Dear Pals,

Some big news! I am moving to Newcastle, NSW in Australia with my young family at the end of the year. It’s a decision we’ve been considering for a while, and now feels like the right time for an adventure.

I moved to the UK when I was 12 and since starting to write songs, first at University in Bristol and then in London for the past 20 years, I have been living and making music here. The man and the musician I have become is so much the result of the rich communities of which I’ve been a part over this time. I feel lucky for all of it.

Among all the excitement of new beginnings has been some unexpectedly sharp grief. Grief at what it feels we’re leaving behind – family, friends, career things and of course my UK fans who have nourished and supported me for all these years.

Change is hard but change is happening. Regret’s a powerful drug and this feels like a moment to take a risk. If not now, when? What I hold onto is that in truth, what really matters will remain. The rest is growth. So here we are. I will be coming back when I can and through the admittedly complicated digital ecosystem, I will still, I hope, be able to share whatever music comes next with you.

I will be playing four UK shows before I leave, check them out below. I am especially excited about the two ‘Festival of Feeling’ shows in Edinburgh and London.  These will be the last shows in the UK for some time so please come down and say bye for now.

20 Sep – Thornton Hough Village Club

02 Oct – London – The Harrison (Opening for Tom Wilson)

26 Nov – Edinburgh, Pianodrome – ‘Festival of Feeling’   

29 Nov – London, Chats Palace –   ‘Festival of Feeling’            

Love is everything

J x