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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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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 rock-blues singer, songwriter and stellar slide guitarist Troy Redfern will release his new single 'Waiting For Your Love' on May 21st.
The single is taken from his forthcoming album …The Fire Cosmic! released by RED7 Records on August 6th.
Described by Troy Redfern as "a bombastic, sassy blues boogie!" 'Waiting For Your Love' is available to
pre-save and stream at: http://smarturl.it/troyredfernTFC (the link includes a 20 second teaser trailer)
...The Fire Cosmic! (and various merch bundles) is available to pre-order here: http://troyredfern.com/shop/
…The Fire Cosmic! was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in North Wales, where some of the greatest ever bands recorded many a classic, including Queen with albums such as Sheer Heart Attack and
A Night at the Opera.
For the album, Troy Redfern enlisted noted drummer Darby Todd (The Darkness, Robben Ford, Martin Barre, Paul Gilbert) and virtuoso bassist (and album keyboardist) Dave Marks (Hans Zimmer); renowned guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Sons of Apollo) also plays on one song.
Collectively, the results are Troy Redfern’s most distinctive sounding and powerful release to date.
"As soon as we arrived at Rockfield, everyone, including Darby and Dave, who’ve recorded all over the world, were excited to be there" says Troy Redfern. "It’s that kind of place. It has that effect on every musician who records there. Even before we started recording, the energy and vibe was there, which definitely set the tone for the entire album…."
The single is taken from his forthcoming album …The Fire Cosmic! released by RED7 Records on August 6th.
Described by Troy Redfern as "a bombastic, sassy blues boogie!" 'Waiting For Your Love' is available to
pre-save and stream at: http://smarturl.it/troyredfernTFC (the link includes a 20 second teaser trailer)
...The Fire Cosmic! (and various merch bundles) is available to pre-order here: http://troyredfern.com/shop/
…The Fire Cosmic! was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in North Wales, where some of the greatest ever bands recorded many a classic, including Queen with albums such as Sheer Heart Attack and
A Night at the Opera.
For the album, Troy Redfern enlisted noted drummer Darby Todd (The Darkness, Robben Ford, Martin Barre, Paul Gilbert) and virtuoso bassist (and album keyboardist) Dave Marks (Hans Zimmer); renowned guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Sons of Apollo) also plays on one song.
Collectively, the results are Troy Redfern’s most distinctive sounding and powerful release to date.
"As soon as we arrived at Rockfield, everyone, including Darby and Dave, who’ve recorded all over the world, were excited to be there" says Troy Redfern. "It’s that kind of place. It has that effect on every musician who records there. Even before we started recording, the energy and vibe was there, which definitely set the tone for the entire album…."
Photo by Rob Blackham
Production duties at Rockfield were handled by Paul "Win" Winstanley, whom Troy Redfern met, and worked with previously, on Hotel Toledo, the 2019 album by RHR, aka the power(ful) guitar & vocal trio of Troy Redfern, Jack J Hutchinson and Mike Ross.
"It was important for the album to sound massive," comments Redfern. "It was a much bigger sound than anything that I’ve released before. As soon as we heard the first takes in the control, we were blown away. Darby brought in his vintage Ludwig Vistalite acrylic drums of John Bonham fame. Hearing them in one of the best drum rooms in the world, they sounded out of this world!"
"When it came to the mastering I hired Frank Arkwright (Biffy Clyro, Oasis, Iggy Pop, Paul Weller, System of a Down). Frank is the senior mastering engineer at Abbey Road Studios; he did an absolutely amazing job in bringing out every nuance of the recording."
While what’s inside …The Fire Cosmic is positively ear-catching, what’s on the outside is equally eye-catching…
"When it came to the artwork I was originally going to get an artist from Brazil, continues Redfern. "However, I started working on some artwork of my own in the 'Silver Age' Marvel Comics style, based on the four guys on the album.
I posted a few visuals on the socials and was overwhelmed by the response - as a result, I created my own comic-style illustrations to package the album."
…The Fire Cosmic, Track Listing:
Scorpio; Waiting For Your Love; One Way Ticket; Love & War; On Fire; Lay That Love Down; Ghosts; Saving Grace; Sanctify; Stone
Troy Redfern will be on the road as Special Guest to Wille & The Bandits in March & April of 2022 (see News Item further below for Tour Dates and ticket info)
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"It was important for the album to sound massive," comments Redfern. "It was a much bigger sound than anything that I’ve released before. As soon as we heard the first takes in the control, we were blown away. Darby brought in his vintage Ludwig Vistalite acrylic drums of John Bonham fame. Hearing them in one of the best drum rooms in the world, they sounded out of this world!"
"When it came to the mastering I hired Frank Arkwright (Biffy Clyro, Oasis, Iggy Pop, Paul Weller, System of a Down). Frank is the senior mastering engineer at Abbey Road Studios; he did an absolutely amazing job in bringing out every nuance of the recording."
While what’s inside …The Fire Cosmic is positively ear-catching, what’s on the outside is equally eye-catching…
"When it came to the artwork I was originally going to get an artist from Brazil, continues Redfern. "However, I started working on some artwork of my own in the 'Silver Age' Marvel Comics style, based on the four guys on the album.
I posted a few visuals on the socials and was overwhelmed by the response - as a result, I created my own comic-style illustrations to package the album."
…The Fire Cosmic, Track Listing:
Scorpio; Waiting For Your Love; One Way Ticket; Love & War; On Fire; Lay That Love Down; Ghosts; Saving Grace; Sanctify; Stone
Troy Redfern will be on the road as Special Guest to Wille & The Bandits in March & April of 2022 (see News Item further below for Tour Dates and ticket info)
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Durham born, Brighton based singer-songwriter-guitarist & multi-instrumentalist Mike Ross, who is as consummate and comfortable delivering his fuzz-guitar toned, southern-tinged blues rock as he is presenting his rootsier, Nashville influenced Americana, has released a new single entitled 'Driftwood (Acoustic).'
The song is lifted from the Mike Ross’s forthcoming solo album, The Clovis Limit - Tennessee Transition.
The album, a fitting companion to Mike Ross’s acclaimed Clovis Limits album duology (the Americana/ Nashville influenced Pt 1 and rockier Pt 2), will be released on 28th May.
'Driftwood,' in acoustic slide form, carries down-home authenticity mixed with pulpit-pounding imagery and, as Mike Ross lyrically confirms, plenty of "piss and vinegar; tiny bits of stars"...
The song is lifted from the Mike Ross’s forthcoming solo album, The Clovis Limit - Tennessee Transition.
The album, a fitting companion to Mike Ross’s acclaimed Clovis Limits album duology (the Americana/ Nashville influenced Pt 1 and rockier Pt 2), will be released on 28th May.
'Driftwood,' in acoustic slide form, carries down-home authenticity mixed with pulpit-pounding imagery and, as Mike Ross lyrically confirms, plenty of "piss and vinegar; tiny bits of stars"...
Regarding the new album, Mike Ross explains that "the thinking behind the session was to take songs from both halves of my Clovis Limit duology and re-imagine them from a solo performance perspective.
Sitting as it does midway between the rootsy Americana of Clovis 1 and the more urgent southern rock of Pt.2, The Tennessee Transition is about the most authentic interpretation of me as a singer and guitarist that I can offer – what I’ve ended up with is four songs from each album, plus a version of my old song Fixing to Die and a few deep Delta blues cuts from Blind WIllie McTell, Charlie Patton and Bukka White."
'Driftwood (Acoustic)' available to download or stream from all digital platforms:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikeross/driftwood-acoustic
Pre-order the CD and Blue Vinyl edition of Tennessee Transition here: shop.mikerossmusic.co.uk
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Sitting as it does midway between the rootsy Americana of Clovis 1 and the more urgent southern rock of Pt.2, The Tennessee Transition is about the most authentic interpretation of me as a singer and guitarist that I can offer – what I’ve ended up with is four songs from each album, plus a version of my old song Fixing to Die and a few deep Delta blues cuts from Blind WIllie McTell, Charlie Patton and Bukka White."
'Driftwood (Acoustic)' available to download or stream from all digital platforms:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikeross/driftwood-acoustic
Pre-order the CD and Blue Vinyl edition of Tennessee Transition here: shop.mikerossmusic.co.uk
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Scottish singer Jason Sweeney, solo artist and front man/ bassist of hard melodic rock outfit The King Lot, has released a new track entitled 'This is My Tribe,' an anthem of thanks to the rock scene’s family of fans that have kept many an artist going through thick and pandemic thin.
The song also doubles as a video showcase for rock fans to highlight the first rock album they fell in love with or that got them through tougher times...
The song also doubles as a video showcase for rock fans to highlight the first rock album they fell in love with or that got them through tougher times...
Of the song’s personal resonance, Jason Sweeney says "I will never forget my first concert at Edinburgh Playhouse watching Def Leppard on the Hysteria tour, then the week after Iron Maiden's Seventh son tour. What a time and, as mentioned in the lyrics, 'That's when I made my choice!' "
'This is My Tribe' will feature on Jason Sweeney’s forthcoming melodic rock orientated EP, scheduled for May release.
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'This is My Tribe' will feature on Jason Sweeney’s forthcoming melodic rock orientated EP, scheduled for May release.
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Canadian rock and roll band The Damn Truth, who will release their new album Now or Nowhere on Friday 7th May, have been announced as special guests on King King’s February 2022 UK Tour.
