Henshaw's Horticultural Blog: Garden In Transit

So, I'm moving house today ! And the most important thing, obviously and of course, is moving my beautiful plants, herbs, shrubberies and garden !!



And here's a couple of action shots of me in the garden, I know you don't get them all too often, but here I am, where I love, doing what I love ... Getting my hands muddy, like the picture at the top, and then like my friend Zee said, it's all about the smell and feel of the earth and then sitting back, reflecting on your hard work with a nice cup of Yorkshire Tea !

And what had I been doing ? Harvesting my crop, potatoes and garlic in the main, but there's some strawberries on their way, and they're currently living in jam jars - Top Tip - jam jars are great for strawberries, protect them, insulate them and give them room to grow in a safe, warm, snug environment. Here's a picture of some of my little lot, ready for the road ...



... and that's just the half of it !!

But, anyway, also, and this, here's a nice thing ... I reached out recently for someone to help me identify these flowers (below), and my good friends at the 'Serenity in the Garden' blog got in touch with me a told me that these gloriously small and delicate pink little beauties are in fact "Claytonia Sibirica" ... so, thank you eternally for that, and to everyone else, go and plant some yourself, they're super cute, good for the bees and easy to care for. Spread The Love !!



Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

PS. #TheWayItIs will be online later in the week, second track from the 'Always In The Way' EP, hope you're excited for that ... I am ...

More of Matt Henshaw in the garden ...
Small Flowers & Container Gardening
Strawberry Flowers & Getting Ready For Summer
Tulips Are My Favourites
Things I Like ... Gardening
National Agriculture Day
Spring Gardening
Planting Season
How To Compost
Planting in Autumn & Winter
In The Garden With Matt Henshaw

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Tea and Toast with Matt Henshaw & Stu Crown ... Podcast Episode 001

Good afternoon friends, family, fans and loved ones,

Here's something new for you all, and it was pretty off the cuff. Me and my friend, Stu Crown of The Bobcats, decided to get together in his flat and record a podcast for you all. We're giving it you for nothing, as it's just what we'd normally do of an afternoon anyway, sit, talk, drink tea, and eat biscuits. It's nothing special, not yet anyways, but the feedback we've had so far has been great overnight. So, it's something we plan to keep on doing, keep your eyes and ears open.

Here's Stu himself presiding over the knobs and the technical side of things, I'm sat opposite him trying to think of witty thing to say about Paul Lambert, tea and the Leicester Music Scene ...



There should be one coming up next week, with a special guest too, and we're hoping to bring you some natter every week from now on.
And it should be on iTunes in a week or so, so you can download and listen at your convenience.

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Today I'm Looking for Help !

Today I'm treating you to something that I like, and asking you all for Help! Today's the day you really can help ...

First off, you must click this link and support my next EP ... I need at least 100 people to get the explosion of free promotion that I hope you feel I deserve upon the day of release for my second completely self-funded EP - 'Always In The Way' - OUT Monday 16th June !!!
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/11703-always-in-the-way-ep-release



I'm also doing two launch parties, one in London and one in Leicester the week of release !! Come and join me and get yourself a physical copy ...
Vibe Bar, Brick Lane, London, E1
https://www.facebook.com/events/644693045623688
The Cookie, High Street, Leicester, LE1
https://www.facebook.com/events/452624074880993

And, if someone can tell me what what the flower is in this picture I would be eternally grateful, and probably share some of my homegrown produce with you ...
http://matthenshaw11.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/henshaws-horticultural-blog-smallest.html

Aaaaaaaaaand, if you're in Leicester and you like cricket, who wants to come and play this summer on Victoria Park ... and who would like to go down Grace Road sometime and watch Leicestershire County Cricket Club, better still, who can hook me up with some free tickets ???
http://matthenshaw11.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/things-i-like-cricket.html

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Tapestry

These Market Harborough boys are currently quickly making a reputation for themselves as the best band, the best live act and thee band to see in Leicestershire, and with good reason.

