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In the last couple of days we’ve been confirmed as the support act for Idlewild’s lead singer Roddy Woomble’s solo show in Reading on Tuesday night (1st Feb).
This is a great opportunity for us in our quest to work with more high profile artists – and although very short notice (we were only 100% confirmed yesterday!), I hope there is still time for a few of you to grab some tickets and come along.
The venue is Sub89 in Reading and tickets for the show are £11 and available from here. Doors are 7.30pm.
The show will be all seated – and we’re expecting Roddy to play tracks from his solo albums as well as the odd Idlewild favourite. We’ll be on first of course, probably doing about half an hour. It should be a great night.
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Monday, 31 January 2011
Monday, 9 August 2010
Summer Update
Just an update folks regarding a few shows we have coming up over the next fortnight.
Tomorrow night we're at our old haunt of The Cellar Bar, at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell. Doing a 30+ minute slot along with great singer/songwriter Natalie Long. We'll be on around 9pm and tickets are a fiver on the door.
Sunday we play at The Harlequin Fayre near Norwich. Tickets are almost sold out for this Green Gathering, but you may be lucky if you're quick. Expect loads of hippies and quality ale. Nice!
Next Wednesday we're at The Oakford Social Club in Reading for the BBC Introducing night. Free entry as far as we know, and we're on the bill along with our good friends Scattered Few.
Then, on Saturday 21st August we play at The Small World Festival in Lincolnshire. Again, tickets are pretty scarse for this one now - but if you are interested, check the website gig section where the link for this, as well as the Norwich festival can be found.
Tomorrow night we're at our old haunt of The Cellar Bar, at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell. Doing a 30+ minute slot along with great singer/songwriter Natalie Long. We'll be on around 9pm and tickets are a fiver on the door.
Sunday we play at The Harlequin Fayre near Norwich. Tickets are almost sold out for this Green Gathering, but you may be lucky if you're quick. Expect loads of hippies and quality ale. Nice!
Next Wednesday we're at The Oakford Social Club in Reading for the BBC Introducing night. Free entry as far as we know, and we're on the bill along with our good friends Scattered Few.
Then, on Saturday 21st August we play at The Small World Festival in Lincolnshire. Again, tickets are pretty scarse for this one now - but if you are interested, check the website gig section where the link for this, as well as the Norwich festival can be found.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
More Reviews
We’ve had another album review, this time on NetRhythms - and again positive although I’ve had to apologise to the band for being too loud!
A five piece acoustic outfit from Berkshire fronted by Emma Johnson and with instrumentation that includes violin and African drums, their ‘folk fusion’ meld of trad, blues, and world music has seen them regularly performing across the South East and London. They’re now looking to spread the horizons with the release of their debut album. It’s a crowded field out there, but, ahem, all things considered, they have several factors in their favour.
For a start, Johnson’s pure but earthy vocals combine traditional leanings with a contemporary sensibility, so that you’re as likely to hear Jacqui McShee and Sally Oldfield notes as Denny, Eliza Carthy or Rusby. The playing too is strong, exemplified by violinist Gethin Webster’s short intro instrumental Kuebiko (a Japanese scarecrow deity) and the textures he brings to Manipulative Perspectives, Adrian Holden’s intricate guitar work and Phil Daniel’s smouldering ethnic hand drum percussion showcase on The Neverending.
The material stands tall too, with the bruised heart emotions of Self Pity, the heady musical interplay on Clear Your Conscience and the wounded Numb all highlights.
If there’s a reservation it’s that sometimes the percussion overwhelms the more delicate aspects, but there’s no reason to think this isn’t about to see their gig diary and order books about to become increasingly full.
It is extremely heartening to have positive feedback in the form of published reviews. You obviously take praise and criticism from your friends, family and fellow artists but this is endorsement from people who generally have no real idea who you are. They have made a judgement on your music with no other factors influencing them to sway one way or another. With that taken in to account, we can be nothing but delighted at the way the album has gone down since its release. We could however do with an upturn in sales……..
