Well, it’s been a year! This time last year I was welcoming Huw Williams and Donnelly & South to the agency and wishing Les Barker a very happy retirement.
Most of you will know that Les, sadly, died in January 2023. He was ill, but no one expected that death was imminent. He went to see his favourite football team, watched them win 7-0 and then collapsed in his car in the car park with his engine and lights already on. It must have been been very sudden. Les didn’t have any family, so his friends and neighbours took care of everything. Finally we were able to say goodbye to him on 1st March at Northop Hall Crematorium, with a celebration of his life, poetry and song in both Welsh and English. I was a pallbearer and conducted the English part of the event. The Mrs Ackroyd band performed along with June Tabor, Savourna Stevenson, Brian Peters and more. Les himself had a word, too as we managed to find a great clip on youtube of him reading one of his own poems. (Used with permission, of course.)
Unfortunately I came home with Covid. My shots were all up to date, but I’m my 98 year old mum’s carer and, of course she caught it, and ended up in hospital with Covid pneumonia and sepsis. Luckily she recovered from both and is still going strong.
And now it’s that time of year when I’m chasing festivals and gigs in 2024 for my artists. Here they are. See http://www.jacey-bedford.com for details.
Folk Music Agent Tells All 
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