Dancing the Scottish July

The year is running, I am trying to keep pace.

It took months to adjust after my return from India - longer than i was away, which always seems to be the case when i travel. I guess any exposure to realising there are other ways to live life makes it harder to cram yourself back into the space you left, especially when other things start growing inside it. Life goes on when you are not around it. Like goes on when you're not around the internet.

I've been blessed with some amazing shows lately, both in attendance and as a performer. It's been a solid summer for filling the pot, as well as running ourselves dry as we mitigate life while trying to make the most of it. Hozier and stumbling on a trad session in an Edinburgh pub kindled a love of live music that I've been telling myself is forgotten. I must remember to renew it as often as a Netflix subscription.

In the interim of waiting to start new work, I've got to do some of my favourite shows to date. The Loud Poets Showcase in May was a delight, Poetry Jukebox should be a regular at nights. It was amazing to perform one twenty minute poem with improvised music by the incredible Jack Hinks (https://linktr.ee/jackhinksmusic ). You can find that here, if you like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_QNL8hZBeA&t=911s

This weekend I played a lovely Sofar Sounds show in the Leith Arches. Sofar nights are always an absolute joy to play, it's so easy to be intimate in attentive, willing rooms. Thank to the audience for being receptive and catching in your role. It was fun playing new pieces that are entities in themselves - full, individual songs, and not using the endurance that the album required. It's been nice writing one-off worlds. Same with poems.

I got to play alongside Emma Miller and Elliot Armenn. Both sets held my breath like nothing. I am always amazed by how effortless, seamless some musicians make it look. Elliot (https://linktr.ee/elliottarmen) and I chatted the Isle of Lewis, shared folk recommendations, lamented Scott Hutchison. Emma (https://emmamiller.xyz) spoke about nurturing a connected audience in an age of demographics and content. It's always good for the stomach when you get to connect with other artists around the show - usually I am too shy and caught in my nerves to appreciate these opportunities for friendships. However fleeting, again, they fill the pot.

I've been trying to swim as much as possible. I've been trying to make the effort since standing next to some of my best friends at their wedding. On Saturday, we plodded off the Ayrshire coast. My partner was braver than I. I love to shiver when it's like that. The weather was dreich, the rain colder than the water at our waists, the wind grinning a full mouth of teeth. Last week, I collected stock from work in the van. On the way back, instead of a lunch break, I swam in a loch for 10 minutes. I didn't have a towel. I stupidly went in straight in my shorts and shoes. It was brilliant.

Sunday was the Hip-Hop BBQ by SchemeHing on Glasgow Green. Lovely energy to spend a hangover. Angie Strachan smashed it. It's nice to have a gaggle of poets at events. I did a couple of poems (Hello Radio Asylum, Oracle Vernacular) and a track, In Need of a Gorgon. I really enjoy performing it since testing it on last year's Spit it Out Festival. Annoyingly, i deleted a load of music projects. I wasn't paying attention, so the stems are gone. I still have a demo and a live version, though the mixes aren't great. It's not my strong suit. Maybe I'll remake it. I'm considering a patreon or something. Making decisions seems to be becoming a more and more prominent part of life.

We're off to London tomorrow. I've never been to Wembley before. I'm glad it's for The Boss. I reckon he'll pull off that calibre. Nice to be going down and not do any gigs, just skulk around a bit. There's some paintings to be seen.

I haven't written about the chapbook at all. I'll do that another time. For now though, some of the poems from the Loud set are in it and it's available here: https://www.spencermason.co.uk/product-page/times-i-thought-silence-could-save-me-chapbook

Here's one with George.

of love

Spencer x