Rice for breakfast...

...lunch and dinner

Three Tier non-AC train north

Tea, tea, as far as you can see

Yoga

I've done yoga every morning for the last three weeks, but it will be a while before I'm half as good as Revi the instructor.

The backwaters

The people on the march

Shiva

Not sure of this one

Front view

There were five elephants in the parade. They didn't look to happy, particularly walking down the steep steps out of the temple. How they made it I don't know

Waiting for elephants

One god

Back view

Peacock man

33,000,000 gods

They have millions of gods in the Hindi religion, and most were represented in the parade

Festival season

Festival season is coming to an end. I saw a massive parade leaving the temple on Saturday.

Varkala beach

A famous holy site in India is just along the beach from where I'm staying. You can have all your sins washed away in a short 5 minute ceremony

Back treatment

Got some relief from back pain yesterday. Hot medicinal oil soaks in. I have a vertebra out of place, for a long time now. Seen many chiropractors in europe but none could fix it. The doctor here can do it but it takes 41 days - preparation, adjustment, wrapping, etc. Something for next time!

Ayurveda treatment

Ready for daily Ayurveda therapy with Deva, my masseur. The doctor said I wasn't strong enough to do a panchakarma so I'm having a 2 week rejuvenation therapy instead. (I'd had a fever after the typhoid vaccine). It's good treatment, medicine before and after food (revolting liquids), and daily massages (great but I'm stained yellow and staining everything yellow). Today's treatment was clearer the blocked sinuses, which was the reason for my headaches.

Quay in Cochin

The day's tuna catch

Kerala

A beautiful state in the south west of India. Very very warm. 33 degrees, but with the humidity it feels like 43! Kerala is a socialist state and voted in communist government in 1957, the first in the world. The people are really nice and there's a great vibe.

First view of India

Landed in Delhi and had almost a week battling the mass of people and traffic and noise and pollution and a fever brought on by my vaccinations. Delhi was too much for me.

Amsterdam > India

I'm finally going to India for a month next week - it's been a long time wishing but now at last. I'll be heading to Kerala in the south, staying at the Mother and Child Foundation for two weeks helping out where I can, and then doing a Panchakarma, ayurvedic treatment for the rest of the time. 

 But before that I have a house concert in Amsterdam this coming Friday (8th March) and you are invited. 86 Haarlemmerstraat. Welcome from 8pm - start at 9pm. Please RSVP to jackstafford[at]thejackstaffordfoundation.com so I know numbers - you're welcome to bring others. Bring your own booze. Suggested donation is €10 if you can afford it, to help pay for my flight back from India, otherwise I have to stay.

On the port in Agropoli

Singing by the port in Agropoli, Campagna. Filmed by Vincenzo Iroutua. Apologies for the dodgy lip-syncing.

Show in Delicatessen, Amsterdam Saturday February 23rd

There's going to be a nice roundtable of music at Delicatessen on Saturday night in Amsterdam... a group of random musicians getting together to play songs from one another as an impromptu band. Come down early for indian food or the music around 10pm.

Riviera gig

I'm delighted to be playing in Agropoli again Saturday night in Riviera Rock. Come on down! More info

Concert Saturday 12th January

I'm playing in Paestum on Saturday night. Not in the temple unfortunately, but in Casa Ribini, a really cool little wine bar in the old town by the entrance. Starts at 9.30pm. Free entrance. Come on down.

Table jam with Gabrielle and Danielle

Sciue sciue

Great concert in Agropoli the other night. In my local bar. Grazie Alessandro and Lino per l' ospitalita.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you've had a good year. I spent most of it in Italy and played only a handful of shows this year. And don't have any big plans for next year. I've kept writing though and started recording in a very nice local studio here in the Cilento National Park, called TVA studio (in Aschea). It’s filled with all old analogue equipment and has a wonderful warm sound.

The first songs I’ve finished there are the recording are for this year's Christmas album. Four classic Hank Williams songs. I chose Hank Williams because the songs he wrote or has made famous all tell a simple story well. I’ve tried to strip them down even more, leaving out the country and keeping the sentiment. It’s a shame the sentiment is all sad. They’re all about women-trouble and I didn’t choose them because of that. I’m not having that problem thankfully as Maria is still very good to me.

I'd like to thank the following local musicians for playing with me. Francesco Citera on accordion. Antonio Fiorillo on double bass. And Piera Lombardi provides percussion. It was recorded and produced by Tonino Valletta at TVA studio. Tonino put so much time working on the sound of the recordings and all the quality you hear is down to him.

I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.

LOST CHRISTMAS
1) Lost highway
2) I'm so lonesome I could cry
3) Your cheatin’ heart
4) Cold cold heart

FREE DOWNLOAD

Cold cold heart

Piera Lombardi on percussion

Francesco Citera on accordian

Antonio Fiorillo on double bass

Your cheatin' heart

I'm so lonesome I could cry

Lost highway

First of four songs from this year's Christmas Album - "Lost Christmas: Covers of Hank Williams, the King of Country. Four of most famous hits reinterpreted by Jack Stafford."

In the studio

Through my friend Paolo here in Agropoli I found a nice little studio with an old-school analogue setup in Ascea. Tonni, the producer, was a very laidback charcter. I recorded 17 songs yesterday. Piero Lombardi, a local Cilento star, was in the studio as well and very kindly did some backing vocals and percussion on one of the songs. I'm back next week to work on adding some more instruments.

Amsterdam gig

I'm playing in de Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam on Tuesday 16th October, 9pm. It's a nice acoustic set with a few other artists playing the same night, behind the bar.

Vallo music festival

Acrobatics