Thurs 17 May 2012
My weekend of shows was awesome. Brighton was particularly magic. Thanks to Scott at Shhh! for putting on such a fine evening, and for skilfully arranging a full moon in the night sky.
I was lucky enough to play with The Diamond Family Archive that night. This was my first time seeing Laurence & Co. play. They were knockout. Seek out their music for a better overall life experience.
The new album should be getting its first playback after mastering tomorrow. On Monday, it'll go into production. Thanks to all who've pre-ordered, it's gonna be a nice package...
Mon 30th Apr, 2012
Well, it's been a little while-I have been as busy as Pan carving the pipes. My February tour was a truly brilliant time-thank you so much to all the promoters & people who came out.
Thanks also to everyone that's pre-ordered a copy of my new L.P-it's just getting the final mastering tweaks prior to pressing.
I have a little trio of shows coming up-
Fri 4/5- I'll be opening for my friend, American Beat songster & ghost-folk legend Tucker Zimmerman on his only U.K show. Camden's Green Note. Tickets and info here.
Sat 5/5-I'm playing with The Diamond Family Archive and Tandy Hardin Brighton. The venue is West Hill Hall. It's a great venue-be sure to bring your own booze. I mean, I ALWAYS bring my own booze, but this time it's actually encouraged. Finally! A show where I don't have to smuggle Buckfast in my banjo case... Tickets & info here.
Sun 6/5-I've been invited to this year's Bristol Folk Festival to celebrate the Village Thing label that operated in that fine city in the early seventies. I'll be sharing the stage with Wizz Jones, Ian A. Anderson + Ben Mandelson, Tucker Jones and Nancy Wallace.
Also-I've been asked to play the fine 2000 Trees festival this summer, July 12th-14th. I'll be on the Greenhouse stage on Friday 13th of July. Lots of people have raved to me about this festival, I'm psyched. More here.
I hope to see you on the road-more updates here soon. Peace out.
Sun 12th Feb, 2012
Thanks to all of you who came out to see us on Fri. We had a good one.
As promised, here is a pic of the tour cds. Each one is unique. Adorned with an illustration by Jake Blanchard, and screen-printed by him too. Thanks go to Jake for a great job.
If you're interested in reserving a copy then mail me on the contact link. Be quick though, there are only 30 copies.
I'm off to Cornwall now for the next gig, I'll write more soon.
Hope to see you on the tour.
Fri 10th Feb, 2012
The tour starts today. I hope to see you along the way.
A few additions and changes. The Garden gig will be at St Jude's Tavern. Plus I now have another date at the end, in Bristol. I have also put together a tour cd with the help of illustrator Jake Blanchard, I'll post a pic soon.
You can reserve your copy of the new album, The Weight of Care, ahead of its release on April 2nd - it comes as a deluxe LP package with a CD-r containing a special 'laid bare' mix of the album with no overdubs, and the first 50 copies will also come with an exclusive CD-r EP containing some newly recorded instrumental tracks.
To reserve your copy click here.
// Tour //
Friday 10/2 - London King's Place
(w/Nancy Wallace)
Monday 13/2 - Liskeard The Barley Sheaf
Wednesday 15/2 - Exmouth Arms Cheltenham
Friday 17/2 - Leigh on Sea Methodist Church
(w/Cath & Phil Tyler)
Saturday 18/2 - Ipswich The Garden St Jude's Tavern
Friday 9/3 - The Louisiana Bristol
Sunday 18/3 - Portland Folk Club Cambridge
Friday 23/3 - The Grain Barge Bristol
Peace and love.
Sat 3rd Dec, 2011
'I Lost My North' is available to download from itunes & bandcamp on the 19/12/2011. Taken from the forthcoming album 'The Weight of Care'.
The video was filmed and edited with the debonair Andrew Cloke. We'll be working on more projects soon, I'm pleased to say.
I'm very privileged to have so many fine musicians guesting on this record- Jonny Bridgwood on string bass (Morrisey/The Stingrays), the viola & fiddle of Rob Spriggs (Tindersticks), the fine trumpet of Sam Barton (Teeth of the Sea), The electric bass of Steven Collins (The Owl Service) and drummer extraordinaire Dan Gardner. The fine Nancy Wallace has provided not only her voice but accordion, concertina & brass/string arrangements. I am excited about it's imminent arrival into this world.
The album is due for a February release, and I have a short tour around the south of England booked to celebrate. Come out! Shake hands! Buy drinks! It would be lovely to see you.
Friday 10/2 - London King's Place
(w/Nancy Wallace)
Monday 13/2 - Liskeard The Barley Sheaf
Tuesday 14/2 - Bristol TBA
Wednesday 15/2 - Cheltenham TBA
Thursday 16/2 - Brighton TBA
Friday 17/2 - Leigh on Sea Methodist Church
(w/Cath & Phil Tyler)
Saturday 18/2 - Ipswich, The Garden
Peace be with you & speak soon.
