Having just been berated by my mother for letting my site go out of date, here's the latest news before I get into any more trouble.

The first six months of this year have been incredibly busy. January began with ‘Collision', a multi-genre collaboration at the South Bank. Members of Bellowhead took part in their capacity as Artists in Residence, alongside Bellowhead's guest, ‘conductionist' Dave Clark, artist Jeremy Dellor, music writer Paul Morley, and a host of other amazing talents. One particular highlight was lunch with Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Faustus did a number of gigs in varying line-ups (see later) during the month, and at the very end, going into February, Bellowhead toured Wales, were residents at the Bristol Old Vic, and picked up Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (Belshazzar's Feast were nominated for Best Duo) .

March saw a reprise and re-working of The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, in which a Bellowhead-heavy band was joined on stage by poet Lemn Sissay and number of adult and children's choirs. Paul then co-hosted a conference at Dillington House in Somerset on behalf of Live Music Now South West, with various Continental partners of the Ballad Portal project, funded by the Grundvig Foundation.

From the end of March into April Bellowhead recorded their new album ‘Hedonism' in Studio 2 (the one the Beatles and Pink Floyd used) at Abbey Road with famed producer John Leckie (Ride, Muse, Radiohead, etc). It's due for autumn release on Navigator.    

Belshazzar's Feast went on the road in May with a very successful tour of England and Wales . In between dates they found time to record their new album ‘Find the Lady' (One Little Indian) with Jim Moray. Of particular note is the beautiful artwork by the beautiful Alex Merry (Belles of London). Like ‘Hedonism', it will be available later this year.

During the last few weeks Paul has been writing an opera with Bellowhead's Andy Mellon, for award-winning charity Streetwise Opera ( http://www.streetwiseopera.org ), based on the legend of the Hartlepool Monkey. Performed by groups from the North East who have experienced homelessness, it is a collaboration with film-maker Tom Marshall and as such will tour the country as an installation next year, as well as being presented live in Spitalfields Church in December.

Paul has also fulfilled a number of arrangement commissions for the Andover Museum Loft Singers, who in August will feature at their first ever folk festival – Sidmouth no less! They are also planning an album of my arrangements to be recorded in October by Wild Goose.

Faustus has rehearsals in July with the new line-up – myself, Saul and Benji plus James Fagan and Pete Flood, and a number of summer appearances. Negotiations with agents and labels are underway . . .

November will be taken up with a large Bellowhead UK tour to promote the new album, followed by a large December Belshazzar's tour. In the meantime, summer festivals are plentiful – see Gigs.

Now, whilst I have time, its back to the garden, if that's alright with you, mother.