(Playing ‘Hey, George Osborne!’ at the Cuts Cafe in October 2012)
Who am I? Well, it’s only something of a saga…
‘…found in fields and waste places all over North America; except the extreme north. Also found in Europe.’
I used to be something called The Carbon Town Cryer, popping up at Climate Camps, actions, benefit gigs and the occasional buskable streetcorner. I put out a CD called ‘Tidal Suite’ in 2010, which has since become – shall we say? – deeply collectable.
The tea is popularly used in Europe for colds, coughs, hoarseness, chest congestion, laryngitis, bronchial catarrh.
Since the Carboot TC passed on, there has been a blizzard of pseudonyms, landing – at least for now – on Hedgemustard in 2013.
Infusion: steep 1 tsp. of the plant in 1/2 cup water for 4-5 minutes. Take 1 1/2 to 2 cups per day, a mouthful at a time. For catarrhal problems, sweeten with honey if desired.
I’m ‘committed to using music, rhythm and poetry to make resistance to capitalism nigh-on irresistible’, as an old blurb once declared. I’m also passionate about the way we can use music to create greater opportunities for self-expression, and, more widely, to deepen community resilience as we head into a future that’s sure to throw up massive ecological and social challenges.
Common name: English watercress
I’m also an enthusiastic and adaptable creator of soundtracks and instrumental pieces, for negotiable rates (depending on the nature – and budget – of the project). Here’s one example: https://vimeo.com/19659050
More will appear gradually here as I get to grips with the arcane delights of web wizardry.
Sometimes I play alone, with a madcap array of pedals and tambourines underfoot, guitar in hand and harmonica in gob. But I also dream of being a member of an extraordinary band of inspired people who swap instruments and stories, who all write songs and tunes, and who get to travel these islands (and beyond, footprint permitting) having the most incredible musical adventures, in the wild hope that their outpourings might increase the sum-total of happiness, kindness, ecological sanity and good old disobedience to the existing order.
Let me know of any of that caught your eye or ear.
Herbal quotes taken from http://www.emedicinal.com/herbs/hedgmustard.php#.Ua4_GJXXHww
PS. Other pseudonymic possibilities have included:
The Clouded Silver
Mirrorball Bob
Streetlighting Man
ark-b
would-be hedge priest
my disco alter ego
(will this foolery never end?)