Picture the scene. It is October. It is raining. It is cold. You’ve got nothing to do but stick on a jumper, grab a big cup of tea and settle down with a good book. But you need a soundtrack. Amos Lee has provided just that.

The Philadelphia-born singer provides an album that calms and caresses. The sound may be familiar to Norah Jones fans (Lee is on the same Blue Note label), but he is not merely a male version. Lee’s voice is so very soulful, even trembling with emotion in places, that it is impossible to not feel a warm comfort from his songs.

‘Arms Of A Woman’ is classic, minimalist yearning of the highest calibre, before a more up-tempo and funky ‘Give It Up’ arrives – and then ‘Soul Suckers’ brings a more melancholy, reflective mood. Lee tackles many styles in this album, all unveiling levels of depth and maturity.

I’ve not come across a more consistent relaxing, comforting album yet. My only gripe about the album is that it isn’t better-known, but hopefully this post will add a few more fans.

At a glance…
Favourite track: Soul Suckers
In one word: Smooth
Similar artists: Norah Jones, Ray LaMontagne, Justin Nozuka

Buy Amos Lee – Amos Lee on Amazon |Listen to Amos Lee – Amos Lee on Spotify

Dot To Dot – a day festival also held in Nottingham and Manchester  over the 3-day May Bank Holiday weekend – is a showcase of over 60 great bands held in 6 of the most popular venues in Bristol.

The event began in 2005 solely in Nottingham with artists such as Ladytron and The Rakes. After its success, it continued in 2006 with headliners British Sea Power and Mystery Jets, before it expanded to encompass Bristol as well in 2007. The festival continued to flourish and was expanded further for this year’s version, with Manchester joining the Dot To Dot locations.

As I’m a through-and-through Bristolian, I’ll be attending the first leg of the festival in my home town this Saturday, with the event moving on Nottingham on Sunday and Manchester Bank Holiday Monday. The South West will be represented by 6 venues incorporating The Academy, The Anson Rooms (Student Union), The Fleece, The Cooler, The Louisiana and the legendary Thekla – once pronounced “The KLA” by a visitor.

Google Map of the Dot To Dot venues

This years sees some big names gracing our stages, with the likes of Zane Lowe, Ellie Goulding, Blood Red Shoes, Los Campesinos!, Mystery Jets and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster making an appearance.

There are also some lesser-known bands who should be making a name for themselves this weekend in the form of Field Music, Wild Beasts, Dead Confederate and Goldheart Assembly.

I’m also, personally, looking forward to the bass-driven exploits of Doorly and Jakwob in the later slots.

The event is a great way to get the ‘festival vibe’ without having to shell out 100’s of pounds for tickets, camping equipment and traveling. It also helps to promote great, live music. Before buying my ticket for Dot To Dot I had only heard of a few of the bands on the line-up, but after delving into a voyage of discovery, I am now a fan of many of the bands on the bill.

If you wish to undertake your own journey, I have created a Spotify playlist of all the Bristol-based artists on the bill (who are listed on Spotify). This can be found here. Happy discovering!

Should you be attending the Bristol leg of Dot To Dot this weekend, I have created a clash finder for you to use so that you can make the most of the 16 hours of music on offer: Dot To Dot Clashfinder (XLS format)

For more information about the festival, they have a Twitter account, Facebook group, official website and ticket shop.

Its time for Christmas music – all sleigh bells and choirs – to dominate the eardrums and airwaves (although we might be granted a reprieve until December 1st).

To try and get round a month of Slade and Wizzard, I’ve compiled an all-time Christmas playlist of my own:

1. A Marshmallow World (Live) – The Rat Pack – Christmas with The Rat Pack
A great Christmas tune, which sets a classic scene of snow everywhere, the sun shining, sharing it with “your favourite gal” and generally having fun. Also shows the great chemistry between the famous three in this live version, with the crowd laughing along to their presumed horseplay.

2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Jackson 5 – Ultimate Christmas Collection
A generally upbeat tune about the imminent arrival of the jolly red fellow, while showing why Michael Jackson was a star from a very young age. Includes the classic line “You better watch out, you better not cry…”, so it all but demands to be included.

3. What’s This? – Danny Elfman – Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack
A song from 1993’s animation, written by Tim Burton (and the general look is very Burtonesque), about Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween, discovering Christmas for the first time. He’s excited about everything, from hanging garlands to the food. It’s near enough just one big list of why we love Christmas!

4. It’ll Be Lonely This Christmas – Mud – Playlist Christmas
A more mellow choice, with the focus of this one on how Christmas is not always a happy time for everyone, as some people have few people to share it with. Yet, the optimist in me sees it as a little call to make sure those you know who might be alone around Christmas are invited to share your Christmas time!

5. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney – Playlist Christmas
A return to cheery Christmas tunes. This one appeals because of the sleigh bells throughout, a general bounciness, the bizarre, wavy synth at the start and the repetition of the message “Simply having a wonderful Christmastime” over and over.

6. Little Saint Nick – Beach Boys – Christmas with The Beach Boys
Christmas sung by surfers. Cool, eh? The voices, as always with The Beach Boys, layer so well and its jut generally a good sounding tune, especially “Run Run Reindeer” sections. it was also used in a Coca-Cola Christmas Ad. Can’t get more festive than that can we?

7. A Spaceman Came Traveling – Chris De Burgh – Spanish Train and Other Stories
When you really think about it, this song is a tad odd. Its a re-telling of the Archangel Gabriel telling the Shepherds about the birth of Jesus, but with a spaceship and a spaceman instead… Yeah. Told you. Either way, it captures the atmosphere of space really well with all its twinklings, but it really comes into its own with its “And it went, la-la-la-la-la” etc.

8. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams – The Very Best of Andy Williams
Although it might fall into the ‘overplayed’ category, you can tell its going to be a good one when a Christmas song begins like a Disney movie, lots of ah-ah‘ing and building cymbals – then Andy ‘Moon River’ Williams pops in. “Its the ha-happiest season of all”. Spot on Andy. All about being cheery and enjoy it. Talks of carols, parties, Christmas tales, mistletoe, loved-ones and snow. What else does a Christmas need?

9. Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Balls End) – The Darkness – Platinum Collection
All the classic Christmas tunes tend to come from over two decades ago, so there needs to be a more recent entrant on this list. Chistmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) fits the bill. It has great guitar solos, falsetto vocals, a children’s choir and it was only beaten to Christmas Number 1 by the non-Christmassy Mad World in 2003, plus its a much better choice than Walk This Sleigh by Robbie Williams…

10. Christmas Time All Over The World – Sammy Davis Jr. – Christmas with The Rat Pack
Back to the crooning classics for my last choice as Sammy Davis Jr. gives us a jaunty tune about how its Christmas for everyone all over the world, which (queue cheesy grin) is what its all about. Its just really happy and even has kids singing Happy Christmas in the background in different languages.

So thats my choices, what are yours? Are you an avid fan of John Lennon, or perhaps Shakin’ Stevens? Let me know by leaving a comment!

If you think my choices are spot on, or you can’t be bother to make your own, this playlist is available on Spoitfy via this link.