Tour Reflections from JJ

This has been a great first tour of UK and another stage in what I hope is a long musical journey. The set continued to develop from our Danish Tour and it feels good to be in at the start of something new. We are the carriers of a rich body of Oyster,  JJ, Ray Cooper songs and I intend to perform them as long  as my voice is still strong. 

Ray and Al were part of my first walking tour and it feels like the same spirit and sense of adventure is with us now. Their musical skills make this travelling trio possible and our harmonies have become a real feature of our performances. 

Ray’s breadth of musical skills continue to surprise; his move to the mighty church organ in St Dunstan’s Church Cranbrook, on the song ‘A Time Of Her Own’, was a revelation. Al has produced both Ray’s and my solo albums so he knows where the music comes from and where it is heading. His guitar work anchored every arrangement but his singing?! Who saw that coming? 

During the tour, we sang ‘Spirit of Dust’ every night in memory of the lovely Rowan Godel and it became particulary poignant on our final show in Nettlebed where she sang at the folk club. Check out her singing with us on YouTube. Rowan was at her radiant best on that day in the studio. 

Thanks to all of you who came to the gigs and supported us, you are now part of the journey. Come and join us at two of our favourite festivals for our first big stage performances - at Sidmouth (31 July) and Wickham (1st August).

Photo by Kerstin Maier, from Nettlebed Folk Club, 11th May 2026,