Tickets are available from www.kingking.co.uk
Now or Nowhere, released by Spectra Musique/Sony Music, is available to pre-order from:
https://orcd.co/nowornowhere or https://www.thedamntruth.com/
The Damn Truth's latest single, 'This Is Who We Are Now' has taken flight in the UK with six weeks of airplay on Planet Rock and a spot-play on BBC Radio 2’s Rock Show with Johnnie Walker.
The single also won Tracks of the Week on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound.
Tickets are available from www.kingking.co.uk
Now or Nowhere, released by Spectra Musique/Sony Music, is available to pre-order from:
https://orcd.co/nowornowhere or https://www.thedamntruth.com/
The Damn Truth's latest single, 'This Is Who We Are Now' has taken flight in the UK with six weeks of airplay on Planet Rock and a spot-play on BBC Radio 2’s Rock Show with Johnnie Walker.
The single also won Tracks of the Week on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound.
Now Or Nowhere features not just great songs but a great sound – six of the nine tracks were produced by legendary Grammy Award winning producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, to name but five) at Bryan Adams’ recording studio in Vancouver.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the band were unable to complete the album with Bob Rock, but were lucky enough to put the finishing & mixing touches of the other songs into the hands of Juno Award-winning producer Jean Massicotte, Mike Plotnikoff (Van Halen, Cranberries) and two other Grammy Award winners, Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) and Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine).
The title of both album and single could also represent the band and their aspirations – The Damn Truth has been hiding in plain sight for the last nine years, slowly but assuredly bubbling up from the underground and sold-out local scenes to support slots in the USA and Europe with such notables as ZZ Top and Styx.
Now or Nowhere, one hopes, along with next year's UK showing with King King, will deservedly put them on the rock radar of an even wider audience.
The Damn Truth are:
Lee-La Baum – lead vocals, guitar, tambourine; Tom Shemer – guitars, keys, mandolin, vocals
Py Letterlier – bass guitar, vocals; Dave Traina – drums, vocals
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the band were unable to complete the album with Bob Rock, but were lucky enough to put the finishing & mixing touches of the other songs into the hands of Juno Award-winning producer Jean Massicotte, Mike Plotnikoff (Van Halen, Cranberries) and two other Grammy Award winners, Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) and Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine).
The title of both album and single could also represent the band and their aspirations – The Damn Truth has been hiding in plain sight for the last nine years, slowly but assuredly bubbling up from the underground and sold-out local scenes to support slots in the USA and Europe with such notables as ZZ Top and Styx.
Now or Nowhere, one hopes, along with next year's UK showing with King King, will deservedly put them on the rock radar of an even wider audience.
The Damn Truth are:
Lee-La Baum – lead vocals, guitar, tambourine; Tom Shemer – guitars, keys, mandolin, vocals
Py Letterlier – bass guitar, vocals; Dave Traina – drums, vocals
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Wille & The Bandits are the latest band to announce a rescheduling of a UK tour in light of the pandemic.
All previously scheduled dates will now take place in March and April of 2022; Special Guest on all dates will be Troy Redfern.
Tickets are available via: www.willeandthebandits.com
The tour will showcase songs from the band's forthcoming studio album When The World Stood Still (the tour will follow the release of the highly anticipated album).
The album was recorded at Sawmills recording studios with producer John Cornfield; a coupling that has produced some of the most ground-breaking albums of the last thirty years including Fools Gold (Stone Roses), Definitely Maybe (Oasis), In it For the Money (Supergrass) and Showbiz (Muse).
The album documents a moment in time that the whole world will never forget, a time where each person on the planet has felt repercussions in one way or another. Each of Wille’s songs tell their own stories, but there is also a cohesion between the tracks that tells a bigger story of "When the World Stood Still."
All previously scheduled dates will now take place in March and April of 2022; Special Guest on all dates will be Troy Redfern.
Tickets are available via: www.willeandthebandits.com
The tour will showcase songs from the band's forthcoming studio album When The World Stood Still (the tour will follow the release of the highly anticipated album).
The album was recorded at Sawmills recording studios with producer John Cornfield; a coupling that has produced some of the most ground-breaking albums of the last thirty years including Fools Gold (Stone Roses), Definitely Maybe (Oasis), In it For the Money (Supergrass) and Showbiz (Muse).
The album documents a moment in time that the whole world will never forget, a time where each person on the planet has felt repercussions in one way or another. Each of Wille’s songs tell their own stories, but there is also a cohesion between the tracks that tells a bigger story of "When the World Stood Still."
Wille & the Bandits, a band that cannot truly be pigeonholed (venturing from blues-soul, rock and funkier grooves to Zeppelin-esque riffs and Floyd-scapes), are lauded for their live performances and impressive musicianship.
In addition to the lead guitar, lap steel guitar and lead vocals of Wille Edwards, the sound of the band is bolstred by a dynamic and brand-new rhythm section composed of Tom Gilkes (drums, percussion) and Harry Mackaill (bass, keyboards). The band now also features multi-instrumentalist Matthew Gallagher (Hammond organ, guitar, percussion) making for a bigger sounding four-piece.
"I’m very excited by the new line-up," says Wille Edwards. "Our music was starting to have layers within it that were beginning to be impossible to do justice to as a trio. With a band of multi-instrumentalists and a drummer who is technically outstanding, yet plays to what the song needs, we are able to achieve live what I thought might only be possible in the studio."
In addition to the lead guitar, lap steel guitar and lead vocals of Wille Edwards, the sound of the band is bolstred by a dynamic and brand-new rhythm section composed of Tom Gilkes (drums, percussion) and Harry Mackaill (bass, keyboards). The band now also features multi-instrumentalist Matthew Gallagher (Hammond organ, guitar, percussion) making for a bigger sounding four-piece.
"I’m very excited by the new line-up," says Wille Edwards. "Our music was starting to have layers within it that were beginning to be impossible to do justice to as a trio. With a band of multi-instrumentalists and a drummer who is technically outstanding, yet plays to what the song needs, we are able to achieve live what I thought might only be possible in the studio."
Wille & the Bandits have toured with the likes of Deep Purple, Status Quo, Joe Bonamassa and Warren Haynes. In 2014 they were voted in the Top Ten Bands to see at Glastonbury Festival (they have also payed at the Isle of Wight festival, Rambln' Man Fair, Steelhouse and the London Olympics; they were also invited to perform at the world-famous Iridium venue in NYC.
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Oslo based post-prog/ art rock trio Dim Gray will release their digitally available debut album Flown on 2LP and CD on 6th June. Pre-order links for both formats are:
https://burningshed.com/dim-gray_flown_vinyl and https://burningshed.com/dim-gray_flown_cd
Taking elements of Scandinavian folk music and incorporating it into a contemporary setting, Dim Gray have a hauntingly evocative sound that mixes melody and yearning vocals with elements of prog and reverb-ed guitars.
The trio (Håkon Høiberg - guitars/ vocals, Oskar Holldorff - vocals/ keys, Tom Ian Klungland - drums/ vocals; live, the band also feature bassist Halvor Rollag) – have contrasting musical backgrounds in genres as diverse as black metal, progressive rock, blues, folk and film music; but in fusing their influences together they have developed something truly distinctive...
https://burningshed.com/dim-gray_flown_vinyl and https://burningshed.com/dim-gray_flown_cd
Taking elements of Scandinavian folk music and incorporating it into a contemporary setting, Dim Gray have a hauntingly evocative sound that mixes melody and yearning vocals with elements of prog and reverb-ed guitars.
The trio (Håkon Høiberg - guitars/ vocals, Oskar Holldorff - vocals/ keys, Tom Ian Klungland - drums/ vocals; live, the band also feature bassist Halvor Rollag) – have contrasting musical backgrounds in genres as diverse as black metal, progressive rock, blues, folk and film music; but in fusing their influences together they have developed something truly distinctive...
In 2020 the band issued the songs ‘Ráth', ‘Again,' 'Light Anew' and ‘Ouroboros' prior to a digital only release of the debut album Flown in the summer.
A concept record with the intertwining songs structured as one continuous story, the album tells a tale of loss and loneliness with twists and turns, offset by the music’s colourful soundscapes.
Flown weaves a route from strings-infused chamber pop, through dark indie folk and into grandiose art rock.
The results are a distinct sounding musical statement that will appeal to fans of artists such as Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Steven Wilson, Sigur Rós and Susanne Sundfør.
To celebrate the album’s CD and Vinyl release, four songs have been added to the respective track listings.
Both feature live versions of album tracks 'Again' and 'Song For E' along with an extended version of Paper Bird.
The CD also features bonus track 'Ice And Sea' while the Vinyl includes bonus track 'Wakeless.'
"Elegiac and beautifully dense post-prog from Norway."
- PROG
"Dim Gray are far from just another art-rock band; there’s a lot of Scandinavian (and some Celtic) folk influences in there, too, albeit in a highly contemporary setting."
- FabricationsHQ
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A concept record with the intertwining songs structured as one continuous story, the album tells a tale of loss and loneliness with twists and turns, offset by the music’s colourful soundscapes.
Flown weaves a route from strings-infused chamber pop, through dark indie folk and into grandiose art rock.
The results are a distinct sounding musical statement that will appeal to fans of artists such as Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Steven Wilson, Sigur Rós and Susanne Sundfør.
To celebrate the album’s CD and Vinyl release, four songs have been added to the respective track listings.
Both feature live versions of album tracks 'Again' and 'Song For E' along with an extended version of Paper Bird.
The CD also features bonus track 'Ice And Sea' while the Vinyl includes bonus track 'Wakeless.'
"Elegiac and beautifully dense post-prog from Norway."
