Music to our ears....back to boating.

We can't quite believe that it's September already. We are getting ready to set off on our last big (for us) trip of the year this weekend. It's nine weeks since we finished our last trip and the weather has been glorious since then. We have met friends out and about on their boats during this time and longed to be out on the cut ourselves in the sunshine and all we have managed since has been a couple of days here and there which has been very frustrating.

We have been busy though with another of our loves.....music. The blog at the minute resembles the pages of N.M.E. rather than a boating blog, but for us they are good way of recording memories. Our last post detailed our fabulous weekend at Henley on Thames at the Rewind Festival and in this last week we have seen musicians from either end of the music spectrum - one just starting out on what we have no doubt will be a glittering career and the other, a music icon.

So, from the playing fields of the Derbyshire village of Doveridge last weekend, let us introduce you to JJ Rosa. Remember the name...you may well have heard it here first. Described as a mix of Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse her sound is unique and the reviews she has had so far all indicate a really bright future. Originally from Stockport and now from London she is about to release her first album. She went down a storm headlining this small festival which also featured Brian Nash the former lead guitarist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood who gave a great solo rendition of 'The Power of Love'.

JJ Rosa

To have a listen and get hooked, click on the  link.....JJ Rosa - Boy Boy. From there you can actually download a FREE 4 track EP...I wonder if she needs an agent ??

Last night we headed off up to Leeds and the brand new purpose built concert venue, the First Direct Arena. Impressive it is too and well worth a visit if you ever get the chance to see your favourite band there. So the music icon......his music spans five decades and some of his musicians have played with him from the start or very early days.....none other than Elton John. We have seen him many times and with Louise being in the fan club we are lucky to get seats close to the stage. 13,000 were packed in and the show lasted a little under three hours without a break. The last half hour we were right up in front of the stage dancing away...it was just fabulous and everyone went home very happy.

Louise outside the arena

Just incase you didn't know who it was 

Signing autographs

So we are back to boating this weekend thank goodness. Of course, the forecast for the weekend is for some of the wet stuff. We are heading off around the Leicester Ring for a lazy fortnight from Saturday and hope to catch up with a few friends along the way.