I was lucky enough to catch them earlier in the year, at what I believe was only their second ever gig, and it instantly reminded of seeing Dog Is Dead for the first time in Nottingham at what was their first gig, and they're the only band I've seen in Leicester that I believe have the potential of emulating the successes of Leicester's leading troubadors - Kasabian.

And I've seen a lot of local bands over the last 8 or 9 months, and it's no detriment to any of them as there's a good lot of great little bands out there. It's just that Tapestry provide something different, something unique, and something more more tangible on a grander scale, the sound these three boys make is truly epic when the stars align and the notes fall into place.

I'm not particularly schooled or well-versed in electronic music, so forgive me if my references are a little far removed, but I was stood listening to the band play live, and subsequently listening to their demos, now circulating for free like the first batch of Arctic Monkeys recordings, and it evoked the pure freedom and pleasure of Paul McCartney's solo albums 'McCartney' and 'McCartney II', and when he really lets go on 'Chaos & Creation in the Backyard' and The Fireman records.

High praise indeed, anyone would agree who knows me, and it doesn't stop there, the elements of keys, synths and saxophone, there's some David Bowie in there, the Brian Eno / Berlin-era and 'Black Tie / White Noise' ... but it's almost by mistake that it sounds this good. Talking to the boys you'll quickly find out they're into mixing modern electronic music with something that everyone will surely know floats my boat ...

Soul Music, in particularly, Motown and the sound of young black America. You can tell that whilst they've grown up and are still learning in the digital age of music a school and college, in a world where everything you hear on the radio and TV and been synthesised, harmonised, autotuned and processed into oblivion. And although they like to jam, and as fans of house music, experimental electronica, containing as they do, Taylor Burton aka. New Walk, one of the best DJs around, and at 16, only going to get better, they know how to craft a heartfelt and soulful pop song too.

You don't listen to any Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye or Smokey Robinson not learn how to to put that kind of thing together, I know from experience, and I always wonder how people stumble across these greats, especially when they're 10 years my junior ! So if you like soul music and you're a bit adventurous, I suggest you get into Tapestry now, and equally if you like electronic music but you like to feel the people behind the beats and hear the rhythms are the hearts that produced it, then Tapestry is the band for you !

And for locality's sake, you can hear a little bit of that Chris Karloff-era early Kasabian, when they were playing in toilet venues around the country with Chikinki and getting more love from Mixmag and DJ magazine than the NME, it starts somewhere, and for these boys too, it seems like it's gonna be the Soundhouse, The Shed and The Musician in Leicester, no doubt I'll invite them to The Cookie when the time feels right.

After all that, I'm just annoyed that I leant their CD to my brother who's only gone and lost it !! It's a good job I stuck it on my iPod before I did that ... and we're living in the age of Soundcloud now and any great artists will be sharing most of their output online for free anyways !! Check out Tapestry, and you won't be disappointed ... Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

More Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
The De Montfort University Gospel Choir
By The Rivers
Martin Luke Brown
Joy Mumford
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

Support The Release Of My Next EP !!

Please and thank you everybody ... you may have seen that I've been sharing a little link around recently, Thunderclap 'Always In The Way' EP Release !

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/11703-always-in-the-way-ep-release

Basically, all I need you to do is click the link and doe as it says ... use one of more of your social networks, either Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr to support the release of my EP when the time comes ...

It's exactly one month away now until the release on Monday 16th June ... so if you've get me up to at least 100 supporters that would be golden ... I'd love to reach further into the hundreds, maybe 1000, but that's a big ask ... anyways, I hope you'll help and share with a friend of a friend ...



Artwork by Charlie Evans Design x

#TheWayItIs is on it's way, but for now here's the first taster of the record - Goodnight.



Spread The Love, MHx

Henshaw's Horticultural Blog: The Smallest Flowers & Container Gardening

In the calm before the storm - I've got a big show in Leicester tonight with a gospel choir and loads of Love to be shared - I've spent my morning in the garden, drinking Yorkshire Tea and sipping some homemade fruit and vegetable juice.

