Cousin Lee

Category: live music

  • Top Gig at Black Dog

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    Songwriters’ Festival at the Black Dog — 45‑minute set

    Last night was the Songwriters’ Festival at the Black Dog, and I had a 45‑minute slot. It was a great gig — one of those nights where everything lands, and I got to perform a lot of songs that will be coming out soon:

    • Teach Me Peace
    • I Am a Monkey
    • Riding Up That Hill
    • I Had Hoped to Change That
    • A Little Hope
    • Famous for Love
    • You Could Find It in the Moon
    • Hold On to Your Dreams
    • Waiting to Cross the Road

    A couple of tracks are bubbling under, waiting for their debut:

    • It is a Script, a Play
    • How will It Look
    • And of course, ‘expecting’ the working title of the new recordings

    Thanks for the lovely comments, and thanks to Callum for organising a brilliant night all round.

    Part 1 of the show is up already on SoundCloud with Part 2 coming soon: https://soundcloud.com/cousinlee/live-at-black-dog?si=cf9ed3eec067486bb4ad19727ae79078&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

  • Black Dog Oven

    Had an impromptu set with Alan Hess last night at Black Dog Pizza A couple of two‑chord covers and three of my own. All literally done on the spot.

    #7gig2026

  • Bring in the New Year

    Last night I did my first performance of the year at the Open Mic at The Bridge in Douglas. Just as I was about to play, my harmonica mouth holder broke 😅

    Moral of the story: always take two harmonica holders with you.

    I performed these new songs that I’ve been working on.

    Set list:

    1. Intro

    2. Barley & Oats

    3. Riding Up That Hill

    4. Where Do They Go (The Ones Not Represented)

    5. I Am Monkey

    6. Famous for Tomorrow

    7. Winter is Coming

    Working on a Manx text version of “Winter is Coming.”

    As we know it here, ‘Ta Geamyr er Gerjaghey’

  • Finding Your Groove Again: A Journey Back to the Stage

    Returning to the stage after a long break—especially one caused by illness—can be daunting. The muscle memory that once guided your fingers or voice effortlessly may feel a little rusty, and the pressure to perform well can cloud the joy of simply creating and sharing music.

    But here’s the truth: every artist, no matter how seasoned, faces moments of uncertainty. A shaky performance doesn’t define your talent or passion—it simply marks a moment in time, a step in the process of reawakening the performer within.

    I recently stepped back onto the stage at the guild after a long hiatus, eager to share my new songs with the world. The excitement was there, but under the weight of pressure, my mind almost went blank. It was frustrating, a great pity, because these new songs mean so much to me.

    Rather than dwelling on disappointment, I’ve chosen to embrace the path forward. I’ll be doing open mic nights, easing back into the rhythm, feeling out the energy of a live audience again. With each performance, confidence will return, and the music will flow as freely as it once did.

    For anyone who’s finding their way back to their craft after time away—remember, it’s a process. Give yourself grace. Celebrate the courage it takes to stand back up, pick up your instrument, step onto the stage.

    Stay tuned—I’ll be posting a live video version of my newest song soon. This journey is just beginning, and I can’t wait to share every step with you.