Good news. Cherry Ghost aka Simon Aldred is coming back to Manchester Academy on May 1 riding the successful wave of his popular debut single Mathematics.
Now signed to to Heavenly Recordings Bolton born Simon has already performed on Later with Jools Holland, playing the epic ‘People Help The People’.
Tickets are £ 7.00. Call 0161 832 1111 or buy online www.gigsandtours.com
Chicago folk and funk legend Terry Callier plays at The Mint Lounge (Tuesday, April 3). It’s a gig every music lover will want to savour.
“Is he really playing!” I heard myself scream down the phone as I discovered songwriting genius Terry was playing in Manchester.
This really is exciting news, because Terry – a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield – is a rather special musician. He has a long career that goes back to a debut album in 1968.
It is for recent collaborations and releases, however, that many will be familiar with him: Beth Orton, Massive Attack and Incognito to name a few.
His silky golden voice became synonymous with the 90s Acid Jazz scene after DJs Gilles Peterson and Russ Dewbury revived his sound on the dance floor.
It led to Terry’s first album in more than 20 years for the London based Talkin’ Loud label.
Time piece is a fine example of tasteful folky, jazzy and soul-influenced style, an often atmospheric sound and Callier’s outstanding vocals. Lyrically, it is about peace, love and overcoming adversity of any kind: a sentiment that heavily influenced the like of Gil Scott-Heron and Beth ORton.
The album is a rich collection of soul and voice: one to soothe the mind, body and soul and it’s humanitarian sentiment won him the United Nations’ Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace.
From his first single, Look At Me Now, on Chess Records in 1963 to 1999’s Lifeline, his lyrics and vocals ooze feeling. There’s nothing not to like. 
An 2002, Terry’s vocals joined Swedish group Koop on the track In A Heartbeat and an album followed the same year entitled Speak Your Peace on Mr Bongo Records.
If you are looking for some of his better albums go straight to 1978 album Fire On Ice with the masterful soulful African Violet.
Then there is Turn You To Love, which has a re-working of Ordinary Joe, Sign Of The Times and the tremendous Pyramids Of Love.
He plays The Mint Lounge on Tuesday April 3 as one of only four UK dates. And I can’t wait!
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