Friday 6 October 2017

Alaska

The last frontier. Thanks to the kindness of my good friend and local singer-songwriter-superstar Emma Hill, I have just finished a two-week tour of the state, playing intimate house concerts, listening rooms, noisy bars and even a speakeasy.

We travelled high and low. There is only one highway in Alaska. You either drive up it from Anchorage into the hinterland, past Denali and up to Fairbanks. Or down it to Seward and the coastline. I’m exaggerating a little but it’s true to say that most of Alaska is only accessible by plane. Maria and I toured in Emma’s car but did squeeze in one spectacular flight. Her Dad is a pilot and took us over a massive glacier to the East of Palmer. Truly awe-inspiring.
Flying above a glacier should be on everyone's bucket list


People were kind and welcoming. Even when I played ‘Donald, get out of here’ and it didn’t match with their politics. Coming from Italy makes from easy conversation as they all want to hear about life over there.


Animals were all majestic. We saw plenty up close, as no true Alaskan bar is complete without heads on the wall and skins stapled to the roof. The only place they’re safe from the trophy hunters is in the Denali national park, where cars aren’t even allowed. We had a 4-hour ride around and saw three moose, two caribou and a lone wolf. No bears though. But as everyone in Alaska has a bear scare story about their second cousin being attacked while putting out the trash, we were happy to miss out. The locals all walk around with bells on and shouting ‘friendly bear!’ every few moments. With a can of bare mace as backup. Although I’m not sure how effective it would be against a mama grizzly when it comes bursting out the bushes.

Food could have been better. But that’s because we ate out a lot in restaurants, where, as everywhere in the states, if you want fresh vegetables you better order a juice. The fish was very good of course, and we did get to try some home-smoked Salmon that was out of this world. We saw the most Alaskan cuisine at the state fair. I played on three different stages and ate weird and wonderful food between each. Elephant Ears and Funnel Cake. Unfortunately we missed the giant vegetables as they come in for judging in the second week.

Weather was terrible. Rain, rain, rain. And cold. If you come, come in June/July. Oh and the music… there is a very good music scene in Alaska. They really get behind their local artists. I even managed to squeeze in some recording time right at the end with producer Dennis Lind who I met at a spinning class. Listen to this special recording of ‘Plastic sea’.

The next adventure? Japan looks to be on the cards for 2018. I'm working on a set of Ayurvedic songs for Yoga Studios. And entering some festivals as well. If you'd like a house concert sometime in the future, please get in touch and I'll add you to the list.
Oh and one last Glacier picture to send you on your way

Thursday 20 April 2017



Home town show tomorrow night.

Thursday 2 June 2016

Scandinavian tour

I'm enjoying a wonderful 10 day tour of Scandinavia. What a beautiful place. City hopping in style and I meet the best people through these concerts, and see their best side.

26-5-2016 - House concert, Copenhagen - Sign up here
29-5-2016 - House concert, Malmö - Salongsgatan 24E, SE-211 16 , Sweden
31-5-2016 - House concert, Gothenburg - Västra Frölunda, Västra Götalands Län, Sweden
3-6-2016 - House concert, Uppsala - Rackarbergsgatan 34, Sweden.
4-6-2016 - House concert, Stockholm

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Donald Chump

I've written and recorded two Donald Trump songs in a bid to avoid World War III.

Donald, get outta here and Donald Jump. One country and one funk, depending on your preferences. They're not overly flattering of the man himself.

Please share if preventing his presidency is your priority.

Thanks to the wonderful Sara Mazzaccaro for singing with me, Denis Citera for drumming and Pasquale Curcio for producing and playing.

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Denis Citera on drums

Recorded the drums for seven new songs today in Capaccio, Italy.

Friday 12 February 2016

Please share the road

It's hard to get your songs heard these days in the noise. This one is doing quite well on youtube as it appeals to cyclists. Maybe I should write more cycling songs? It is my passion.

Tuesday 2 February 2016

3 shows this weekend

Getting ready for a weekend of shows on the East coast of Italy.



The first is in Lanciano in a cosy little place called Caffetteria Fenaroli booked through my friend Fabrizio. I met him at a yoga retreat in India a few years ago and we've stayed friends. The second is at Francesco in Pescara - a house concert I first played 6 years ago. I was his first and he's gone on to host many more. 70 people are predicted so it has certainly grown since I was there. The third is through another friend, Paolo, who I played at on my last full Italian tour 6 years ago. A special event to celebrate carnival. Promises to be some amazing food!

