I hate to be one of those people bragging about the amazing holiday they’ve just had, but unfortunately the restorative mountain air of Abruzzo and much needed break from doing, well, everything, seems to bring it out in me. My wife and I just spent a wonderful week in Italy being hosted by our dear friends Angelo and Adina: attending poetry readings, watching fountain fireworks, climbing (or crawling as the case may be) up mountains and eating well over our body weight in fantastic food (not just fantastic because neither of us had to cook it) paired with let’s say moderate amounts of wine.
I first met Angelo back in 2018 when he invited me and Marco Lo Muscio to play at the start of the annual Cerqueto nativity, where we found ourselves in a stable halfway up a mountain with a cow and donkey peering over our shoulders. It seems strange to talk of Christmas when Spring looks to be right around the corner but it was truly a magical experience and I warmly urge anyone with a bucket list to add it to theirs and see for themselves the lasers, soldiers on horseback, angels sat atop stables and myriad of barnyard animals bringing the Bible to life.
With thoughts of Italy fresh on my mind and holding back the sheer horror of the rapidly approaching big 7 0 (so rapid it’ll probably have already happened by the time you read this) the John Hackett Band sets off on tour. Our first stop will be in Chelmsford and if you’re in the area you may have heard whisperings of our coming through local radio. We hope we’ll be able to start off with a bang as we finally perform the set list you’re likely tired of hearing about and not seeing: highlights from my brother Steve’s ‘Voyage Of The Acolyte’ and tracks from the new John Hackett Band album ‘Red Institution’.
Speaking of the new album, it’s not long till you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy! Just one month to go with its release date set for Friday the 11th of April at The Greystones, Sheffield.
For now, that’s all from me, but do give our social media a follow and we hope to see some of you lovely lot as we zigzag across the country.