- PROG
"Dim Gray are far from just another art-rock band; there’s a lot of Scandinavian (and some Celtic) folk influences in there, too, albeit in a highly contemporary setting."
- FabricationsHQ
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For all the incredible highs and difficult lows of his Bay City Roller coaster life, in later years singer Les McKeown he never took his Roller self too seriously.
Indeed a smile was never far from his face, which was a credit to him, given those lows mentioned above, of which no detail needs repeated here.
And for all the retrospective ridicule (mea culpa) levelled at the Bay City Rollers and their teeny-bop shang-a-lang shenanigans, we were all "S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!"ing along to those self-same shang-a-lang sounds of the seventies.
But post Rollermania, wherever Les McKeown and the BCR name went, humour (sometimes, as mentioned above, self-effacing) was sure to follow.
Even now.
In a dark humoured moment as news was being announced of Les McKeown's passing, a piece on his sad and sudden demise was pre-empted on the Scottish news by the obligatory voiceover that "viewers should be warned that the following report contains..."
The follow-on was, of course, "…flashing images" but I immediately heard myself saying, in similarly formal voice, "…footage of the Bay City Rollers."
Made myself and my better half laugh out loud; I'm pretty sure Les would have smiled, too.
Bye bye Leslie, Leslie bye bye – thanks for all the tartan trousered (yes, I had a pair), musical knees-ups and sing-a-long nonsense.
Les McKeown died suddenly at home on 20 April 2021. He was 65.
Indeed a smile was never far from his face, which was a credit to him, given those lows mentioned above, of which no detail needs repeated here.
And for all the retrospective ridicule (mea culpa) levelled at the Bay City Rollers and their teeny-bop shang-a-lang shenanigans, we were all "S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!"ing along to those self-same shang-a-lang sounds of the seventies.
But post Rollermania, wherever Les McKeown and the BCR name went, humour (sometimes, as mentioned above, self-effacing) was sure to follow.
Even now.
In a dark humoured moment as news was being announced of Les McKeown's passing, a piece on his sad and sudden demise was pre-empted on the Scottish news by the obligatory voiceover that "viewers should be warned that the following report contains..."
The follow-on was, of course, "…flashing images" but I immediately heard myself saying, in similarly formal voice, "…footage of the Bay City Rollers."
Made myself and my better half laugh out loud; I'm pretty sure Les would have smiled, too.
Bye bye Leslie, Leslie bye bye – thanks for all the tartan trousered (yes, I had a pair), musical knees-ups and sing-a-long nonsense.
Les McKeown died suddenly at home on 20 April 2021. He was 65.
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YES have made their 2019 box set From a Page, which features the double CD album Live in Lyon and four otherwise unreleased studio recordings from the 2008-2011 line-up of the band (Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoît David, and Oliver Wakeman), available digitally.
Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased 2010 recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini. The digital edition of From a Page also included a Single Edit of the track 'To the Moment.'
Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased 2010 recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini. The digital edition of From a Page also included a Single Edit of the track 'To the Moment.'
Of that relatively short lived version of the band and reflecting on the recordings, Oliver Wakeman says:
"Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we’d created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit’s enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music has seen the light of day, to be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history."
Live From Lyon was first released in 2010; the From a Page edition restores the acoustic instrumental 'Second Initial,' which was previously a Japanese only bonus track.
Eldest son of prog legend Rick Wakeman, Oliver Wakeman filled the YES keyboard role, as once held by his father, from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes In The Present : Live From Lyon and the studio album Fly From Here, featuring on four of the tracks and contributing two co-writes.
Oliver Wakeman was subsequently replaced by Geoff Downes, who returned for his second stint as YES keyboardsman. Benoît David was replaced by Jon Davison in 2012 while the passing of Chris Squire in 2015 saw another ex-YES contributor/member, multi-instrumentalist/ bassist Billy Sherwood, permanently rejoin the ranks.
Oliver Wakeman’s 1997 debut album Heaven’s Isle (inspired by the island of Lundy) led to further solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums.
He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe (The Three Ages of Magick) and Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album (both are set to be part of an upcoming box set).
Most recently Oliver Wakeman has been working on the Tales by Gaslight box set (containing the Wakeman-Clive Nolan albums Hound of the Baskervilles and Jabberwocky, plus a disc of previously unreleased recordings from the never made third album).
A news item for Tales by Gaslight, which has just been released on Burning Shed, can be found further down this page.
You can purchase the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL
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"Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we’d created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit’s enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music has seen the light of day, to be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history."
Live From Lyon was first released in 2010; the From a Page edition restores the acoustic instrumental 'Second Initial,' which was previously a Japanese only bonus track.
Eldest son of prog legend Rick Wakeman, Oliver Wakeman filled the YES keyboard role, as once held by his father, from 2008 to 2011. His work with YES includes In The Present : Live From Lyon and the studio album Fly From Here, featuring on four of the tracks and contributing two co-writes.
Oliver Wakeman was subsequently replaced by Geoff Downes, who returned for his second stint as YES keyboardsman. Benoît David was replaced by Jon Davison in 2012 while the passing of Chris Squire in 2015 saw another ex-YES contributor/member, multi-instrumentalist/ bassist Billy Sherwood, permanently rejoin the ranks.
Oliver Wakeman’s 1997 debut album Heaven’s Isle (inspired by the island of Lundy) led to further solo and Oliver Wakeman Band albums.
He has also released several collaborations with renowned musicians, including Steve Howe (The Three Ages of Magick) and Gordon Giltrap for the award-winning Ravens & Lullabies album (both are set to be part of an upcoming box set).
Most recently Oliver Wakeman has been working on the Tales by Gaslight box set (containing the Wakeman-Clive Nolan albums Hound of the Baskervilles and Jabberwocky, plus a disc of previously unreleased recordings from the never made third album).
A news item for Tales by Gaslight, which has just been released on Burning Shed, can be found further down this page.
You can purchase the digital version of From A Page here: https://lnk.to/FAPLFL
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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 recently united 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."
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...
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 recently united 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."
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...
Uncommon Measures was released digitally in February; it has now been made available on CD and vinyl, on Blue Canoe Records: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/uncommon_measures.html
You can read FabricationsHQ's Feature Review of the album by clicking here.
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You can read FabricationsHQ's Feature Review of the album by clicking here.
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Last year, when COVID-19 put the live touring industry on hold (and continues to do so), blues rock guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa put together a one-night-only, full band show at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, to be livestreamed for fans everywhere.
The performance was viewed and enjoyed by fans in forty-four countries across the globe; a special live music presentation, the show premiered songs from his brand-new album Royal Tea, before it was officially released.
That concert has now been re-mixed and mastered for physical release as Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman.
The album, which will be available on CD, DVD (including a film introduction narrated by actor Jeff Daniels) Blu-Ray and Double LP, will be released on June 11th.
To pre-order the album on CD, double clear vinyl, DVD or Blu-ray, click here
The performance was viewed and enjoyed by fans in forty-four countries across the globe; a special live music presentation, the show premiered songs from his brand-new album Royal Tea, before it was officially released.
That concert has now been re-mixed and mastered for physical release as Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman.
The album, which will be available on CD, DVD (including a film introduction narrated by actor Jeff Daniels) Blu-Ray and Double LP, will be released on June 11th.
To pre-order the album on CD, double clear vinyl, DVD or Blu-ray, click here
Photo by Kit Wood
Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman features nine tracks from Joe Bonamassa’s highly acclaimed studio release Royal Tea (his 24th #1 record on the Billboard Blues chart) as well as three cover songs from his debut/ 20th anniversary re-release album A New Day Yesterday – Rory Gallagher’s 'Cradle Rock,' Free’s 'Walk in My Shadow' and 'A New Day Yesterday' (Jethro Tull) with 'Wurm' (from YES’s 'Starship Trooper') finale.
In normal times, the Ryman Auditorium typically seats 2,300, but for one night only, the real/ viewing crowd was vastly beyond theatre capacity (over 17,000 tickets were sold, with many a purchases viewed by an entire family of fans).
Between ticket sales and donations received during the After Party Showcase, the event raised $32,000 for Joe Bonamassa’s Fueling Musicians program, presented by his non-profit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA).
Supporting artists for over a year amid the pandemic, to date the program has secured $460,000 in funding for qualifying touring musicians who are suffering financial hardship since their careers have been put on hold.
Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman provides much needed invigoration for live music fans and the feeling of being back at a live concert event.
With the audio-visual experience of the recording and filming, those same fans get front row seats for one of the best touring acts around.
Track Listing:
When One Door Opens; Royal Tea; High Class Girl; Lookout Man!; Why Does It Take So Long To Say Goodbye; A Conversation With Alice; I Didn't Think She Would Do It; Beyond The Silence; Lonely Boy; Cradle Rock; Walk In My Shadow; A New Day Yesterday/ The Wurm
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In normal times, the Ryman Auditorium typically seats 2,300, but for one night only, the real/ viewing crowd was vastly beyond theatre capacity (over 17,000 tickets were sold, with many a purchases viewed by an entire family of fans).
Between ticket sales and donations received during the After Party Showcase, the event raised $32,000 for Joe Bonamassa’s Fueling Musicians program, presented by his non-profit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA).
Supporting artists for over a year amid the pandemic, to date the program has secured $460,000 in funding for qualifying touring musicians who are suffering financial hardship since their careers have been put on hold.
Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman provides much needed invigoration for live music fans and the feeling of being back at a live concert event.
With the audio-visual experience of the recording and filming, those same fans get front row seats for one of the best touring acts around.