We’re in Reading next Thursday – a free entry gig at The Varsity Bar, which will either be fantastic or truly horrendous (we don’t have much luck with Reading). Why don’t you come along to find out? It’ll be our last gig of what has been probably the most hectic year of our musical lives (however 2010 is looking even more so – watch this space), so be great to see a few heads out for a celebratory pint.
We’re playing with cracking acoustic duo Scattered Few and also for all you people who remember most of us in our old Ecoute days, our guitarist from that time James Fayers (the bloke with the hat) will be doing a rare acoustic set. Nice.
A five piece acoustic outfit from Berkshire fronted by Emma Johnson and with instrumentation that includes violin and African drums, their ‘folk fusion’ meld of trad, blues, and world music has seen them regularly performing across the South East and London. They’re now looking to spread the horizons with the release of their debut album. It’s a crowded field out there, but, ahem, all things considered, they have several factors in their favour.
For a start, Johnson’s pure but earthy vocals combine traditional leanings with a contemporary sensibility, so that you’re as likely to hear Jacqui McShee and Sally Oldfield notes as Denny, Eliza Carthy or Rusby. The playing too is strong, exemplified by violinist Gethin Webster’s short intro instrumental Kuebiko (a Japanese scarecrow deity) and the textures he brings to Manipulative Perspectives, Adrian Holden’s intricate guitar work and Phil Daniel’s smouldering ethnic hand drum percussion showcase on The Neverending.
The material stands tall too, with the bruised heart emotions of Self Pity, the heady musical interplay on Clear Your Conscience and the wounded Numb all highlights.
If there’s a reservation it’s that sometimes the percussion overwhelms the more delicate aspects, but there’s no reason to think this isn’t about to see their gig diary and order books about to become increasingly full.
It is extremely heartening to have positive feedback in the form of published reviews. You obviously take praise and criticism from your friends, family and fellow artists but this is endorsement from people who generally have no real idea who you are. They have made a judgement on your music with no other factors influencing them to sway one way or another. With that taken in to account, we can be nothing but delighted at the way the album has gone down since its release. We could however do with an upturn in sales……..
We’re in Reading next Thursday – a free entry gig at The Varsity Bar, which will either be fantastic or truly horrendous (we don’t have much luck with Reading). Why don’t you come along to find out? It’ll be our last gig of what has been probably the most hectic year of our musical lives (however 2010 is looking even more so – watch this space), so be great to see a few heads out for a celebratory pint.
We’re playing with cracking acoustic duo Scattered Few and also for all you people who remember most of us in our old Ecoute days, our guitarist from that time James Fayers (the bloke with the hat) will be doing a rare acoustic set. Nice.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Latest Goings On
Premature? Perhaps. But the Christmas countdown has begun!
Only 21 working days until I (Emma) set off for sunnier skies for a family festive season, and I couldn’t be more excited.
However, the countdown with All Things Considered is a busy period as we try to squeeze in as many get togethers – gigs, rehearsals and interviews between work parties and family gatherings as we can.
Our next event you are all invited to is in Battersea on the 1st December, and we look forward to hopefully seeing some friendly faces to welcome us to this new venue. Details of that gig can be found on the website as usual. Also coming up is a return appearance on Surrey radio station Brooklands FM on December 7th. We have a full 2 hour show to play a few tracks, pick a few tracks and generally have a bit of a chat and a laugh. We'll post details on how to listen to the show a bit nearer the time.
Anyone interested in coming to see us in Reading on 17th December - we'll keep you fully updated with that, as there are a few promoter issues with that gig currently (i.e. the promoter has left!). We're trying hard to keep the gig on, but will of course keep everyone 'in the loop' with any news.
In the meantime, I assure you we will be working hard, writing to keep our set fresh.
Also, keep checking back on the website as we have some pictures from previous gigs and even some potential video footage being uploaded on the site very soon.
Have a good week!
Only 21 working days until I (Emma) set off for sunnier skies for a family festive season, and I couldn’t be more excited.
However, the countdown with All Things Considered is a busy period as we try to squeeze in as many get togethers – gigs, rehearsals and interviews between work parties and family gatherings as we can.
