FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
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  • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
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  • Writing the Wrongs... 2020 in Review
  • Featured Album Reviews
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
    • 2020 Featured Album Reviews >
      • McCartney III
      • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
      • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
      • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
      • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
      • King King - Maverick
      • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
      • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
      • Fish - Weltschmerz
      • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
      • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
      • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
      • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
      • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
      • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
      • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
      • Pat Metheny - From This Place
      • Anchor Lane - Casino
    • 2019 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Fat-Suit - Waifs & Strays
      • Wayward Sons - The Truth Ain't What it Used to Be
      • Flying Colors - Third Degree
      • Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited Band & Orchestra: Live
      • Burnt Out Wreck - This is Hell
      • Runrig - The Last Dance
      • Scarlet Rebels - Show Your Colours
      • The Blind Lemon Gators - Gatorville
      • Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
      • Sweet Oblivion Feat. Geoff Tate
      • Rebecca Downes - More Sinner Than Saint
      • Stray - Mudanzas
      • Snarky Puppy - Immigrance
      • Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics - The Man With Stars On His Knees
    • 2018 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti - Trikala
      • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
      • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
      • Jawbone - Jawbone
      • Steve Perry - Traces
      • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
      • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
      • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
      • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
      • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
      • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
      • JCM - Heroes
      • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
      • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
      • W.E.T. - Earthrage
      • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2021 Reviews
    • 2020 Reviews
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  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
    • Midnight Oil - 02 Brixton Academy, London
    • Ana Popovic - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Eden's Curse - The Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Her Way to Hell - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Quireboys and FM - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Erja Lyytinen - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Wille & The Bandits - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Frankie Miller's Full House - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 2 featuring Brian Downey's Alive and Dangerous, Prestwick
    • John Verity Band - Borders Blues Club, Innerleithen
    • King King (with Sari Schorr) - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck (with Scarlet Rebels) - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Buckcherry / Hoobastank / Adelita's Way - SWG3 Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Q&A with...
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
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Welcome to FabricationsHQ
 Home to the musical articles, reviews and features by  

Ross Muir
Freelance Music Writer & Music Promotion
"Putting the Words to the Music"

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​Contributing writer & reviewer: Nelson McFarlane

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                                            Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News​​​​
British melodic rockers Iconic Eye recently released a new and topical single, 'Ghost Town.'
The track is lifted from the band’s Back From Behind the Sun EP; the 5-track offering was released at the end of 2020 and features new singer Janey Smith.

The new single, with a classic Pat Benatar-esque vibe, lyrically reflects current pandemic circumstances just as it did when first conceived & written; the accompanying video complements the song’s lyrics with its own 'ghost town' isolation...
In the anticipation of a return to live music later in the year, Iconic Eye are currently booking for festivals and high-profile support slots in 2021/ 22 including a Spanish support tour with Magnum (October 2021), Hard Rock Hell (ABC) in November 2021 and various Dementia Awareness Festivals.
The band are also booked to play the main stage at Hard Rock Hell (Spring Break) in 2022.

Acclaim for Back From Behind the Sun:
"Music that the melodic rock fraternity should unhesitatingly embrace" - Fireworks Magazine
"Only complaint is that there are only 5 songs!" - Powerplay magazine
"A welcome return to the light for the new-look Iconic Eye." - FabricationsHQ 

Purchase Back From Behind the Sun here: https://iconiceyemusic.com/new-ep

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UK melodic rock veterans FM will release a new double live album, Tough It Out Live, on 9th April on Frontiers Records.
A 30th Anniversary Tour celebration of their acclaimed second album Tough It Out, the set includes the album performed in its entirety plus a selection of newer album material, including some never previously performed live.

Originally released by Epic Records in 1989, Tough It Out broke into the UK Top 40 and featured contributions from songwriting luminaries such as Desmond Child and Jesse Harms.
The album is rightly regarded as a British melodic rock/AOR classic.
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Tough It Out Live – Track Listing:
CD1
Intro; Tough It Out; Don't Stop; Bad Luck; Someday (You'll Come Running); Every time I Think Of You; Burning My Heart Down; The Dream That Died; Obsession; Can You Hear Me Calling?; Does It Feel Like Love; Feels So Good
CD2
Digging Up The Dirt; Tough Love; Hollow; Dangerous; Hard Day In Hell; Wildside; Breathe Fire; Only The Strong Survive; Blood And Gasoline; I Ain't The One; I Heard It Through The Grapevine
 
Pre-order link: orcd.co/toughitout

FM are: Steve Overland (lead vocals & guitar), Merv Goldsworthy – bass, backing vocals), Pete Jupp (drums), Jem Davis (keys), Jim Kirkpatrick (guitars, backing vocals)

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Power-pop rockers The Middlenight Men have just released a new single 'We All Need Help Before Tomorrow.'
The song is the fourth track to be lifted as a single from recently released debut album, Issue 1.

Of the song, which is accompanied by a fun video, main Middlenight man Nick Hughes says:
"It’s about being on tour with all the parties you could wish for, but explores the thought that tours can be a lonely place where you crave connections and every time you meet someone and have your 24 hours romance, it always follows a daily breakup.
That being said, The Middlenight Men are never ones to take themselves too seriously; our shows and our music is all about escapism from the daily troubles people may be having.
Sure, we may touch on sensitive topics at times but this band is about laughs, stupidity, over the top ideas and caring for one another. Oh. And tequila!"

The Middlenight Men were formed by Nick Hughes, who bought long-time friend Leon Cave (Status Quo) along for the ride while working with producer Andy Brook (who Hughes met whilst previously in Soho based power pop band The Role Models).
 
You can order Issue 1 here: www.themiddlenightmen.com/store
Or listen here: https://ditto.fm/issue-1

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Shadow Bones, aka Singer/songwriter Luke Williams, who has been writing and recording songs for nearly 20 years, have just released their debut single 'Our Story.'

After years of imitating a rock star life (
international chart success and music used globally, playing to audiences of over 30,000, partying with Primal Scream, being asked to have a fight with Liam Gallagher at a fashion shoot – yes, really) Luke Williams confronted his inner demons and began his path to sobriety. Celebrating six years sober, he is a passionate supporter of brands such as Rok Soba – for good times without booze.

The concept of Shadow Bones was born in lockdown, which opened the door to Luke Williams’ old demons:
“Writing songs in lockdown was cathartic, a means of therapy. It transported me back to a dark period of time I had left behind when I was battling sobriety demons.
Being in lockdown gave me that time to reflect on life, what’s been, appreciate what you do have and what you don’t. I never thought a bag of pasta would mean so much to me!”
 
In less than two weeks an album’s worth of material was written; one month later it was recorded.
'Our Story,' the first song to be officially released from those sessions, is "a reflection on looking back and realising what you have lost and what was important and what you should change.
It’s a commercial indie rock take on a classic southern rock feel."

​Shadow Bones will release a string of numbers in 2021, covering Luke Williams story from high life to homelessness – and that’s a story worth telling.
 
You can read more about Shadow Bones and check out other videos at: www.shadowbones.com

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Devon based contemporary rock trio Firekind have released 'Cry For Help,' which features on the Deluxe Edition of their What I Have Found Is Already Lost album, as a 100 copies Limited Edition CD EP Single with two bonus tracks; the single is also available on all digital platforms.
 