Track Listing:
When One Door Opens; Royal Tea; High Class Girl; Lookout Man!; Why Does It Take So Long To Say Goodbye; A Conversation With Alice; I Didn't Think She Would Do It; Beyond The Silence; Lonely Boy; Cradle Rock; Walk In My Shadow; A New Day Yesterday/ The Wurm
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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, has just been released by Burning Shed.
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.
To help promote the box set a Lyric Video for 'Coming to Town' has been released.
The track is taken from the first album in the box set, Jabberwocky; it features Bob Catley of Magnum on vocals and the late Peter Banks on guitar.
Of the song Oliver Wakeman says: "This is a fun, upbeat track which became an ever-present song in my band's live set. Revisiting the original for this box set reminded me of what a great job Bob Catley did with his vocal performance, and it is always lovely to listen to Peter playing a wonderful guitar solo."
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, has just been released by Burning Shed.
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.
To help promote the box set a Lyric Video for 'Coming to Town' has been released.
The track is taken from the first album in the box set, Jabberwocky; it features Bob Catley of Magnum on vocals and the late Peter Banks on guitar.
Of the song Oliver Wakeman says: "This is a fun, upbeat track which became an ever-present song in my band's live set. Revisiting the original for this box set reminded me of what a great job Bob Catley did with his vocal performance, and it is always lovely to listen to Peter playing a wonderful guitar solo."
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.
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.
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 purchase Tales by Gaslight here:
https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman/nolan-and-wakeman_tales-by-gaslight_3cd
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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 purchase Tales by Gaslight here:
https://burningshed.com/store/oliverwakeman/nolan-and-wakeman_tales-by-gaslight_3cd
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On the back of the success of recently released debut album Against The Wall (entering the UK National Album Chart at #19 (the first time a British rock band has debuted with their album in the UK Top 20 since Royal Blood in 2014) and #1 in the UK Rock Album Chart) Glasgow based rock quintet Mason Hill have added seven more dates to their upcoming UK headlining tour, scheduled for September (and now October).
Support will come from Hollowstar and Empyre.
Tickets are priced at from £12 and can be purchased via https://myticket.co.uk/artists/mason-hill
To celebrate the two-fold success of the album and extra tour dates demand (Gravesend sold out within 48 hours; many others are close to sell out) the band will release their cover the Foo Fighters classic 'Best Of You' on April 23rd.
The track, a key part of the album campaign, has been released officially due to fan request; it will be available on all worldwide streaming platforms.
Support will come from Hollowstar and Empyre.
Tickets are priced at from £12 and can be purchased via https://myticket.co.uk/artists/mason-hill
To celebrate the two-fold success of the album and extra tour dates demand (Gravesend sold out within 48 hours; many others are close to sell out) the band will release their cover the Foo Fighters classic 'Best Of You' on April 23rd.
The track, a key part of the album campaign, has been released officially due to fan request; it will be available on all worldwide streaming platforms.
The success of Against The Wall is all the more impressive given part of the recording process was fan funded and the album was released on an independent label, all while amidst a pandemic that has curtailed any live gigs or touring.
The album, available in multiple formats including coloured vinyl, CD and digital, can be purchased here: https://eyesoremerch.com/band-tshirts/m/mason-hill
Of the album and tour Mason Hill front man Scott Taylor says: "We are all so thrilled with everything that has been happening, it’s almost surreal. Our fans have been so supportive and to have a top 20 national album on our first release is mind blowing. Everyone is itching to crank up the volume and blast out the new material, so we’re stoked to be able to announce our first ever headline club tour! There’s finally some light at the end of this Covid tunnel!"
It's not only UK rock fans who have taken to Against the Wall.
In Germany the band have seen a huge uplift in airplay where they are presently trending in the Top 15 German rock airplay charts with previous single 'D.N.A.' They are also Top 10 in the Heavy 1 French radio chart.
Mason Hill - Against the Wall Headline UK Tour (with Special Guest Hollowstar and Empyre)
Thursday 2nd September - ABERDEEN, Tunnels
Friday 3rd September - GLASGOW, Garage
Saturday 4th September - GALASHIELS, Macarts
Thursday 9th September - DUBLIN, Grand Social
Friday 10th September - BELFAST, Voodoo
Tuesday 14th September - CAMBRIDGE, Junction 2
Wednesday 15th September - SHEFFIELD, Corporation
Thursday 16th September - BRISTOL, Fleece
Friday 17th September - BRIGHTON, Patterns
Saturday 18th September - GRAVESEND, Leos
(Note: Gravesend date Sold Out)
Monday 20th September - CARDIFF, Globe
Tuesday 21st September - SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners
Wednesday 22nd September - BRADFORD, Night Train
Thursday 23rd September - BLACKPOOL, Waterloo Music Bar
Friday 24th September - LONDON, Underworld
Saturday 25th September - MANCHESTER, Rebellion
Sunday 26th September - WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill
Sunday 03rd October - LEEDS, Key Club
Monday 04th October - NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 05th October - NORWICH, Waterfront Studio
Wednesday 06th October - NEWCASTLE, Cluny 2
Thursday 07th October - LIVERPOOL, Arts Club
Friday 08th October - DOVER, Booking Hall
Saturday 09th October - OXFORD, Academy 2
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The album, available in multiple formats including coloured vinyl, CD and digital, can be purchased here: https://eyesoremerch.com/band-tshirts/m/mason-hill
Of the album and tour Mason Hill front man Scott Taylor says: "We are all so thrilled with everything that has been happening, it’s almost surreal. Our fans have been so supportive and to have a top 20 national album on our first release is mind blowing. Everyone is itching to crank up the volume and blast out the new material, so we’re stoked to be able to announce our first ever headline club tour! There’s finally some light at the end of this Covid tunnel!"
It's not only UK rock fans who have taken to Against the Wall.
In Germany the band have seen a huge uplift in airplay where they are presently trending in the Top 15 German rock airplay charts with previous single 'D.N.A.' They are also Top 10 in the Heavy 1 French radio chart.
Mason Hill - Against the Wall Headline UK Tour (with Special Guest Hollowstar and Empyre)
Thursday 2nd September - ABERDEEN, Tunnels
Friday 3rd September - GLASGOW, Garage
Saturday 4th September - GALASHIELS, Macarts
Thursday 9th September - DUBLIN, Grand Social
Friday 10th September - BELFAST, Voodoo
Tuesday 14th September - CAMBRIDGE, Junction 2
Wednesday 15th September - SHEFFIELD, Corporation
Thursday 16th September - BRISTOL, Fleece
Friday 17th September - BRIGHTON, Patterns
Saturday 18th September - GRAVESEND, Leos
(Note: Gravesend date Sold Out)
Monday 20th September - CARDIFF, Globe
Tuesday 21st September - SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners
Wednesday 22nd September - BRADFORD, Night Train
Thursday 23rd September - BLACKPOOL, Waterloo Music Bar
Friday 24th September - LONDON, Underworld
Saturday 25th September - MANCHESTER, Rebellion
Sunday 26th September - WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill
Sunday 03rd October - LEEDS, Key Club
Monday 04th October - NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 05th October - NORWICH, Waterfront Studio
Wednesday 06th October - NEWCASTLE, Cluny 2
Thursday 07th October - LIVERPOOL, Arts Club
Friday 08th October - DOVER, Booking Hall
Saturday 09th October - OXFORD, Academy 2
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Toto will release a new live album, With a Little Help From My Friends, on The Players Club/ Mascot Label Group on June 25th.
The performance, recorded on November 21st, 2020 in Los Angeles at a special on-line streaming broadcast, introduced the new Toto line-up.
The band, in their fifteenth incarnation, now features co-founder, guitarist & vocalist Steve Lukather and lead singer Joseph Williams along with bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight (Ghost-Note/ Snarky Puppy) keyboardists Steve Maggiora (Robert Jon & The Wreck) & Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note) and multi-instrumentalist/ vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr).
(Co-founder David Paich, who recently retired from touring, joined the band for two songs).
With a Little Help From My Friends has the feel of an intimate club show along with a set-list built on an eclectic group of songs for this one night only performance – whilst hits such as 'Rosana' and 'Hold the Line' were featured, the band dug deep into the Toto catalogue to deliver songs such as 'Till the End' from 1986’s Fahrenheit, the first Toto album to feature Joseph Williams.
The performance, recorded on November 21st, 2020 in Los Angeles at a special on-line streaming broadcast, introduced the new Toto line-up.
The band, in their fifteenth incarnation, now features co-founder, guitarist & vocalist Steve Lukather and lead singer Joseph Williams along with bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight (Ghost-Note/ Snarky Puppy) keyboardists Steve Maggiora (Robert Jon & The Wreck) & Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note) and multi-instrumentalist/ vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr).
(Co-founder David Paich, who recently retired from touring, joined the band for two songs).
With a Little Help From My Friends has the feel of an intimate club show along with a set-list built on an eclectic group of songs for this one night only performance – whilst hits such as 'Rosana' and 'Hold the Line' were featured, the band dug deep into the Toto catalogue to deliver songs such as 'Till the End' from 1986’s Fahrenheit, the first Toto album to feature Joseph Williams.
A collector’s piece for the fans who saw the original broadcast and those who didn’t see or hear the show when it first aired, With a Little Help From My Friends will be released on CD, Blu-ray, DVD, 4 different vinyl colours (some as very limited editions) and digitally.
A range of accompanying merchandise items will also be available, including signed vinyl and a special 'Tour' T-shirt (with the 'tour' date on the back) that’s only available from the Mascot store.
