Without too much of a do, with oddly little rehearsal, we fled off to our first festival of the season. The band in fine form as ever, close but no cigars. A warm up show in Navan, next door to Strypes world Cavan, and a late night in a tent outside Dunnes stores. It seemed to go pretty well, but mainly the hits. Westport is a wonderful festival on the west coast of Ireland, people in scarfs and coats stood in the cold as we raised our game on the big stage, supporting Elvis Costello, who it was so nice to see. Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas shared a few smiles back stage and I could see them both laughing as we ploughed through the set. I drove overnight to the ferry in Dublin and then home, a long old day but managed a midnight car wash along the way. I love the ferry and slept like a goat.

Headlining Cornbury is an honour its such a great festival, and we managed to perform a concert set to a festival crowd and go down a storm, so feelings were high back stage in the darkness of the campsite. Lou and kids came to join me, it was a long day for them trailing behind me in the heat. The next day I was laid low with a very bad tummy, not sure what it was but I was old man in bed being ill while Lou played nurse Fielder which I loved. It was an enjoyable day and to our credit I think we were all grown up.

Guildford has a new festival it’s the same as the old one in the same place but called something different. Bryan Adams headlined the main stage which we were on. It was hot as chips, we span through the set like we were serving food in McDonnalds. Tiredness craved the hearts and minds of the band and before we hit the first chord the last one ran out. Glenn has been working on his solo album and is up against it time wise, I felt sorry for him as he seemed completely side tracked. Matt Thomas who looks after me in Squeeze shuffled around making everything great, it was good to see him, I don’t seem to see him enough, but then we are not doing very much this year. Done and dusted but no car wash. And then the final one of the season, Nottingham, where we supported the young one Jake Bugg. Our audience were manly his fans, 15 year old girls and boys, and at the back, our fans, their parents. We went down a storm, the mosh pit was full and the kids were all over themselves, caring not what we played or who we were. Parents at the back shined and gave us all we needed. As the show ended I looked around and the band had gone, off to another festival where Fluffers were on show. I drove home down the M1 and that was that another festival outing for the old boys. What happens next is I don’t hear from any of the band until either one of us gets married or another tour comes into play. Its like that and so it is. We are not exactly close it could be said, but love each other from different sides of an ever changing dressing room. Glenn is off on a masiff tour for a few months, and I admire his loving of all things on the road, it suits him and he is master of his trade. Go see the show, buy the album and love the Tilbrook.