Saturday 6th February. Lanciano: Caffetteria Fenaroli, Via Valsecchi 1. 10.30pm (Facebook event)
Saturday 7th February. Pescara: House concert (register here). 7pm
Tuesday 9th February. San Benedetto del Tronto, Viale Trieste 8.45pm (Facebook event) An evening of food and fun to celebrate Carnival.

I'm booking some house concerts for late spring. Please write back if you'd like to have one in your home.

Friday 10 April 2015

The Jack Stafford Show #3

We're live Sunday 12th April - 7pm (Italian time).





The theme of this week's show is Overconsumption. Inspired by the photo series that was the most popular article on The Guardian recentlygoo.gl/hVhQQH - we will play songs on the theme and discuss the issues raised.

Special guests will be Matthew de ZoeteKen Parsons and d'Arcy Lunn.

Stream the show live via http://thejackstaffordfoundation.com/the-jack-stafford-show

This week Jack is in Sicily so the show goes out from there - but visitors will be online from all around the world.If you'd like to be in the onscreen studio audience please email jack[at]thejackstaffordfoundation.com

Friday 3 April 2015

The Jack Stafford Show #2



On this week's show we have Emma Hill singing live from her bedroom in Alaska! Plus you - live on screen. All coming at you via Jack Stafford's kitchen in Agropoli, in the south of Italy.


Wednesday 25 March 2015

The Jack Stafford Show #1



Tune in this Sunday here to watch the launch of 'The Jack Stafford Show'. I'll be playing songs from my new album of greatest hits, interviewing people of note, chatting to friends around the world and playing with special guests. It'll be a bit like a DJ who plays the songs himself rather than putting on records. It could be great. It could be a disaster. But it will be fun. Come and see for yourself.

Sunday 8 March 2015

You are not the voice in your head


Last from this short series with the wonderful Francesco Citera. Hold on at the end of the song for his solo fun. 

Friday 5 December 2014

Are you the master of your mind?



Recorded in Agropoli with Francesco Citera on accordion. The song is about how most of us put all our efforts into controlling the outer world, while inside we go to pieces. Devote a little time to listening to the crazy voice in your head every day, and then sometimes you can get away without doing what it says. Link to lyrics

We flatter those we scarcely know


A song inspired by the poem Life's Scars by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Recorded in Agropoli with the most excellent Francesco Citera on accordion. Lyrics

All the time - w/Francesco Citera



I'm very honoured to be able to be able to play with musicians like Francesco Citera. He's completely at one with his instrument. We only have to play through the songs once and he's got it. A real virtuoso. He doesn't have a website - he's too busy playing - but search for him on Youtube and be blown away.
Lyrics


Wednesday 30 July 2014

You are not the voice in your head


I'm a big fan of Eckhart Tolle. He's an inspiration for the modern age. A new prophet. The main thing to know is the voice in your head is just a program that gives answers, suggestions and ideas based on your experiences. Your actual consciousness, who you really are, is much deeper. We're actually sleep-walking through the day.

It's not dark yet


A classic track by one of the greatest artists of our times, Mr Bob Dylan. This is sung on the terrace of my girlfriend's Uncle's Hotel in Agropoli, watching the sun go down. Filmed by Francis Cassidy, the Stray Photographer.

Satellite of love


I used to live across from Bar Sciue Sciue in Agropoli and Alessandro, the owner, is a real character. I got behind the bar last week to sing him a song and cheer him up.

Friday 18 July 2014

Bit of a Buddha

My consciousness fades in and out. Sometimes I've got a widescreen sense, the next moment I'm staring at the ground while I walk mumbling to myself. It's sad. But knowing you're crazy is half the battle. Right!?

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Toyboy



A cover of an old Jack Stafford song. He's one of my favourite artists. If not the favourite.

Society



I had always thought that Eddie Vedder wrote this song - a classic for modern times about our obsession with the material world, with poignant lyrics and a haunting melody - but it turns out it was written by guy called Jerry Hannan. I only found out when I covered it and credited it to Vedder, only to be corrected by my fans. I don't know how he and Eddie crossed paths, but Vedder made it famous when he covered it for the soundtrack for the film Into the wild.

Here's Hannan's version below... I think they use the same backing track. Strange.

ADD



I stayed with a crazy American family on tour while on tour in San Diego in 2006 and their child was out of control. They said he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, and the song was originally called Parental Deficiency Disorder.

Thanks to everyone at Bakery Art in Agropoli for letting us film there.