I've been pondering moving house, and taking my produce and plants with me. Now, I'm no fan of plastic, and the titanium grip that the oil industry has on it's production, practices and general skullduggery, but if you're going to reduce, reuse and recycle efficiently, and you need a garden that's mobile, because, like me you're moving house ... then get your flowers, fruit and veg in whatever you can, whatever you've used and keep it alive !

I'll probably post more about moving with my friends (plantlife) in the coming weeks but for now, so I can get ready for the evenings activities, I'll leave you with this "Right On!" poster, shared with me by Planet Natural ... Viva La Revolution !



And here's some tunes ...



And here's some more of Henshaw's Horticultural Blog ...
Strawberry Flowers & Getting Ready For Summer
Tulips Are My Favourites
Things I Like ... Gardening
National Agriculture Day
Spring Gardening
Planting Season
How To Compost
Planting in Autumn & Winter
In The Garden With Matt Henshaw

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw's Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade Going Underground THIS FRIDAY !!!

If you're in or around Leicester, or you don't mind the travel, there's only one place to be this Friday Night ! The Cookie for my biggest party in Leicester City yet !!!

Featuring these fantastic peoples ...

Martin Luke Brown

Mia and the Moon

Samuel Idwal

DMU Gospel Choir

... it's a real not-to-be-missed kind of thing !!!

Get yourselves along, I'm definitely gonna be there ! Spread The Love, MHx


Photo by Digital-Mechanic ...

Things I Like ... Cricket

Sadly I've spent this afternoon at a funeral, mourning the loss of a dear friend, and father of one of my oldest and best friends. He wouldn't have been happy about the length of my hair at present or that I'm not in a safe and steady job, but I'm sure he'd be pleased that I polished my boots at least. And more than happy that, since I heard of his illness, I've had his old cricket mantra circling my brain - "Catches Wins Matches" ... he used to say it over and over when we were training as young lads, and one particular night at an end of season presentation ad infinitum. Top bloke, honest as they come and he taught me how to play "the greatest game ever invented". Goodnight squire !



And it is "the greatest game ever invented", just ask Stephen Fry ! Cricket has the most variables, yet a steadfast set of mathematical and logistical rules, it is glorious, and anyone can play, no matter what physique you might bestow. Runs, catches, maidens, wickets, overs, weather, silly mid-off, the Duckworth Lewis Method ... there's a whole 'nother beautiful language that goes along with the game and it's rules that once you give yourself over to it, you'll never forget it.

Now, I don't play all that often these days, and when I do it's usually just knocking around the nets or a quick sunny afternoon session when the numbers are up. But it's a splendid thing ... oh and did I mention Cricket Teas ... a beautiful idea !!



It might surprise some that I have more trophies as a kid for my cricketing, bit of a Phil Neville I was, I played for a club and school that were both champions of Derbyshire, and had varying levels of success in East Midlands and Midlands competitions, narrowly missing out of representing my school at Lords was a bit of a kick in the teeth, but you grow up and get over it. And I was asked to captain the local Borough of Erewash as a schoolboy after briefly captaining the school team whilst my mate Chris was busy playing for Derbyshire CCC.

And one of the things I always used to do, was attempt to build a scale model of Old Trafford Cricket Ground from my LEGO ... I've no idea why that particular ground, I've no connection with Lancashire or Manchester, and Trent Bridge is the nearest and nicest ground to where I grew up, who knows, eh? Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder.



To link all this in with a bit of music, and a crazy cricket term that I've already mentioned, The Duckworth Lewis Method is one of my favourite albums of all time !! Now, I won't try and explain what the Duckworth Lewis Method is regarding cricket, that might take a few blogs to the uninitiated, but it was and is a concept album based around this great game produced by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy and Thomas Walsh of Pugwash. An excellent listen if you're ever inclined or have the chance ... The Age of Revolution is one of my favourite songs of the last 20 years, and that's saying something. The tunes are solid, even if you don't get all the references ...

Anyways, thanks for the memories Pete, MHx

Some more Things I Like ...
Fire
Gardening
Film
Yorkshire Tea
LEGO
Tippy The Cat
Khan Academy
Apple Cider Vinegar
McVitie'sBiscuits

I'm starting to think "my mate Chris" deserves his own blog feature ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The De Montfort University Gospel Choir

Hallelujah, Salutations & Good Morning, Good Afternoon to you !

