Festival in Devon (and about £2.5k worth of prizes!) run by Acoustic Magazine. The journey was epic… the furthest I’ll probably ever travel for two songs! I was mooned/flashed at 3 times on the way down there too (well… technically 8 times if you count each person as an individual mooning incident)… Stayed at a friends Mum’s house.. which was very nice (Helen if you’re reading this thank you so much again for letting me stay!! i really appreciate it!)

The competition itself went pretty well I think, even though it was a bit odd playing in front of the 9 other acts and a panel of four judges at 11am in the morning! But all things considered I think it went ok and thoroughly enjoyed the other acts too… The winner is announced on Thursday… I’m up against some pretty amazing competition to be honest so even if it does sound a little cliched… to be put in the final ten with that company is pretty great…

Just got a live review from Simon Webbon @ Friend Rock Magazine…

“James Kelly, whom I first met a couple of months ago while doing a radio interview and was instantly captivated. Combining blues riffs with flamenco rhythm on a spanish guitar, with percussion provided by hitting a kickdrum pedal against a guitar case, there’s nobody quite like him. He is, as one very drunk guy proclaimed last night, “fucking wicked!” Can’t really disagree with that. The future is bright for James…” Friend Rock Magazine – April 2010

Just to keep in you in picture.. I’m currently recording my e.p/album at the moment… Recording started last Thursday and managed to get 9 guitar tracks down with only vocals and overdubs to go in the next week or so… Hopefully we’ll get it all done and dusted by the end of the month and it will be avaliable to buy at my gigs aswell iTunes and few other selected retailers… The albums being produced by Dr Metal Mark Mynett, former guitarist of metal band Kill II This and now well respected producer… I’ve never seen so many mics on a acoustic guitar before!!!

Just posted up some new YouTube videos that we filmed a couple of weeks ago in a basement somewhere in Chorlton, Manchester… Big thanks goes to Paul Arton and Ben Langley who were the rest of the crew for this shoot (i.e. everything else but the sound!)… Enjoy!!!!

Thanks to everyone who came to my gig at the Ironworks in Oswestry… What a superb night and thanks a lot to Ben from Skinny White and The Goods for inviting to me to play.. Great people, great atmosphere, top sound, some amazing dancemoves….  the 2 and half hour round trip was well worth it! Thank you very much, hopefully I’ll be back again sometime soon..

Photo by Brett of www.soultrapper.co.uk

Hi just a quick one to let you know that I’m playing at 19 band all day Green Bohemia special event for the UK music industry convention: IN THE CITY FESTIVAL on Sunday 18th October 2009 at The Green Room, 54-56 Whitworth St West, Manchester, M1 5WW

Bands start from 1pm… I’M ON AT 5:30PM sharp…

There’ll be some great artists playing right through the day so its probably worth your while getting there eariler on and making a day of it…

Here’s the facebook event if you want to RSVP yourself… Feel free to invite people you think might be interested too…http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149172242377&index=1