Here we go again with a funky intro! You, dear reader, are most warmly welcomed onto the comforting lap of my weekly blog. Have your cup of tea close to hand, put on your favourite cardigan and prepare to be stroked by my silken words. Let them brush through your hair like some brand new BaByliss hair clippers, shearing off your troubles and doubts. Hopefully ‘entercating’ (the other hybrid of entertaining and educating, as opposed to the KRS 1 favoured ‘edutainment’), yet still reminding you all that there is someone in the world more desperately confused than you. Me.

         Any news, then? Like, music news? Well, some. I am probably last to know stuff these days though, mostly because I don’t go on message boards anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for forums and the spreading of knowledge and connection of like-minded people around the world. The problem for me is I can’t be bothered to read anything if it isn’t about me. I know I am not the shallow, self obsessed, self promoting scum bag you would expect for a producer/DJ in these modern days, but I usually only check them for a soothing ego massage. Now, I can take criticism, believe me I’ve had some journalists and reviewers not hold back a few times. But I don’t want to start fishing for compliments to already converted fans just so I can feel like it is all worth while. That’s what Myspace is for. So I haven’t been dipping into any forums or music chat areas for about a year and a half now. And I thought I had my horrible ego battle under control. Until this summer.

            Last summer I had a great time gigging, I had the Pete Simpson LP to promote, so I did the Isle Of Wight Festival with him, I went to Japan twice to promote it, we did Electric Picnic in Dublin, and loads of my own usual gigs. The Garden Festival, which is coming up again in July, was a memorable highlight, and remains in my mind as some of the best days in the recent past (apart from my wedding day and honeymoon.) But this year, the only one I am at again is The Garden Festival (which was the best one). Noting that The Isle of Wight was happening again, seeing an advert on the telly whilst I was in on Saturday night, I felt a pang of jealousy. Then I started looking at the line-ups for all the other festivals I am not playing at. It was horrible. My huge green demon started to destroy the city of my consciousness like the monster in Cloverfield, devouring all my positive energy and ripping off the head of my self-respect and throwing it down the street. I started to hate all my coleagues who got the gig over me. Why wasn’t I booked? Have I fallen off? Is it all over?

         As ever, a little rational thought provided the ‘Hammer-down’ on my green eyed gremlin (although that didn’t actually kill the Cloverfield monster in the film, did it nerds?). I thought about all the gigs I did have, the fact I don’t really have an agent or a manager to push me out in the festival world, how lucky I was to be doing it at all, and the main thing, that festivals in this country are full of idiots. I can handle them for a few hours, but then the weather spoils it, or the other DJs or bands are all crap, or there are thousands of pilled up fools getting naked or robbed, in a muddy field. So I am more than happy with my one in Croatia. Check it at www.thegardenfestival.com. It’s an amazing place with great music all weekend. And I get to dress up as a pirate.

        So my only real news is this. http://www.maround.com/mablog/yoshihiro_okino/2008/06/

Go down half way for news on A NEXT SET OF ROCKERS CD release. I am going to Japan in July so get your orders in now… also The Sub Ensemble are playing live at Jazz Re:freshed this Thursday 19^th June, at Mau Mau’s on Portobello Road, London.  Please Check http://www.thesubensemble.co.uk There will be limited edition Mr the Beef designed printed CDs available at this and all up coming Sub gigs to promote the release of the upcoming Treble O EP, Faster Than The Sun. Advert over. Enjoy your week, and keep your green demon at bay!