Go there for some great cakes! Bakery Art, Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 21, 84043 Agropoli Salerno, Italia

VERSE 1
G D C G
I hear you've got a kid, wild and free
Em C D G
And you don't know, what it could be

He's wrecking your house, destroying your home
Can't be left for two minutes alone

Just when you're on the edge of insanity
You discover the term ADD

Now you can give him plenty of treats
Chocolate, cookies, crisps and sweets
Drive him to school, never walk anywhere
Don't let him play outside
When he's hyper with pent-up energy
Get him tested for ADD

Make all his food tasty and colorful
Sugary drinks and ice cream by the tub-full
Everything's processed, nothing's fresh
Minimal vegetable, plenty of flesh
Then when he's at Grandma's and won't sit down for tea
Blame it on the ADD

Let him stay up late every night
Get up in the morning whenever he likes
Indulge his rugged rebellious streak
Give him a new toy every week
When people say he's spoilt
Whisper to friends that it's ADD

MIDDLE
C
Fill him with fear of the stranger danger
The candymen that don't need the dark
Keep him off the streets he could get by a car
And away from the syringes in the park
Give him all the freedom in the world, as long as he's inside

VERSE 2
Let him spend days in combat game sessions
Sign him up for karate lessons
Build up his collection of ninja toys
Stick him in daycare with bigger boys
Then when he makes his sister bleed
Spank him for his ADD

Keep him quiet with animation
If he's causes ttouble he goes in isolation
Don't bother to plead to get him to read
Talk to the kid like a kid
When he can't master his ABC
It's another symptom of ADD

Give him 300 channels and a remote control
40 games for his portable console
20 cereals and 30 shoes
Kill his attention span and ability to choose
So if he doesn't win the spelling bee
He'll be able to say it's his ADD

Memorize the symptoms on Wikipedia
Spout all the stats you heard in the media
Blame the teachers and his education
Sedate him with Ritalin medication
While you at it get something for your anxiety
Float away together on ADD

When he's older and wiser and his life is a mess
Can't cope with working or get any success
He'll remember the snacks of his infancy
All the sugar you ate in pregnancy
When he accuses you of parental deficiency
Plead the 5th and ADD

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Eindhoven

I lived in Eindhoven for 2 years. Happy memories. Strolling along the Stratumseind, singing in the old Effenaar, dancing in the now defunct Dans Salon. Formative years. It's not a beautiful place, but it is honest.


Fancy

I thought I should do some covers, not alway me me me. Here's a reinterpretation of pop's current No.1 song - the best selling or most viewed or however they count it these days... song in America.


Thursday 8 May 2014

The real world



I wrote this song the other morning while I was thinking whether to play the guitar or check my email. Early morning is the best time to write songs as there's a direct connection to the unconscious, and they just flow out.

Social media is one of societies modern ills. There's a lot to be said for unplugging oneself from the social online whirlwind. I think it's slowly destroying a lot of people's ability to concentrate, eroding their self-confidence and their happiness.

Please share.

Saturday 26 April 2014

5 years on



If I had an idol, then David Bowie would be up there. His songwriting is very special and I love his song '5 years' in particular. It describes the day that people find out the world is ending... why we're not sure, but what we do know is that there are 5 years left. I took up the narrative with this song, 5 years on, which describes the events on the day that the world actually ends. Lyrics

Sorrow's never far away (A winter in Perdifumo)



When I came back to Italy with Maria after 8 months travelling Australasia with her it was a bit like being in a movie. We moved straight in with her family. I didn't speak the language. We were living in the countryside. She went out to work all day with her father and I stayed at home with her mother and grandmother. Looking back on it it was not a sensible idea. Especially when the winter came along. Then it turned into a true tragedy when her father got leukemia and was sick for a year before succumbing. Sorrow was never far away at that time. Lyrics

Thursday 24 April 2014

Nepal and India


Kathmandu was a trash can. The air was so dirty I could hardly breathe. I spent a week there and that was enough. After that I was in India for a month again. Now I'm back in 

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Dr Ajeeb

My Ayurvedic doctor in India, with his mother.

Wednesday 2 October 2013

The island getaway

http://theislandretreat.in/ Recommended if you're looking for somewhere to unwind. There's nothing else to do here!

Tuesday 1 October 2013

A donation of chillies

Fishes

Local businesses donate most of the food. Twice a week a collection is taken from 5 local fish shops who all contribute something.

My iPad is very popular here

Tea time for the assistants