Since I've been in Leicester City, living, loving and making music, it's been impossible to avoid being enveloped by the great array of different cultures that and frequencies vibrating around the city. Hanging out with those of Krishna consciousness one week and in the Buddhist temple the next, it's been horizon expanding, but one group I have gravitated towards, due to a deep love of the music, imagery and sense of communion, is the gospel churches. Namely the DMU gospel choir, or to use it's full name "the Emmanu'-EL Apostolic Gospel Academy".

I've never mixed with such a happy group of people, devoted to their music, faith and one another. Getting to know one or two of the brothers and sisters has been a blessing and hearing them sing as often as I possibly can has been absolutely fantastic. It's easy to see why they been invited to sing for the Queen, with Kasabian and at a whole host of events in Leicester and beyond, they've popped up on the BBC and lifted hearts and souls round the country.

Mixing the African, Caribbean, British and student populations, the choir does so much from the community, university and charities in the area. I know they're looking at working on a release and bigger events in the future, and I'm hoping to build a stronger relationship with the group. Good Souls !

Extremely pleasing it is to me then to tell you that they'll be bringing their voices to Matt Henshaw Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade @ The Cookie this Friday night (Friday 16th May, 2014). I'm excited they'll be joining me, Sam, Martin and Mia & The Moon for what is sure to be a really, really great night of music !! See you there !

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Here they are by the clock tower, outnumbering me even when I'm doubled ...

More Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
By The Rivers
Martin Luke Brown
Joy Mumford
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Goodnight - Matt Henshaw

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening & Goodnight ...

I'm here to tell you all that the first track from my next EP, OUT June 16th, has landed on YouTube, it's a bit different, I'm playing the piano, done some string arranging, bobbed along some bass lines and squeezed in a little guitar solo ... I hope you like it ! Please Listen, Like, Share, Subscribe & Spread The Love ! MHx

Goodnight - Matt Henshaw



3 more tracks to follow, some festival announcements and a whole load of Summer Madness !!

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx
MattHenshaw.com

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... By The Rivers

Thursday night and I've played and been out every night of the week in my old hometown of Nottingham, and a after almost a year in Leicester and the name on everyone's lips being "By The Rivers" I finally get to catch them, playing away, in The Maze in Notts, of all places. And what a treat, it was worth the wait and I'd recommend seeing them live as highly any other.

Today was the first time I've woken up in the afternoon for a long time still tired from the irresistable urge to groove and skank to the sounds of a band. A great set, smoothly running through latest single Vulture, Don't Say You Love Me, Run Home and Take Control, and some real gems, everyone as slick and movement instigating as the last !

I've had the pleasure of bumping into and getting to know all the chaps on my adventures in Leicester, but only managed to catch them live this week. All very nice lads, very sincere and genuine about what they're doing, their taste and their history, and the friendship is so clear and strong, particularly between Nile and Jordan, reminds me of me and my old band mate Chris. There's something so reassuring about being up front when you know your best mate is keeping it all together on the kit behind you.

The heat hit you as you entered the room, an away crowd for the boys just as rabid as anywhere in the country as on the continent so I'm led to believe, and I've no reason to doubt it, the band is together and the songs are so strong, and entertainment comes in bounds, understandable why they've found themselves on tour with The Specials and The Selecter et al, watching the crowd filter out dripping with sweat and mutually shared moisture made you believe it had been raining inside, and understand why Matt was one step away from getting naked, just treating us to a bare chest and belly.

Now, Sam Read, I've known for a long time, from his days in The Dandilions, and it's so pleasing to see someone getting some well deserved success musically. I remember being so glad to have someone to talk to of my generation about The Specials, and even Desmond Dekkar and Jimmy Cliff back in 2006/07, and I think he's a bit younger than me. Understandably I've had conversations with Jordan and Nile about how pleased they was when he joined the band, adding a seemingly endless wealth of knowledge, and an authentic sheen of the music they loved.

