As well as running through some covers and originals on electric guitar we decided to have a go at doing an acoustic set too in preparation for some up coming open mic nights. We also had a very first go at doing Losing My Religion by R.E.M. The mandolin hadn't been out of it's case for so long, we're talking years here, that the zipper was seized up! Also a string broke on the second take! Haha!

6. 10 Years - Acoustic Version

7. Dream From The Other Side - Acoustic Version

9. Over & Out - Acoustic Version

8. Everything's About Her

16. 10 Years

2. Over & Out no. 2

1. Walk Unafraid

3. Last night I saw the leaves fall

9. Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

1. The Places Where We Go - (Improvised Lyrics)

Joe joined us for second time and added some bass. A couple of interesting improvised jams occurred too and we had a bash at Walk Unafraid as well as another couple of original tracks.

13. Dopamine

1. Let Go

Back to just being the two of us, we decided to start work on a setlist for our upcoming gig at Sidney & Matilda on 23rd August, supporting Taut Angles! See the links below!

https://www.sidneyandmatilda.com/events/jarred-up-presents-taut-angles

TICKETS LINK!

https://www.fatsoma.com/e/ar8f8gf7/taut-angles?utm_campaign=prom_ss&utm_medium=social&utm_source=dynamic

6. Over & Out

We did a few covers to warm up and then had our second run through of our setlist of original songs.

'The Places Where We Go' now has proper lyrics and this is the first time having a go at them! Tom wrote up the lyrics using the last recordings of Leon's improvised lyrics as a starting point. He then added some structure and more imagery and this is the result. It was a lovely collaborative process. The start of many more to come!

1. Man On The Moon - R.E.M.

10. Evening Star - Take 2

5. Evening Star - 1st Attempt

11. City Lights - Take 2

12. Synthamous

15. Hurricanes - STATIONS Track

2. The Company It Keeps

8. Dredger

This is our ten song set for next week's headline gig at The Green Room in Sheffield, UK.

4. Over & Out

3. Evening Star

2. 10 Years

1. Happy Two Year Anniversary

This was a quick last minute recording into LUNA of R.E.M.'s song 'Low' from 1991's 'Out of Time'. We didn't even listen to the song. I (Leon) pulled up the lyrics and chords and we just went for it.  
I went for a NPR Tiny Desk Concert vibe for the recording. Just two mics. My Aston Origin mic for the vocal and a shotgun mic to capture the acoustic guitar and percussion. They were ready to go in the control room. We were only going to record it on our phone camera at first then I realised I had the means at my disposal to do a proper recording.
The video will be up on our Instagram and YouTube as a thank you for everyone's support this year and keep your eyes and ears out for a special announcement coming soon!

All the best,
Leon and Tom - Blackwater Lightship 

Song - Low 
Written by Berry / Buck / Mills / Stipe
Published by NIGHT GARDEN MUSIC
© 1991 R.E.M.  / ATHENS LTD

Low - R.E.M.  Cover

These are just recordings of tonight's rehearsal captured through the desk and on my Zoom H6 for a bit of natural room sound.

5. Whispers on the Tide

2. Jolene - Dolly Parton Cover

4. The Company It Keeps

Two tracks recorded live in the studio just before Christmas

1. The Company It Keeps - early version

2. Whispers on the Tide Parts 1 & 2

Here's a room recording of our headline show at Sidney & Matilda on Thursday 30th January, 2025.

Track list as follows

00:43 The Places Where We Go
07:05 The Company It Keeps
11:11 City Lights
17:08 The Standing Man
22:35 Jolene - Dolly Parton
28:55 Last Night I Saw The Leaves Fall
35:30 Evening Star
42:13 Whispers on the Tide - Parts 1 & 2
51:17 Peter Buck story
51:35 Man on the Moon - R.E.M. 

Blackwater Lightship - Live at Sidney & Matilda - 30/01/25

Blackwater Lightship are Tom Roberts and Leon Lockley. A duo who’s sound is much larger than you’d expect for two people. Ranging from delicate folk rock acoustic arrangements to a full on grungy, post punk alternative assault on the senses, Blackwater Lightship have been crafting their sound for the last two years. 
Tom and Leon met by chance in Manchester via a mutual friend. Realising they were both musicians who shared a love for many of the same bands, they decided to meet for a jam in the studio.
Tom has been playing drums since he was eight years old and Leon has been playing guitar, bass and various instruments since his teens and took up singing later in life! Both have been in various other bands but felt a real connection with what they were doing together in this project.
Soon, they were collaborating and writing songs together and 2024 saw them bring their unique sound to the independent venues of Sheffield where it has been very well received resulting in several headline shows.
In the coming months Blackwater Lightship will have some exciting developments including recording their debut EP, a live session with Folkscape as well as continuing to gig around their hometown of Sheffield.

Here's to the spirit of sonic adventure!

Blackwater Lightship

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks