Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Abandon Her ... again ...

If you like your pop music catchy and classy then look no further than the girls and boy that make up Abandon Her.

Abby, Olivia, Sarah and Giles weave delicious harmonies over superb melodies, and it's just pure songwriting. The kind of purest songwriting I love, and take to heart when I do all the travelling on the road that I do.

When you hear a song in June 2014 and it's still knocking around in your head on the other side of the continent in January 2015 that's "mission accomplished" as far as I'm concerned.

Songs like 'Witches Islands', 'Right Back to Your Door' and new songs like 'Lilac' are real "humdingers", that's an appropriate use of that kind of terminology, right ?

Spread The Love, see you and them at my homecoming show in Leicester on Saturday night, gonna be good fun ...

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx
MattHenshaw.com

'Like' and follow 'Matt Henshaw Recommends ...' on facebook ...

Anywyn Williams, Caroline Francess, Lew Bear, Martin Luke Brown ... again ..., Josh Wheatley, Casino Empire, Elizabeth Cornish, The Strangler Figs, Sky Valley Mistress, Jesse Wright, Siobhan Mazzei, GEORGIE, Tapestry, 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, 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, Amii Dawes, Hib Word (House Of Verse), Matt Henshaw Recommends ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'YOUR EYES ARE MADE OF GOLD' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/your-eyes-are-made-of-gold-ep/id904335049
https://play.spotify.com/user/11100320251/playlist/7CJI4WcomJKYozyujcN4hK
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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
'EASIER' OUT NOW !!!
'Easier' Official Video - https://goo.gl/ynTayr
iTunes - https://goo.gl/9r5341
Spotify - https://goo.gl/OTLXaV
GooglePlay - https://goo.gl/JVvd5r

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Amii Dawes

I Love Amii Dawes. Quite simply one of the best songwriters I've had the pleasure of playing with in this last year of touring.

In fact, the only person I've played with that has written a song that I genuinely wish I'd written, or feel like it is a song I should have written, but someone else got there first !!

'Tiny Little English Town' is about her native Northampton could be about any little town, village or small city in England. The imagery, the poetry, the melody is magnificent. When I first heard her sing the couplet "this Tiny Little English Town, where even in our dreams we're wearing hand-me-downs" I nearly cried.

Last month Amii released an EP and an album, and even though my favourite song isn't on either, this highlights her prolific nature as a songwriter, and a singer after my own heart; write lots of songs, do lots of gigs, and if you're gonna play someone else's music it's gonna have to be a Beatles song or an old soul number, otherwise what's the point? And who cares if no-one else likes that kind of thing ... but let's be honest, who doesn't like John Lennon or Smokey Robinson? Poor Misguided Fools ...

Go out and watch Amii play live, buy her CDs and hopefully her 'Little Blue Book' of songs will stay with you like they have me and she'll keep writing for years to come. I'm excited at the prospect.

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx
MattHenshaw.com

'Like' and follow 'Matt Henshaw Recommends ...' on facebook ...

Anywyn Williams, Caroline Francess, Lew Bear, Martin Luke Brown ... again ..., Josh Wheatley, Casino Empire, Elizabeth Cornish, The Strangler Figs, Sky Valley Mistress, Jesse Wright, Siobhan Mazzei, Georgie Rose, Tapestry, 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, 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===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'YOUR EYES ARE MADE OF GOLD' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/your-eyes-are-made-of-gold-ep/id904335049
https://play.spotify.com/user/11100320251/playlist/7CJI4WcomJKYozyujcN4hK
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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
'EASIER' OUT NOW !!!
'Easier' Official Video - https://goo.gl/ynTayr
iTunes - https://goo.gl/9r5341
Spotify - https://goo.gl/OTLXaV
GooglePlay - https://goo.gl/JVvd5r

The Place I Love ... The Cookie, Coffee Shop & Music Venue, Leicester

New blog section today ... 'The Place I Love ...' will be all about places here, there and everywhere that, well, I Love, and that mean something to me, on this journey we call life, and this road we call living. Title taken from one of my favourite songs, on one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite bands of all time, 'The Place I Love' from 'All Mod Cons' by The Jam. You Beauty !!

