2009 Round-up.......HECTIC!

Well, as we have our last gig of the year on Thursday, and Emma heads off to warmer climes for her regular Xmas excursion – we'll do the round-up blog now, as I imagine any other blogs posted between now and when we start up again in early Jan will mostly consist of one of us moaning about the cold/Xmas/working over Xmas etc.

It's been what can only be described as one hell of a hectic year – but we can all stand back and admire what we've done, the work and dedication we've put in to the project and results we've achieved.

The obvious one is the album. It was an idea that started pretty much exactly a year before it was released, and the finished product is something I think we're all very happy with, although are looking to top big style with album number 2 (tentatively scheduled for early 2011, so long as we're all still alive). The sell-out album launch gig was a night all of us will remember for ages – and indeed the 20+ dates we did over the summer to support it.

Radio 2 airplay was a massive highlight, as was all the reviews we've got for the record. It's nice to hear someone say something good about you when they don't have the first clue who you are! The radio slots were good fun too.

The main thing for me (Phil) this year though is how we've gelled as a unit. We are slowly but surely becoming a really solid act musically – both in the stuff we're writing and our performance. Everyone is confident playing the old material so can relax on stage and really enjoy it, and the new material – although requiring a little more concentration is really holding up against the established stuff. Always a good sign.

So – 2010 is looking likely to be just as mad. We already have multiple dates sorted for the New Year which sees us descend on the West Country acoustic scene in a fairly big way – and we're also planning on taking in a few more festivals in the summer – although that's if we get booked for any!

So for everyone who has followed us on here, come to the gigs and especially bought the record – thanks very much. I've said it for years, but it is the hardest thing for a band to do, get a loyal following and expect them to stick by them, but we're slowly getting to that stage, and hopefully the music we play, and juvenile banter that comes with most live performances have been of some entertainment to you all, and that you'll join us in the New year when we attempt to take over the world!

The future is Folk!

Cheers

ATC

P.S – One last gig for this year, tomorrow night (Thursday 17th) at Varsity Bar in Reading. We're on about 10pm with music coming before hand from Ben's mate Olly (who we're told is very good), our ex Ecoute guitarist James Fayers, and fantastic Reading acoustic act Scattered Few.

Free entry – kicks of at 8pm. Come and have a few beers.

The Final Call...

Hello!

Well, if you didn't know already - this Friday (12th) is our album launch party at Jagz in Ascot, where you can for the first time buy copies of our debut record 'Scarecrow'.

We've had a great response from people buying tickets in advance, but there is still some space available before we reach capacity . So, if you're up for coming along and haven't yet got your ticket - head over to www.allthingsconsidered.org.uk and book now.

There are likely to be some pay on the door tickets available, however this will strictly be on a first come, first served basis. The cheap album deal we are running with pre-ordered tickets will not be available on the night - where album's will be sold at normal gig selling price of £7 (although as its a launch party - feel free to haggle to an extent, it'll be fun!).

Further dates past this of note are this coming Sunday, when we support the hughly talented 'nu-folk' artist Lisa Knapp at South Hill Park in Bracknell, and also festival apperances at The Big Day Out, Walton Soundfest and Weyfest during the summer.

Thanks a lot for your continued support - it really is appreciated.

Hope to see you on Friday!

Cheers

All Things Considered

Festivals, sun etc....

It's official. I've checked every available data source possible and everything is coming to the same conclusion. It's summer.

Yes indeed, it's that special time of year when office workers the country wide stop smirking at those working outside in the rain and start looking on with longing desire. The 3 till 5:30 dead zone of the working day becomes even longer with the sheer will to get to the pub, and the whole shebang is done with a glazed over brain as the nights get far too hot to sleep.

Or, as we prefer to say, welcome to festival season! These days there are more on than ever, with seemingly every farmer with a field that isn't filled with dung more than happy to fill it with artists and fans. Its a glorious time – sunshine, beer and good times follow. Oh, and have I mentioned that we are appearing at a few of these festivals? Of course we are, you didn't think I could go a whole blog posting without a cheap plug did you? Starting this Saturday, we are at a few. A full list can be seen at the ever present website.