Of the song, which is accompanied by a clever and captivating video, band frontman Jas Morris states:
"Nothing much stirs more emotion in me than seeing someone helping another person, especially when there isn’t anything in it for the person helping.
In times when you are at your end and you think all is lost, then that one person is brave enough to jump in to save you out of the blue. That’s what I tried to capture with this track."
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Both the signed & numbered CD and Digital release boast B-Sides of an alternate, heavier version of album track 'No Stone Unturned,' and 'Have I Been Living,' also in alternative form.
Both were arranged/ recorded remotely in the current UK lockdown with friend of the band, Matthew Fisher, mixing and mastering the tracks.


The single can be purchased along with other Firekind merch here: www.firekind.com/shop
 
Firekind hope to be scheduling a UK tour for later this year.
 
"Gnarly contemporary sounds and arena-friendly oomph."
Classic Rock Magazine
 
"If you’re not familiar with Firekind, you should get familiar."
Kris Barras
 
"On What I Have Found Is Already Lost Firekind have made quite a sonic impression."
FabricationsHQ
 
"One of the best-kept secrets in UK rock."
Rock N Load Magazine

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Former Little Angels frontman and Wayward Sons singer-guitarist-songwriter Toby Jepson is set to release a remastered retrospective of his solo work entitled Viewfinder on March 12th.

Comprising 16 songs taken from various releases between 2002 to 2013, Viewfinder includes four previously unreleased bonus tracks.
 
You can hear Toby Jepson talking about the story behind the making of Viewfinder and the songs featured on the album, in the video below.

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Toby Jepson found fame as the frontman-singer-songwriter in British rock band Little Angels who achieved significant success in the UK, Europe and Japan.
The band’s final studio album Jam was released in 1993, followed by a farewell sell out show at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994.
 
Between 2007 and 2017 Toby fronted Eddie Clarke’s Fastway, sang for Scottish rock band GUN and then fronted Dio’s Disciples – a band made up of the late great Ronnie James Dio’s last line up.
 
As a producer, his production credits include working with Macclesfield rock act The Virginmarys (on their critically acclaimed debut album King Of Conflict); this led to working as a producer/ arranger for many acts including Saxon, Fastway and The Answer, as well as being the principal writer/ arranger/ producer for UK rock act Toseland.
 
Toby Jepson has also written and co-written songs for and with a vast array of artists including Katie Melua, Dan Reed, Russ Ballard, Biff Byford, Hugh Cornwell, Matt Sorum, Giuliano and Dante Gizzi, James Lomenzo, Brian Tiche and Jim Vallance.
 
His new band Wayward Sons have been hailed as one of the key bands at the forefront of the UK hard rock scene.
Their debut album Ghosts Of Yet To Come was voted #8 by Planet Rock Radio’s listeners in 2017’s Top 20 while Great Music Stories listener's voted them Live Band Of The Year.
Wayward Sons were then voted Planet Rock's Best New Band in the station’s ROCKS Awards in 2018. Wayward Sons latest album The Truth Ain’t What It Used To Be is out now via Frontiers Music Srl.

 
Toby Jepson's continued work as a mentor to bands saw him co-found Lightning In A Bottle with Rob Town (Stampede Press/Panic Cell), a music management consultation agency, in 2018; recently he launched his own film production company, Big Bad Films.
 
In 2019 Toby Jepson was presented with the prestigious Legend award by Hard Rock Hell at the HRH Awards.
In 2020 Planet Rock announced that Jepson would be joining the radio station as a full-time presenter.

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Legendary band the Strawbs have just released a new album on Esoteric Antenna entitled Settlement.
The album, which follows more than 50 years on from the band’s first major label release, comes at a time of political and social upheaval, which the lyrics and melodies of songs such as 'Judgement Day,' which has been released as a Radio Edit, reflect...
​Undeterred by the fact that "business as usual" was not possible because of the global pandemic – working remote from one another, from their own home studios – Settlement is a remarkable achievement.

David Cousins, leader of the Strawbs says:
"Settlement is something extraordinary. I can’t think of another band who can go from metal grunge to the lilt of an Irish ghost story – or from a song in 6/8 time to singing in 4/4 over a 5/4 backbeat – in half an hour!
The lyrics reflect the times we have been living through and I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved."
 
The Strawbs are David Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk, Tony Fernandez and Dave Bainbridge.
Special guests on the album are former Strawbs member John Ford, singer Cathryn Craig and bassist Schalk Joubert.
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“There comes a time when every Settlement is due!”

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Award winning Scottish singer songwriter Jason Sweeney, whose love for infectious, guitar-driven melodic rock (as heard with The King Lot) is equalled only by his love for roots & modern country (heard to fine effect last year on the single 'The Glasses on the Table') has switched back to the former genre for latest offering, 'She’s a Fighter.'

Taking it’s lead from the Bryan Adams school of hooky, hard melodic rock the track lyrically "touches on the story of a woman who faces some challenges in her life but keeps getting back up and moving forward" as confirmed by the singer.

The song will also feature on an EP due in May of this year.
Jason Sweeney is an award-winning musician and private music tutor with over thirty years of performing experience as well as various commercial releases under his belt.
His solo music and melodic rock power trio The King Lot (who have released two acclaimed albums thus far) has taken him all around the UK in a touring and performing capacity.
 
As well as holding a 1st class honours degree in music and a masters degree in songwriting, Jason has also been recognised by Abertay University (contributions towards music in the community) and presented with the Tartan Clef Award by Nordoff Robins (as part of the Hard Rock Cafe awards).

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​On the heels of his recently released New York Times Best Selling memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do? legendary rock musician and Grammy winning artist Peter Frampton turns his focus back to music with a new studio album, Frampton Forgets The Words, which will be released on April 23rd.

On the new album Peter Frampton brings his renowned and virtuosic guitar playing to some of his favourite songs in instrumental arrangement; the ten track selection includes 'Isn’t It a Pity' by George Harrison, 'Loving the Alien' by David Bowie and new single 'Avalon,' by Roxy Music.

Of the new single Peter Frampton says "The original is such a perfect piece of music. I really wanted to get as close to the vocal inflection as I could, and I think I almost did it! It’s a sexy kind of guitar sound, like Bryan Ferry’s vocal, and I’m very proud of it."
"This album is a collection of ten of my favourite pieces of music. My guitar is also a voice and I have always enjoyed playing my favourite vocal lines that we all know and love. These tracks are my great band and me paying tribute to the original creators of this wonderful music - It was so much fun to do and I really hope you enjoy it too!" - Peter Frampton

You can pre-order the album (available in CD, Double Black Vinyl & Double Clear Vinyl) along with other Peter Frampton merchandise, including Do You Feel Like I Do : A Memoir, here: https://store.frampton.com/

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Acoustic soul/ rootsy Americana singer-songwriter Brigitte DeMeyer, who spent a great deal of her music career in Nashville before returning to her home State of California, will release her new album Seeker on the 26th March on BDM Music.
The album will be available on CD, Digital Download and Stream.

Co-written and produced by Jano Rix (the multi-instrumentalist of roots trio, the Wood Brothers) Seeker showcases Brigitte DeMeyer’s versatility as a singer and songwriter, moving with ease from the rootsy to the ethereal.
Both luscious and sparse arrangements showcase DeMeyer’s emotive vocals within a lyrically deep set of songs that are "a mix of poetry and soul" as the singer herself puts it.
PicturePhoto by Gina R. Binkley
Having Jano Rix on board again (he appeared on the DeMeyer/Will Kimbrough release Mockingbird Soul and DeMeyer’s Savannah Road) points to a collaboration that works beautifully (DeMeyer’s voice and painterly lyrics, combined with Rix’s mastery of piano and rhythm, create a musical sparkle).
Or, as featured bassist Chris Woods (The Wood Brothers, Medeski Martin and Wood) says "It’s Bob Dylan meets Sly Stone."

