A Change in the Seasons

It’s hard to believe that it was only a week ago we were strolling round in t-shirts and shorts basking in the mid-September sunshine.  It seemed that after a summer constantly interrupted by storms, showers and the occasional warmth only found from the central heating we were finally enjoying our best weather of the year.

Late summer sunshine Swansea Bay

Of course we knew it couldn’t last.  The calendar told us that much but in my mind I still found it hard to believe that autumn was on its way.  Realising there was only a week or so left in September I tried my best to make sure I got to the sea as often as I could. 

We were also blessed by incredibly little wind.  Some of those evenings, strolling along the Mumbles Prom with the high tides, you could have mistaken the bay for somewhere like Lake Como and with clear skies the sunsets showed the master painter at his finest. As we always say when that happens, ‘Who needs to go anywhere else with weather like that???’

What a difference in a week. Everywhere you look now you can see the change in the seasons.  Trees are losing whole swathes of leaves in the rain and high winds.  With the passing of the autumn equinox last weekend anyone who gets up early will tell you it’s starting to get lighter later and the kids trying to stay out late playing in the street will tell you it’s getting darker much earlier.

But not every part of the world marks the change of the seasons the way we do here in Wales. We recently had family staying with us from Brisbane.  They emigrated over 20 years ago and though they were brought up with our 4 very distinct seasons they seemed to have forgotten the implications. 

Brisbane is much closer to the equator that Wales meaning it has a subtropical climate.  It can get very hot in the summer but to be honest its hot all year round with nearly 300 days of Sunshine a year.  The seasons only change by being hotter or not quite so hot.  The other thing is that sunset is pretty constant all year around.  It still struck my ‘rellies’ (Australian for relatives) how unusual it was being light quite late into the evening.

Both types of weather and climate have their qualities.  On a cold winter’s night in January moving to a subtropical island does have its attractions but I think I like seeing the year grow old in winter and then enjoy the rebirth that comes in the longed for spring.  Also, so many of our festivities are tied to the seasonal changes.  I know they celebrate Halloween and Christmas down under, but I don’t think it would be quite the same having turkey salad on the beach.

It’s not just the world that goes through changes marked by different seasons. As we grow we change. 

It’s only looking back we can actually see a season in our life has moved on.  In one season we are children going to school, a season we think will last forever but it doesn’t.  Next we are in work or college, getting married, having children, getting divorced, losing parents, having grandchildren… the years pass, and we move to another stage in our lives.  Sometimes the change can be hard and painful but just as summer is now giving way to autumn change will come whether we like it or not.

This has got me thinking about how we cope with change. Next Thursday marks the end of a very significant season in my musical life, and if truth be told in my ‘real life’ too.

For the past 18 months I have been thinking about and focussing on 50 years of making records. It sort of crept up on me. It was only during a casual conversation with some old members of my band the Jacks, that I realised the significance of 3^rd Oct 2023.  That date would mark 50 years to the day that I signed my first recording contract with Elton John’s Rocket Records.

With less than a year to come up with a plan my mind went into overdrive.  We decided to mark the year with a special concert at the Swansea Grand on 3^rd October 2023 and then to round off the year with a Grand Finale on 3^rd Oct at the Swansea Arena.  For all of that time I have dreamt, schemed, coaxed, filmed, recorded and promoted every record released to share music from the past and every concert that has been played to promote our Arena Swansong.

Today I am feeling a little like I did a week or so ago as the sun shone in late summer.  I wanted to enjoy every minute while it lasted but I knew that it was coming to an end.  As we rehearse for the concert, choosing songs and lighting designs and special guests I have that bittersweet feeling all over again.

Of course when I say Swansong I don’t mean that I’ll be hanging up my guitar anytime soon.  In fact the focus on celebrating the whole Golden Jubilee year has meant I’ve played more concerts and gigs and travelled more miles this year than I have for many a year.

I did take a little time to breathe after the Grand Theatre show last October but it was soon time to prepare for the ‘Everyone Deserves a Christmas’ Hamper Campaign.  A new record meant December was packed with guest appearances at Christmas Carol Services left right and centre.

All Souls Langham Place Spring 2024

I have also tried to perform more often In London.  One highlight was a special concert for the Wales in London’ week celebrations which we played at All Souls Langham Place.  All Souls is the church with a ‘pointy spire’ that you see every evening on BBC News as its right next to the BBC Headquarters.

Off to London With Steve Balsamo, Ian Parsons and Dave Harris.

The show was a real Swansea Affair. Vans provided by Rod Lloyd at Low Cost Vans, a free Penderyn Miniature for every ticket holder came courtesy of Penderyn and musical support on the night came from Steve Balsamo who sang but also helped carry and set up the gear.  Steve’s going to be a guest next Thursday at the Arena

Another highlight was ‘Crazy Coqs’, a cabaret bar just off Piccadilly.  As you can imagine it was a very different venue and clientele to All Souls. 

There was plenty of Welsh support on the night from West End Diva Ria Jones and friends.  By the way, Ria is going to be a guest next Thursday at the Arena.

In May I returned to London for a concert at the Bloomsbury Theatre with Elio Pace.  Elio was on a European Tour with his ‘Billy Joel Songbook’ and he had asked to sing a duet with him on ‘She’s Always a Woman’.   Guess what… Elio is going to be a guest next Thursday at the Arena.

Courtesy of Greenbelt Festival 2024 – Andrew Mackley

This year marked my return to playing the Greenbelt Festival, 45 years after I last appeared there as a solo artists.  They say you play the Greenbelt twice in your career, once on the way up and …well it was good to be back!!!

This summer I travelled to Pittsburgh for the North American Festival of Wales Labor Weekend celebrations.  That was a week of surprises and concerts and renewed friendships which I will treasure until the next time.

Looking back this year I know I have been blessed, looking back over 50 years I am surprised that I’m still as thrilled to sing my songs to an audience as I was when I was 13 years old.

I know the Concert at the Arena next Thursday marks the end of a season but I’m excited to find where the next season will take me.