Anyway, first stop on this tour of people, places and faces, The Cookie, Leicester, my home from home in my current home town. Looking forward to being back there performing again, it having been a little while, this Saturday for Matt Henshaw's Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party with The Strangler Figs, Elizabeth Cornish and the DMU Gospel Choir !!



So, for the place itself, situated on High Street in Leicester City Centre, it's a prime locale for tea and coffee and fantastic grub, and some of the musical highlights in the city of Leicester in the evening. A place for all the beautiful people of Leicester to hang out, be entertained and guaranteed good times !!

Someone said to me quite recently, and I wish I could remember who it was, that The Cookie is so great because everyone knows what they're doing, from the food to the bar staff, sound engineers to the door staff, promoters and the owners. And wonderful people they all are too.

The owners know what they're doing for sure, and The Cookie will keep on getting bigger and better, before it takes of legendary status in Leicester City Centre and the midlands. When a place is ran by a lady straight out of Tallahassee and a gentleman so enthusiastic, bordering on obsessive with the independent live music and comedy scene, you know the coffee (and the tea) and the food is gonna be good, and you know the line-ups of bands, artist and comedians is gonna be second-to-none for a small city in the East Midlands of England !!

It's won a Dave's Comedy Award, hosting some bigger and bigger names, and I'm sure it will for many years to come ... board games and a pot of tea on the terrace ASAP would be my number one recommendation ...

Keep up the good work everyone involved, and hope to see loads of you beautiful people from LEicester and beyond this Saturday for my birthday party, it's gonna be one great night amongst many !!

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx



---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'YOUR EYES ARE MADE OF GOLD' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/your-eyes-are-made-of-gold-ep/id904335049
https://play.spotify.com/user/11100320251/playlist/7CJI4WcomJKYozyujcN4hK
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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 Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party !!!

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw's Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party Li...: Live @ The Cookie in Leicester ... ... Get Your Tickets NOW !!

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Casino Empire

So, I had my first night off in about three months last night, and a Saturday as well, so what did I do? Went out to see some bands of course. In Leicester city, in my favourite venue - The Cookie. And exactly 2 weeks before my own birthday shin-dig it was nice to see the place packed out, why? Because Casino Empire were playing, that's why.

A very different atmosphere to the Matt Henshaw Peace, Love & Tea sessions but as I sat at the back perched up high watching the lads do their thing and whip the crowd into frenzy it was some spectacle to behold.

Advancing at a rapid pace beyond their years from when I first saw them a few months ago, new songs, smarter shirts - enough paisley on show to make sartorial swine like myself a very happy man - and a whole package that coming together very nicely.

Front man, and past guest on Tea & Toast with Matt Henshaw & Stu Crown, Tommy Cobley follows and fits into the rock'n'roll mould that's gone before him, effortlessly too, Ian Brown, Liam Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft, Tom Meighan ... Tommy Cobley. And it's no nonsense rock'n'roll in the Noel Gallagher lexicon all the way.

The Stone Roses, Oasis and fellow homegrown boys Kasabian pervades everything these chaps do, but when it's done genuinely, convincingly and passionately, there's absolutely nothing wrong in that. 'Shine On' and 'She Loves' have the potential, and you know the next batch of songs will get more and more anthemic, more so than what Beady Eye are currently churning out.

And so, it's with their penultimate song, a sterling rendition of the Burnage boys 'Rock & Roll Star' that spells out the whole philosophy, 20 years ago this week that tune came out charting the course of the first Oasis record, and hitting number one on my 7th birthday (Sunday 10th September, 1994) and changed my life forever, and it's still doing so today, the lads on the stage, and half the crowd weren't even born !!

Now's the time for these lads to take that ethos far and wide, rock'n'roll stars in Leicester, and this kind of show travels around the world, and translates into any language as a ruddy rollicking good time !!

So, hopefully I'll see you all down the Cookie in two weeks time, I know the boys in the band will be there, enjoyed a slightly more quaint and refined evening than their barnstorming rock'n'roll show, but all the same, it's all Peace, Love & Tea and that's what matters, Spread The Love Leicester !! MHx

Elizabeth Cornish
The Strangler Figs
Sky Valley Mistress
Jesse Wright
Siobhan Mazzei
Georgie Rose
Tapestry
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 ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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

Top photo by Olly Stabler Photography

Matt Henshaw's Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party !!!

