ChickenboneJohn's Page

After my mammoth posting last time, I thought I'd keep this post a little shorter. Our next destination was Asten, in Noord Brabant, Netherlands...to stay with with Ozzy Van Der Loo. We'd never met, but he'd done all the arranging of our gigs and the workshop in Belgium and Southern Holland, so we reckoned he was an on-the-ball sort of guy. We were warmly received by his partner Jolanda, and very shortly afterward Ozzy turned up, and we were introduced to Thomas, their 8 year old son, who…

Well...as the words to a Hollowbelly song go, we knew it would be a "Long Long Road". It was all planned out in a very short time, so our itinerary was a bit random, but we were up for it. A couple of days before the off, my car had to go to the garage to be repaired as the ignition lock barrel had broken...so I had to nervously wait for the "dealer only" parts to arrive, and I got it back in the nick of time on Wednesday night, ready for an early start on Thursday.



A steady drive…

Friday 7^th September dawns, and I’m busy packing gear into my car…all my amps and guitars for the open mic. and Saturdays gigs, Mike’s guitars, my stands and merchandising for Leeds guitar show, a load of parts for guitar making kits, plus tools and workmate benches, drums…and a load of cahon making kits…the top box is packed full...and the gear in the back of my little Meriva is packed tight to the roof.

We dial the now-familiar route to Manchester into the…

So, Saturday…time for a little relaxation, and Mike, Jane and myself head off into Birmingham. After taking in the canals around Gas Street and Symphony Hall, we were walking along into town and I get a phone call...I’ve left a mic, stand and cables in the back of my car at home. My bass player needs them…and my kids cant find the spare car keys..so muttering “No rest for the wicked”, I run off, drive home in Jane’s car, sort the gear, back into town…and catch up with Mike and Jane in The…