Along with Jano Rix and Chris Woods the album features a "family of friends" including Alfreda McCrary of the McCrary Sisters (DeMeyer’s best friend and godmother to her son) on backing and harmony vocals and Oliver Wood (electric guitar, harmony vocals).

Moving back west, intermixed with personal loss, a bout of pneumonia and an equestrian accident, inspired the songs – "Often art comes from struggle" says Brigitte DeMeyer, "You write what you know about. I’m certainly not the first to find this out.
I’m thankful for what has come my way whichever way it landed.
In hindsight, it always turns in to something I can draw from creatively."


While splitting her time between San Francisco and Nashville has now become the norm for Brigitte DeMeyer, the fear of the unknown has become fuel. Her searching turned into Seeker.
 
www.brigittedemeyer.com

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Oxfordshire based contemporary hard rock trio Molly Karloff have just released their new single 'She Said' (Romesh Remix).
All proceeds from the single will be donated to the UK mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind.


Having worked with Romesh Dodangoda (Bullet for My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend, Bring Me The Horizon) on the remix of previous single 'Do It Again' the band invited him to remix 'She Said,' which sports a big hook chorus and a guitar sound thicker than War And Peace. 

"Lockdowns are bad for mental health" says Molly Karloff’s guitarist and vocalist Simon Gee.
"We’ve decided to raise money to help those people who are suffering most. Mental health is a serious issue and that’s why the band are showing their support by donating all proceeds from the new single to Oxfordshire Mind."
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​Oxfordshire Mind provides help and support to anyone affected by mental health problems.
People can donate by pre-saving and ordering the single from https://mollykarloff.hearnow.com or donate via the band’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/molly-karloff

"We’re thrilled Molly Karloff has chosen to support Oxfordshire Mind by donating the proceeds of their new single. Covid-19 has dramatically highlighted the need for services like ours. The pandemic is changing our lives and placing huge amounts of stress on our mental health. The self-isolation and social distancing measures in place, as well as fears about the virus itself, are adding to the pressures of the current situation." Kathryn Pickup, Community Fundraiser Oxfordshire Mind.

To coincide with the new single, Molly Karloff have confirmed a recording deal with Off Yer Rocka Records, who will release the band’s next two studio albums.
​

Molly Karloff is Simon Gee (vocals, guitar), Dan Podbery (bass) and Jowie Adkins (drums).

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Chicago-based singer, songwriter and slide guitar virtuoso Joanna Connor, a true Queen of blues rock guitar, has released a new single 'Destination;' it dovetails as a celebration of the release of her fourteenth album 4801 South Indiana Avenue, which was released on the 26th February.

The new album, which follows the critically acclaimed Rise, was produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville; it will be released on Bonamassa’s new independent blues label Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA).

Of the single Joanna Connor says "Destination is a real house rocking tune written by a somewhat overlooked band called The Assassins, led by Jimmy Thackeray. It was made sweeter by the soulful background vocals of Jimmy Hall. Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith joined in on guitars as well!"

The song, which showcases wickedly fast slide work from a wickedly good player, also features Reese Wynans on piano.
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4801 South Indiana Avenue reflects an entirely new experience from the way Joanna Connor has recorded in the past, as the musician explains:
"This album is a homage to the blues school that I attended in Chicago. We attempted to capture the spirit of tradition and inject it with raw energy and passion.
We chose the album title 4801 South Indiana Avenue because it was the actual street address of the hallowed funky blues sanctuary Theresa’s Lounge. We want the listener to open that door, walk in and feel to their core some of the magic a place like that brought night after night."

The album sports both a selection of Chicago Blues covers (hand-picked by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, who also play guitar on every track) and an authentic live feel.
The latter was accomplished by Joe Bonammassa banning guitar effects pedals, bringing in vintage amps from his personal collection and having all songs performed in one, two or three takes.

'Destination' and 4801 South Indiana Avenue are released by KTBA Records.

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London based rock quartet Vambo have shown their softer musical shades via the releases of the acoustic version of Dancing With the Devil, one of many highlights to be found on last year's Vambo Deluxe (the band's debit album with a selection of bonus, acoustic and live tracks).

Covid-Pandemic situation willing, the band will be Special Guests to, first, Cats in Space on the latter's 10 date UK tour in September, then Praying Mantis in October.
"Vambo Deluxe is a promising debut from a promising band that wear their influences on their collective sleeve while looking to expand the genre... there is absolutely no question Vambo could yet rool, OK?"
 - FabricationsHQ

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Midlands based, rock 'n' soul-inspired quartet Rainbreakers are returning to the fray with impressive new material that will see the light of day on their forthcoming new album, to be released later this year.
 
The band’s return, which follows their seriously impressive 2018 full-length debut album Face To Face, is celebrated by the new single 'Ashes,' which will be released on the 26th February.

"Ashes has been a long time coming," admits Rainbreakers frontman Ben Edwards, "and to be honest there were times last year where I wondered if it would ever see the light of day!"

Directed by Morgan Tedd at Erase Creative, the Official Music Video for 'Ashes' cuts between the band and a man literally at the end of his tether, dragging a deadweight behind him, giving the themes of the song a vivid and physical form that matches the weight of the music, lyric and performance…
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"Ashes is about feeling held back. Right now, the whole world is feeling that way, but this is only the beginning of the journey. Our song showcases the feelings of someone who has been thrust into a world where they are underappreciated and neglected by the system.
This song explores how it feels for someone to be disregarded by their society because they do not fit the templates imposed on them; or, at least, how those aspects of a personality can feel oppressed by a system that just doesn’t care." - Ben Edwards

Rainbreakers kept the initial roll-out of the single very special and very exclusive, as it was only released on Limited Edition 7” Vinyl, with just 500 copies being pressed and printed.
An exclusive signed photo was included with the hand-numbered and signed vinyl, making it even more collectable.

The Rainbreakers are:
Ben Edwards (vocals); Charlie Richards (guitar); Ash Milburn (bass), Sam Edwards (drums).

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​It’s a double dose of good news for acclaimed American singer-songwriter-guitarist Arielle.

Not only does she release her new album Analog Girl in a Digital World on Friday 7th May, that date coincides with the release of her new signature guitar The Arielle, manufactured by Brian May Guitars.

Queen’s legendary guitarist, a big fan of Arielle’s guitar playing, confirmed this is the first time Brian May Guitars have manufactured a signature model for another player:
"This is the first guitar Brian May Guitars has ever offered that is not based on my original Red Special. Designed by, and named after Arielle, it’s a new dimension.
​To understand why this guitar was irresistible to me, you have to hold her in your hands. The guitar is light, smooth and agile. She sings like a bird."
 
Analog Girl in a Digital World, which will be available on CD, Vinyl & Digital can be pre-ordered from: https://smarturl.it/officialarielle and www.arielle.store

The Arielle signature guitar can also now be pre-ordered from Brian May Guitars:  https://shop.brianmayguitars.co.uk/products/bmg-arielle.html

The album is preceded by the Americana chime and pop charm of Arielle's new single 'Peace of Mind'...

