What are "Tomorroways"? I'm not sure... I sort of invented the word to refer to those post break-up days when you're waiting to feel sort of normal again. At least, I think that's what they are. 

Mysterian (Ian): Acoustic & Electric guitars, Bass, Drums, Lyrics, Songwriting
Janine Bracewell: Vocals
Neil Wilson: Keyboards and Vibes

Tomorroways 2021

One from the past... I added some vocals to a song started by Bryan Williamson and Bobby Watson in 2014. It was quite folky originally, but I was never happy with the tune and the vocals. I revisited this in 2017, remade the backing with stellar help from the following:
Neil Wilson: Keyboards
Joey Six: Flamenco and lead guitar
Allen Conti: Drums
Bryan Williamson: Lyrics
Bobby Watson: Original concept
Ian Middleton: Guitar, Bass, Melody, Vocals, Mixing and Engineering

Superstitious Ways (2020)

If love is a game of chance are you all in? A small sweet love song on taking chances. 

Ian Middleton: Songwriting, lyrics, 6 string acoustic, vocals, bouzouki, cello, oboe and strings. 

Taking a Chance on You ©Ian Middleton 2022
The betting slip
Falls to the ground
The hoofbeats of my departing dreams 
Still sounding all around

Did I miss
The starting gun?
Did I put the horse before the cart
Before the race was run?

Pre chorus
There are winners and some losers
When you’re looking 
Looking for the one

Chorus
And although it seems like 
The race of life is through
I backed a few non starters
And I’m still looking for you

I’m gonna to put a bet on you (hold)

Taking a chance on you
Take a chance on you

Chance is like a 
Fickle god
Even if I shuffle
I’ll never beat the odds

And  I’m holding just
The two of spades
Still hoping that the queen of hearts
Might turn up some day

The cards we’re dealt
Is all we’ve got to play 

And when it seems like 
the game of life is through
If you help me cash my chips in, 
here’s what I’m going to do
I’m gonna take a chance on you (hold)

Taking a chance is what I’ll do
Take a chance on you
Take a chance on you

And if the chips are down
Sometimes  • you have to • be bold
We can play • we can burn 
we can fold

The cards we’re dealt
Are the cards we hold 

And although it seems like 
The game of life is through
Lets take the cards and shuffle, 
And see what we’re going to do

I’m gonna take a chance on you (hold)
Taking a chance, is what I’ll do
Take a chance on you
I’ll take a chance on you

I'll Take A Chance On You

A short sweet love song written and recorded in February/March 2022. What will you write in your book?

Ian Middleton: Songwriting, Lyrics, 12 String and 6 String Acoustic Guitars, Cello, Electric Slide Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals, Arrangement, Mixing, Mastering
Gerry Guildea: Lead Vocals
Andrew Metcalfe: Violin
Amanda Guildea: Backing Vocals

Book of Me & You
©Ian Middleton 2022

Intro (fiddle melody)

We’ve got a dog eared notebook
For the story of me and you
You’re pages of old poetry
I’m second hand psychology
Or anything with an -ology
The story of what we might do 

And we’re writing it all down
In the book of me and you

We’re on the merry go round
We’re dancing up and down
Our record spins round and round

We’re still writing it all down
In the book of me and you

We tore out pictures to find our colours 
All the colours of our blues
I’m Bluebottles and hyacinths
You’re cornflowers and glacier mints
I’m the crayons, you’re acquatints
All of the colours of our blue

The world goes round and round
Still dancing up and down
Don’t stop the merry go round
Lets keep writing it all down
In the book of me and you

Instrumental 

Middle 8 
We’re writing the chapters
Of you and me
2 hearts beating
We’re waiting to see 
What comes next in the story…
Of me and you
Who the hell knows what we’re going to 

Lets keep writing it all down
In the book of me and you

Micro chorus
We’re on the shifting sands
But we’re still holding hands
In the book of me and you

Book Of Me And You (Featuring Gerry Guildea)

Every had a disappointment? Held a grudge? Here's John Bell reading his poem "Losers' Convention" at the Bengeo Poetry Club. Feel better now? Thought not!

John Bell: spoken word, banjo, harmonica, original poem
Ian Middleton: guitar, bass, backing vocals

Losers' Convention (Live at the Bengeo Poetry Club)

"I would have done it yesterday"... Here's a short reflection of what we could have got up to today, if only... . Vocals by the very amazing Bec (Rebecca Richards). Thanks, Bec!

