23 July 2008

But, in the meantime, where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday that our good friends Steve and Kristi Nebel were over here from the states, but that was May!

In the past few weeks we:

• Played our first spot at TOMC (Teesside Open Mic Club) in Eaglescliffe... we're back there at the end of July.
   
• Topped the bill at Netherton Folk Club - another opportunity to use our wonderful Bose system.
   
• Played at Oswaldtwistle Mills in Lancashire... we're back there twice over the August Bank Holiday week-end.
   
• Recorded a podcast with David Eagle of the Young Uns - Jimmy is now the Young Uns Podcast Bop-It Champion! There are now 100 podcasts available - all recorded by the inimitable and irrepressible David Eagle of the Young Uns. Podcast XCVIII (ie 98) features an interview with jiva, three jiva songs, the Bop-It challenge and loads more wacky fun.
   
• Took part in the Durham Traditional Music Festival (hiring fair).
   
• Played in Borders Bookstore in Teesside Retail Park - special thanks to Angie and North East Live.
   
• Played at Nature's World Festival, Middlesbrough, over two days (Saturday all-day singaround, Sunday on-stage as part of the concert)

In addition we've been out and about doing floor spots around the region and catching up with Allan Taylor at the Studio in Hartlepool.

Breaking News

Busking Cancer

We've signed up to take part in national Busking Cancer fundraising in September. We plan to contact some of the venues we frequent and ask them if we can come along and sing a few songs, bringing our collecting tin with us - we'll be easy to spot... wearing the red Busking Cancer tops rather than the usual jiva colours. So far we've had 100% success rate in our requests... Keith Taylor from Cramlington Folk Club has very generously pledged the door takings for a nominated night to the cause.

We're doing this to raise funds for Cancer Research and would be thrilled if you could help us. You'll be able to follow our progress, and even donate on-line if you wish, on our Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/jiva - we'll also be publicising this to our MySpace friends and have set up a Busking Cancer 2008 page here on our own website to keep you in touch with goings on.

jiva CD

We're pleased to announce that things are at last moving ahead on this front. Sincere thanks to all that have asked at performances "Can we buy your CD?" or "When will it be available?" - you'll be pleased to know that we're making progress.

We have a working title, have provisionally chosen the tracks (self-penned apart from two), and are finalising arrangements to spend the last week of August recording at Brian Bedford's studio.

Exciting and busy times indeed...

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