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​Analog Girl in a Digital World features Arielle's self-built guitar Two-Tone, and her new signature guitar The Arielle (the musician will also be planting a tone-wood tree in honour of the first 24 guitars sold).

Continues Brian May: Arielle is truly phenomenal player, with an ability to produce the most beautiful tones as well technical mastery. Of course, it is in the fingers, but I was keen to discover how she had fashioned her own instrument to achieve her sound. We collaborated in making the Arielle a new mission to guitarists everywhere - to open up a new  door to excellence!”

Arielle is a classic rock artist in the 21st century; a young musician born  in the wrong generation.
She recorded half of the new album in digital, and the other half in tape, to try and capture the impact music of the 60’s and 70’s had on her.
"I take and protect those principles inside my music,” says the guitarist "The new  album takes you on a journey through the trials, tribulations, and confusion of  an old-school artist in a fast-paced world."

 
When Arielle produced the album, she insisted on recording each song in one take. 
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Additionally, recording the album in studios in Nashville and Austin, Arielle set out to capture the  energy of each of those cities and their musicians.
 
Analog Girl in a Digital World - Track Listing
1. Dialup; 2. Digital World; 3. Peace Of Mind; 4. This Is Our Intervention; 5. Still A Man; 6. Inside & Outside; 
7. I'd Rather Be In England; 8. Living in a Fortress; 
9. Reimagine Redefine

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Hookers & Blow, the covers project formed by long-time Guns N' Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi, have released a new single from their forthcoming covers album to be released in 2021 via Golden Robot Records.

The new single is a cover of The Zombies classic, 'Time Of The Season,' of which Dizzy Reed says "We love the Zombies. Great band with a great name led by the incomparable Rod Argent and his keyboard wizardry. Time of the Season is an iconic song with a timeless message. To share the burden as well as the fun, the lovely Nadja Reed picks up the lead vocals on this one!"
The first single from the forthcoming album was an inspired cover of Eddie Money's 'Shakin,' followed by an energetic and rambunctious version of the Rolling Stones classic 'Rocks Off,' from iconic double album Exile On Main Street.
Those were followed an emotive version of David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' that respectfully held a candle up to the original, as did their cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Trampled Underfoot,' which was dedicated to the band’s good friend and colleague, the late Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot, who played on the track (the drummer sadly passed away in August 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer).
A portion of the proceeds from the 'Trampled Underfoot' single were donated to https://www.pancan.org/
 
Stream/ buy 'Time of the Season' here: https://smarturl.it/HnB-TimeOfTheSeason

In addition to Dizzy Reed, Alex Grossi and Nadja Reed, Hookers & Blow’s current line-up includes drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative, Danzig) and bassist Robbie Crane (Black Star Riders).

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Multi-award-winning rootsy blues songstress Elles Bailey has released her cover of John Prine’s swansong number, 'I Remember Everything,' as a single.
The song is lifted from her acclaimed 2020 lockdown covers album, Ain’t Nothing But.

The poignant and reflective 'I Remember Everything' was the final, posthumous song from the late and great John Prine, a singer songwriter who had a great effect on Elles Bailey.
"I cannot truly put into words the impact that John Prine’s music has had on my life," says the smoky voiced singer, who featured the track as part of her Ain't Nothing But The... livestream series at White Noise Studios during the Summer of 2020.

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The video of the White Noise performance was included by Americana Music Association UK in its first virtual AmericanaFest UK in January, as part of their John Prine Tribute.
Additionally, and as part of the Americana Awards 2021, John Prine was honoured with The Songwriter Legacy Award (received by his wife Fiona).

"I was so honoured that my version of I Remember Everything was included in the John Prine Tribute Show for AmericanaFest UK. I have made it no secret how deep my admiration and awe for John’s writing runs, so to be involved alongside so many incredible acts — like Billy Bragg, Ida Mae, and John’s sons — is an experience I will treasure forever." - Elles Bailey

'I Remember Everything' is available to stream or download:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ellesbailey/i-remember-everything

Ain’t Nothing But can be purchased direct from www.ellesbailey.com/store
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Elles Bailey has been shortlisted for the UKBlues Awards in three categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Ain't Nothing But) and in the new Most Inspirational Online Performance category (for the Ain't Nothing But The… Livestream Series).

You can vote in the 2021 UKBlues Awards here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2021UKBLUESAWARDS-VOTING/

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Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman have reunited after 20 years to issue a 3CD Box Set entitled Tales By Gaslight, featuring remastered versions of the Nolan & Wakeman albums Jabberwocky and The Hound Of The Baskervilles along with a new disc, Dark Fables.

The Tales By Gaslight box set, which also includes a 16-page booklet (with lyrics and stories behind the creation of the albums) and individual art prints of the three covers, will be released by Burning Shed on 23rd April.

Additionally, the first 250 box sets will also include a fourth, limited edition numbered art print of the box set cover signed by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman.
​Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena, Shadowland) and Oliver Wakeman (Solo, Oliver Wakeman Band, ex YES and Strawbs) first combined their considerable keyboard and compositional talents to create two rock opera/ concept albums Jabberwocky and The Hound of The Baskervilles.

Jabberwocky, released in 1999, was based on the famous Lewis Carroll poem.
It was followed in 2002 by The Hound of The Baskervilles, inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novel penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
​
The rock opera project was intended to be a trilogy of musical interpretations of literary classics but, sadly, an album inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was shelved because of a lack of record company funding.
However the third disc in the box set, Dark Fables, features over thirty minutes of previously unreleased pieces that were intended for the abandoned Frankenstein album.
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​Additionally Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman also found pieces which were unused from The Hound of The Baskervilles. These include 'The Man Called Sherlock' (which was the original version of the 'Overture') and '221B,' inspired by Sherlock Holmes’ famous address.

The two released albums featured a host of guest performances including, among others, the late Peter Banks, Bob Catley, Tracy Hitchings and narration by Oliver Wakeman’s father Rick and actor Robert Powell.

The new/ unreleased recordings feature the talents of, among others, Gordon Giltrap, Paul Manzi (Arena, Oliver Wakeman Band, Sweet), Andy Sears (Twelfth Night) and David Mark Pearce (Oliver Wakeman Band).
Also included is an original reading of the Jabberwocky poem by Rick Wakeman.

You can pre-order Tales by Gaslight here: https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman

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Downes Braide Association (featuring the musical and songwriting partnership of Geoff Downes and Chris Braide), to coincide with and celebrate the CD release of their fourth studio album Halcyon Hymns, have launched a third single from the album, 'Today,' along with accompanying video.

'Today' takes its lead from the album's title; it reflects on bucolic halcyon summer days and happier times; a celebration of life and making the most of what we have, here and now, something to appreciate in these unprecedented times. The song also features guitarist Dave Bainbridge (Lifesigns, The Strawbs, Iona).


"Today Is about being in love with a moment that can never last and treasuring the feeling that fleeting moment, brings. The lyric is truly from the heart." - Chris Braide.

"Today is DBA's 21st century take on the romance of spending a perfect day with someone you love. Here's to more perfect days
– today, together and beyond!" - Geoff Downes.
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DBA combines the talents of keyboardist Geoff Downes (YES, Asia, Wetton-Downes, The Buggles) and singer-songwriter-pianist-producer Chris Braide, who has produced music for film scores and worked with artists such as Sia, Lana Del Rey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears and Marc Almond.

