Yaffle is the new name for my poetry / song collaboration with poet Helen Gregory. We will be playing a set at Bristol Biennial Festival on 1st June, their opening night. Our set time is 8 – 8:30pm. Further details will be found on the website http://www.biennialfoundation.org/biennials/bristol-biennial-community-arts-festival-great-britain/
from 24th May when it’s updated.

A quick peak at the Gigs page will reveal a growing assortment of live gigs for me over the coming months. Here’s a bit of a rundown for how things stand at the moment.

On Friday 1st June this is happening:

http://bristolbiennial.com/events.html    . . .in Bristol. Check out the website – it’s an immense multi-arts event. I’ll be performing a set at their opening night gig on the theme of storytelling, with poet Helen Gregory – billed as YAFFLE. It’s a music, song, poetry mixture that has worked well in venues we’ve performed elsewhere such as the Arnolfini, Halo and festivals. Times are still to be decided so as soon as I know I’ll update you here.

On Monday 4th June I have a late afternoon slot at Stroud on the Water festival 2012 (see previous post).

Sunday 10th June I’m at The Fleece in Bristol, performing a full set as part of their acoustic all-day event. They run music from lunchtime to last thing at night putting on a variety of acts that fit the genre. Last time I played here was back in March and I really enjoyed the experience and appreciated the support of the folks who went along to see me. Lets see if we can do the same again Entry is £6 on the door (so that I get paid you will need to say you’re there to see me). Or you can buy tickets at £5 direct from me – just message me here. I don’t have a guest list but I have a Cheap List so I can arrange for some people to get in on the door without a ticket for £5 – there are limited allocations for this so please let me know in advance if you’re interested. Complicated, huh?. .. Again times TBC so watch this space.

Saturday 23rd June I’ll be playing Wotton Arts festival, in Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire. Standby for further details.

Well, that’s it so far for June. Make a note of those dates See you all at a gig soon!

Stroud on the Water festival is taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend – 2nd-4th June.

More details can be found about the event at: http://www.stroudonwater.org.uk/

It’s now confirmed, I will be playing a long 1 hour solo set of originals on the Acoustic Stage at 5:15pm on Monday 4th June.

There are two stages with music and dancing up to fireworks at 10pm.

Day tickets are £5 for adults and £2 for children aged 5-16 years.

Looking forward to it

In case you missed my session and interview on BBC Local Radio with Johnny Coppin yesterday, here is a link to I-Player where you can hear the whole show again – until Sunday 22nd. .. .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7z8/episodes/player

Tomorrow afternoon – Sunday 15th April – at 1pm you can catch an interview & live session with me on Johnny Coppin’s radio show. This goes out on BBC Local Radio for the South West. So tune into your local station from 1pm and I’ll serenade you as you sit down to lunch

Then at 3pm I’ll be playing an acoustic set at the Seven Stars on St Thomas Lane in Bristol city centre. This is a lovely and historic back-street real ale boozer that I perform at fairly regularly because it’s tiny but always packed with an appreciative audience who manage to follow performances intently whilst keeping one eye on the (mute) sport and still be sociable with each other. They also have a nice range of whiskey… It’s free to get in and, being Sunday, street-parking in the vicinity is free too. The venue is also stumbling distance from Temple Meads. A talented handful of acts play during the afternoon all skillfully compered and engineered by Mr Alfie Kingston.

So I’ve got an action-packed afternoon ahead of me. And if I can do it then you might just have time to do both ………!

Really enjoyed the gig last weekend at the Lockkeepers’ Cafe/Bar in Stroud. Thanks to Wendy and her team for faultless hospitality and the folks who gathered so keenly to hear me play. It really felt like a living-room gig, in the best sense. I’m sure I’ll be back in the not too distant future….

Yep – I’ll be playing at The Lockkeepers Cafe, Wallbridge Lock in Stroud on April Fool’s Day. Kick off is at 3pm til about 5pm and it’s free to turn up and listen. If you like what you hear and want to put some money in the hat then I’ll be more than appreciative – but no-one’s gonna make you… It’s an all acoustic gig so nice and easy on the ears in case anyone is feeling delicate – and cream teas will be served! A copy of the poster for the event is attached below. You should be able to just copy it and save and print as a jpeg if you’d like to display it and help get the word around… Otherwise look out for it about town and be sure to point at it when you see it and exclaim loudly “Woh! Benita Johnson? A gig in Stroud! On April 1st! She’s AMAZING! And it’s free! Brilliant!” ....

Check out the rock n roll pic and the "Cream Teas Served" caption! !

Here’s a sample of live pics from my gig at the weekend. If anyone has any more let me have em!

Credits for these to H Gregory.

For anyone who missed my live interview on BCFM 93.2 last week, here’s a clip:

BJ INterview on BCFM 93.2 010312

BIG Thank You to everyone who made it down to the Fleece in Bristol last night.

I really enjoyed myself – hope you did too!

Pictures and live bits from that will be up here shortly …

Next Brizzle gig will be the Seven Stars, Sunday 15th April 3pm