Our next event you are all invited to is in Battersea on the 1st December, and we look forward to hopefully seeing some friendly faces to welcome us to this new venue. Details of that gig can be found on the website as usual. Also coming up is a return appearance on Surrey radio station Brooklands FM on December 7th. We have a full 2 hour show to play a few tracks, pick a few tracks and generally have a bit of a chat and a laugh. We'll post details on how to listen to the show a bit nearer the time.
Anyone interested in coming to see us in Reading on 17th December - we'll keep you fully updated with that, as there are a few promoter issues with that gig currently (i.e. the promoter has left!). We're trying hard to keep the gig on, but will of course keep everyone 'in the loop' with any news.
In the meantime, I assure you we will be working hard, writing to keep our set fresh.
Also, keep checking back on the website as we have some pictures from previous gigs and even some potential video footage being uploaded on the site very soon.
Have a good week!
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Random MJ Ramble
Its 34 degrees in my office. The air-con has packed up, and with all the windows in the building unable to be opened due to health and safety (even though we’re only on the first floor and you’d be lucky to break a leg if you jumped), it’s pretty damn uncomfortable.
As luck would have it, I (Phil) have little work to do this afternoon so I’ve just been reading the reviews online of the new Michael Jackson concert film, released internationally last night. The consensus is a bit hit and miss, some of it is good, some bad – in some of it you can see his genius shining through, whereas in other bits he just comes across as a frail man with what seems like the whole world on his shoulders. As expected, every paper, news website etc has a comment on it – which is of course to be expected.
I personally am a little uncomfortable with the fact that this film has been reviewed in exactly the same sort of way any other cinema release would have been. It’s blatantly obvious that this material, however good, was never intended for mass viewing - at the very most a 10 minute segment as part of the extras DVD of what would have been no doubt a tremendous live DVD after the shows had been completed. The fact that respected film critics for national and international news agencies can criticise the filming techniques is a little out of line. I’m sure had they known the bloke was going to drop dead before the opening night, they would have got the finest camera and sound crew available to capture every last detail of the show……but they didn’t, so this is all we have, and maybe we just need to be thankful we even have that – but I suppose that view doesn’t sell papers.
The one thing that is certain is that everyone is in agreement this was going to be some show – so lets hope we actually see it one day, with the worlds top performers taking on the Jackson role.
Anyway – in other news, it looks like we might have finally sorted a date in Reading. After almost 2 years of searching for the right venue, it looks like we’re going to be playing The Varsity Bar on Thursday 17th December, alongside two as yet unnamed acoustic based acts. So, if you’re from the Reading area, like most of us are – stick it in the diary.
As luck would have it, I (Phil) have little work to do this afternoon so I’ve just been reading the reviews online of the new Michael Jackson concert film, released internationally last night. The consensus is a bit hit and miss, some of it is good, some bad – in some of it you can see his genius shining through, whereas in other bits he just comes across as a frail man with what seems like the whole world on his shoulders. As expected, every paper, news website etc has a comment on it – which is of course to be expected.
I personally am a little uncomfortable with the fact that this film has been reviewed in exactly the same sort of way any other cinema release would have been. It’s blatantly obvious that this material, however good, was never intended for mass viewing - at the very most a 10 minute segment as part of the extras DVD of what would have been no doubt a tremendous live DVD after the shows had been completed. The fact that respected film critics for national and international news agencies can criticise the filming techniques is a little out of line. I’m sure had they known the bloke was going to drop dead before the opening night, they would have got the finest camera and sound crew available to capture every last detail of the show……but they didn’t, so this is all we have, and maybe we just need to be thankful we even have that – but I suppose that view doesn’t sell papers.
The one thing that is certain is that everyone is in agreement this was going to be some show – so lets hope we actually see it one day, with the worlds top performers taking on the Jackson role.
Anyway – in other news, it looks like we might have finally sorted a date in Reading. After almost 2 years of searching for the right venue, it looks like we’re going to be playing The Varsity Bar on Thursday 17th December, alongside two as yet unnamed acoustic based acts. So, if you’re from the Reading area, like most of us are – stick it in the diary.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Our BIG Mini Tour
Well, we’re getting ready for our most consistent run of gigs for ages, and in fact, our first in 6 weeks. You have to go back to January 25th for our last, which is extremely rare for us. A combination of horrendous weather, work commitments and goon-like promoters has meant our previous two had to be cancelled. So – apologies to the people coming to see us in London tomorrow night, we sounded good in rehearsal the other day so we’ll do our best – but you’ll have to excuse any ring rustiness….
