sted to the new order of importance in the Wakeman household (everyone's above me basically, even the spider in the downstairs bathroom...). So in between the above I have been preparing for the tour with Gordon Giltrap which starts later this month, the 22nd September at Huntingdon Hall in Worcester to be exact.

We decided to each prepare a list of pieces from our own histories which we felt would translate well to an acoustic duo format. We then listened to each others selections and then had the difficult job of slimming the set down because more often than not we would say "but we must do that one!".

Finally we had put together a rough set of songs of which to practice. A few weeks later in mid-August, Gordon and I met up at a lovely church mid-distance between our two homes to begin rehearsals. We have now had quite a few rehearsal sessions and still have a few more left before we perform at the first show.

Even though everything isn't totally performance ready yet, we definitely feel that it is all starting to sound really nice and I think people will be quite surprised by some of the songs in the list. I really think it will be an enjoyable concert for people to watch, so we look forward to seeing you!

One thing did occur to me throughout rehearsals and that was that it's difficult to work out whether it's easier to rehearse for a show just involving 2 people or when it involves a full band.

With a full band you have the advantage that at certain sections you get a bit of a breather with parts that are less complicated but you are having to listen and interact with more musicians whereas with a duo there is only one person to interact with but you are much more exposed as a musician which brings its own pressures. I think we'll call it a draw...

Either way, it's live performing which I love doing and I am really looking forward to the tour. It's been a while since I was last out on the road, only a couple of private shows and the one performance with Dad to my name since I stopped performing with YES last year (although I have spent many happy hours in the studio which I wasn't able to do whilst touring).

The dates for the tour are as follows, please note that 3 extra dates have been added and the tour now finishes on the 28th October in Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire.

22nd Sept
Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worcesterlive.co.uk&h=eAQG4bMMd&s=1" rel="nofollow - www.worcesterlive.co.uk  - 01905 611 427

27th Sept
The Playhouse, Western Super Mare
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theplayhouse.co.uk&h=qAQGnAtR6&s=1" rel="nofollow - www.theplayhouse.co.uk  - 01934 645544

29th Sept
Trowbridge Arts Festival
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trowbridgeartsfestival.co.uk&h=WAQHjNUz0&s=1" rel="nofollow - www.trowbridgeartsfestival.co.
With all this work on the album with Gordon, the tour and my new daughter, unfortunately it means that the Cultural Vandals album has taken a back seat again but I am sure I will get round to finishing it soon, I just don't want to put out two albums at the same time and I always like to make sure that each project gets the attention it deserves.

Anyway, as the 1st show is closing up I'd better carry on rehearsing.

If you are coming to any of the shows and would like to help promote it, there is a new section on the website ( http://www.oliverwakeman.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - www.oliverwakeman.co.uk ) with media information which includes an A4 poster, an A5 flyer along with a press photo and the tour press release. If you want to download it and print it to help advertise the shows please feel free as the more people we can make aware of the shows the better. It can be found under the Information tab and on a new section called 'Press Media'.

I look forward to catching up with some familiar faces at the shows and also seeing some new ones.

All the best.

Oliver
September 2012