Halcyon Hymns (which features contributions from Marc Almond and David Longdon) is the fifth DBA collaboration, following in the pop-gressive footsteps of previous studio albums Pictures of You (2012), Suburban Ghosts (2015) and Skyscraper Souls (2017).
​

The duo also released Live In England (2019), which was recorded at their first ever concert at Trading Boundaries, East Sussex, in 2018.
​
The CD/DVD edition of Halcyon Hymns is out now: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/downes-braide-association-halcyon-hymns-cd-dvd-edition/

A 2LP White Vinyl edition, which will be released on 26th March can be pre-ordered here:  https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/downes-braide-association-halcyon-hymns-limited-edition-2lp-white-vinyl/

Downes Braide Association official website:  https://downesbraide.co.uk/

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​Good news for Geoff Tate fans is the announcement of the return of Sweet Oblivion, the rock-metal project centred around the former Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate; a second album entitled Relentless is set for release on the 9th April on Frontiers Records.

Relentless
is the follow-up to the project band’s well-received 2019 self-titled debut that brought Geoff Tate back to a musical landscape somewhat akin to the classic albums he released with his former band in the 1980s.
However, rather than being a mere throwback, other musical influences were thrown into the mix, allowing fans to hear Tate in both familiar and new settings, as is the case with Relentless, which is preceded by  taster in the shape of 'Strong Pressure' and the Official Lyric Video.
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On the Sweet Oblivion debut album the bulk of the songwriting and production was handled by Simone Mularoni of Italian prog-metal masters DGM; for Relentless his compatriot Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere, Timo Tolkki's Avalon, Archon Angel) is on production and guitar duties, as well as co-writing the bulk of the material with Geoff Tate.

The other primary musicians to feature are Luigi Andreone (bass), Antonio Agate (keys) and Michele Sanna (drums), while a number entitled 'Aria' (drafted by Aldo Lonobile at Geoff Tate’s and sung in Italian) features the guitars of Walter Cianciusi and Dario Parente, both of whom are now part of Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime live band.

In showcasing the songwriting and performing talents of Geoff Tate, Aldo Lonobile and the other musicians involved in Sweet Oblivion, Relentless marks a welcome return for Tate to a style he made famous.

"I have been spending more and more time in Italy over the last few years and the people and their culture have captured my heart. I truly enjoyed working with my Italian counterparts to create this classic metal album." – Geoff Tate

"Sweet Oblivion is a big, dynamic, melodic-metal shaped offering with excellent musicianship that showcases the Empire (re)building voice of Geoff Tate." 
 – FabricationsHQ

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Noted composer and musician Lyle Workman hasn’t just had a successful career – he’s had three.
 
As a versatile sideman and session guitarist, Lyle Workman he has toured and recorded with the likes of Beck, Sting, Todd Rundgren, Norah Jones, Bryan Adams and Tony Williams, among others.
As a film composer, his credits include the blockbusters Superbad, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Forgetting Sarah Marshall; as a songwriter and solo artist, he has penned hits, released solo albums and earned praise from such guitar luminaries as Steve Vai and Steve Lukather.
 
Lyle Workman now unites his various endeavours with Uncommon Measures, a stunning and stylistically diverse instrumental album featuring a 63-piece orchestra recorded live at Abbey Road.

Uncommon Measures plays like the score to an epic film from another dimension, mixing elements of progressive rock, jazz fusion, classical and choral music with gleeful abandon; the results are an extraordinary and captivating nine song cycle that scales the heights of joy and sadness, love and friendship, self-discovery and celebration, all without a single word.
 
"This record ties together all the different threads of who I am as an artist," explains Lyle Workman.
"It was four years in the making, but it’s really the culmination of a lifetime in music."

Painting vivid, emotional portraits with his evocative guitar and keyboard work, Workman creates an immersive, cinematic universe drawn entirely from the depths of his subconscious in spontaneous, improvised writing sessions. "Writing these songs, I tried to just go into this tabula rasa state of mind, a meditative place where I could let the music tell me where to go."


Uncommon Measures showcases not only Workman’s skilled musicianship, but also his expansive emotional vocabulary.
Tracks such as dizzying nine-minute opener 'North Star' and pulse-pounding 'All The Colors Of The World' balance breakneck guitar runs and instrumental fireworks with moments of deep calm and poignant reflection, while playful tunes such as the funky, horn-fuelled 'Unsung Hero' and 'Noble Savage' revel in the joys of creative freedom...

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Born and raised in California, Lyle Workman taught himself guitar as a youngster by playing along to songs by The Beatles.
His taste would expand over the years with the likes of Genesis and YES bringing him to Mahavishnu Orchestra and Miles Davis, which in turn led to Ravel and Debussy.
But he also has a love for the perfectly crafted pop song; he co-wrote the Todd Rundgren produced hit single ‘I Don’t Mind At All’ for Bourgeois Tagg, who he had joined after leaving Music College.

Workman released his first instrumental solo album, Purple Passages, in 1996.
His second solo album, Tabula Rasa, was released in 2001; it was followed eight years later by 2009’s Harmonic Crusader.
 
Embarking on the journey that would become Uncommon Measures, Lyle Workman shut off his mind and simply let the music flow in his LA studio.
Assembling a band to help flesh out the core material, he tapped up drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Matt Chamberlain, bassist Tim Lefebvre and pedal steel wizard Greg Leisz.
He then began collaborating on arrangements with John Ashton Thomas, the orchestrator behind films such as Black Panther and Captain Marvel.
 
When it came time to record the orchestra, 63 of London’s finest players gathered at Abbey Road for what turned out to be a ‘pinch me’ day for Lyle Workman, both as a kid who grew up obsessed with The Beatles and as a composer finally seeing his vision come to life.
 
For an artist like Lyle Workman, when the possibilities are infinite, the infinite becomes possible.
Uncommon Measures is proof of that.

Uncommon Measures was released digitally on the 19th February; it will be released on CD on 16th April on Blue Canoe Records.

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Swedish alternative rock & theatrical pop trio Reach have released a new single from forthcoming album, A Promise of a Life, due in April.
The single, 'New Frontier,' mixes the band’s quirky and theatrically styled sound with a slice of Queen inspired musicality and Muse-esque stadium sheen...
PicturePhoto: Olivia Eriksson/ Streetlight Motion
'New Frontier' is a song written as a final epos, the speech a commander gives his troops before the final battle, as singer/guitarist Ludvig Turner explains:
"I grew up watching Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Independence Day kind of movies. I find these epic wars and powerful eve-of-battle speeches strangely inspiring. New Frontier was the last song recorded for The Promise of a Life and it made so much sense that it would be written as the final epos.
The verses are my speech to the soldiers before the final battle; put Aragorn on a robotic horse shooting laser beams from his sword and that's what I see when I listen to this chorus!"


​Before the pandemic breakout in 2020 Reach gave a sold out show at Fryshuset, Stockholm with rock bands H.E.A.T and Crashdïet; that was followed by a performance at Trädgårn in Gothenburg.
In 2021, if restrictions allow, they will embark on an extensive European tour as special guest to H.E.A.T with support from Temple Balls.

Reach was founded in 2012. During their eight years as a band Ludvig Turner, Marcus Johansson and Soufian Ma´Aoui have released critically praised albums that are defined by strong melodies and original song-writing.
The band continue to musically develop whilst chasing a sound that is both exciting and highly individual.

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New York blues-rock songstress Sari Schorr has created a visually accomplished, brand-new video for latest single 'Turn the Radio On,' lifted from current studio album Never Say Never.

