16/06/2018

details in the comments

Just a heads up for this Davy Sims podcast interviewing Stuart Bailie on his journey towards and during writing ‘Trouble Songs’ about music in NI during the Troubles:

Podcast: Stuart Bailie – Trouble Songs

PR blurb:

24th April 2018: From Wishbone Ash to John Lennon’s iconic “Imagine” Album to the creation of a brand new musical genre, Rolling Stones’ Top 20 Guitarist, Ted Turner, and his wife and musical partner, Majella, launch their first artistic collaboration, the “Better Together” album, prompting their international fan base to welcome their creation as the birth of a new musical genre: “New Age Soul.”

Released via Cherry Red, this playbook of 12 original songs is inspired by their thirteen-year journey as first friends, then lovers, and, more recently, husband and wife collaborators, Better Together is a hauntingly lyrical, soul-touching testament to their journey from getting to know one another to discovering their true selves through music, which, they say, “has been the glue that brought and has held them together throughout.”

A promo video for the title track can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Wuse-HexM

Explains Majella, “Each song is a celebration of our unique chemistry, our spiritual beliefs, our love for humanity and for nature, and most of all our life calling together. From the eponymous first song, “Better Together,” which describes our first encounter, when we both instinctively felt a synchronicity about our meeting to “Karmony,” which » Continue Reading.

A heads-up for this impressive documentary, broadcast on ITV3 a few days ago – ‘Larry Grayson: Shut That Door’. One always thinks of ITV as a clatter of cheapo re-runs but this is a well-made original documentary. I’m fascinated with these old variety artists who made it to the lifeboat of TV success in the 60s and 70s. It was the latter in Larry’s case – poverty, 50s club success, 60s failure, 1972 overnight sensation on TV. Fascinating stuff – AND it features Lionel Blair, including clips of Lionel’s decidedly camp dance routines on regional ITV in the 70s. Available here:

https://www.itv.com/hub/larry-grayson-shut-that-door/2a5249

The Jazz Centre UK announces the launch of its first major exhibition ‘Jazz Now’: Jazz in all its forms that you can listen to NOW!’

The Jazz Centre UK is delighted to announce that from Friday, April 6th to Saturday 12th May 2018 it will be presenting its first major exhibition ‘Jazz Now’.

This exciting project, supported by Heritage Lottery Fund and Southend Borough Council, will celebrate the continuing vitality of the jazz culture in Britain and beyond via exhibitions, live presentations, film and five live music events. Its aim is to encourage and inspire its visitors to re-explore all the genres of jazz which are available to the public in 2018. Our exhibition will provide direct routes to the personal enjoyment of jazz music which lie both within – and beyond – standard media outlets (including publications, radio, recordings and live venues). And within our Centre (situated at the Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 6EX) we will also be celebrating jazz music with an internationally-based series of presentations covering the entire inter-generational span of jazz activity.

These will include, as the exhibition progresses:

Exclusive Preview Concert, April 6th, 2pm-4pm: A selection of junior jazz graduates » Continue Reading.

19/04/2018

On 19th April I’ll be hosting a Q & A in Glossop with David about his recent books. It’ll be like the Word In The Ear nights but instead of using photos to prompt discussion, we’ll be playing records. I’m sure our conversation will touch on other aspects of his career like ver Hits, Word, Whistle Test etc – but we’ll have some audience interaction too so come and fill your burning question boots! Tickets are £3 but will be valid as a voucher towards one of David’s books on the night. Doors 8pm, talk starts at 8.30pm.

If you’re a reader of vintage science fiction, this might interest you. I certainly intend to dig in.

From the Archive.org site

Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L. Gold, who rapidly made Galaxy the leading science fiction (sf) magazine of its time, focusing on stories about social issues rather than technology. Gold published many notable stories during his tenure, including Ray Bradbury’s “The Fireman”, later expanded as Fahrenheit 451; Robert A. Heinlein’s The Puppet Masters; and Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man. In 1952, the magazine was acquired by Robert Guinn, its printer. By the late 1950s, Frederik Pohl was helping Gold with most aspects of the magazine’s production. When Gold’s health worsened, Pohl took over as editor, starting officially at the end of 1961, though he had been doing the majority of the production work for some time.

