An ancient stone circle

by the setting of the sun 🌇🌞

We chose to do the cover photo for our new album here at Nine Stones Close which is a most wondrous and magical place in the Peak District, Derbyshire.

It really was taken “by the setting of the sun”.

It was a cold January day, crisp and clear and perfect for this. Also perfect for being absolutely freezing cold!

Here is a playlist of the songs as they will appear on the album which is out on FRIDAY

Now I honestly don’t recall why exactly we chose this beautiful place apart from the obvious - it being a sacred and special place. It doesn’t really have any connection to the songs except it has a very ethereal and mysterious feel to it.

When you arrive and park up at the side of the road, you then have to walk across two sheep fields get there. You suddenly stumble upon the sight of these standing stones by an old oak tree and a dry stone wall.

As if time does not matter.

As if nothing else in the entire world has any bearing on these stones. And really it does not.

The Album coming soon

A few miles from Bakewell (famous for the pudding) and a few more from Matlock and Chatsworth this place is right in the centre of so many lovely places.

The good thing is that it is very quiet here. (unlike the nearby better known “Nine Ladies” stone circle where there is never a shortage of new age types wandering about and just total annoying-ness!).

We even almost ended up living a half a mile from Nine Stones Close on a complete whim last year. Maybe one day…..

My friend Imogen wrote about an adventure she had here rather serendipitously last year too on her blog Bracken & Wrack

Harp Of The Trees

Unfortunately we were not there at the same time and are still yet to meet properly in person having known each other online for the past couple of years. If you like folklore and traditional customs you will like her stuff.

And here is one of the songs off the album too…

I actually have no idea why I was barefoot in January freezing my poor feet off on the bare frozen earth. I do love being out without shoes but not when it’s that cold.

It is certainly a family affair - here is me being bossed about Alisa and by my daughter who took all the photos. (The song is Polly Vaughn). I guess I was doing my fair share of bossing too!

And one of the boys is currently finishing designing the cover art for the back of the CD.

Make sure you sub for more updates this week :) (release day is Friday)