Ian Middleton
Lyrics, Songwriting, Guitars, Bass, Vibes
Bec
Vocals, Back up Vocals

The day before Tomorrow
©Ian Middleton 2022

I would have done it yesterday
But I couldn’t find the time
I sat and stared at all the DIY
I guess I’m watching old paint dry

Excuses, I’ve made a few 
White lies and others that 
simply are not true
And I’m adding to the daily list
Of the things that will probably end up missed

I’ll save the day before tomorrow
For the things I’ll never do today 

Chorus
All the books I never wrote
All the words I never spoke
All the things I’ll never say
Waiting for another day

I’m ignoring everyone
Some things can never undone
And I’m waiting for the muse to come
Guess I’m waiting till the day is done


The  day after yesterday
Is for the things I’ll never do today 

Chorus
All the roads I never took
All the trees I never shook
Blamed it on my feet of clay
Waiting
waiting for another day

Another day, another day, another day
And the train never leaves the station
The day before tomorrow’s no good to me
I’ll be busy with some more procrastination
Getting down to more procrastination

Maybe some other
Try me on some other
I’ll do it on some other day

Chorus
All the love I never shared
All the times I ever cared
All the things I’ll never say
Waiting for another day

I’ll save the day before tomorrow

The Day Before Tomorrow (featuring Bec)

A short folktronica inspired song from the 2016 album: Yan Tan Tethera.

Yan Tan Tethera is the traditional Northumbrian numbering system used for counting sheep.

Ian Middleton: Bass, Bhodran, Bouzouki, Lyrics
Neil Wilson: Uilleann Pipes, Percussive instruments, Keyboards
Kim Noble: Vocals, Lyrics
Angie Blue: Spoken word
Tracey Hutchinson: Spoken word
James Fraser: Lead guitar

Oddities: Tan(Sheep on the loose) from Yan Tan Tethera (2016)

What would make you rise up? Some thoughts on that.

Ian Middleton:lyrics, melody, guitars, bass, bhodran, accordion, piano, vocals.

Rise Up (Protest Song)

This Christmas a group of us from the Talent is Timeless songwriting community are raising funds for Crisis at Christmas. We’ve recorded a beautiful new song by A J Whyte and Gwyn Jones – Give (a little up) This Christmas. We hope you enjoy it. 

Video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk_eo3Rm4lk

Every year Crisis at Christmas opens its doors to people facing homelessness, offering much needed warmth, healthcare, food and company. For many, it's the start of specialist support that lasts all year round, enabling them to leave homelessness behind for good. Just £29.07 will give a homeless person a Christmas Day inside.

Musicians are: Alan White (A J Whyte), Gwyn Jones, Julie Anne, Christopher, Rebecca Richards, Phil Godsell, Donna Canale and Ian Middleton

Give (a Little Up) This Christmas - fundraising for Crisis

This is a gentle quiet folk song using traditional instruments, reflecting on absent friends. What picture would you paint?

Ian Middleton: Songwriting, lyrics, acoustic guitars, cello, accordion 
Gerry Guildea: Vocals
Jo Axton: Fiddle 
James Fraser: Dulcimer, mandolin, pipes 
Nigel Robinson (aka Gemini): Fairground organ 2023 

Paint you a picture © Ian Middleton 2023 

I’ll paint you a picture 
Of the river in flow 
Colour in the valleys 
Where we used to go 
I’ll paint you a picture 
Of mountains and plains 
all of the places that 
We’ll go again 

All the things 
We used to do 
Paint me a picture 
Of you

I’ll write you a letter 
With yesterdays news 
All of our friends 
And what they now do 
I’ll post you a note 
With stories of home 
Hope that you read it 
If you’re ever alone 

All of the things
We used to do
Paint me a picture 
Of you 

Middle 8 
Its been a while my friend 
Remembering all the things 
We thought would never end 
Adventures we had a few
 I’ll pull on my boots 
Like I’m walking 
Like I’m talking
And walking with you 

We’ll sing all the songs 
We used to sing 
Songs of the countryside 
Summer and spring 
We’ll remember the music 
Of where we are from 
Old ones and new ones 
And we’ll all play along 

All of the things 
We used to do 
Paint me a picture 
Of you

Paint You A Picture 2023

Multiple influences, multiple styles. Electronic, singer songwriter, New age, alternative. Currently active on Kompoz. I also play in folk clubs. Musician, songwriter, mixer, producer. I usually try to find someone else to sing my songs, as I'm quite a bad vocalist, so if there's a gruff growling vocal, that's probably me. Sorry.

Mysterian

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