Matt Henshaw's Adventures In Wonderland: Matt Henshaw's Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party Li...: Live @ The Cookie in Leicester ... ... Get Your Tickets NOW !!

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Elizabeth Cornish

Here I go recommending again, this time a beautiful soul, one of the most heartfelt and passionate troubadours I've come across. Massively excited to say that the lovely Elizabeth Cornish will be joining me at the Cookie, Leicester for my show on Saturday 20th September, and what a talented little lady she is.

I bought her album 'Displaced' a few months ago to accompany me driving around the country this festival season, and it's been a wonderfully wistful companion soundtracking my journeys. And it's all the more pleasing when I bought the CD from her cash in hand, her adorably modest demeanour said "are you sure you want to buy one, they're quite expensive?!"

No regrets, what a purchase ! The opening 5 songs melted my heart straight away. Track one 'Tears with Tea' wins on that title alone, but when you listen through the delicate, intricate web of emotions and platitude of honest raw confessional lyrics you can only be left uplifted, heartbroken and endeared to Elizabeth's tacit charm.

The title track 'Displaced' had me itching to let of the steering wheel and learn the chords right away, and I'll be honest, 'Saint' almost had me in tears, if you've ever felt love, in love or part of an unconditional love you'll know exactly what I mean.

More people should feel the heartbeats pumped into this record, more people should hear Miss Cornish sing, and more people should know her name, you should start by coming out to see her with myself on Saturday 20th September Live @ The Cookie in Leicester along with The Strangler Figs and the De Montfort University Gospel Choir ...

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

The Strangler Figs
Sky Valley Mistress
Jesse Wright
Siobhan Mazzei
Georgie Rose
Tapestry
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 ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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 Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party Live in Leicester !!

Live @ The Cookie in Leicester ...

... Get Your Tickets NOW !!

Matt Henshaw's Peace, Love & Tea Birthday Party Live in Leicester !!

Live @ The Cookie in Leicester ...

... Get Your Tickets NOW !!

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... The Strangler Figs

Recommending again, for the third time this week, and this one is extra special. I love this band, their music, their songs, the people and the family that surrounds them. Only in their considerably infancy they have definitely carved themselves a place as a "must-see" live band on their travels. And I'm so excited to tell you that they'll be playing at my birthday party at The Cookie, Leicester on Saturday 20th September. It's going to be one hell of show.

The Strangler Figs remind me of so much, and so many things that I like, yet their tunes strike up that perfect balance of being esoteric without being too leftfield, catchy without being in any way cheesy and timeless whilst seemingly effortlessly fresh. From the opening notes, bass rumbles, organ rolls and lyrics of 'The Attack of the Strangler Figs' you'll be hooked, or moreover, caught in their grip.

To me, this band symbolises and signifies everything that is and has ever been quality about good music and good bands, seemingly they would slot into any era and movement or scene that has ever been considered cool in the annuls of rock history, so timeless is their oeuvre. From the early days of Reefer Jazz and Blues in juice bars, through the Cavern club, Warhol's Factory, the Whiskey A Go-Go, every alternative rock scene, even BritPop, and the Deltasonic boom out Liverpool that birthed The Coral in the last decade.

Every base is covered, from whizz-kid Joel Hanson on the bass and backing vocals, James on the drums, the ship's captain Joe on guitar, vocals and songwriting duties, and he's enlisted brother Freddie on the organ and girlfriend Rosie on backing vocals, subscribing to the Jarvis Cocker theory that every band is better with at least one girl in the mix, from The Velvet Underground through to The Pixies, indeed Pulp and The Zutons.

And as well as the minor driven songs, excellence of eaches playing, mesmerising lyrics and vocals delivery, the presence of an organ sound in any band, for me has always been a key ingredient, the Matt Henshaw theory runs through, Jimmy Winston, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Booker T. & The MGs, the 60s British Invasion had The Animals and the Spencer Davis Group, plus my favourite the Small Faces, who in turn influenced The Turtles and The Doors - the latter even forgoing a bass player - my first love were Deep Purple who rode on Leicester boy Jon Lord's Hammond, and even in some of Led Zeppelin's more tender and musical moments, John Paul Jones' organ is to credit, and in the 90s two of my biggest BritPop loves Kula Shaker and The Charlatans, all revolving round the Leslie speaker of a rolling hammond organ.

And most engaging to me is that Freddie Pickering is effortlessly cool, the licks are subtle and not overbearing, and even when he doesn't play in any section of the set, like all good bands, even just sitting, or standing there, in Rosie's case, and doing nothing, if removed the balance would be lost. They're great, just great, all 5 of them ! Come out and catch them live ... Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Sky Valley Mistress
Jesse Wright
Siobhan Mazzei
Georgie Rose
Tapestry
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 ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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

Thing I Like ... Leicester

First of all, straight off the bat, I'd just like to say a big "thank you" from the bottom of my heart to all the people and the city of Leicester ! I've been through Leicester a lot in my short life through work and study, and only being from Nottingham, it's just down the road, although some people in Nottingham and Derby talk about the place like it's a million miles away. It's a great city, and I've been massively humbled and overwhelmed by how warm and welcoming it has been, and how supportive certain quarters have been, over the last year, as we're coming up to just under one year since I decided to go out with my acoustic guitar and make a living making music.



So, in July of last year I had recently left my job at the University of Leicester, great place as it is feeling trapped in an office as a Computer Science Sustainability Research Assistant just didn't feel like the life for me, music had always been something in the back of my mind that I might return to, why not just go for it, still 5 years away from 30, step out into Leicester, Lesta, Les-tah, Leicestershire and embrace the music scene, or whatever scene it is that you might find out there.

I had already been in Leicester as a student, but never really ventured too much into town, staying in the student bubble out in Oadby, south of the city, or only ambling in in anonymity to get bits of fruit off the market, quiet, much quieter, and only too happy for no-one to know my name, why I was here or what on earth I was doing !



Now Leicester Market is one of my favourite places in the world, and I'll champion it until the day I die, and that's not forgetting the great little greengrocers up on Queens Road in the Clarendon Park area, and all the little independent shops in that area, and all the boutiques and great places to explore in the Lanes, Silver Arcade and St Martins Square side of town too. I love this way of life, existing and shopping(!?) so much so that I've quite vocally joined the campaign 'Tesco Queens Road Say No' to stop large supermarkets and retailers crushing the independent spirit of the city, and will quite happily sport an I heart CP badge in support of the people's charity 'Friends of Clarendon Park'.

Leicester has enabled, and even accelerated, my penchant for clean and healthy living, whilst Clarendon Park may seem the last bastion of Little Britain, the city has more diversity than you will ever willingly wish to shake a stick at ! The Caribbean, Asian, African, European and Latin flavours you encounter on a daily basis sends the positive energies and vibrations soaring, and everyone seems to be living so harmoniously. Not the only one, but a great example of metropolitan, cosmopolitan diversity, of which we should all be proud.



And on the music front, there is a lot going on, you might have to peer under a few rocks and make the right connections to find out where, but Leicester has a lot of talent on show and residing here. I won't mention any names, I think do enough to Spread The Love through my 'Matt Henshaw Recommends ...' blog, the Tea & Toast podcasts and inviting guests to play at my nights at the Cookie. And what a place full of, and run by wonderful people The Cookie is. I felt honoured and flattered that I was asked back in January that they asked me to put on a regular night there, I never intended to settle there, like Leicester itself, but I've found myself hosting some electric parties, with positive vibrations running through the whole building, from the basement to the top floor.

I'm throwing a birthday party this year, Saturday 20th September at The Cookie ! Be there, more info will follow shortly ...

Some of the other venues in Leicester I've enjoyed playing and meeting the people who run them, such great people at The Donkey and The Shed, you know why the likes of Tom and Serge of Kasabian hold a special place in their heart for these little places, and they might bring back memories of playing what are described as "toilet venues" up and down the country, but that's where the best memories are made, and they've had some great acts, and some great people through their doors. When I was last at the Donkey we ended up drinking with The Damned !! Small venues, big reputations ...



And the places I played in my first week out of the squares closet, I went down to open mic nights, I tried to do every night of the week. The first, on the Monday night, fittingly enough was the City Acoustic Club at The Musician, what fabulous people were there, and every week if it's on, the hosts, comperes, acts, atmosphere, I've met some really interesting, wonderful and talented people on these nights, and the same goes for The Soundhouse on a Tuesday night, I went there in my first week, and I've been back many times and ended up singing Kinks songs in the midnight hour.