Sun 9th Oct, 2011
I wrote some words about Bert Jansch on the Rif Mountain site (read here).
I always get a slight touch of 'The Fear' when the seasons change ... though October always wins me in the end. Belated thanks to all the people who came out to the recent shows – it's been a pleasure. Meeting Flying Saucer Attack's David Pearce in Cheltenham was a genuine highlight. His attempts to articulate his disdain for the music of Jeff Buckley were awesome to hear.
I'm currently getting dates together to follow the album release in February, I'm very excited indeed.
This photo is me printing up the Black Train CD sleeve. A new BT session is going down soon, I'm psyched. Also hoping to post a track+artwork from the new album soon.
I was lying in bed the other night when I decided to put the 'Plastic Ono Band' on. I totally forgot about the bit where John says 'Cookie' in 'Hold On'. I laughed & laughed in the dark, like a loon ...
Sat 16th Jul, 2011
Leigh Folk Festival was a beauty (despite a Saturday you had to swim through). Highlight for me was Men Diamler at the New Road Methodist Church - you must get out and see him, before it is too late. Visit here and find where he is next, while you still can.
Busy times. A new EP...
The Reverend Gary Davis spoke of a Black Train that would appear to him when he played; it is in this spirit that Rif Mountain has begun its Black Train Recordings sessions. A series of limited, hand-made releases containing one-off recording sessions, mantra-jams, improvisions & collaberations from the RM roster & alumni. The first appeared on the Rif Mountain site a couple of weeks back and quickly sold out.
A 3" CD in stamped white sleeve. Signed & numbered linoleum block print pressed on a Dryad Handicraft turn-wheel press. Insert typed on an Olympia steel-bodied typewriter. Presented in a handstamped black envelope, numbered on reverse. Edition of 30 copies.
The inaugural Black Train consisted of songs I had prepared for the show with Tom Paley (on solo 5 and 6 string banjo, guitar & lap steel), as well as an improvisation on 12 string guitar;
1) Warfare Is A-Raging
2) Oh, Goodbye Booze
3) Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me
4) Bo'Weavil
5) Black Window
Steven Collins recorded these live to two microphones. He permitted one cigarette break.
---
My next longplayer shall be seeing a limited, hand assembled vinyl release before the CD. Watch this space. I'm very chuffed indeed to have Rob Spriggs (Tindersticks, Memory Band) adding his wonderful viola and fiddle playing. I'm hoping to have rough mixes to post soon. Doing lots of recording and drawing. Planning a trek to Snowdonia. Reading The Shining. Cycling to work listening to '... And Justice For All'.
Sun 22nd May, 2011
The new long player is coming together nicely. Two days at John Hannon's No Recording Studio (which helped birth records by James Blackshaw & Dead Flowers) followed by various sessions at various homes. It should be ready for the Autumn. Live dates will emerge then. My only scheduled outing is the upcoming Leigh Folk Festival, where I'll be helping to kick the weekend off alongside Tom Paley & The Famous Potatoes at the New Road Methodist Church (Friday 17th June), Leigh on Sea. This is a full on Old Timey evening (with a 78 rpm DJ) in the company of Tom - a master of the craft. I'm looking forward to airing some country blues I've carried in my heart for years but never performed out. They'll be an exclusive recording for sale at this show - if you can't make it down, drop me a line & I'll arrange to get one to you. The Wallace-Steel Group will be playing during the weekend too. Come say hello.
In other news, I heard they've re-made 'Fright Night'. I'm pretty sure Brewster will no longer be so cool. These cowboys came from North London's now defunct House of Aksler - my room is full of tat from there...
Mon 4th Apr, 2011
Watford was A Good One. It was nice telling the tale of waking up in London Zoo after the super-moon. Thanks to everyone for being sweet (and to the girl who shouted for 'Pomegranate'). I drew a picture of the Cross of St. Peter that detailed the prices of items on the merch table, and someone took it.
The next show is the Rout of the Blues night at the Wilmington Arms, East London on the 20th April. Tickets here. I'll be performing with Nancy Wallace (alongside Jonny Bridgwood on string bass & Joolie Wood on fiddle) as the Wallace Steel Group, plus a solo set each as support. Do say hello if you venture out. The Wilmington Arms has a basement straight from the house at the end of the Blair Witch Project (but with beer in ice buckets).
Weds 16th Mar, 2011
A fine evening in Ipswich was had last Friday. Some footage has appeared on YouTube, I believe. Many thanks to The Garden's band of brothers for being such gracious hosts (and spinning Uriah Heep's 'Gypsy' at 3 in the morning).
Weds 9th Mar, 2011
On Friday March 11th I'm heading to Suffolk for Albion Nights 2, hosted by the Garden DJs { www.myspace.com/thegardenpresents }. I'll be ably assisted by Nancy Wallace (we'll both airing new material from our forthcoming albums) and support comes from the Norwich Harp Society. It's happening at PJ McGinty's in Ipswich, kicking off at 8pm and admission is 3 English pounds.