The songs will be bouncing around my head for days, weeks, months, as I'm sure they are in the hearts and minds of many who have seen them get it together over the last few years. And I look forward to seeing them again and again over the next few years, and spending a lot more time together. Good Guys if there ever was any.

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

More Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
Martin Luke Brown
Joy Mumford
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Things I Like ... McVitie's Biscuits

So, I'm home for one more day, and it's raining. So I'm sat inside with a cup of Yorkshire Tea and a selection of McVitie's biscuits, really getting back to my youth. Like everything I write about on this 'ere Things I Like ... feature on my blog, McVities ties in with the formative years of my life, hold keys to the nature of the universe and I love the company, their products and their history.

As with the LEGO and Yorkshire Tea, there's a tiny part of me that believes I shouldn't be all for advertising companies but, what can I say? They're engrained in my lifestyle, my culture, my history and my narrative, and I don't think they do any harm on the grand scale. So, let's have a look shall we, McVities is a British company, if that means anything to you, still based in Britain, and whilst they're now a subsidiary of United Biscuits the company, their products haven't changed. I've always admired the fact that the Milk Chocolate Digestives come in a brown packet ... brown?? And they still sell, that's a quality product right there !

The staple products have been a staple part of my life and diet since I was a little 'un - Mini Cheddars, Rich Tea, Milk Chocolate Digestives, Jaffa Cakes, Hob Nobs and Penguins - the only real newcomer to suitably impress is the Milk Chocolate Caramel biscuit, although I think that can't be a healthy biscuit, I just admire it's capacity to sustain it's rigid internal and external structure after dipping in your tea for upwards of 20 minutes, me and my best mate Chris have tested it, maybe not scientifically but we eat a lot of biscuits and drink a lot of tea !

Also, every one of their products is suitable for vegetarians so they're a great compliment to all the fruit and veg I get through, and it's nice to know that you don't have to search the packet for a little V logo to know, you just instinctively know.



And whilst I don't own a TV, I happened across the latest adverts, and they are the cutest things I've ever seen, you had me at cats ...

And I guess I'll leave you on a McVities biscuit related bit of music trivia, Noel and Liam Gallagher's mum Peggy used to work in the McVities factory in Manchester, and bring home all the broken biscuits and reject to the boys, which Noel would then take into school. It did make him very popular, but also earned him the nickname "Gallagher The Biscuit" ...

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

PS. Don't blame it on the biscuits ...



Some more Things I Like ...
Fire
Gardening
Film
Yorkshire Tea
LEGO
Tippy The Cat
Khan Academy
Apple Cider Vinegar

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Martin Luke Brown

So all this week I've been in Nottingham and treating you to some top acts I've seen, but today, right in the middle of the week I thought I'd introduce to you this cheeky chappy from Leicester ... Martin Luke Brown.

He's a handsome boy, got a smile that could break a thousand hearts, magnificent hair no matter how he wears it, one of the most pleasant guys around and he plays the piano like it ain't no thang ... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a little bit envious. And the piano isn't all he plays, he's a real Stevie Wonder type multi-instrumentalist.

He's been hiding out a little recently since we met last summer, and since I've seen him play a couple of times, an couldn't help but tap my feet. So I'm extremely pleased to say he's going to be doing a bit of a hometown comeback show at my Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade night at the Cookie, joining myself, Samuel Idwal and Mia & The Moon, before he launches his brand new video and goes of doing sessions for the BBC and some major festivals and summer dates.

Last time I bumped into him he'd just finished, or was in the middle of a string of dates in schools for the charity D.A.R.E, that raises drug and alcohol awareness amongst children, a cause quite close to my heart, as you may know, as a former drinker and someone who started in school, we need to end the glamorisation of drinking culture amongst the youth, or perhaps more importantly, stop making life so dreary for our under 18s that reaching the legal drinking age or getting a fake ID or nicking booze from your parents is something to look forward to and be excited about.

Addiction and binging shouldn't be a taboo but should be masqueraded for the negative consequence of a sick poorly run society where inequality and a mundane life of chasing pennies a work shifts is the path for far too many. Spread The Love, Change The World, Less Booze, More Juice, Less Drugs, More Fruit ... maybe it sounds overly simplistic but I believe that the majority of the worlds problems could be solved explicitly or implicitly by the growth and consumption of more fruit and vegetables.

