Interview: Nomad Jones

3:09pm Friday 15th August 2008

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Damon Valentine works in a bar by night and Nomad Jones writes music by day waiting for his big break.

Nomad Jones, became Damon’s stage name a few years ago after a reviewer poked fun at him, saying his name sounded like a cabaret act. And now even his closest friends refer to him as Nomad, the new name that better suits his image.

He has been compared to Damien Rice and David Gray, and makes music that he calls "heartfelt folk".

Clitheroe-born Nomad has weaved his way to the heart of the Manchester folk scene.

Having supported the likes of Elbow and Badly Drawn Boy, he is now starting to run on his own, even playing at this year's Glastonbury Festival. The 23-year-old former Ribblesdale High School pupil has always known that music would be his life. He only lastied six months at college before realising further education, and a regimented lifestyle, were not for him. So he got a job at a warehouse in Leyland for two years, saving enough money to buy recording equipment and his beloved guitar before moving to Manchester in his search for stardom.

After several years of gigging in Manchester’s best new music venues, one day his dream came true.

“I was just walking down the road one day and a couple who run Concrete Recordings, an independent record label based in Manchester who always have a stage at Glastonbury, started coming towards me from across the road. They were shouting my name and smiling. I stopped and said hello and the next thing they were asking me if I want to play on their stage at Glastonbury. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn't seen them for six months and they had only seen me perform once.”

Nomad is joining the Ragamuffins and solo artist Alex Johnson at a charity gig next weekend in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Trust. A friend of the Ragamuffins, Sophie Longton, is a cystic fibrosis sufferer and the inspiration for the event, being held at The Grand, Clitheroe.

David Jaggs, who sings and plays guitar for the Raggamuffins, a four piece Indie-pop band who formed just last year, added: “We have known Sophie since primary school and really just wanted to do something for her. Se has done so much for charity herself already that we decided it was our turn. After all, it’s down to her we have our keyboard player, Julia, who Sophie met at university and introduced us to.”

The band are appealing to local businesses to sponsor the event and asking for prizes to be donated for a raffle.

Nomad has recently released his first record, The TV Light EP, available from his MySpace web page www.myspace.com//nomadjones. Sales are going well and his release has attracted the backing of Inspiral Carpets indie hero Clint Boon, who hosts the drivetime show on XFM radio Manchester.

Nomad added: “I’m hoping there could be a lot of exciting things in the not-so-distant future since Glastonbury. Watch this space.”

l The Grand hosts the charity gig on August 23. Tickets priced at £5 can be obtained from www.ticketline.co.uk or 0871 424 4444. To sponsor the event or donate a raffle prizes contact theragamuffins@hotmail.co.uk