During the past year, in a world of restrictions, lockdowns and no live gigging, Sari Schorr honed a new craft, that of shooting and editing vivid, evocative visual pieces such as her much-viewed video for her "gratitude song" Ordinary Life, which captured striking and emotive scenes of life in The Big Apple under the first lockdown.
 
For her latest video the critically acclaimed, New York Blues Hall of Fame singer shows what can be achieved with quality consumer media tools
– a smartphone, laptop and editing software – and artistic vison.
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Of the video and song, which melodically shapes itself around a lyric of regret and reflection, Sari Schorr comments: "I think a lot about the past. Life paves this beautiful road for us to roam, but it’s bumpy and narrow with twists and turns, offering up hit or miss guardrails that stand as our last defence between serenity and regret.
Creating this visual representation of my music has been a monumental challenge, first and foremost because I’m not a filmmaker and have no professional equipment at my disposal.
So, the craft of storytelling is presented through the lens of my iPhone rather than through stagecraft, but I hope the connection with the audience will be as rewarding and memorable."

"Turn the Radio On is a lovely AOR pop-blues with reflective ‘what-if’ lyric – and a song Stevie Nicks will be raging she didn’t come up with first." - FabricationsHQ

The single is now available to download & Stream from all digital platforms: http://smarturl.it/ssradioon

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British singer-songwriter Gary Hughes, frontman of Melodic rock outfit TEN, has announced a new solo album for 12th March release on Frontiers Records.

Entitled Waterside, the album will be released simultaneously with Decades, a 2xCD best of collection encompassing three decades of Gary Hughes' solo work in a newly remastered format.
Songs featured will include those lifted from his albums Precious Ones, Veritas, Once and Future Kings Parts I and II and Gary Hughes, plus rarities only previously issued in Japan.

Waterside is preceded by the feel-good vibe of the country rock shaped title track as a lead-off single, of which Gary Hughes explains "
is a very straightforward jacket, jeans and Fender Telecaster affair; a slice of Anglo-Americana!"
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Of Waterside the album Gary Hughes continues...
"It is great to step back into solo mode again for a short while; the songs on my new album are filled with light and shade and are much lighter than my heavier and deeper TEN material.
We live in such testing times that I have tried to create a piece of Melodic AOR that might lift the spirit and allow for a little much needed escapism. There is definitely a positive feel good factor to this new collection of songs and I hope that fans enjoy listening to it."
 
With fourteen studio albums released as part of TEN, a rock opera (in two parts), his solo albums and much more, the body of work Gary Hughes has amassed is impressive.
His work in TEN presents a hard melodic rock sound that is rooted in the tradition of acts such as UFO, Whitesnake and Rainbow, while his solo material offers a more melodic sound with roots in late ‘80s AOR.

Waterside is Gary Hughes'  first solo record since Veritas fourteen years ago; musically however Waterside is more akin to what his fans might have expected to follow his self-titled debut and Precious Ones albums of the 90s, along with hints of early TEN.

Pre-order the albums at: 
Waterside: orcd.co/waterside     Decades: orcd.co/decades

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Noted German bluesman Zed Mitchell, who released his latest solo album Route 69 at the end of last year, will release a ten track vinyl edition this month (twelve songs featured on the CD; the other two songs will be available via stream/ download).

The noted guitarist, whose sumptuously smooth tones dovetail with his nimble bends and nuanced use of sustain, has featured on 21 albums (including the million selling Munich Symphonic Sound Orchestra, as featured acoustic and electric guitarist) over what is now a 50 year career, including eight solo albums in the last thirteen years.

The latest of those solo offerings, 
Route 69, is a blues smooth album that features a number of songs that dip into the autobiographical and tales and that come with a lifetime’s experience.

One of Europe’s leading session guitarists, Zed Mitchell has been compared to Mark Knopfler, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, JJ Cale, and Chris Rea, but he has his own unique style, as Mitchell himself states: "People often talk about my influences, but I prefer to draw on various styles to suit a particular song and ultimately work on my own style."

Blues promoter, broadcaster and songwriter Pete Feenstra, who contributed lyrics to four of the songs similarly sees Mitchell’s guitar playing as a catalyst for the songs themselves: "Zed says more in a note that many guitarists can achieve in a solo. He subconsciously taps into musical thoughts themes and moods, so the songs nearly write themselves."

Regarded as one of the leading guitar players in Europe, Zed Mitchel began his career in Belgrade in 1970, where he established the Rock Guitar school.
He would later work as a session guitarist at the famed Arco Studios in Munich (working with the likes of Tina Turner, Phil Collins and Natalie Cole), with composer Elmer Bernstein (on film soundtrack album Indiana Jones) and go on to tour with greats such as BB King, Santana and Joe Cocker.

Mitchell has also worked with the Ian Gillan Band, Deep Purple and Focus; he has played guitar for Italian Euro pop star Eros Ramazotti as well as Curt Cress, Udo Lindenberg and Leslie Mandoki.

But it’s as a solo artist that he found his own unique voice, on themed albums such as Springtime In Paris, Autumn In Berlin, Winter In Amsterdam, Summer In LA, previous release Wow and now Route 69.

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Black Country born, Midlands based rock quintet Gin Annie have just released a brand new single entitled 'Devil In Me,' with accompanying video.
 
'Devil In Me' explores that powerful point where flirtation becomes seduction: when a connection is made; when eyes have locked across the room and magnetic attraction has taken hold.
 
"We wanted the music to reflect that" the band explain, "that’s why this track is something you can actually dance to as opposed to a regular rock track where fist pumps, headbanging and jumping around are the only forms of dance needed. We wanted the music to take you to the very club or dance floor where this seduction is taking place."
'Devil In Me' comes on the back of Gin Annie’s successful Locked Down & Loaded livestream show from KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, where the band performed their 100% Proof debut album on 29th December, 2020.
 
The band, formed by cousins David Foster (vocals) and Byron "Beej" Garbett (guitars) and featuring Brian Green (guitars), Phil "Hammer" Burrows (bass) and Lewis Turner (drums) established themselves on the local club circuit as a high-energy act before recording their debut album 100% Proof, which was subsequently released on Off Yer Rocka Recordings in January 2019.
Upon release, 100% Proof entered the Top 10 of both the i-Tunes and Amazon Rock Charts.
 
Gin Annie earned further laurels from a 7-date UK tour, slots supporting Deadland Ritual, Last in Line, Geoff Tate, Ugly Kid Joe and festival appearances such as Ramblin’ Man, HRH Ibiza and HRH 13.
 
Two singles released in 2019 gained airplay on Planet Rock Radio; second single 'Dying to Live Again' also earned the band their BBC Radio 2 debut on the Johnnie Walker Rock Show.
 
You can stream/download the single on all digital platforms here: https://backl.ink/144054401

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Jason Bieler, who has just released his excellent new solo album Songs For The Apocalypse (under the moniker Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra) has followed up its release with another single lifted from the album, 'Beyond Hope.'

The song, which flits between 
heavy-funk metal, 40s swing and Ska, is accompanied by a suitably creepy and mesmerising video.
'Beyond Hope' also features the guest talents of vocalist Benji Webbe (Skindred), bassist David Ellefson (Megadeth), drummer Ricky Sanders and guitar solo from Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Sons Of Apollo).
Released on the 22nd January, Songs For The Apocalypse features other musical talents such as Devin Townsend, Todd LaTorre (Queensrÿche), Pat Badger (Extreme), Edu Cominato (SOTO, Jeff Scott Soto), Clint Lowery (Sevendust and Jeff Scott Soto.
 
