SUP?

Right where we at?.... 
As explained in the previous post Pickles Northern Adventure didn't happen, and yes the old slag is still having her gears tickled three and a half months later.
Never the less I did make a micro tour up north at the beginning of the month starting in Sunderland with an interview and a few tunes with the dudes from Spark FM.

Then heading to do a show at Ye Old Yard Tapas Bar in Darlington http://www.tapasbar.co.uk This is a great little place, quality food and drink, friendly staff and just a nice crowd passing through. Pete the Owner is a diamond bloke with a love for music so if your ever in town pop your head in for a bit and say hi.
Tying in with the show was the presentation of the new Tom Dibb Custom Cajon from my good friend Spence, director of SGPercussion, who kindly accompanied me for a load of the set as Sass (josh) was fannying about in New York.

Bang tidy bit of kit! Mums, Dads, and lovers get your Christmas presents here http://www.sgpercussion.co.uk/

I then rounded up with a show at a joint called The Royal Standard. A music pub in Sheffield run by an awesome bunch of guys also known as The Velcro Teddy Bears, an acoustic Rock and Roll band well worth a look up at https://www.facebook.com/velcroteddybears they also do a bloody good pizza at their place for a most affordable price.
Look forward to hopefully catching up with them again in the festival season.

That was about it, like I said pretty micro but met some cool people with some ideas on other venues to tap up, so next year (Pickle providing) we'll give it another shot.

In the last couple of weeks I made a visit to Tropical FM in Luton for a bit of a play and a chinwag about the VW festival Tour in the summer past and the Lost EP which I believe should be available for viewing at some point soon from http://www.tropicalfm.co.uk/pastshows

Went to do a Balcony TV sesh with Janet Devlin, Whose single "Wonderful" is out today so go score your copy at  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wonderful-single/id734421995 Now!
But yea cool session that'll be available to see soon, so watch this space, and got to watch Turin Brakes perform their new single "We Were Here"

Then go watch them at Shepherds Bush a few days later. Sick!

And thats whats gone down really.

Currently finishing up a recording of a cover that I'm gonna be putting out as a free download very soon and I know its been bloody ages again but the "My Inspiration" video is done and ready to go out its just we gotta wait a little longer before release as there are a few other forces potentially intertwining with the whole thing.

I'm planning a cafe nero cristmas tour from London BBC studios through to and around wales the week before christmas so if there is any where in particular you would like me to call through then please give me a holler via the website, facebook, or twitter and I would love to come see you.The dates will be confirmed by the end of next week.

Finally If any ones in the Hertfordshire area this weekend I will be playing at The Steamer in Old Welwyn on Saturday the 30th so come get involved https://www.facebook.com/events/753609751319437/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1

Peace x

Where we at?

Yo!
That's it, days are shortening, degrees and leaves are dropping, winter is setting in and I'm feeling it. Happens every year and I dont know why I'm surprised when it does, I've written songs about it, poems about it, and moaned about it for many a cycle.
Bring on the Winter blues!
Had to take my self for a stroll last night to reflect on the past season and pull out the good bits and turns out there's very little negative to filter out, a bit of rough but generally been a sick summer.
Loads of vw shows and music festivals, video release, EP launch,  bang tidy weather leading to some great days playing to the streets and meeting folks up and down the country.
I cant complain.

Since the last post I rocked up and played my last vw show of the year at Grillnchill and have to say definitely one of my favourites. Hosted by the PaintScrapers vw club and located at Hop Farm, an awesome vibe created by a really cool bunch of people.
Already booked in for next year so get involved.
Shortly after Josh (Sass) and I supported Janet Devlin at Camdens Jazz Cafe, A real honour and a giggle.
Probably the nicest sound guy I've ever come across and a great crowd.

                                                                The Paint Scrapers

                                                             
                                                       Me and The Sass at The Jazz Cafe

Pickle is still having transmission issues which is really getting on my tits now as I've been attempting to rectify this issue since the beginning of august.
If any one wants to help or can recommend some vw t25 genius then give me a holler.

So what's coming up?
Got another video due for release at the end of this week with a little luck.
It' for a track called "My Inspiration" from the "Repeat What I See" EP, A kind of fight club meets raging bull style video that I'm really stoked for and hope you guys will be too. Head to https://www.facebook.com/TomDibbMusic for a look at some still shots to get the vibe and there is a free download of the track available from www.tomdibb.com

                                                                My Inspiration shot

Pickles Northern adventure tour has gone down the crapper a bit I'm afraid as there was a bit of a change in management and with the state of the van I'm not sure she'd make the 5000 mile round trip we were originally intending. How ever the dates booked are still going ahead and are listed on the website so fear not.