Talking of rehearsal – the big revelation at this weeks merry jamboree is that we found out Ben actually falls out of bed each morning and uncontrollably dribbles before he realises he is something that slightly resembles an adult and shouldn’t actually be doing that at his age……but that’s another story.
So, we have the London date tomorrow night and Reading on Sunday where we’ll be reacquainted with our old guitar playing friend from our Ecouté days (well, all of us bar Gethin who has never had the pleasure of meeting) James Fayers. It’ll be the first time that all 5 of that band have actually been in the same room together for over 18 months – although rumours of a one off reunion have been strongly denied by both camps – more because not one person would actually give a shit if it did happen, as opposed anything more sinister.
We continue with a slot at Good Intentions in a little imaginary village called Puttenham near Guildford on Monday. For this night we generally turn up and the effervescent compare and fellow acoustic musician Anthea Neads proceeds to knick half the band to play her material – although I’m reliably informed that won’t be happening this time around, as she doesn’t want to upset Emma – which is a fair point, as she has one hell of a temper on her.
Finally, next Wednesday we’re at The Tup, having been promoted to the city of Guildford itself. This was the gig that last time we played Ben got stuck in traffic for over two hours and spent the majority of his evening reading Pride and Prejudice, or something equally as unmanly. Little does he know there isn’t actually room for a 5 piece on stage anyway – so even he turns up this time there won’t be any room for him to play. I’d best suggest he brings a good book this time around – maybe Diary Management for Dummies (which is very much an in-joke – sorry).
So – we hope to see some of you on our travels. We’re really looking forward to be getting out gigging again and having a few friendly faces ready to buy us beer (or fruit based alcoholic beverage for the lady) in the crowd!
Talking of rehearsal – the big revelation at this weeks merry jamboree is that we found out Ben actually falls out of bed each morning and uncontrollably dribbles before he realises he is something that slightly resembles an adult and shouldn’t actually be doing that at his age……but that’s another story.
So, we have the London date tomorrow night and Reading on Sunday where we’ll be reacquainted with our old guitar playing friend from our Ecouté days (well, all of us bar Gethin who has never had the pleasure of meeting) James Fayers. It’ll be the first time that all 5 of that band have actually been in the same room together for over 18 months – although rumours of a one off reunion have been strongly denied by both camps – more because not one person would actually give a shit if it did happen, as opposed anything more sinister.
We continue with a slot at Good Intentions in a little imaginary village called Puttenham near Guildford on Monday. For this night we generally turn up and the effervescent compare and fellow acoustic musician Anthea Neads proceeds to knick half the band to play her material – although I’m reliably informed that won’t be happening this time around, as she doesn’t want to upset Emma – which is a fair point, as she has one hell of a temper on her.
Finally, next Wednesday we’re at The Tup, having been promoted to the city of Guildford itself. This was the gig that last time we played Ben got stuck in traffic for over two hours and spent the majority of his evening reading Pride and Prejudice, or something equally as unmanly. Little does he know there isn’t actually room for a 5 piece on stage anyway – so even he turns up this time there won’t be any room for him to play. I’d best suggest he brings a good book this time around – maybe Diary Management for Dummies (which is very much an in-joke – sorry).
So – we hope to see some of you on our travels. We’re really looking forward to be getting out gigging again and having a few friendly faces ready to buy us beer (or fruit based alcoholic beverage for the lady) in the crowd!
Monday, 23 February 2009
New dates
As promised, a few new live dates have now been confirmed. We're having a busy time in March, playing The Jazz Club, Reading on the 8th March, and The Tup, Guildford on the 11th, as well as The Spice of Life and Good Intentions all within a few days of each other! Also confirmed is a Portsmouth date in September at Roger Courney's renowned open-mic night.
More to come soon, including some festival slots hopefully, keep checking out our schedule at our band website to be kept up to date!
More to come soon, including some festival slots hopefully, keep checking out our schedule at our band website to be kept up to date!
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