I’ve had Jimmy Reed on repeat these last few months. I love his lazy yet insistent guitar rhythms. His laid-back harp and vocals are so cool.

Maybe you already know Jimmy Reed, but if you don’t, you’ll know some of his songs for sure. 

‘Baby What You Want Me To Do’, ’Shame, Shame, Shame’ and ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ are just some of his wildly popular classics, which is why you’ll hear them at blues socials and in blues bars all over. He was a huge influence on The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and even Elvis who all covered him.

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Stitching Stars

Have you ever discovered an unexpected connection between two completely different things you love?

That happened to me recently when I learned there were links between early blues music and quilt-making (which is another hobby of mine). When I realised it actually sent shivers down my spine.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by patchwork quilts. I love the history and stories they tell. The rich fabric of social history is there for us in many traditions. These include sewing, music and dance.

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