The final acoustic set of the day proved to be the most explosive when Bruce Watson from Scotland’s Big Country joined Peters. With acoustic guitars blazing and Peters giving his all in belting out Alarm and Big Country songs, the crowd visibly enjoyed a major highlight of this twelve-hour extravaganza.

The third event was held at The Catrin Finch Centre on the Glyndwr university campus in Wrexham. This was partly organised by our mutual friend JJ Haggar. This was a solo performance in front of around 300 dedicated fans in 2009 in a theatre space named after North Wales harp maestro Catrin Finch. It proved to be a prime example of a people’s musician with Mike playing requests and chatting with his audience. He genuinely seemed to relish the experience and performed with great passion.

This was the last time I saw Mike and it remains firmly in my memory. Mike was a true and modest musician; genuine, charismatic and passionate. My favourite song was called ‘The Unexplained’ from his POPPY FIELDS series. I tried convincing him to release it as a single as it uniquely, in musical terms, describes the world we live in right now with climate, health, wars, extreme right wing politics, and famine so prevalent, and seemingly unstoppable. It’s a song I often play and as I do I can picture Mike playing and connecting with the fans he loved.

Mike was a musician’s musician and gained respect around the world. I will miss him.

https://youtu.be/ytZZBAtgA9Q
https://thealarm.com/
https://www.shakenstir.co.uk/gallery/?album=4137&gallery=2677