I also ended up playing at The Marquis Wellington, The Exchange and The Barley Mow for a Wildfire Session. Then moved onto the Cradock, and my had I met some fantastic, fabulous and fantabulous people, all within the space of a couple of weeks or so, people I've worked with, done shows with, sang with, written songs with and recorded with, and greatest of all, to me, I've met a selection of families, whole families that feel now like part of my own, truly some of the best people, the kind of people that you only need think of and it brightens your day.

It's been a long old slog getting myself to when I want to be, in terms of being a professional, living, working, breathing musician and singer/songwriter, but we're getting there, even though there's a long way left to go, I'm so pleased considering that at Christmas I only had one show booked for the new year, and was anticipating a small article in a local magazine, by the end of January, following the OBSunplugged nights, which are a great showcase for new and up and coming acoustic acts in the city, and what turned out to be a double page spread with some excellent photographs in one of the most widely distributed editions of The Monograph magazine, gave me a great, great platform to go forth and spread the good gospel of Peace, Love & Tea through the rest of the year !



It would be a crime not to touch on some of the other massive things happening in the city right now, the City of Champions indeed ! I take full vicariously responsibility for Leicester City winning the Championship by the way, since my arrival, my blue and white scarf and love of big Nigel Pearson at the helm has been enough to spur them on to be crowned champions.

And then there's the snooker, basketball, TV talent shows and bloomin' King Dick III knocking about in a car park, fancy old King Richard, the King of York, buried under Greyfriars for hundreds of years. It pains me to say that, with my personal love of cricket, Leicester CCC are what can only be described as languishing in all competitions this season ... I'm still waiting for the phone call to get down there and give them a team talk !

Anyway, that's probably enough rambling from me, and what probably seems to read like "An Open Love Letter to a City", but it's all true and from the bottom of my heart, I love Leicester, the city and the people, and I'm happy to call it my home now, and for some time, in the hope it continues to be good to me and good for me.

The plan was, if there ever was one, to make myself self-sufficient in year, and get on at all the great little festivals in an round the city the following summer, and here we are, one year on, I'm playing at loads of great festivals including Strawberry Fields on the Friday and Simon Says in the great De Montfort Hall on the Sunday, so, if you've got tickets see you there, and you never know, I might pop up at some of the great open mic nights I went to last summer and have already mentioned, but I hope I'll see all of you at The Cookie for my birthday party on Saturday 20th September, it's gonna be great !!

And you might have seen some of the pictures in this blog from my travels around Leicester city with top cameraman, the Digital Mechanic, definitely hairier than a couple of the other lovely chaps I see around at a lot of gigs, amazing photographers in this city too, and all so wonderful and approachable. The venues give the artists somewhere to perform, the photographers give them an image and the memories, promoters work hard at spreading the word and the people, well, the people are just beautiful.


Goodnight Leicester, Peace, Love & Tea, MHx


PS. You may have noticed I haven't mentioned any names in this blog, but if you know who you are then you know who you are, you're great and I hope you stay that way !!



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

---===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 ... Siobhan Mazzei

Ever-present in Leicester City, Siobhan Mazzei - pronounced "Matt Say" as "Matt says she's pretty good" - has garnered a reputation as one of the very best. The first guest we invited on to Tea and Toast with Matt Henshaw & Stu Crown, she was described by our third guest, photographer Rob Gurney, as "spell-binding", and he isn't far wrong, you'll be drawn in, be mellowed out and have your melon twisted all at once.

I find it most important when recommending other artists you should go out and listen to, that they should care about what they do. And if you're lucky enough to meet Siobhan, or affectionately "Shed" to her friends, you'll find this instantly, she's a passionate, talented and wonderful young lady. And if you hold her debut album 'Waiting Awake' in your hand you can feel the bundles and bags of effort that has gone into every aspect of it's production.

And luckily Miss. Siobhan Mazzei will be performing with me on Friday night, opening up my Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade at The Cookie, as we launch and toast the 'Always in the Way' EP into the world. It's gonna be one cracking little night. Myself, Siobhan, Abandon Her, Georgie Rose, and special guest doing a bit of compering and what he does, Mr Motormouf too !