Critical praise for Songs For The Apocalypse:

"Cleverly wrought riffs and themes that are more melodic than they might first appear" - Classic Rock

"If you like your music diverse and in a thinking man’s style then this is most definitely for you" - Powerplay

"Bieler’s talent for juxtaposing the heavy with the melodic and the traditional with the off-beat always keeps things interesting. A highly recommended listen" - Real Gone

"Progressive in every sense of the word. Complex and challenging but rewarding" - Velvet Thunder

​"A fantastically well produced album featuring top-notch musicianship and a set of songs that are well-written and cleverly arranged. Should there yet be an Apocalypse, we now have the Official Soundtrack"
- FabricationsHQ

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Country rockin’ rebels The Outlaw Orchestra ride again via their new video for latest single 'Send Some Whiskey Home.'

The song has come to serve as the band’s calling card for their country-blues roots and unrepentant tongue-in-cheek lyrics, here affectionately homaging the women (and dogs) who allow them to maintain their musicians' lifestyle. 
 
The video was filmed at 6am on a frosty autumnal New Forest morning, featuring a special cameo by singer and guitarist Dave Roux’s dog Ted, who sets the benchmark for love and devotion in both the real life inspiration for the song and the lyrics.
​'Send Some Whiskey Home' is lifted from the band’s critically-acclaimed 10-track debut album Pantomime Villains, which was released in 2020.
 
The debut album earned praise from many respected broadcasters and reviewers.
Steve Beastie (Hard Rock Hell Radio) ranked Pantomime Villains in his Top 25 albums of 2020; Mick Birchall Reviews named it in his Top 40 Albums of 2020; Rockposer put the album in their Top 3 Albums of the Year; Metalplanetmusic put The Outlaw Orchestra down as Ones to Watch for 2021.
 
"To create a body of work as stylistically diverse as Pantomime Villains takes talent, and to make it look as it if it was seemingly thrown together over a few beers, is pure genius." - MNPR Magazine
 
"Through strong song-writing (peppered by that Outlaw Orchestra humour), clever arrangements and some great musicianship, The Outlaw Orchestra have delivered one Cajun flavoured, finger lickin’ good album." - FabricationsHQ

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'Walking Free,' the upcoming single release from trad/roots-blues Scottish duo Sister Gavin and the Gator (aka singer Adele Gavin and blues-slide guitarist Iain Donald, the latter also one half of the Blind Lemon Gators with vocalist Grieg Taylor) couldn’t be better timed.
 
At the heart of the song’s pleaful vocal, slide and handclaps is a traditionally framed, pains of the past gospel blues; but it also doubles as an uplifting, soulful cry to remain positive in the current state of global and pandemic affairs and the hope we can, indeed, all be walking free from political divide in a future yet to be realised.
 
Just how good 'Walking Free' and Sister Gavin and The Gator are you can find out when the song is released on February 19th on all digital platforms and Bandcamp.
 
Singer-songwriter Adele Gavin and emotive slide exponent Iain Donald formed a musical partnership in 2019 when the two friends played together at a jam session and brought new life to each other’s music.

During the first Covid Lockdown the duo isolated together in order to stream live music through the
Covid-19 Charity Page they had set up to help musicians raise money for local charities in Scotland and encourage people to remain hopeful whilst at home.

You can pre-save Walking Free here: https://show.co/hSLSlcH

The release will be followed by lyric video and, dependent on the health/ Covid-19 situation, future 2021 gigs.
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Welsh rock singer Chez Kane will release her self-titled debut solo album on the 12th March via Frontiers Music Srl.
Produced by Danny Rexon of Crazy Lixx, the album is a classy melodic rock offering that intentionally hearkens back to the ’80s when the genre featured a number of notable and powerful frontwomen.

Preceding the album and acting as a melodically rocking taster is the single 'Too Late For Love,' of which Chez Kane says “I’m so excited that everyone is finally getting to hear the first single from the album; Too Late For Love is full of class and infectious 80’s sass!”
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​A talented vocalist who fronts the seven-piece melodic rock-metal outfit Kane’d (with her two sisters), Chez Kane was signed up to Frontiers after conversations between the label and Danny Rexon, who comments:

"The contemporary melodic rock scene was missing an important piece of what made the genre so great in the late 80s and early 90s, and that is the quintessential female rocker.
There are tons of bands in the genre but I felt we were missing that great female solo artist singing hard rock - a kind of Lee Aaron, Lita Ford or Robin Beck for the new decade.
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"​Having found Chez and discovering the potential in her voice, I have great faith in this endeavour - if you are a fan of Lee Aaron, Vixen, Saraya, Chrissy Steele, Lita Ford and similar artists and feel like the genre’s been missing this vital component, you’re going to love Chez Kane!"
 
Pre-order link: orcd.co/chezkane


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PicturePhoto by Adam Kennedy
​Mike Ross, as part of southern blues rock affected trio RHR – (Troy) Redfern, (Jack) Hutchinson & Ross) and through albums such as his excellent 2020 release The Clovis Limit Pt.2 (the rockier Yin to the rootsier Yang of Pt.1) has started to make the sort of impact that he arguably should have, and certainly deserved to, in earlier output years.

With that in mind, and bolstered by the The Clovis successes, the singer-songwriter-musician-producer recently announced a most worthwhile musical restoration project…

In 1998 Mike Ross’s then band Taller Than recorded a 12-track album which, for various reasons, was never mixed or properly finished.
For over twenty years the original 2" master tapes were hidden away; all hope of finding either the time or finances to complete the project had long since been abandoned. 

Enter COVID and the extreme disruption the pandemic has brought to touring for artists and musicians - attention turned from the road to the tape vault and a reach out to the public and fans to help restore, remix and release the forgotten Taller Than album.

A crowdfunding project was set up in the early part of January; in just the first week it had reached over 50% of the £4000 target.
This triggered the next phase of the campaign, to have the tapes restored and transferred to digital format so that editing and mixing could begin.

The first track to emerge in 2020 remix form is Mike Ross’s freshman treatise on addiction, 'Nicotine Placebo,' featuring heavyweight drummer Mike Kelly (latterly of The Mission) and the groove driven bass work of Mike’s brother Graeme Ross.

"Nicotine Placebo was my first successful attempt to capture how being a slave to an addiction felt.
Listening now, I’m surprised and proud of just how ‘wise’ my 23-year-old self was. The backing track really is something else, with a monster groove hammered out by my brother on bass and the ‘1000-piece orchestra' that was Mike Kelly's drumming in those days! Powerful stuff: as fresh and relevant today as it was back in the last days of the old millennium!" - Mike Ross

'Nicotine Placebo' has since been released as a single to raise public awareness of the crowdfunding campaign which, hopefully, will also achieve its final goal of a deluxe album package including vinyl, accompanying CD and a unique collection of items such as photographs, reproductions of the original tape track sheets and studio invoices.
  
Pre-order packages, along with a selection of other merch and memorabilia items, are available from:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/taller-than 

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The Keith Emerson Estate and Cherry Red Records have announced the long-awaited release of The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert.
The concert will be released on CD/DVD Digipak on March 11th 2021 (the 5th anniversary of Keith Emerson’s passing).

There will also be a Blu-ray Hi-Def downloadable version, playable on any device, accompanied by a bonus audio version of the concert.