Anyway, keep your eye on the wunderkind - Martin Luke Brown - he's up to something, I'm not sure what, but he's definitely going somewhere ...

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx


Try another Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
Joy Mumford
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Joy Mumford

Matt Henshaw here recommending again, up in Nottingham and feeling like I should share, spread and sincerely sprinkle out some love because it feels like the right thing to do. I've already suggested this week that you check out the hip-hop vocal trickery of Mr MotorMouf, and the upbeat soulful indie noise of Three Girl Rhumba. And last night I had the great pleasure of catching up with Miss Joy Mumford. Genuinely wonderful, beautiful and incredible and a great credit to the fair city of Nottingham.

It was nice to chat and catch up with Joy in Rescue Rooms last night, a place I realised I'd not been in for almost 6 years ! And then when she took to the stage I instantly wanted to put her together with my good friend Mahalia but aside from the delicate soulful lilt in her performance and style there's something more mature about what she does, and it only comes with having a few more years on her side. A real Tina Turner experienced way with her natural ability on the stage.

The band of Matt, Glenn and Simeon were really kicking too. Expertly slipping into song after song and tight as any band I've seen, they could easily slot in behind Joy, Mahalia or Beyonce, and I'm a man who's not ashamed to say I went to see Beyonce last year, and it was quite the show. Groovy bass lines, not a single beat missed on the drums, and Matt is a whizz with a pedal box armed with a Gretsch and a tele, he knows what he is doing. Very smooth !

And, and, and, her debut EP is called 'Cake & Tea', she definitely ticks every single box as far as I'm concerned, and I see a lot of other artists floating the country as I do, and I like a lot, but I genuinely could listen to Joy all night and look forward to seeing her on some big stages, she'll definitely be heading down to Leicester to play at Matt Henshaw's Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade before the year is out, that's for sure !

Spread The Love !
Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

And here's a picture that I took of her whilst she was workin' on doin' her thing ! Spellbinding !!

Enjoyed Joy? Check out some more Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
Three Girl Rhumba
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Three Girl Rhumba

A long tie ago, around 2007/2008 I wrote a blog under my former guise of Matt from Censored I wrote a blog called 'Matt Censord Recommends ...' I wrote about a few people and bands that now are bordering on household names, Dog Is Dead, Jake Bugg and The Swiines, Twisted Wheel and George Moran, formerly of The Crooks, now guitarist for Miles Kane, and a little known Nottingham band called The Jonny Dodds, they you were young sloppy, naive and had a knack for falling over more so than The Cribs or The Vines ...

Well, now after seeing them last night at The Golden Fleece with Motormouf they're older, wiser, a lot slicker, and they're calling themselves Three Girl Rhumba, and make an excellent noise !

They still sound a little like The Cribs but they've clearly lived a little and seen a lot more of the country, delved into music a bit further than the mid-noughties indie dirge, and walked a path through The Talking Heads, Wire, classic songwriting, and to my delight, taken in a little blues, soul and gospel music. And of any straight up indie indie band, they're the first I've seen in a long time that instantly marked themselves out as heading for the mainstage of any festival near you very soon.

So pleased to see the lads again, and it was a real blast from the past, from when they played at my old band's Club SOS nights in Nottingham, it made me think I need to put on a show at Rock City, maybe even Nottingham Arena if we make the right kind of waves, Three Girl Rhumba, Matt Henshaw and Dog Is Dead, a real Nottingham ball, and quite the shindig, I'm sure you'd buy a ticket, right?

Catch them live now whilst the cost of a show is somewhere between Free and a fiver and you won't be disappointed !

They've done a free EP for Record Store Day this year, and it's mega, songs like Lemon Cush you'll have in your head from one day to the next ...

