The Copenhagen Songwriters Adventure

So a few months ago I was asked to perform at the Copenhagen Songwriters festival, a great privilege and one of these things that filled me with a certain amount of dread. I did the usual thing, looked through the guys playing, the artists etc and quickly realised I was playing with the big boys now.

Anyway I travelled down to Dublin to fly out the day before the gig, and meet my host for the 2 nights I was staying, Jon. What a lovely guy, a greenpeace activist and we really hit it off. Had a few of the local delicacies (beers) and a meal before calling it an early night. During the day of the festival my strong wanderlust kicked in as I adventured, map free, around Copenhagen for 4-5 hours to clear my head. Firstly what a beautiful city, too many places could have stolen my attention for hours but as I walked around, taking in the sights of the city, it was something else that came over me.

That thing was a massive wave of gratitude and happiness at the world. I have not had the easiest couple of years, months, or even weeks leading up to the festival, with a lot of personal things in absolute turmoil, the failing of a relationship, arguments with friends, long hours and late nights, I travelled in one of the worst moods and places emotionally I had been in a long time. But looking around I realised just how blessed I truly was. I write songs, plain and simple, and I LOVE doing that.... and in doing that, I get to see new parts of the world and do my thing, Chase the River is that thing and it humbles me the experiences my life has had through that, and the experiences I have gotten to share with people on my travels.

Anyway, lost in the Botanical gardens I finally make my way back to the festival, ready to setup and perform. Before the show I get a beer and sit down and am instantly approached by the Norwegian band Myrull, and what an absolutely class bunch of people they were, so open, warm and friendly. We were joined by Elona Planmann who was playing after me on the same stage. Elona has been on tour for 3 years and the stories and general laughter we had was just really uplifting.

As I went onto the stage I have this mental idea to change the whole set list, to really throw some of the newer tunes in here and there, no risk, no reward right? The crowd were awesome, so appreciative of the music I was playing and I had an absolute blast. Afterwards I got speaking to loads of people who really were so kind and generous with their comments.

Afterwards, Myrull, Jon, Elona and I sat and had a few beers, listened to LOADS of class sets before calling it a night.

The next morning I travelled back to Dublin, whilst agreeing to take a gig that night whilst in Copenhagen Airport, made it with 10 minutes to spare, hungover, tired, but ready to have a blast.

The whole trip was really such a blessing. I have made new friends and will see them again as I really have the hunger now to go out and get more of the world seen on the back of playing a guitar and singing. Now we are back in the 'real' world there are loads of exciting projects about to kick off and the gigs are coming in thick and fast, gonna be a class 2016, gonna make sure of it.

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