JASON ALLEN was born seven weeks after a storm so powerful that several bridges were washed away. Unfazed, he began playing toy guitar at the age of two, until it was hidden by his sensitive-eared parents, several days later.

His next foray into music was as a Tupperware-sponsored drummer in his own make-believe group. After going to school for a while, Jason joined some of his non-imaginary friends in a real life band, where he eventually taught himself how to play the drums with all four limbs, simultaneously.

Upon realising the difficulties in writing songs on a drum set, Jason borrowed a proper guitar and learnt how to play some songs by The Clash. With fellow Keynsham guitarist Roy Harrill, he set about playing in a succession of bands, some of which were libellously-called Kentucky Fried Pigeon for a while.

When the novelty of singing and performing in half-full West Country pubs wore off, Jason became the drummer for other people's bands, successfully playing to quarter-full pubs in London and other far-off places.

Eventually, a lifetime of being loud forced Jason to abandon live bands in favour of volume-controlled studio music. Here he developed a 15-cups-a-day tea habit, rendering him lazy and creative.

Having spent fifteen years perfecting the art of taking a long time to do things, Jason elected to seek the thrills and spills of being in a band once again with some mates.

He is now a full-time, founder Fieldfare, where he plays guitar and sings like his supper depends upon it. In his spare time he attempts to play bad guys in films, mows the lawn and pretends to be Banksy.

www.jasonallen.co.uk

"UP UNTIL FIELDFARES, I'd spent the best part of fifteen years mainly being a solitary, studio-based musician, writing and recording original music for a series of self-made albums. It became a process of 'music by mouse clicks', such was the technical aspect of self-recording.

Myself and Dan had jammed sporadically at his place, often writing good songs in each other's company. I'd also produced a couple of Dan's solo albums. When I heard the early recordings made by John and Dan as 'The Creek', I realised that they had the same certain musical chemistry that also exisits between me and Dan.

I spoke to Dan at some point during September 2010 about the possibility of the three of us getting together to make some music. It had been far too long since I played 'live' with other musicians, and many years since I last gigged.

We met up at Dan's place on 24th September 2010 for an informal session. Straight away the three of us gelled, both musically and personally. We played a handful of songs that we were all familiar with, including Dan's "Yosemite Jim", which was the first song we ever played as a trio.

Over the following weeks we got together regularly, expanding the repertoir to over 20 songs. We shortlisted 7 or 8 tunes, which soon became a polished set of acoustic-flavoured songs. Every session was captured on the trusty iPhone.

The reward for all the effort we've put in has been huge. As a musician, I feel 'connected' once again. The loneliness of the studio has been replaced with a bonhomie and spirit that cannot be created as a solo artist.

The songs have grown, evolved, been reborn into brand new arrangements, infused with rich vocal harmonies. They feel like new songs.

A Fieldfares album will be crafted over the winter, based around 'live' studio recordings, augmented with additional overdubs and sonic embellishments. My musical 'retirement' has been postponed indefinitely!"

Jason Allen - November 2010. www.jasonallen.co.uk