Pre-order here:
https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/blogs/news/new-toto-live-album-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends
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A range of accompanying merchandise items will also be available, including signed vinyl and a special 'Tour' T-shirt (with the 'tour' date on the back) that’s only available from the Mascot store.
Pre-order here:
https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/blogs/news/new-toto-live-album-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends
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Martin Turner and his band have just released a special and poignant recording & video of classic Wisbone Ash song, 'Everybody Needs a Friend.'
The song was recorded in memory of, and in tribute to, Markus Sollner, late of KMS Konzertmanagement and and agent and very good friend to Martin Turner and his bandmates.
Markus was also agent for Asia.
Released on the first anniversary of Markus’s passing (17th April 2020), the song and video become a respectful and touching tribute from Martin Turner, Danny Willson, Tim Brown and Misha Nikolic; a musical raising of the glass to Markus and all absent friends.
The song was recorded in memory of, and in tribute to, Markus Sollner, late of KMS Konzertmanagement and and agent and very good friend to Martin Turner and his bandmates.
Markus was also agent for Asia.
Released on the first anniversary of Markus’s passing (17th April 2020), the song and video become a respectful and touching tribute from Martin Turner, Danny Willson, Tim Brown and Misha Nikolic; a musical raising of the glass to Markus and all absent friends.
The new re-recording of 'Everybody Needs a Friend,' originally from the classic Wishbone 4 album, can be purchased and downloaded here:
https://officialmerchandise.store/collections/martin-turner/products/everybody-needs-a-friend-mp3-digital-download-mtu
A percentage from each purchase in the next six months will be donated to a charity chosen by Markus’s family – MJC Trier, a cultural & youth centre – in his memory.
"Taken from us all too young but I send him my love through the ether; bless you Markus – you were a good man whilst you were here."
- Martin Turner
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https://officialmerchandise.store/collections/martin-turner/products/everybody-needs-a-friend-mp3-digital-download-mtu
A percentage from each purchase in the next six months will be donated to a charity chosen by Markus’s family – MJC Trier, a cultural & youth centre – in his memory.
"Taken from us all too young but I send him my love through the ether; bless you Markus – you were a good man whilst you were here."
- Martin Turner
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The Black Country’s big sounding hard rock quintet Gin Annie have announced a UK headline tour across eleven venues through the late Autumn; The Next Chapter Tour is scheduled to run from the 23rd September to 10th October, with special guests on all dates (except Bournemouth) White Raven Down.
The tour dates (listed below) will also showcase some brand new music from the band.
Gin Annie – David Foster (vocals), Byron Beej’ Garbett & Brian Green (guitars), ‘Hammer’ Burrows (bass), Lewis Turner (drums) – kicked off 2021 by releasing the one-off single, 'Devil in Me,' which charted at #1 on the Amazon Bestsellers & Hot New Releases Rock Chart.
The tour dates (listed below) will also showcase some brand new music from the band.
Gin Annie – David Foster (vocals), Byron Beej’ Garbett & Brian Green (guitars), ‘Hammer’ Burrows (bass), Lewis Turner (drums) – kicked off 2021 by releasing the one-off single, 'Devil in Me,' which charted at #1 on the Amazon Bestsellers & Hot New Releases Rock Chart.
To assist in giving live music a much-needed adrenaline shot after the pandemic restrictions, Gin Annie have asked that the fans grab tickets in advance:
"Just like everyone else, promoters and venues have been struggling for the last year, so a show of support will help them to have faith in the music scene surviving. You can also help us out by sharing this post and encouraging your friends to check us out and get them to come along to a gig, or several!”
Tickets are now on sale. To book head to: www.ginannie.com/uk-tour-2021
"Just like everyone else, promoters and venues have been struggling for the last year, so a show of support will help them to have faith in the music scene surviving. You can also help us out by sharing this post and encouraging your friends to check us out and get them to come along to a gig, or several!”
Tickets are now on sale. To book head to: www.ginannie.com/uk-tour-2021
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The New Wave of Classic Rock team, who champion and promote one of the fastest growing movements in rock music, have confirmed they will be releasing a 2CD NWOCR compilation album in July.
This exclusive to NWOCR release, which will be accompanied by special merchandise
(t-shirt plus NWOCR 'Class of 2021' tea towel, to commemorate the occasion) is available to pre-order now.
Featuring 42 tracks, the official New Wave Of Classic Rock - Volume 1 is a special, 2CD compilation that features a selection of the best and current NWOCR artists, carefully curated by the NWOCR team and RPM (Rock People Management).
Artists featured on the forthcoming release include official chartbusters Massive Wagons and Mason Hill, The Dust Coda and Phil Campbell, fan favourites such as The New Roses, Elles Bailey, Bad Touch, Massive, Thundermother, and many more.
"It blows my mind how fast the NWOCR thing has grown! It’s literally exploded! They shine a real bright light on new bands all over the world, and it's a real honour to be a part of this official NWOCR compilation album!"
– Baz Mills, Massive Wagons.
"Marshall Records is stoked to have some of our artists include on this essential album. We have been long time supporters of this amazing group of people keeping the flame of guitar rock burning brightly. NWOCR, we salute you!"
– Steve Marshall.
"With the help of all of the fans of all the bands, and the ever growing membership of the NWOCR Facebook Group, we want to get this CD high up into the UK compilation chart, and raise the profile of the movement and the bands to a massively wider audience.
This could be the truest execution of people power; a compilation by the community, for the community."
– Richard Brindley (NWOCR)
Bands and artists featured on the new NWOCR album:
Anchor Lane; Ashen Reach; Bad Touch; Bastette; Blackwater Conspiracy; Bootyard Bandits; Collateral; Daxx & Roxane; Dead Man's Whiskey; Dig Lazarus; Doomsday Outlaw; Elles Bailey; Empyre; Everyday Heroes; Gin Annie; Gorilla Riot; Häxan; Hollowstar; Jack J Hutchinson; King Creature; Mason Hill; Massive; Massive Wagons; Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons; Revival Black; Rews; Ryders Creed; Scarlet Rebels; Shape Of Water; Skam; Sons Of Liberty; South Of Salem; Takeaway Thieves; The Dust Coda; The Hot Damn; The New Roses; These Wicked Rivers; Thundermother; Tomorrow Is Lost; Twister; Ward XVI; Wolf Jaw
New Wave Of Classic Rock - Volume 1 is available to pre-order now; it will be released on 23rd July.
Pre-order the album: www.nwocr.com
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This exclusive to NWOCR release, which will be accompanied by special merchandise
(t-shirt plus NWOCR 'Class of 2021' tea towel, to commemorate the occasion) is available to pre-order now.
Featuring 42 tracks, the official New Wave Of Classic Rock - Volume 1 is a special, 2CD compilation that features a selection of the best and current NWOCR artists, carefully curated by the NWOCR team and RPM (Rock People Management).
Artists featured on the forthcoming release include official chartbusters Massive Wagons and Mason Hill, The Dust Coda and Phil Campbell, fan favourites such as The New Roses, Elles Bailey, Bad Touch, Massive, Thundermother, and many more.
"It blows my mind how fast the NWOCR thing has grown! It’s literally exploded! They shine a real bright light on new bands all over the world, and it's a real honour to be a part of this official NWOCR compilation album!"
– Baz Mills, Massive Wagons.
"Marshall Records is stoked to have some of our artists include on this essential album. We have been long time supporters of this amazing group of people keeping the flame of guitar rock burning brightly. NWOCR, we salute you!"
– Steve Marshall.
"With the help of all of the fans of all the bands, and the ever growing membership of the NWOCR Facebook Group, we want to get this CD high up into the UK compilation chart, and raise the profile of the movement and the bands to a massively wider audience.
This could be the truest execution of people power; a compilation by the community, for the community."
– Richard Brindley (NWOCR)
Bands and artists featured on the new NWOCR album:
Anchor Lane; Ashen Reach; Bad Touch; Bastette; Blackwater Conspiracy; Bootyard Bandits; Collateral; Daxx & Roxane; Dead Man's Whiskey; Dig Lazarus; Doomsday Outlaw; Elles Bailey; Empyre; Everyday Heroes; Gin Annie; Gorilla Riot; Häxan; Hollowstar; Jack J Hutchinson; King Creature; Mason Hill; Massive; Massive Wagons; Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons; Revival Black; Rews; Ryders Creed; Scarlet Rebels; Shape Of Water; Skam; Sons Of Liberty; South Of Salem; Takeaway Thieves; The Dust Coda; The Hot Damn; The New Roses; These Wicked Rivers; Thundermother; Tomorrow Is Lost; Twister; Ward XVI; Wolf Jaw
New Wave Of Classic Rock - Volume 1 is available to pre-order now; it will be released on 23rd July.
Pre-order the album: www.nwocr.com
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Australian foot stomping rock ‘n’ rollers Massive have added more dates to their upcoming 2021 tour through the UK including, for the first time ever, Ireland.
The road dogs from Oz will be playing tracks off all three of their albums as well as new songs from their forthcoming, fourth album.
Frontman Brad Marr says "It's been long enough between drinks, I think after staying safe through the pandemic for so long, this will be our most special tour.
When we're allowed back on a stage, we will have over a years’ worth of energy to unleash!"
The tour/ dates incorporate headline gigs and those as Special Guest support to The Quireboys on their 30th Anniversary A Little Bit Of What You Fancy tour.
Tickets are available now: https://www.massiveoz.com/on-tour
Massive – "F**k off pandemic we want to play some rock n roll" UK + Ireland Tour 2021:
Oct 14th - Garage - Glasgow *
Oct 15th - Lemon Tree - Aberdeen *
Oct 16th - Corporation - Sheffield
Oct 17th - The Waterloo - Blackpool
Nov 2nd - Hope N Ruin - Brighton
Nov 3rd - Brickmakers - Norwich
Nov 4th - Hard Rock Hell Festival - Great Yarmouth
Nov 7th - Cavern - Exeter (New Date)
Nov 12th - The Sound House - Dublin (New Date)
Nov 13th - Voodoo - Belfast (New Date)
Nov 14th - Hewsall Hall - Wirral (New Date)
Nov 16th - Gullivers - Manchester (New Date)
Nov 18th - Brudenell - Leeds*
Nov 19th - Sage - Gateshead*
Nov 20th - Sugarmill - Stoke*
Nov 21st - Trillians - Newcastle
Nov 22nd - Salutation Inn - Nottingham (New Date)
Nov 24th - Black Heart - London (New Date)
Nov 25th - Fuel - Cardiff
Nov 26th - Academy - Manchester *
Nov 27th - Guildhall - Gloucester *
*Supporting the Quireboys
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The road dogs from Oz will be playing tracks off all three of their albums as well as new songs from their forthcoming, fourth album.
Frontman Brad Marr says "It's been long enough between drinks, I think after staying safe through the pandemic for so long, this will be our most special tour.
When we're allowed back on a stage, we will have over a years’ worth of energy to unleash!"
The tour/ dates incorporate headline gigs and those as Special Guest support to The Quireboys on their 30th Anniversary A Little Bit Of What You Fancy tour.
Tickets are available now: https://www.massiveoz.com/on-tour
Massive – "F**k off pandemic we want to play some rock n roll" UK + Ireland Tour 2021:
Oct 14th - Garage - Glasgow *
Oct 15th - Lemon Tree - Aberdeen *
Oct 16th - Corporation - Sheffield
Oct 17th - The Waterloo - Blackpool
Nov 2nd - Hope N Ruin - Brighton
Nov 3rd - Brickmakers - Norwich
Nov 4th - Hard Rock Hell Festival - Great Yarmouth
Nov 7th - Cavern - Exeter (New Date)
Nov 12th - The Sound House - Dublin (New Date)
Nov 13th - Voodoo - Belfast (New Date)
Nov 14th - Hewsall Hall - Wirral (New Date)
Nov 16th - Gullivers - Manchester (New Date)
Nov 18th - Brudenell - Leeds*
Nov 19th - Sage - Gateshead*
Nov 20th - Sugarmill - Stoke*
Nov 21st - Trillians - Newcastle
Nov 22nd - Salutation Inn - Nottingham (New Date)
Nov 24th - Black Heart - London (New Date)
Nov 25th - Fuel - Cardiff
Nov 26th - Academy - Manchester *
Nov 27th - Guildhall - Gloucester *
*Supporting the Quireboys
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Swiss-based blues rock quartet the Ellis Manos Band will release their second album Ambedo on 25th June via Jazzhaus Records.
The band, who describe their sound as “a sort of rock n’ soul, rooted deep down in the blues," have just release lead-off single, 'Keep It Simple,' a song that emphasizes the soulful, blues shaded side of the band.
The single is available to stream or download now; the album is available to pre-order at:
https://orcd.co/ellismanobandambedo
Visit the band's merch shop here: https://www.ellismanoband.com/shop
The band, who describe their sound as “a sort of rock n’ soul, rooted deep down in the blues," have just release lead-off single, 'Keep It Simple,' a song that emphasizes the soulful, blues shaded side of the band.
The single is available to stream or download now; the album is available to pre-order at:
https://orcd.co/ellismanobandambedo
Visit the band's merch shop here: https://www.ellismanoband.com/shop
In Switzerland, the Ellis Mano Band are not unlike the Wrecking Crew or the Funk Brothers; they are top-flight studio musicians and elites in the Swiss music scene.
As such the band members never got much time to make music of their own until 2019 debut album Here And Now and, two years on, Ambedo.
"We chose the album title Ambedo because it reflects the state of the process of recording an album," says guitarist Edis Mano.
"Ambedo refers to the tendency both to reflect and to absorb. Musicians like us do it all the time, especially when we compose new songs and create a new album."
"We would get together with just a few ideas, fill it out, let it grow, work on it, with a great passion," continues vocalist Chris Ellis. "For session musicians, it was not about having just another project to play on, but an opportunity for us to play as a real band again. It was a great feeling to see the guys together and getting emotional from time to time playing the music."
The album was recorded at Edis Mano’s Studio E10 with a lot of vintage gear and instruments including a Hammond B3 organ.
All songs were recorded live with just a few later overdubs, including backing vocals and horns.
Influenced by Led Zeppelin, J.J. Cale, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jimi Hendrix and more recently John Mayer, the Ellis Mano Band have put their own stamp on the blues and on Ambedo, which the band hope to follow up with tours across Europe and North America.
The Ellis Mano Band:
Chris Ellis – lead vocals; Edis Mano – guitars
Nico Looser – drums; Severin Graf - bass.
Praise for debut album Here And Now
"The Ellis Mano Band has a bright future ahead. If this is their debut album after collaborating for just a year, imagine what’s in store next." - Rock & Blues Muse
"Chris Ellis’ voice is like Kentucky bourbon – smooth as glass but with an addictive burn. He sings with a tense sincerity that pairs gorgeously with the lyrical ferocity of Edis Mano’s guitar." - Blues Magazine NL
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As such the band members never got much time to make music of their own until 2019 debut album Here And Now and, two years on, Ambedo.
"We chose the album title Ambedo because it reflects the state of the process of recording an album," says guitarist Edis Mano.
"Ambedo refers to the tendency both to reflect and to absorb. Musicians like us do it all the time, especially when we compose new songs and create a new album."
"We would get together with just a few ideas, fill it out, let it grow, work on it, with a great passion," continues vocalist Chris Ellis. "For session musicians, it was not about having just another project to play on, but an opportunity for us to play as a real band again. It was a great feeling to see the guys together and getting emotional from time to time playing the music."
The album was recorded at Edis Mano’s Studio E10 with a lot of vintage gear and instruments including a Hammond B3 organ.
All songs were recorded live with just a few later overdubs, including backing vocals and horns.
Influenced by Led Zeppelin, J.J. Cale, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jimi Hendrix and more recently John Mayer, the Ellis Mano Band have put their own stamp on the blues and on Ambedo, which the band hope to follow up with tours across Europe and North America.
The Ellis Mano Band:
Chris Ellis – lead vocals; Edis Mano – guitars
Nico Looser – drums; Severin Graf - bass.
Praise for debut album Here And Now
"The Ellis Mano Band has a bright future ahead. If this is their debut album after collaborating for just a year, imagine what’s in store next." - Rock & Blues Muse
"Chris Ellis’ voice is like Kentucky bourbon – smooth as glass but with an addictive burn. He sings with a tense sincerity that pairs gorgeously with the lyrical ferocity of Edis Mano’s guitar." - Blues Magazine NL
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Robin Trower/ Maxi Priest / Livingstone Brown have just released an Official Music Video for 'Are We Just People' from their acclaimed, collaborative album United State of Mind.
The album, released digitally in 2020, has just seen CD release, on Manhaton Records.
Filmed at and around Maxi Priest’s home in Jamaica, the lush and lucid visuals complement the song's emotive, 70s soul melody and wistful lyrics perfectly…
The album, released digitally in 2020, has just seen CD release, on Manhaton Records.
Filmed at and around Maxi Priest’s home in Jamaica, the lush and lucid visuals complement the song's emotive, 70s soul melody and wistful lyrics perfectly…
"If you are looking for a seriously well performed album with cool, coastal drive appeal and a bucketful of smooth ‘n’ silky, soul-funk-blues, you may well have your answer." - FabricationsHQ
You can purchase the CD of United State of Mind direct form Manhaton Records here:
https://www.manhatonrecords.com/product/usm-united-state-of-mind-cd
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You can purchase the CD of United State of Mind direct form Manhaton Records here:
https://www.manhatonrecords.com/product/usm-united-state-of-mind-cd
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Dennis DeYoung has announced the release of his final studio album, 26 East, Vol 2, a fond farewell to recorded music by the former Styx founder member.
The album will be released on Frontiers Records on 11th June.
As with its acclaimed predecessor, 26 East, Vol 2 again hints strongly at DeYoung's rock roots with Styx, along with a fitting finale in the shape of the six-and-a-half minute 'Isle of Misanthrope,' of which DeYoung says "is, metaphorically speaking, a commentary on the contemporary state of mankind under the guise of ancient times – the more things change the more they remain the same.
Also, it’s my musical journey back to the days of Styx’s Equinox and Suite Madame Blue, as I attempt to explain the confounding nature of mankind through metaphor.
It’s got a good beat, but won’t be a hit at the disco!"
The album will be released on Frontiers Records on 11th June.
As with its acclaimed predecessor, 26 East, Vol 2 again hints strongly at DeYoung's rock roots with Styx, along with a fitting finale in the shape of the six-and-a-half minute 'Isle of Misanthrope,' of which DeYoung says "is, metaphorically speaking, a commentary on the contemporary state of mankind under the guise of ancient times – the more things change the more they remain the same.
Also, it’s my musical journey back to the days of Styx’s Equinox and Suite Madame Blue, as I attempt to explain the confounding nature of mankind through metaphor.
It’s got a good beat, but won’t be a hit at the disco!"
As with 26 East, Vol 1, the second and final instalment sees Dennis DeYoung collaborate with fellow Chicagoan, friend and Grammy Award winning songwriter Jim Peterik (the process that brought about the albums started when Peterik sent DeYoung a song he thought would suit him; that song became the catalyst for ten further collaborations, four of which appear on Vol 2).
26 East was the address where Dennis DeYoung grew up on the south side of Chicago.
Across the street lived the Panozzo twins, John and Chuck, who, along with DeYoung, went on to form the nucleus of Styx in 1962.
26 East, Vol 2 – Track listing:
Hello Goodbye; Land Of the Living; The Last Guitar Hero (feat Tom Morello); Your Saving Grace; Proof Of Heaven; Made For Each Other; There’s No Turning Back Time; St. Quarantine; Little Did We Know; Always Time; Isle Of Misanthrope; Grand Finale
Pre-order link: orcd.co/ddyvol2
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26 East was the address where Dennis DeYoung grew up on the south side of Chicago.
Across the street lived the Panozzo twins, John and Chuck, who, along with DeYoung, went on to form the nucleus of Styx in 1962.
26 East, Vol 2 – Track listing:
Hello Goodbye; Land Of the Living; The Last Guitar Hero (feat Tom Morello); Your Saving Grace; Proof Of Heaven; Made For Each Other; There’s No Turning Back Time; St. Quarantine; Little Did We Know; Always Time; Isle Of Misanthrope; Grand Finale
Pre-order link: orcd.co/ddyvol2
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'Walking Free,' the first single release from trad/roots-blues Scottish duo Sister Gavin and the Gator (aka singer Adele Gavin and highly expressive blues-slide guitarist Iain Donald), couldn’t be better timed.
At the heart of the song’s pleaful and evocative vocal, slide and handclaps arrangement is a traditionally framed, delta meets gospel blues; but it also doubles as an uplifting, soulful cry to remain positive in the current state of global affairs and the hope we can, indeed, all be walking free from pandemic and political divide in a future yet to be realised.
Strong as the song is, it becomes even more the story-telling number when set within the accompanying Lyric Video...
At the heart of the song’s pleaful and evocative vocal, slide and handclaps arrangement is a traditionally framed, delta meets gospel blues; but it also doubles as an uplifting, soulful cry to remain positive in the current state of global affairs and the hope we can, indeed, all be walking free from pandemic and political divide in a future yet to be realised.
Strong as the song is, it becomes even more the story-telling number when set within the accompanying Lyric Video...
Singer-songwriter Adele Gavin and guitarist 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; they continue to perform live-steam concerts during the second lockdown.
An otherwise unavailable and longer version of 'Walking Free' (a more "fife & drum" arrangement featuring drummer Dave Cantwell) can be purchased via the duo's Bandcamp page: https://sistergavinandthegator.bandcamp.com/
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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; they continue to perform live-steam concerts during the second lockdown.
An otherwise unavailable and longer version of 'Walking Free' (a more "fife & drum" arrangement featuring drummer Dave Cantwell) can be purchased via the duo's Bandcamp page: https://sistergavinandthegator.bandcamp.com/
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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 has just been released.
On the new album Peter Frampton brings his 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, 'Avalon' by Roxy Music and an atmospheric and emotive rendition of 'Loving the Alien,' which the renowned guitarist has "dedicated to Owen Frampton, my father and David Bowie, my friend."
On the new album Peter Frampton brings his 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, 'Avalon' by Roxy Music and an atmospheric and emotive rendition of 'Loving the Alien,' which the renowned guitarist has "dedicated to Owen Frampton, my father and David Bowie, my friend."
"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 purchase 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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You can purchase 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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Photo by Kevin McCollum
The pandemic and associated lockdowns may have curtailed live gigs but it hasn’t stopped many an artist getting on with recording or adding further strings to their bows – or in the case of Ali Ferguson, his guitar.
An ambient focussed composer, Scottish guitarist-singer-producer-solo artist Ali Ferguson is also known for his touring and recording time with fellow Scot, singer Ray Wilson (Stiltskin, Genesis/Calling All Stations), 80s hitmakers Red Box and Scottish folk legend legend Dougie Maclean.
More recently however Ali Ferguson stepped in as a radio guest-host when he presented The Prog Show on Radio Mix 106.
Given the musician’s penchant for atmospheric and melodic soundscapes (his own work combines spoken word, samples, beautiful Gilmour-esque guitar and electronica) his playlisting wasn’t, refreshingly, all about the usual prog suspects or songs; instead the likes of Sigur Ros, Ashra and Tycho shared ambient space with deeper cuts from Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd.
You can hear a recent episode of The Prog Show hosted by Ali Ferguson here:
https://radiomix106.com/podcast/planet-prog-episode-22/
Additionally, with touring still some way off, Ali Ferguson has rejoined the ranks of GuitarGuitar Edinburgh as part of their sales team.
Even better news for fans of Ali Ferguson and his music was the recent announcement that four of the eight tracks that will make up the Edinburgh based artist’s third solo album, The Contemplative Power Of Water, have now been completed.
The tracks are being mixed by Graeme Hughes, who also mixed Ferguson’s previous album, 2016’s A Sequence Of Moments, which featured ethereal soundscapes such as 'Out Of the Dark.'
An ambient focussed composer, Scottish guitarist-singer-producer-solo artist Ali Ferguson is also known for his touring and recording time with fellow Scot, singer Ray Wilson (Stiltskin, Genesis/Calling All Stations), 80s hitmakers Red Box and Scottish folk legend legend Dougie Maclean.
More recently however Ali Ferguson stepped in as a radio guest-host when he presented The Prog Show on Radio Mix 106.
Given the musician’s penchant for atmospheric and melodic soundscapes (his own work combines spoken word, samples, beautiful Gilmour-esque guitar and electronica) his playlisting wasn’t, refreshingly, all about the usual prog suspects or songs; instead the likes of Sigur Ros, Ashra and Tycho shared ambient space with deeper cuts from Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd.
You can hear a recent episode of The Prog Show hosted by Ali Ferguson here:
https://radiomix106.com/podcast/planet-prog-episode-22/
Additionally, with touring still some way off, Ali Ferguson has rejoined the ranks of GuitarGuitar Edinburgh as part of their sales team.
Even better news for fans of Ali Ferguson and his music was the recent announcement that four of the eight tracks that will make up the Edinburgh based artist’s third solo album, The Contemplative Power Of Water, have now been completed.
The tracks are being mixed by Graeme Hughes, who also mixed Ferguson’s previous album, 2016’s A Sequence Of Moments, which featured ethereal soundscapes such as 'Out Of the Dark.'
Work on the remaining four tracks that will make up The Contemplative Power of Water is expected to commence soon; the pre-order/ crowdfunder for the album will also be announced shortly.
Meanwhile you can check out and/ or purchase Ali Ferguson’s previous albums and other songs on his bandcamp page: https://aliferguson.bandcamp.com/music
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Meanwhile you can check out and/ or purchase Ali Ferguson’s previous albums and other songs on his bandcamp page: https://aliferguson.bandcamp.com/music
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Following on from their impressive 2020 debut album White Noise, all female Welsh power-trio Häxan have now announced an eight date Release The Girls UK headline tour.
Subject to UK Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions, the the summer tour is set to commence on the 27th June in Newcastle, with a final date on the 7th August in Crumlin, Newport.
The band, who have an impressive array of live shows and festivals already under their belt (including Download, Planet Rockstock, Hard Rock Hell, shows with Status Quo and Phil Campbell, to name but five), have been building their fanbase throughout the pandemic with the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, White Noise, which featured the single 'Skeletons.'
Subject to UK Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions, the the summer tour is set to commence on the 27th June in Newcastle, with a final date on the 7th August in Crumlin, Newport.
The band, who have an impressive array of live shows and festivals already under their belt (including Download, Planet Rockstock, Hard Rock Hell, shows with Status Quo and Phil Campbell, to name but five), have been building their fanbase throughout the pandemic with the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, White Noise, which featured the single 'Skeletons.'
Of the upcoming dates vocalist/guitarist Sam Bolderson says, "We can't wait to get back out there after what has been an extremely challenging year for everyone. Times have changed drastically, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. A huge thank you to all those who kept us going during the darker times, all the support we received for White Noise and beyond. We're so pumped to finally be able to play the album live!
Special guests on the dates will be Mad Haven and Ashen Reach.
Other bands featured on certain dates include White Raven Down, Hired Guns, Nine Miles South, Ravenbreed and Unknown Refuge.
Häxan Release The Girls UK Tour 2021
(subject to UK Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions)
27th JUNE – NEWCASTLE, Trillians Rock Bar
w/ Mad Haven & Ashen Reach (FREE ENTRY)
2nd JULY – LONDON, Fiddler’s Elbow
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Nine Miles South
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3uVWtql
3rd JULY – CHELTENHAM, Frog & Fiddle
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Hired Guns
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qjbX3T
9th JULY – MANCHESTER, Gullivers
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Unknown Refuge
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qwiEA1
16th JULY – BIRMINGHAM, Billesley Rock Club
w/ Mad Haven & Ashen Reach
Tickets: https://bit.ly/2OykuTG
23rd JULY – NORWICH, B2 Venue
w/ Ashen Reach & White Raven Down
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3c9bb4p
1st AUGUST – WILDFIRE FESTIVAL, Wanlockhead
Tickets: https://bit.ly/30kEwU4
7th AUGUST – CRUMLIN, The Patriot
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Ravenbreed
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3cdXLEC Official Website: https://www.haxan.co.uk
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Special guests on the dates will be Mad Haven and Ashen Reach.
