OK, I am now despairing of any summer happening whatsoever plus one of my cats is desperately depressed. Am I the only one with a ginger tom who suffers from SAD syndrome?

Last night went over to Coventry with my sis to see John Smith at the Taylor John House in Coventry, an old coal vault and a fabulous live music venue, the people are just so friendly and the atmosphere full of musical kindred spirits. They have another small live venue also in Coventry called The Tin Angel. Can't recommend enough:
http://www.thetinangel.co.uk/

Also can't recommend John Smith enough, check my archives for my inital blog on him when he supported John Martyn at Birmingham Symphony Hall. He's nu-folk technically but I think he's more than that. He has a gravelly yet somehow tender voice which reaches for notes with such sensitivity which makes his rendering of not only his own beautifully constructed songs but 16th century ballads, totally transfixing. And if his voice does not appeal then his acoustic guitar palying is something to behold. I knew what was coming as I had seen him before but many in the audience didn't and so when he turned his guitar over and laid it across his knees and started tapping on it as if it was a drum kit AND still playing the strings, the silence was accompanied by a tangible awe as he strummed and played through his own composition Winter.

As he was a supporting player he did about 6 songs and he had everyone hooked. Being in such an intimate venue I caught the nuances of his voice and together with his phrasing and use of loud then soft he has a commanding quality. I got to talk with him after his 'turn' and said I hope he can headline soon instead of supported and he said that his first tour was this coming November and that he would be performing at Taylor John again, so that's another night out for me!

You can get his album The Fox & The Monk at: http://store.cmplive.com/product_info.php?products_id=32

Here's what others say:

"He possesses a common name but a rare talent" - The Independent

"The playing style he adopts may cause your jaw to hit the floor...a bit of a live showstopper." - Word Magazine

"An object lesson in how taste and imagination always outweigh mere musical virtuosity...unexpected and daring" - The Sunday Times

"John Smith continually swoons audiences with his own strain of nu-folk. It is only a matter of time before he is enormous." - NME

"A singular talent" - The Times