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Spearmint - "Sweeping the Nation" (Hitback records). Email to mail@spearmint.net 11.30 21/12/13. Hi, I've just finished the first draft of my book about the five years I spent promoting various genres of local music during 2002/2007 in and around Chorley, Blackburn and Preston, Lancashire. It champions all the bands and artists that never got to make it further than their hometown fan base...and a few that did. I found your track "Sweeping the Nation" on a Rough Trade CD and have been recommending it to anyone I meet/know as the best song I have ever heard that sums up what my book is about... I am 51 and Northern Soul was an influence on my growing up and appreciation of musical styles. How clever of you to combine the classic back beat sample with a list of the bands you knew about that never made it and then bound it all together with driving guitars and the thumping chorus of: "I've been wasting my life I've finally realised I've wasted so much time....! My book has made me understand that I didn't waste my life because I followed my dream, stuck to what I believed in and have some wonderful memories. I know what Mr Bradshaw meant in his words to Shirley as everything I wanted in life has come true! Thanks again and maybe I'll get to one of your gigs in the New Year. "I wanna hear you on that!" John Winstanley. About the author. John Winstanley was born in Okehampton, Devon in 1962. His parents were originally from the North West of England and they moved to Euxton, Lancashire in the early 1970's. John went to Balshaws High School and Runshaw College in Leyland before starting his career in Preston. Married to Helen he lives with their daughters Hannah and Holly in Withnell, Nr Chorley. When not going out to watch live music John enjoys writing about it and looks forwards to retirement at the family's favourite holiday destination - Benahavis, Costa Del Sol, Spain.