Try some more Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
MotorMouf
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Motormouf

Home in Nottingham this week so I thought I'd catch up on what going on, before I play Rescue Rooms tonight, Guitar Bar Wednesday and Walkabout Thursday, I dashed down the A52 from a festival in Leek, and headed for the Golden Fleece because I knew that where my man Alex Motormouf Young was doing his thing ! I know I missed a lot of other things going off in the city but I'm sure you can forgive me for taking in just one show, and my phone died just going past the delightful Long Eaton ...

Anyway, enough of my real life situations ... Motormouf knocked me for six. I've played with and seen some top notch beatboxers in my time, Killa Kella, Beardyman, The PeteBox, and Mr Chonky Beatz, who all have talent in buckets and spades, but Alex has to be one of the nicest and most entertaining guys I've ever met, on and off stage. Granted, stick him on the stage and it's like watching a wind up bunny having the time of his life, a born performer.

Captivated a compact but lively British Bank Holiday crowd, he captured an excellently balanced set of humour, wit, slightly virtuoso and ultimately very musical, playing a rare solo set, usually playing with his group Just James you wouldn't believe that half of the time he was "just trying things out" as he weaves effortlessly from his own compositions, through Massive Attack, Ol' Dirty and the Wu Tang Clan, Sly & The Family Stone and, my personal favourite, a bit of A Tribe Called Quest ... "What's The Scenario?!"

Jump at any chance to see this magical, mystical, musical maestro, he's a mighty fine talent and a mighty fine gent, and funny as the proverbial f-word !

And now, for no reason whatsoever, although I'm sure there's a story behind it, here's a picture of the wonderful, beautiful Esther Van Leuven ...

Like This, Try This ...
More Matt Henshaw Recommends ...
Samuel Idwal
Abandon Her
Stef Baker
Emily Carr
Becky Edwards
James Byron
Mahalia
Mia & The Moon
Rosa-Leigh
AJA
Kate Rendell
Esther Van Leuven
East Midlands Girls
Ones to Watch for 2014
The Bobcats
Savanna Bones
Mattayoux
Matt Zara
The Simpletones
Charlotte Carpenter
Leah Sinead
Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Things I Like ... Apple Cider Vinegar

An elixir of all good things today on my 'Things I Like ...' blog ... Apple Cider Vinegar has so many uses, internally, externally, around the house and garden that it's barely imaginable where to start !!

I guess I should start by telling you how I use it, almost everyday, if not everyday ! I am currently using it to remove a mole that has afflicted me since birth, startling how it works like magic, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who, like some of my friends, have an Austin Powers-like mole aversion or mole phobia, if there is such a thing. You can use the same method on warts, skin tag, acne scars, cellulite and an array of bodily blemishes.

I use it in my diet, as a way of keeping my liver and my gall bladder healthy, I use it do condition and detangle my hair (don't worry, you can rid of the vinegar scent with an essential oil of your choice!), I put a little in my bath, and occasionally make a mouthwash and/or brush my teeth with my stuff.

And as an all purpose cleaner for bath and kitchen, insect repellant and weed killer I've made a mixture of boiled water left to cool, bicarbonate of soda, peppermint essential oil, lime and lemon juice and apple cider vinegar and it's working a treat, goodbye Raid, Dettol, Flash and Vanish ... Spread The Love !

And if you still not convinced, try a few of these links, and there's loads more info out there for you to find ...
The Gerson Institute
Mother Nature Network
Reader's Digest
MindBodyGreen
Healthful Diet & Nutrition
Care2



Some more Things I Like ...
Fire
Gardening
Film
Yorkshire Tea
LEGO
Tippy The Cat
Khan Academy

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep

Hello & Welcome to May Everybody !

Post by Matt Henshaw.

Loads more festival announcements to come and spring in my step as we go into summer, Spread The Love !

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Matt Henshaw Sings ...
Wonderful World
Blackbird
The Mighty Quinn

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/id814589358
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-My-Life-EP/dp/B00I8ZDJZC/
https://play.spotify.com/album/733AAcf7c2KcZ75SUFlpi3
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-henshaw/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep/14753983/
http://www.7digital.com/artist/matt-henshaw/release/it-aint-easy-my-life
http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep
http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/matt-henshaw/album/it-aint-easy-my-life-ep