Here's a little something the Sass and I threw together for ya the other day, enjoy!

Peace xx

Whats going down!

Yo Dudes!
Apologies for being off the radar a bit the last month but its been a whole load of crazy jazz all at once and I've just been trying to sort each bit as it came.
There's been weddings galore, a whole season of loving going on. attended some as guest, some to play, and one as best man, Yea sorry ladies the Sass has been snatched.

On top of the hitching there's been birthdays, gigs, festivals, guitar shows, moving out of flats I've not even lived in for 6 months and all whilst the vans been out of action, pretty much since white noise festival. So massive thank you to all the people, new and old friends that have put me up over the last few weeks, I am for ever grateful.
So Pickle is currently up on the ramps again with no gearbox in and her engine being held in by a claw jack.

The plan is now to forge some kind of hybrid gear box from the old one and this other piece of crap we found.

I'll let you know how it goes, I really want my home back now.
After all the craziness I'm seeing a light again, starting to focus a little better again and as soon as the vans alive I'm gonna have some more campervan sessions coming and recipes.
Still sorting dates for the proposed "pickles northern adventure" tour. If there is any where you would like me to hit or if you'd like to have a bit of a jaunt at your place and you'd like me to come play some tune I'd be stoked. Just get in touch through twitter or face book.


Got an exciting last minute London show coming up too but I'll shout about that tomorrow.

Peace x

VW WHITENOISE WEEKEND!

Yo Dudes!
Just got back from a some what eventful weekend at the Norfolk show ground for VW Whitenoise Festival. Would have loved to keep you updated through out however internet connection in a field, in the middle of no where, full of veedub owners and fans appeared non existent. So here's the whole story and a few shots.

Thursday 15th Pickle is in for the second time having her clutch tinkled with, yea the day before the festival,Wicked! That aside the beast was running and shifting gears about as well as she was gonna given the time we had to work.
I chucked in the Live lounge (aka shagged old tent) and the rest of my worldly possessions and headed up the M1 to meet my solo street team for the weekend ABI (legend). At this point it seemed wise to give the van a rest and break up the journey so decided to crash there, sleep in a proper bed for the first time since I can remember and empty her dads fridge of beer to stock the week end. (Thanks John)

Friday 16th festival day1 time to bust a groove and head on to the Norfolk Showground. After about three and a half hours of slow driving, a couple of piss stops, and gear shifting growing progressively worse by some miracle we got there parked up and emptied out.

Luckily it stayed pretty dry while we pitched the lounge but trying to get an 8m or so tunnel up in the wind with only two aint the easiest of tasks but after a bit of procrastinating and a jar or two this had happened.

Welcome to the pad!

If your wondering why the bloody hell has he taken plants and paintings with him? The lease on my old joint where I had a load of my stuff stashed is up so ma and pa came to the festival and took some bits off me that wont fit in the van. Made a nice touch for this one though I thought.

After a bit of a barbie and a chill with the folks It was about 21:30 and I thought it was time to put on a bit of a show, and its true ya know, if you build it they will come.

 So I played some tunes.

Some folks came.

I chatted some crap and fortunately they didn't leave.

Dude on the small bike caught me and the Sass last year and came for a hang.

Had a brother come and sing a tune for us, great voice!

And People kept coming for the chill, all in all it was a wicked cool eve and everyone had a good old jolly.

The next morning I had to get my jazz together to scoot off to Nottingham to play a wedding and after a highly successful first session in true Pickle style she cocked it all up. After half loading the PA in to the van I opened the drivers door to get her warmed up only to find a massive puddle of clutch fluid happily chowing down on the paint work in my foot well. I failed to get a photo of this as I was struggling not to take a skate board to the van.
In short the fluid inlet on the top clutch cylinder had cracked off inside the hose and there was nothing I could do about it there.
I borrowed my old dears friends car, an automatic rover saloon super classy, loaded up and hit the road.
Alana you saved the wedding day! sorry about the speeding ticket I'm pretty sure is coming your way x
As Pickle decided to soil herself again I was granted another form of travelling abode that ended up being quite fitting for the occasion, probably more so than a piece of crap VW that has a mind of its own.

Fully equipped with slide out double bed, functioning log burner, decorative units, the lot. Only thing it doesn't have is an engine and lets face it the van may as well not cos everything else is falling off any way. seriously considered trading her in for a gypsy caravan.

