Top gig last night at The Junction in Bristol’s alternative Stokes Croft area. Thank you for the support of those who came to see us It’s a great venue – my kind of place – a bit rough around the edges but barrel-loads of warmth & charm, an accepting atmosphere and some damn fine music. It’s especially worth checking out on the first Tuesday of each month when Lady Nade hosts her music night which runs into the wee hours … so if you’re passing check it out. I say this because this kind of place is one in a million and we miss them when theyre gone. Priceless to artists too, of any level of experience.

I’ll understand if you’ve stopped bothering to check out the gigs page for a while but seriously take a look! aint it great? more soon …

Bj

I’ve had to make the very difficult decision to cancel all gigs for the rest of the year. It seems the only sensible thing to do under the circumstances but it’s a right shame as I’d been really looking forward to these live dates … I have been very ill though and still am it seems, so I really have no choice. The odd bug doesn’t usually stop me, but this is something else.

Nevermind! I will recover. Meanwhile, stay tuned as I will have some more news for you soon …

Once again massive apologies but I am cancelling the next Label 5 gig in Frome on Thursday 12th Nov.

I hate to do this but I have no choice due to illness. Hope to be back with you soon!

B

Sorry to have to let you know this a bit late in the day, hopefully no-one will turn up and be disappointed… the gig at Cafe Grounded in Redfield this Tuesday has been cancelled. Mireille (host) tells me this was a decision by the venue.

UPDATE: The Benita Johnson & Company gig @ The Kellaway on 1st Oct is CANCELLED. This is due to licensing issues with the venue which are currently being resolved.

The next BJ & Co gig will be 9th Oct @ The Robins.

We are now also billed to play at The Seven Stars on Sunday 25th Oct.

Between 9 & 10pm on Thursday 8th October I will be being interviewed & playing live on Bristol’s BCFM – the Dave Miles show. I have NO IDEA what he’s going to ask me! But I’ll be sure to play something new for you.

So tune in, turn up … That’s 93.2 by the way!

I would like to say a big thank you to the lovely people who booked me to play at their private party in Bristol last night. Thank you also to the guests for all being really helpful and appreciative. Thanks also to the staff and crew of the Tower Belle for being so understanding and so particularly thoughtful.

I had a great evening and I sincerely hope that you all did too!

Bj

A bit more mixing and then mastering to do! Cashflow issues kicking in now, which has slowed me down – but it won’t be much longer … Thank you for your patience If I was signed already, or loaded, you’d have got it last year!

I need a bit of help with the artwork, so if anyone fancies volunteering a bit of expertise in this area, give me a shout! It would make a great project.

And the band is taking shape now too which is fabulous. All Benita Johnson gigs for the time being are solo until I start plastering “plus BAND” on my listings! Again, not too long to wait for that either, hopefully.

To be fair, unless I’m very lucky, I doubt there will be huge fanfairs announcing any of this, so keep checking back for news. One day soon …

Last night I was fortunate enough to be able to step in last minute as support for Gavin Thorpe at his gig at the Folk House in Bristol. It was a great night, really well attended and a lovely atmosphere.
Gavin has an interesting story (if I have any details wrong, I hope I am corrected): he’s a local guy, got signed by Atlantic only a couple of years ago, went off to America, recorded the album – everything looked really good…. but Atlantic shelved it and released some bloke called James Blunt (?) around about the same time … hmm… hard luck! I quite like Blunty-boy in small doses, but after seeing Gavin Thorpe live last night, I have to say GT is better!
Just goes to show … !
Anyway go check out www.myspace.com/gavinthorpemusic and give him your support. I still have 2 of his songs stuck in my head, Idiot and Out of Place – he has a great voice, a nice personality and is a pretty good songwriter to boot.
No, I don’t do this for everyone

B