Other than the news that for the next 3 weeks Britain will grind to a halt as people head outside to worship the sun, there is nothing new to report. We are putting the finishing touches to our set for the June 12th album launch at Jagz, and gearing up for our biggest gig run to date. You will be seeing an awful lot of us in the coming weeks. Hopefully, you will also be hearing an awful lot on the radio, however more on that as it happens.

Oh, and also just to use the communal band blog as my own personal soapbox, you have got to love Gordon Brown. Yesterday, a poll put Labour 3rd in the popular vote behind the Lib Dems and Torys and only just ahead of UKIP. Today, to address this disturbing situation on the brink of a bashing at local and European elections, the embattled PM went onto GMTV to talk about Susan Boyle.

Till next time folks...

The Printed Press

Everyone living in Berkshire who reads this blog, buy your local paper this week – cos we’re in it!

Yes, the first stage of ATC world domination has been secured with a countywide write up on us and a major plug for our album launch. Although they made the fatal error of printing the box office number for Jagz when it's us who are selling the tickets direct from the website – but we’ll give them that slight faux pas...

It is the biggest single bit of promotion we have had as a band, and while maybe not making waves on a national scale – you have to start at home and as Berkshire is the home county of at least 3 of us, it's not a bad start. With a couple of radio slots confirmed and to be confirmed, and also hopefully a number of album reviews in the coming months, anything we can get that is positive from any media outlet needs to be seen as a good thing, and like anything, the more you get your name out there, the more people pay attention to you – or at least I hope that'll apply to us.

With only 2 weeks left until the album launch – anyone who hasn't yet got their tickets, get them today! As we’ve said, you can get them online at www.allthingsconsidered.org.uk, and I know for a fact there are some people reading this who haven't yet made the all important purchase who've already made it clear they are coming...do the right thing!

There – I feel better now. We’ve just named a brilliant young singer/songwriter by the name of Matt Wellard to open for us on the 12th. He, along with the gloriously impressive Naama Hillman will entertain you before we try and at least match them...we're going to have to be good that night...

Well, it has started...

As you all know, as we tell you at every available opportunity, the album launch is up coming on the 12th June and we have just started the build up. It started last night actually, when we supported the outstanding Rory Ellis. I know artists always say people they played with are the best thing since sliced bread, but in this case it may actually be true. He is a supremely talented man, and if you see his name pop up on a local gig listing then get down there. Tell them we sent you. It may get you a present.

Aside from an awkward string snap in the middle of the set (we suspected it may occur, and the collective groan\cringe was highly audible) we played well. We were tight, Gethin made a strong debut multi tasking by playing the violin and singing and aside from the string snapping fiasco, there were no major mistakes. It's going to be a good summer, and we put a great foot forward last night.

What is mildly hilarious, however, is the state of some of us at the moment. Adrian could get an extras role on Day of the Dead without needing to go through make up. Phil is living in fear of his wife, who if she reads this he loves very much and every day with her makes him grateful for life itself, and I'm (that is to say, Ben is) working for some Americans meaning my standard operating hours at the moment are about 1pm till 6am. Which just isn't fun. You should be a fly on the wall at rehearsal, all we have done is eat cake.

But its gigs like the one last night that make you redouble your efforts. Silly as it sounds, the fact that the string broke and even though we had to stand there while Emma and Gethin valiantly filled the gap where music was supposed to be, we coped well and it gives you that little buzz. It makes it stand out. Silly as it sounds, sometimes a gig is just another gig. I think that it was a good thing Adrian broke a string, as it may show us that we have to work harder and make each gig stand out like that., although more for positive performance than disaster overcoming We won't tell him that, of course, we will continue the company line of calling him a bleeding idiot, but you fair reader will know the truth.

A month to go...

With the launch growing nearer and ticket sales growing larger we're all getting quite excited about getting out tonight to start gigging again. We've had a bit of a quiet few weeks, largely due to my holidaying obsession visiting Cyprus, Dublin and Greece all in the space of 6 weeks – but we're now all in the country and here to stay for a good couple of months at least!

We had our 1st get together as a 5-piece for the first time in aaaages on Tuesday night, which was thoroughly enjoyable! We all got together, had a good old chin wag and ate rum cake before knuckling down to rehearse the set, reminding ourselves of our own material! We also had a bit of a mini jam, hoping to get something new together for you guys to enjoy listening to this Summer.

