Burns Nicht the Nicht!

Today's 'Burns Nicht' when folks celebrate the life of Scotland's National poet, Robert 'Rabbie' Burns and as tradition demands we will be tucking into some home cooked haggis tonight, as freshly caught during my last trip home :)

We generally are away at Burns night (and have a trip planned this weekend) and am reminded of a couple of years ago in 2013 when we managed to be in Edinburgh for Burn's night when thankfully the weather was fairly mild. The City though had several Burn's celebratory events on including a couple of costumed readings of his work which I though would be good to share here, including a willing volunteer to a reading of 'A Red Red Rose'!

At the Museum of Scotland the same day, they also had several events including a lively re-enactment of Tam o'Shanter, readings and a wee concert from Amy MacDonald! Enjoy your own Burns nicht, however you celebrate it!

 

Oh and keeping with comics, this recent graphic novel lifts the lid on the bard's previously unknown life as Scotland's Witch Hunter! It's delightful riotous fun, find out more from the BBC and order it here!

Zulu War Comic Scenes!

Following up my earlier 'pictorial' post of the actual Zulu battlefield sites, here's my own recreations featuring in my trilogy of Zulu War related comic strips. Written and illustrated by me, colours by the rather talented Matt Soffe;

iSandlwana from 'Day of the Dead Moon' strip from Moments of Adventure 1

 

Rorke's Drift from 'Water Cart Rescue' strip from forthcoming collection

Rorke's Drift (after the battle) from 'Pointy Heads' strip from forthcoming collection

Zulu 138 years ago!

Today marks the 138th anniversary of the Battles of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift and while I reflect on these events which still resonate over the intervening year's I'd like to share a few pictures of the evocative sites from the 2010 and 2014 trips I was fortunate enough to make.

Previous reflections and more pictures can be found here, here and here, thanks for visiting.

2017 Tour to be announced!

 

Well it's been a real hive of activity at Accent UK Towers these last few weeks as our 2017 'tour' schedule is taking shape with much computer stress, checking of schedules and journey logistics, it's not a cup of tea I can tell you.

However it looks likely that we'll equal if not beat last year's record breaking number of 16 shows, although with much duplication of dates etc, one or two shows will sadly be missing from our final schedule while others require us to 'split the band' and attend two shows the same weekend such is the current state of the crammed UK & European comic convention circuit!

In all though, quite a nice problem to have as Dave and I enter our 15th year of comics creating under the Accent UK banner! Watch this space for confirmation of our 2017 dates and in the meantime here's a few random scenes of our encounters on our travels! 

 

  

  

 

 

 

Ha! And if you've made it this far you may, from the top, Belfast, Aberdeen, Birmingham (2), Copenhagen, Helsinki, Dundee, Blackpool, New York, Copenhagen (3), Glasgow, Lincoln, Helsinki & New York!!

More Moments of Adventure!

Hee! Hee! Yes a little reveal of the cover of the forthcoming Moments of Adventure: Collection Two, containing four short self-contained comic strip stories featuring Robots! Pirates! World War Two! Scottish GhostHunters & more!

More details to follow but all being well MOA#2 will be released at Copenhagen Comics Festival end of February 2017 and all subsequent conventions and festivals Accent UK attend!

The Next Day

Happy New Year to all, various family commitments and fun have kept me away from here for a little while but hope is well out there?

I would normally do a wee round up of last year but time has perhaps marched on a bit for that, but on a personal level I'll just say that 2016 was pretty good, family achievements, good health and bits n bobs. Creatively, finally releasing a comic of mine which seemed to be well received and Accent UK releasing several titles and attending more events than ever before, not always successfully but always with fun and purpose :)

There were of course some things unfinished and aims to do better this year so we'll see.

There were disappointments and sadness within our circles but that's the same for everyone and of course 2016 had its own upheavals and sadness, its how we remember and what we do next that counts.

Good Luck and Goodnight Blackstar 

* Title photo an outatke from Masayoshi Sukita's Heroes Photoshoot