As far as I could see every one at the wedding was smiling away and happy as, it didn't rain while I was I playing there for the PA didn't blow up and all the girls hair stayed as should. Another success no thanks to Pickle.
Later that evening just had a chill and a few jars back at the lounge before heading out to catch Killamonjambo play, a Norwich based ska, funk band I met at Beach Break Live festival. Well cool lads making awesome music, well worth a check out! http://www.killamonjambo.co.uk

Next day Sunday the 18th was final festival day and the sun was out, so I moved the lounge outside and spent the majority of the late morning/early afternoon busking, promoting the stage slot later that day and chilling with guys I'd met the first night, earlier in the year at other VW shows or at last years whitenoise. Banjax a Norfolk based folk, reggae trio made up of Tom, Connor, and Aron came round for a jam, really chilled guys that gave a cool off beat vibe to some covers. Check them at https://www.facebook.com/banjaxuk

The final stage slot on the last day was gonna be a tough one as the site had already lost half to two thirds of its population but the sun was still shining, those still around made it down and we had chuckle.

I would like to thank VW Whitenoise for having me back this year and hope to see you again next, everyone who's digged the tunes for the last year and is still riding the train with me and all those that have got involved with the project this weekend. Can't do it with out you, you keep me rolling!

Then this happens!

Got settled about 1:00 saved on petrol mind. Here's a few more shots of the weekend for you and they'll be more to follow on the facebook page and jazz.

Peace x

Campervan Recipes

Yo Yo Yo

Hope you enjoyed the front cover artwork for my poetry book 'Repeat What I See' which will be coming soon. I will be posting 1 poem from the book weekly to give you a preview of what will be inside up until the book release. Keep reading and let me know what you think.

Today i have something different, I will not be bothering you with the bittersweet taste of my deeply emotional, internal struggles with life and my identity, instead i will be exhilarating you with the extremely meaty taste of my favourite campervan recipe - Sausage Surprise!

For those of you that don't know this already, I live in my T25 Volkswagen campervan Pickle. This means that along with sleeping at the side of the road, foxes stealing your shoes and complicated bathroom routine's, Pickle must also be a fully functioning kitchen!

I am an avid preacher that living in a camper doesn't mean fast food or even shit food in general. You can cook and eat interesting and (almost) complex meals with the aid of a gas cooker and a few pots and pans.



[This is possibly one of my favourite meals and it was inspired by a dish me and the boys used to chow 

down on after hefty jam in the pig shed on lodge farm. It was originally created by Joey C's mum, 

Cathy Curtis. I never knew the recipe but went off the memories of flavours and added a bit of spice 

and it came out pretty bang tidy... not the same but giving the same satisfying feed and an added sense 

of nostalgia.]



Camper Van Recipe #1

Sausage Sauce:
Your gonna need:
6 quality sausages preferably readily seasoned e.g Cumberland
1 onion
4 cloves of garlic
1 chilli
4-6 mushrooms
2 carrots
1 yellow/red pepper
tin of sweet corn
tin of chopped tomatoes
Good squirt of Worcester sauce
Spoon full of English mustard
Spoon of tomato pesto
strong dry cider 

What your gonna do:

As always chop your onion, chilli and garlic first and just put it in a dish to the side cos this is all going in together shortly.
Get a sharp knife and run it down the skins of the bangers, your gonna take the skins off bin em and put the meet in to the pan.
Once all the meat is in give it a stir together so it starts looking more like mince than sausages and then turn the gas on and season with black pepper.
Notice we're not using any oil, you don't need it, once the pan warms the meat will start sweating and produce enough fat and moisture to fry.
when your sizzling put the onion,chilli and garlic in so the meat takes in the flavours whilst all cooking up together.
While that's going down you can slice carrots, mushroom's, chop the pepper and open tins.
when the meat is starting to brown and onions soft and gold get a table spoon of mustard in there a good douse of Worcester sauce and stir in to the pork, it will soak in fairly quick so before the pan dries get a glug of cider in there and as the alcohol cooks off its gonna smell wicked.
Add your carrots and mushrooms and a spoon full of tomato pesto and stir in, the oil from the pesto should lube the pan up a bit but if it needs a bit more then another dash of cider wont hurt.
when the carrots and pepper have softened a bit tip in the tin of corn and the tomatoes mix it up and simmer for 10 mins.
You can have this with pasta or rice so put whatever you fancy on the boil and put a lid on the sauce and let it brew.
when the rice or pastas done put the sauce on for another couple of mins while you serve up your carbs.
Ladle the sauce on top and you may enjoy a grating of strong cheddar on it especially if going for pasta.


Hope you enjoy this as much as I do, and Cathy thanks for the inspiration. Please let me know what you think... get involved and get in touch.
I will leave you with one of my favourite Campervan Sessions to listen to whilst you eat your Sausage Sauce in your campervan, house, flat, tent or wherever you are! 

Peace 

Tom Dibb x