You can pre-order the CD/DVD here: https://fanfarefortheuncommonman.com

This official 4-disc set brings you the 2016 tribute show in Los Angeles in its entirety, featuring an impressive line-up of musical luminaries performing music from Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, Emerson, Lake & Powell, The Keith Emerson Band and Keith Emerson’s Three Fates Project.
 
The two and a half hour concert film features performances by over two dozen prominent artists in rock, jazz and classical music as well as artist interviews, behind- the-scenes footage, tribute speeches and a gallery of personal, never-before-seen photos from the Emerson Estate.
The talented array of performers contributing to the concert include Brian Auger, Eddie Jobson, Jordan Rudess, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Marc Bonilla, Gregg Bissonnette, CJ Vanston, Troy Luccketta, Rachel Flowers, Terje Mikkelsen, Philippe Saisse, Joe Travers, Travis Davis, Ed Roth, Jonathan Sindelman, Mike Wallace, Mick Mahan, Karma Auger, Rick Livingstone, Kae Matsumoto, Aaron Emerson, Dan Lutz and Michael Fitzpatrick.
 
"It was a great honour to be asked to play in tribute to not only a friend but a musical giant and hero to us all. RIP Keith. You are so missed."
 - Steve Lukather
 
All proceeds go to The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation charity, which was close to Keith Emerson’s heart.
Artists, crew and all involved donated their skills and time gratis for this worthy cause, which afflicts thousands of musicians annually. 

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Swedish rock vocalist / guitarist and versatile front man Steffan Berggren (Snakes in Paradise, M3-Classic Whitesnake, The Company of Snakes, Manfred Mann, Bernie Marsden, the Don Airey Band, stand-in appearances with Uriah Heep) has just released a new single entitled 'Wild Flowers.'
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The new song acts as a blues-grooving rock taster to his forthcoming solo album Last Band On Earth, scheduled for release via Grandjam Records on 26th February.
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Last Band On Earth is the follow up to Stefan Berggren’s debut solo album Stranger in a Strangeland (2016).
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Prior to his solo work Berggren was one half of the Berggren Kerslake Band with legendary Uriah Heep & Ozzy Osbourne drummer Lee Kerslake, who sadly passed away in September of this year.
The BKB released an EP and the excellent The Sun Has Gone Hazy album in 2014.

Of 'Wild Flowers' Stefan Berggren says: "It marks a new chapter in my life; I am just very happy to be here and still able to feel passionate about writing new music!
My dear friend "The Don" Airey from Deep Purple provided the incredible keys and Hammond organ solo on the single, which also features my compadre for thirty years Tomas Pomma Thorberg on bass and my new buddy, Johannes Nordell, on drums.
The song itself is about feeling outside society; trying to find your place in life. Right now in these Corona times, as a musician, you are waiting for something to happen; it’s frustrating you are not allowed to work. The only thing you can do is write new music!"

Stefan Berggren hopes to be back out on the road with a hand-picked band promoting Last Band On Earth in the spring of 2021, Covid-19 situation dependant.

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London based blues rock guitarist-singer-songwriter Jack J Hutchinson has released the first single (and video), 'World On Fire,' from his forthcoming studio album, The Hammer Falls.
You can purchase here: 
https://bit.ly/JJHWorldOnFire

'World On Fire,' a muscly and gritty blues rocker that mixes a Sabbath-styled riff with a sing-a-long chorus and a down-tempo change-of-pace middle 8, was recorded in Brazil and produced by Lucas Sagaz, who mixed Hutchinson’s recent live album 'Who Feeds The Lockdown?'
The song was co-written with band mates Lazarus Michaelides (bass) and Felipe Amorim (drums).
​The B-side to the single (released on both limited edition silver 'vinyl style' CD and digital), is another new track, 'Ghosts Of Yesterday.'
Written during lockdown in response to the global pandemic, the reflective acoustic-electric 'Ghosts of Yesterday' was recorded by the band in their individual home studios and mixed by Lucas Sagaz in Brazil.
 
Commenting on 'World On Fire,' Jack J Hutchinson says: "We wrote and recorded World On Fire in the middle of a remote forest in Brazil. It had an incredible vibe that pushed us to try new things. I actually slept on the floor of the studio whilst I was there to really soak it up.
The song was written before the pandemic, but since the events of this year it has taken on an even greater meaning. 2020 has been a kick in the teeth for everyone, but in many ways it gives us an opportunity to rip up the norm and start again. We have to remain positive."
 
The band are currently working on the forthcoming album at Momentum Studios in Devon.

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​US band The Bloody Nerve (Laurie Ann – lead vocals, Stacey Blood – guitars, vocals) have, without question, upped their own powerful ante if new single-video 'A Million Arms' is any indication of the duo’s sonic intent.

The song is the first of a number of single+video releases that will follow on episodically, track by track (like a Netflix series in musical form); the releases will precede, and in effect present, their forthcoming concept album, All Blood, No Treasure.

The first installment of All Blood, No Treasure packs quite the sonic and visual punch, as can be seen and heard on the video for 'A Million Arms' (get ready to sonically rumble)...
" 'A Million Arms' starts All Blood, No Treasure with no backstory, because there is no backstory - just craziness" states Stacey Blood, continuing: That’s all you get: Just dropped right in the middle of craziness, and don’t know why you’re there and you can’t get yourself oriented because the rules and decrees are irrational and contradictory. So, what now..?”

What now indeed. That won’t be revealed until the second musical chapter of All Blood, No Treasure from The Bloody Nerve makes it appearance…

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Quint Starkie, the Swedish based British singer-songwriter-guitarist (and member of Francis Dunnery’s It Bites), has released a third single from his forthcoming solo album.

Endless Summer, "a simple song about summer romance," follows on the melodic pop with harmonies heels of atmospheric pop-groove number 'Gotta Give it Up' (featuring Dorie Jackson on harmony & backing vocals) and 
'Mr Maxwell : The Car Song,' a fun, upbeat tune written about "a Sunday drive in the country teaching my son about life signposts" (Maxwell is the name of Quint Starkie's son).

The as yet unnamed album will be the follow-up to the beautifully crafted Ghost in My Heart, which was first released in 2016 (followed by an all-digital formats re-release in 2017).

Written and produced by Quint Starkie, 'Endless Summer' features Jule Wiegand (backing/ harmony vocals), Mats Byström (Keys), Per Hansson (bass) and Kjell Gustavsson (drums).
Quint Starkie is a solo artist and a member of Francis Dunnery’s It Bites.
He has written songs for Alcazar, Lambretta, Sophie Zelmani, Shakaya, Hartmut Englar, Anna Sahlene, Amei Chang, Martin Stenmarck as well a song on the movie soundtrack My Best Friend’s Wedding starring Julia Roberts.
An accomplished guitarist, he has performed or recorded with The Supremes, Meja, Jill Johnsson, Tommy Nilsson, Bosson, Ebbot, Björn Skifs, Harpo and many more established artists.

His debut album Ghost in My Heart was 
FabricationsHQ’s singer-songwriter album of the Year in 2017 and had the likes of the aforementioned Francis Dunnery waxing lyrical about it.
While Ghost in My Heart was a poignant yet upbeat semi-autobiographical reminisce that musically took a country styled approach, the new album, as confirmed by Quint Starkie, "reflects more of my West Coast leanings as a guitarist and is more pop than country this time around."


Quint Starkie website: http://www.quintstarkie.net/

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"A language works best when we have something interesting to say. Many music teachers never find out what their students have to say; we only tell them what they are supposed to say."
Victor Wooten
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