It’s a bumper weekend for acoustic music fans starting tonight (Thu) at the Woody Guthrie Folk Club.

As ever, I’ll be hosting and giving a song, plus music from Rich Mans Ruin (me, Gabi, Vinny).

It takes place at the Ship & Mitre in Dale Street Liverpool at 7.30pm. Tickets are advised and are online here http://www.wegottickets.com/event/88880

Friday night sees local hero Barry Briercliffe launch his excellent EP at the View Two Gallery in Matthew Street. There’s a really strong lineup including Stuart Todd, Rae Clarke, an Italian female led Police tribute band, and ourselves, Rich Mans Ruin. http://www.wegottickets.com/event/86598 for tickets

For Sunday, switch to Skem where Matt Swift combines his comeback tour with some charity fundraising from noon onwards at the excellent Engine Rooms. To find out more visit the Facebook Event page on http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=148967265123173&ref=mf

Coronation Street star shows support on the three-year anniversary of murdered Sophie Lancaster.

This year, 24th August will mark the three-year anniversary of the tragic and brutal attack that lead to 20 year old Sophie Lancaster’s death.

To mark the anniversary Artist Rob Maltby, Sophie’s boyfriend, has designed a T-shirt to celebrate Sophie’s individuality and the “fantastical” nature of her style and personality.

The T-shirts are available now and it is hoped that on the 24th August, people will upload pictures of themselves showing support for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube.

Sophie and Rob’s story has gained a great amount of support and now Coronation Street’s Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley Cropper in the show, has become involved in the foundation. “I am a mother myself and I was horrified to hear about the incident and how they were attacked just because they looked ‘different’.

“Through sales of this t-shirt we can help get Sophie’s message seen: Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere.

“In my own way I am hoping to help the foundation. In 2011, together with my husband, Ian Kershaw, a writer for TV, radio and theatre, we plan to launch a North West creative writing in competition in memory of Sophie, who herself was a gifted writer.”

In Memory of Sophie, and to promote respect and understanding of subcultures, The Sophie Lancaster foundation, which was set up by Sophie’s mother to change attitudes in society about subcultures and promote tolerance, is urging people to wear this unique T-shirt.

This will allow people to show their support of the foundation, and tell the world “it’s okay to be different”.

Rob’s used his creativity to design a T-shirt that celebrates “the weird “ and speaks out against prejudice and intolerance.

“The design of this T-shirt celebrates the fantastical, within oneself and others. It’s all about expanding the mind; just because something’s a bit weird, and doesn’t make much sense, doesn’t mean that it has no right to exist”

Rob aims to evoke hope, faith and anger through his designs.

With this in mind, this T-shirt, which depicts a beautiful orchid with a sinister twist, needs to communicate the support and awareness that the foundation needs to help people understand subcultures and people who choose to express themselves “differently”.

These T-shirts are available to buy now for £15.00. All proceeds will go to the Sophie Lancaster foundation to fund raising awareness and encouraging tolerance and understanding.

The T-Shirt is available now at www.backstreet-merch.com

This is Haiti all over again isn’t it.

The news today reports that the World Bank are going to loan (yes loan!) Pakistan some money to help it recover from its worst ever flooding.

Meanwhile international aid has been slow in coming and even now has only raised a third of what is needed.

Humanitarian crises continue to show starkly how the wealthy view people and disaster. With unwavering stinginess.

My mate Phil Hayes (of the Picket) had an event just in his street last weekend for Pakistan and together they raised over £300. It’s not a loan. It’s a donation. It’s the act of ordinary folk who have very little themselves digging deep to help out, no strings attached.

How come those with money to burn never respond in the same way? Why do they offer loans instead of simple, straightforward help? Why don’t the World Bank, dripping in cash as they are, act the same way that Phil and his neighbours did.

I’m not a religious man, but I remember the story of the Good Samaritan from the Bible. Now from what I recall, he didn’t loan the injured guy those two silver coins when he told the innkeeper to look after him. It would have been a pretty lousy parable if he had.

As lousy as the World Bank!

It riles me every time we are asked to bring out the collecting tins for people in the most urgent and desperate of need, when the people who have the resources do nothing, or do something but make it clear they want it back.

This song was written for Haiti, and until there is real change in this world, it’ll keep on having to be dragged out. Unusually for my songs it has swearing in it, but I feel it’s merited.

People in desperate need deserve more than mere charity. I protest.

It’s one week away from the anniversary of the murder of Sophie Lancaster 3 years ago in Bacup, Lancashire.

You’ll probably remember the case. She was killed simply for looking different. Sophie liked to dress in goth gear.

A gang targeted her and her boyfriend Rob for the way they dressed. Sophie died as a result of the attack.

Her family and friends set up a wonderful foundation called The Sophie Lancaster Foundation that campaigns against prejudice, hatred and intolerance in all its forms .

I did a gig for them a couple of years ago with Attila The Stockbroker in Lancashire, and it inspired me to write a song for Sophie, and for all of us. It’s shown at the bottom of this post.

We police each other far too much. If ever anyone shows any individuality, we are too prone to ridicule and undermine. What happened to Sophie and Rob is an extreme example of it.

We should stop policing each other. When someone dresses in a way that stands them out from the crowd, let’s celebrate them.

They are championing our own ability to be who we are rather than be tramlined by supposed “acceptability”. By championing them in return we champion each other. We put ourselves on the side of freedom. We extend each other’s boundaries.

In a world seemingly driven on fear, let us stand on the side of those who reject conformity and permit all of us to simply be who we are.

Let us cheer on those who refuse to be too afraid to be themselves, and let us all find the courage to follow their inspirational lead.

This video was taken in Robb Johnson’s great little folk club in Hove near Brighton. It was quite dark but it’s the only recording I have of this song.

And make sure you check out the Sophie website to find out more.

I’ll be performing with Vinnie T Spen in Manchester on Monday 16 August, running through some of the set list of our band Rich Man’s Ruin. (Gabi is on her hollybobs or else she’d be with us too).

The gig is to commemorate the events at Peterloo where working people protesting peacefully were attacked by the forces of the state. Where have we heard that story before and since!

Also performing are the ever wonderful Claire Mooney, and the outstanding Manchester poet Dave Puller.

It’s at the Briton’s Protection pub on Bridgewater Street, M1 and it’s £3 on the door (£1 concessions).

Big thanks in particular to Kate Richardson and Sara Livesy for their efforts in organising this event.