Under Pohl Galaxy had continued success, regularly publishing fiction by major writers such as Cordwainer Smith, Jack Vance, Harlan Ellison, and Robert Silverberg. However, Pohl never » Continue Reading.

I’ve had a great pleasure recently of proofreading and indexing former NME stalwart and long-time Belfast music facilitator Stuart Bailie’s passion project ‘Trouble Songs’ – a book about music in and around ‘the Troubles’ in Northern Ireland (1968-98, more or less). It’s a hugely readable book with page-turning prose and admirable research. I heartily recommend it to all Afterworders. The book is self-published – the punk ethos in print – and while Stuart has had some funding towards it, help is needed for PR costs and distribution. Trust me, if you like a good book on rock’n’roll and the power of the human spirit this will be £15 well spent!

Details here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1539271725/trouble-songs-a-book-about-music-and-conflict-in-n

A heads up for a UK tour that will delight back-porch blues afionados, May 3-24 – mostly England, three in Scotland.

Dates on Brooks’ FB page: www.facebook.com/brookswilliamsguitar

Here’s a trailer video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87JN5rgNd5o

A heads-up for the Brit jazzers among us – another sensational archive release from Dusk Fire. PR sheet below…

Artist: Mike Gibbs Band Title: “Symphony Hall, Birmingham 1991” Label: Dusk Fire Form: 2CD digifile with booklet Cat: DUSKCD116 Date: 18.05.2018

• First ever release of recordings taken Gibbs and guitarist John Scofield’s 1991 band tour

• Featuring the talent of Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart, Tony Coe Julian Arguelles, Chris Pyne, amongst others

• 1000 copies ltd. edition pressing

• High quality digifile packaging inc. 8-page booklet notes by Ian Mann with archive images

Another unique Dusk Fire celebration of heritage British jazz marks the talents of Mike Gibbs and John Scofield. This 2CD set finds the duo harnessed to Mike’s 12-piece band, recorded at Birmingham Symphony Hall in October 1991 during a 12-date UK tour promoted by the Contemporary Music Network, a branch of the Arts Council of Great Britain. Over a quarter of a century later, “Symphony Hall, Birmingham 1991” offers up music still astonishingly fresh and contemporary, full of rich colours and textures, vibrant rhythms and inspired solos. This double album represents an essential addition to the catalogues of both Mike Gibbs » Continue Reading.

A brand new mix of secondhand tunes, including some charity shop lovers rock, some sparkling electronica, an horrific Novelty Island pick, and possibly the longest Boot Of Loot to date. Thanks to @gcu-grey-area for the smashing pic xxx

For those interested in the Wishbone Ash maestro, he has a splendid first-person (with a little editing from me) piece in the new issue of UK magazine ‘Shindig!’ on his pre-Wishbone time in the 60s, including a Top 10 of his fave records from the era.

01/03/2018

April 1984. Under constant surveillance and the watchful eye of Big Brother, Winston Smith rewrites history for The Ministry of Truth. Individuality and free thought are prohibited but Winston privately rebels against the regime and starts a secret love affair with a dark-haired girl. Can they bring down the party and can love ever conquer? 

The Tower Theatre production are always excellent and this promises to be no different.

Running now until Saturday 10th March (matinees Saturday and Sunday)

08/03/2018

Next week for IWD a great lineup of female artists and songwriters will be playing at JW3 in North London. Through original songs and covers Michele Stodart, Jane Siberry, Emily Barker, Ren Harvieu, Kathryn Williams, Karima Francis, and Raevennan Husbandes will be exploring womanhood through song.

The gig I saw at JW3 last year as a tribute to Leonard Cohen was possibly my favourite of 2017 so don’t miss this un

This is actually quite an old song of mine. I wrote this in the late 80s and have re-done it now I have the technology to get to sound how I heard it in my head. Guitar parts are done with my new Fender GT40 modelling amp which I’m very pleased with. In keeping with the 80’s feel there’s quite a lot of Moog synth on it too. The image is of me as a nipper and is even older than the song 😉