ABOUT ME

I am polite and have an abnormally fast walking pace. Slightly over average height, vegan and struggle to grow a decent beard.

PHILOSOPHY

Geography

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Never got the hang of any other kind of surfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed many times in many countries, and hosted a few times in Sheffield as well. All experiences have been positive

Interests

Until recently I played in a folk fusion band called Solana which kept me pretty busy(http://solana.bandcamp.com/). I also play guitar and mandolin in Jupiter in Jars (https://www.facebook.com/JupiterInJars?ref=hl) as well as performing/writing folk and blues (https://alastairgordon.bandcamp.com)
I ran an Open mic night for two years and firmly believe that they are a general force for good in the world. I still regularly attend them and organize small gigs. I do my best to introduce guests to the lovely little local music scene and seek to discover live music wherever I go.
I converted a Toyota delivery van into a camper and I´d say that van conversion, travel and free camping is now a bit of an obsession
I like busking a lot - a great way to get by when travelling and also an interesting way to see life on the street
Apart from that, I enjoy watching films, walking in hills, hitchhiking, sleeping in caves, riding on bikes, reading good books, trying to grow vegetables and a nice glass of scotch

• writing
• books
• vegan
• walking
• movies
• reading
• music
• live music
• guitar
• blues
• surfing
• geography
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I have a general interest in music and always urge people to introduce me to new stuff. I´m pretty much open to everything, but here are some favourites:
Folk: Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Leonard Cohen, Kevin Burke, Richard Thompson
Jazz: Django Rheinhart, Theolonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson
Blues: Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie McTell, Bessie Smith, Howlin' Wolf
Reggae: Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Dekker, Gregory Issacs, Augustus Paplo, Mr Yellowman
Rock: The Doors, Grateful Dead, Talking Heads, Beatles, The Clash

I have a passion for folk music from all cultures - especially learning to play it. Something about the way in which it is passed from person to person and through generations is very special. Some of the best music I´ve seen has been played by old folks in the corner of a pub near closing time.

Most of the time I like relaxed, gentle music, but I also like a good rave :) For Dancing I tend to go for heavier stuff - Old Skool Jungle, Bassline, Hard Tek etc but a few years living in Berlin gave me a soft spot for minimal techno

Jack Kerouac, Ken kesey, Hunter S. Thampson, Bukowski, Oscar Wilde, George Orwell , F. Scot Fitzgerald, Aldous Huxley, Virginia Wold, Isherwood, John Steinbeck, James Baldwin, Anne Proloux. Hemingway was an asshole but I dig his prose. Occasionally try and tackle the "classics" (Dostoevsky, Flaubert, Sartre, Tolstoy, Cervanes)

Some films I like: Kes, One flew over the Cuckoo´s nest, The graduate, La Haine, Das leben der Andere, the bid lebowski, Tangarine
I try not to limit myself to English or American films, and try to watch films from throughout the 20th century

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Had the pleasure to play music some very talented people

Teach, Learn, Share

I could maybe teach a few chords on the guitar or an Irish tune on the Mandolin. I´m always happy to cook for hosts, and if you want help in the garden I´ll lend a hand

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United Kingdom

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