So – business as usual seems to be the way forward for the foreseeable future. Thanks to all of you who have purchased tickets already, and for those of you who haven't – get booking! It's going to be a cracking night for all included, so make yourself a part of it!

And... for those of you joining us in Godalming this eve – we look forward to seeing you.

Its All Getting Complicated.......

We are having worries. No, don't worry, the recent economic strife hasn't run us into ruin, we don't need a government bailout (although I wouldn't complain) and haven't been rendered immobile by Swine Flu. Although, as Phil is spending his time pointing out to me, I'm going on holiday tomorrow and getting rather close to the source of all this. Eeep.

Anyway, we are having worries. What with the album launch coming up, which is the 12th of June at Jagz in Ascot, we are undergoing a pretty major transformation. Before, we ran the simple band business plan of just turning up at rehearsal, turning up at gigs and where possible recording. Now, however, we are undergoing the slightly odd process of turning into what has been a hobby project, don't get us wrong a very serious hobby project, into a business. Signing up with royalty collection companies, figuring out business plans, distribution channels and all the rest of it. It is very confusing.

Still, as per usual, Google, Gethin and Phil have combined to create some triforce of brilliance. Distribution channels are emerging, we have received the mock ups of CDs to go full steam ahead with them, royalty agencies are being joined and insurance is being sorted. It is a rather large learning curve, but as usual we will endure and succeed. We will....

Plug Plug Plug

OK, I know it's Tuesday - it's a slackness we need to get out of our systems. Three posts in a row that are late is not good, although there is reason for this one being a day later than usually scheduled. We have the following good news:

Last night we finished the album (well, Gethin did along with our engineer Al Heslop)!

All mixing has now been done, so all that is left to do is approve the packaging (when the CD proof copy finally arrives in the post) and then send it off for final duplication and hosting on iTunes etc. Its been a long time coming but we're nearly there.

With that in mind we should really plug the album launch again. We're looking forward to this gig immensely and it would be fantastic if as many of you as possible could make it. I'll list the details in list form so as not to waffle too much.

Date: Friday June 12th
Venue: Jagz Club, Station Hill, Ascot (right next to the train station)
Time: 8pm
Cost: £6 for entry (to the gig and also the club downstairs afterwards) or £10 for entry plus a copy of the new album - which we will be selling for £6 on the night for anyone who hasn't bought the joint ticket.

We will have a full supporting cast for the gig, with the hugely talented Naama Hillman already confirmed (www.naamahillman.com). You can purchase tickets for the night from any of us in person or if you won't be seeing us before the event, online through our official site www.allthingsconsidered.org.uk

While we're in shameless plugging mood, for our London audience we're opening for the superb Aussie singer/songwriter Rory Ellis at The Half Moon in Putney on Thursday May 21st. Tickets for this are only a fiver, which for anyone who has seen this artist will concur is a real bargain.

Tickets for this will probably be available on the door, however for any London event its always worth booking in advance if you can, which can be done here:

www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=317279&interface=halfmoon

We promise we won't bug you all about these gigs for at least another week.

When illness strikes...

Oh dear, this whole bank holiday thing seems to have completely thrown all of us - two late posts in a week, what is this coming to... We promise to try harder next week! Anyway, the post:

As you may have seen (and hopefully heard!) we had our first ever radio session on Monday. We had been hoping to play a few tracks live, but unfortunately Emma seems to have contracted some sort of mutant super-cold that has been plaguing her for weeks now, and resulted in her virtually losing her voice! So, no radio appearance it would seem... But, being the hard-working types, we managed to cobble together a selection of just-about-finished tracks from our album, and turned up armed with that and a bass player who can talk for England and managed to get through the session without any major hitches!

Anyway, you might be wondering while I'm rehashing old news. It's probably mainly because it's 3:30 on a Friday afternoon, so I'm bored almost beyond belief at work, but also because Emma's throat has meant that we haven't rehearsed or really done anything of note since Monday!

But... We've decided that we're bored of being bored, so are going ahead with our gig this evening at Artsbar in Wokingham, which should be lots of fun, with lots of great friends (Anthea Neads, Liz Williams, Philippa Berry and a few others to boot) playing as well, so come along if you're free. We can't promise that there won't be the odd mid-song cough, but we can promise a great evening of local, live music, and also the opportunity to get hold of tickets for our album launch!

So, see you this evening hopefully...