Other bands featured on certain dates include White Raven Down, Hired Guns, Nine Miles South, Ravenbreed and Unknown Refuge.
Häxan Release The Girls UK Tour 2021
(subject to UK Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions)
27th JUNE – NEWCASTLE, Trillians Rock Bar
w/ Mad Haven & Ashen Reach (FREE ENTRY)
2nd JULY – LONDON, Fiddler’s Elbow
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Nine Miles South
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3uVWtql
3rd JULY – CHELTENHAM, Frog & Fiddle
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Hired Guns
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qjbX3T
9th JULY – MANCHESTER, Gullivers
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Unknown Refuge
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3qwiEA1
16th JULY – BIRMINGHAM, Billesley Rock Club
w/ Mad Haven & Ashen Reach
Tickets: https://bit.ly/2OykuTG
23rd JULY – NORWICH, B2 Venue
w/ Ashen Reach & White Raven Down
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3c9bb4p
1st AUGUST – WILDFIRE FESTIVAL, Wanlockhead
Tickets: https://bit.ly/30kEwU4
7th AUGUST – CRUMLIN, The Patriot
w/ Mad Haven, Ashen Reach & Ravenbreed
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3cdXLEC Official Website: https://www.haxan.co.uk
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Nashville based (but far from traditionally Nashville sounding) duo The Bloody Nerve have returned five years on from their noted debut album Taste (a creative blend of Delta meets the Rolling Stones (had they been from Nashville) meet alt-pop blues) with a bigger, bolder and rockier statement that will be second album, All Blood, No Treasure.
The new album is a two-fold concept; while the songs tell "the story about the battle of individualism and collectivism that is somehow still raging on today" as outlined by guitarist/ singer Stacey Blood, the album itself will be conceptually serialisedand released episodically/ track-by-track like a Netflix series.
'Episode 2 - What’s It Say? (About You)' has recently been released with accompanying lyric video.
Of the song, vocalist Laurie Anne Layne says "it makes me feel like how dysfunctional our whole situation gets when we try and administrate and fix all of the damn things. There's a certain type of person who just can't mind their own business and it ends up Hell for everyone else!"
The new album is a two-fold concept; while the songs tell "the story about the battle of individualism and collectivism that is somehow still raging on today" as outlined by guitarist/ singer Stacey Blood, the album itself will be conceptually serialisedand released episodically/ track-by-track like a Netflix series.
'Episode 2 - What’s It Say? (About You)' has recently been released with accompanying lyric video.
Of the song, vocalist Laurie Anne Layne says "it makes me feel like how dysfunctional our whole situation gets when we try and administrate and fix all of the damn things. There's a certain type of person who just can't mind their own business and it ends up Hell for everyone else!"
'What’s It Say? (About You)' follows on from last year’s ear catching (courtesy of Laurie Ann Layne’s powerful vocal performance) 'Part One – A Million Arms.'
The angst driven 'A Million Arms' made such an impression here at FabricationsHQ that it remained a feature on the Home/ News Feed Page right up until being supplanted by the release of Part Two (you can however check out the new Lyric Video for Part One below).
For more information on the album and the band, head to: https://thebloodynerve.com/
"All Blood, No Treasure ain’t going to be no flash in the pan. It will be a slow-burner (lots of mileage), and like all good television series, there will be lots of cliff-hangers along the way!" - Stacey Blood
The angst driven 'A Million Arms' made such an impression here at FabricationsHQ that it remained a feature on the Home/ News Feed Page right up until being supplanted by the release of Part Two (you can however check out the new Lyric Video for Part One below).
For more information on the album and the band, head to: https://thebloodynerve.com/
"All Blood, No Treasure ain’t going to be no flash in the pan. It will be a slow-burner (lots of mileage), and like all good television series, there will be lots of cliff-hangers along the way!" - Stacey Blood
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Sweet have released a new single 'Set Me Free' from the band’s new lockdown album Isolation Boulevard.
You can stream or download the album, as well as pre-order the CD here: https://thesweet.com/
Isolation Boulevard features all the Sweet’s classic hit singles plus a couple of newer numbers; it was recorded during lockdown periods, between September and October 2020.
'Set Me Free' is a reworking of what is a true hard rock classic; it first appeared on the band’s Sweet Fanny Adams album in 1974.
One of the most covered songs in Sweet's repertoire (including by Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Saxon) this marks the first time the band has released it as an official single.
You can stream or download the album, as well as pre-order the CD here: https://thesweet.com/
Isolation Boulevard features all the Sweet’s classic hit singles plus a couple of newer numbers; it was recorded during lockdown periods, between September and October 2020.
'Set Me Free' is a reworking of what is a true hard rock classic; it first appeared on the band’s Sweet Fanny Adams album in 1974.
One of the most covered songs in Sweet's repertoire (including by Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Saxon) this marks the first time the band has released it as an official single.
Of the album and its recording, guitarist Andy Scott, the only surviving member of the classic era and line-up, says: Sweet would usually record all together in the studio with a performance rather than individually but the pandemic dictated the ways and means. The result is a mind-blowing set of tracks, all the hits and a barrage of heavy-duty glam rock!”
Isolation Boulevard track listing:
Fox on the Run; Still Got the Rock; Action; Love Is Like Oxygen; Hell Raiser; The Six Teens; Blockbuster; Set Me Free; Teenage Rampage; Turn It Down; New York Groove; Ballroom Blitz
Sweet will also be back out on the road at the end of the year on their rescheduled UK tour with Special Guests Limehouse Lizzy.
Tickets are on sale via www.thegigcartel.com and the 24 HR Box Office on 08444 780 898
Brighton, Chalk - Thursday 25th November
Southampton, 1865 - Friday 26th November
Frome, Cheese & Grain - Saturday 27th Nov.
London, Islington Assembly - Sunday 28th Nov.
Birmingham, Town Hall - Thursday 2nd Nov.
Shrewsbury, The Buttermarket - Friday 3rd Dec.
Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion - Saturday 4th Dec.
Norwich, The Waterfront - Sunday 5th December
Newcastle, Boiler Shop - Wednesday 8th Dec.
Glasgow, The Garage - Thursday 9th December
Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall - Friday 10th December Holmfirth, Picturedrome - Saturday 11th December
Cardiff, University SU - Friday 17th December Manchester, Academy - Saturday 18th December
Nottingham, Rock City - Sunday 19th December Bury St Edmunds, Apex - Monday 20th December
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Isolation Boulevard track listing:
Fox on the Run; Still Got the Rock; Action; Love Is Like Oxygen; Hell Raiser; The Six Teens; Blockbuster; Set Me Free; Teenage Rampage; Turn It Down; New York Groove; Ballroom Blitz
Sweet will also be back out on the road at the end of the year on their rescheduled UK tour with Special Guests Limehouse Lizzy.
Tickets are on sale via www.thegigcartel.com and the 24 HR Box Office on 08444 780 898
Brighton, Chalk - Thursday 25th November
Southampton, 1865 - Friday 26th November
Frome, Cheese & Grain - Saturday 27th Nov.
London, Islington Assembly - Sunday 28th Nov.
Birmingham, Town Hall - Thursday 2nd Nov.
Shrewsbury, The Buttermarket - Friday 3rd Dec.
Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion - Saturday 4th Dec.
Norwich, The Waterfront - Sunday 5th December
Newcastle, Boiler Shop - Wednesday 8th Dec.
Glasgow, The Garage - Thursday 9th December
Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall - Friday 10th December Holmfirth, Picturedrome - Saturday 11th December
Cardiff, University SU - Friday 17th December Manchester, Academy - Saturday 18th December
Nottingham, Rock City - Sunday 19th December Bury St Edmunds, Apex - Monday 20th December
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Multi-award-winning and rootsy, genre-crossing singer Elles Bailey has released a new single, 'Love is Gonna Win,' with special self-edited video accompaniment.
The song, co-written in 2019 with Australian-born, Nashville-based award-winning singer/songwriter Tamara Stewart, is the perfect vehicle for Elles Bailey’s trademark smoky voiced timbre and style while musically blending both the Blues and Nashville.
The song, co-written in 2019 with Australian-born, Nashville-based award-winning singer/songwriter Tamara Stewart, is the perfect vehicle for Elles Bailey’s trademark smoky voiced timbre and style while musically blending both the Blues and Nashville.
"I've been thinking a lot about different songs, written in a different time that are somehow now reflecting the state of the world. Songs like Mary Gauthier's 'Mercy Now' or Elton John's ‘Border Song.'
I had this track finished for quite a while, but now I feel that the time is right to finally release it.
We have all lived through a time of isolation but I really wanted to use the video to celebrate my fans’ 'Lockdown Heroes,' and spread the message that in the end love will always win!"
- Elles Bailey
'Love is Gonna Win' is available to download or stream from all digital platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ellesbailey/love-is-gonna-win
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I had this track finished for quite a while, but now I feel that the time is right to finally release it.
We have all lived through a time of isolation but I really wanted to use the video to celebrate my fans’ 'Lockdown Heroes,' and spread the message that in the end love will always win!"
- Elles Bailey
'Love is Gonna Win' is available to download or stream from all digital platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ellesbailey/love-is-gonna-win
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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."
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."
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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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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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…
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…
"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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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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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).
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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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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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).
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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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
Victor Wooten