Get yourself down !! Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Georgie Rose
Tapestry
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 ...

---===DOWNLOAD LINKS===---
DOWNLOAD & STREAM 'ALWAYS IN THE WAY' NOW !!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/always-in-the-way-ep/id875188981
http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/always-in-the-way-ep
https://play.spotify.com/user/ilsonowl/playlist/2tHGjyz7EpEZpvgc8HpuRm
DEBUT 'IT AIN'T EASY/MY LIFE - EP' !!!
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 ...

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

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

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Samuel Idwal

Ladies, gents and everyone else surfing the cyberweb. Here's Samuel Idwal. Playing here at Charlotte Carpenter's Tea Party and in a photograph taken by one of Leicestershire finest, Mr. Philip J Vernon. This was when I first saw Sam playing down at the Cookie, and what a mesmerising set of melodies he provided too !

A fabulous talent and great supporter of East Midlands Music, Leicester will be sad to see him leave at the end of next month, but his mark and impression will be left, on me at the very least, but I'm sure I'm not in a minority.

Delicately finger picking and caressing his way through a folk ballad or strumming up a storm in a quasi-sea shanty, Sam Jones takes his stage name Samuel Idwal from his grandad, and his music has a quaint English quality that, while far from making it au fait, sounds fresh engaging and endearing.

Having released two EPs and heading down to London very soon, for business, and pleasure I'm sure. I'm glad to be having him play one of his final shows in the city of Leicester, if not his final one, you'd have to ask him. Friday 16th May he'll be joining me at The Cookie for the third instalment of Matt Henshaw's Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade. I'm looking forward to it, and I hope some of you are too, and if you're on the other side of the world, channel some positive vibrations over, we'll be sure to feel them !

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

PS. If you enjoyed this recommendation be sure to try some more ...
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's Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade Tonight in Leicester !!

SEE YOU ALL THERE !!!

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Matt Henshaw Recommends ... Stef Baker

Head down to the Soundhouse to see Grace & The Magic Roots and catch up with the great Rhett Barrow on a quiet Tuesday night and you just might happen to see someone who stops you in your tracks and blows you away. That's exactly what happened last night with the wonderful, glorious and extremely talented Stef Baker ... I enjoyed her short set so much that I've added her to my show at The Cookie on Friday night.

Just four songs was all it took, and to be fair she had me hooked after two original gems, and then produced a superbly haunting cover of Wonderwall that reminded you that, even though you've heard it a million time ad infinitum, and it may have driven you up the wall at varying points in your life, it is a great, great song. Kind of like when Ryan Adams slowed it down and Noel Gallagher said that's how he always intended it to be. Although The Chemical Brothers claim he took it to them before they recorded Setting Sun and N. Gallagher wanted to make a Balearic dance tune with it !

So, yeah, Stef Baker will be joining myself, Becky Edwards, Kate Rendell and Emily Carr at The Cookie in Leicester on Friday night, and there's a few other surprise guests planned too, and with Charlotte Carpenter hosting her Tea Party downstairs we're sure to have a whole building full of Love !

Other reasons to Love Stef ... even though you'll have hundreds after Friday night ... she obviously quite likes LEGO almost as much as I do as well !!

Matt Henshaw's Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade Poster !!!

SEE YOU ALL THERE !!!

Peace, Love & Tea, MHx

Matt Henshaw's Acoustic Rhythm & Gospel Cavalcade Part II @ The Cookie, Leicester

One week away and I'm hosting my second night at The Cookie Jar in Leicester, very excited I am too, we're going for it on the third Friday of the month, every month, until Christmas, and maybe beyond !

This month I'm hosting a bevvy of beautiful ladies, a harem as such, but this is more by accident than design, but what a happy accident ! So for your pleasure, and mine as well, we have ...

Kate Rendell

Becky Edwards

Emily Carr

... and myself of course, trying really hard to follow my very own Supremes ! I need to really up my Marvin Gaye A-Game !! See you then Leicester folk !!



Here's me and James Byron sharing some love last time around ... this picture pretty much sums up the good feeling in the air for a solid 5 hours of great music and positives vibrations !!

Spread The Love ! MHx