PENNY BROADHURST

February has been a frantic month. Between musical and personal activity, I haven't had much time to think. I did get a new haircut, though. I'm still growing said hair.

The first gig of the month was a very short set at Bar Risa in Leeds. It was a benefit to raise money to subsidise a coach, to take women down to London to march for A Million Women Rise. It was an odd sort of environment in which to play, but strangely fun.

Later that week, Emil and I sat in traffic for three hours to get to Liverpool Korova for Liverpool Calling, the clubnight run by Ivan and Lula of Dirtblonde. I hadn't been to Liverpool in over ten years. In fact, I'd only been once before, with my mother and sister. We'd had to make the long drive the day before going on holiday as our child passports had run out after five years rather than the usual ten and Mum had only just twigged... Liverpool Passport Office is a far from inspiring place and we didn't get to see much of the city before returning to collect our new documents. I can't say we saw much more this time, but even so was amazed by the way plate glass, chrome and attractive lighting of new bars and venues clash right next to scuzzy holes, scary pubs and debris. It was the same with the people...it was a fun gig to play, with great sound, and most folk were very friendly, but one of the bands didn't even get into the venue due to a bouncer with a long memory on a ridiculous power trip.

The venue before doors opened:

Me backstage:

Next gig was the freezing cold Lounge Bar for Philophobia Music in Wakefield. They've had problems with the venue and are moving soon and I can see why... It was cold, the staff were...odd and it was quite a strange space. The Philophobia folk were wonderful, though, and it was a good night with a decent PA and a real sense of camaraderie. Benno from The Rhubarb Bomb even played an array of plastic buckets for one of the acts.

During the week that followed, I started putting my free mini zine, Mini Classic, into venues and so on. I also worked on one of my new merch ideas - you can now buy hand-drawn and unique (each design is different) unbleached calico tote bags from me at gigs - soon to be online too when I re-do the shop. You can carry books and records in them, or anything really. Ace.

My new jewellery range and badges are also ready, so expect to see them on here and at gigs soon.

Finally, the weekend involved a long trip in the car up to Glasgow, for a gig at Oran Mor. The dreaded Glasgow flu depleted the audience and was clearly in effect for many of those who did make it, but it was no less a great gig for the small crowd. The sound, lights and smoke machine were amazing and we really enjoyed playing once more in Scotland. Hopefully we'll be back in the city later in 2008.

Oran Mor photos by Lisa-Marie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lastyearsgirl_):

Yesterday, I was back in the studio to work on the album, which will take up much of March. Changing things about the already recorded tracks, recording and re-recording vocals, remixing...