Gig Cancelled

Due to being unwell, I've had to cancel my set tonight at the 15 Minute Club. It's never nice to have to cancel a gig, hopefully we can re-arrange the set for another date.

Sorry to anyone who was hoping to see me tonight, and to the organisers and other acts at the 15 minute club.

Finally, after a month and four days, here are some photographs from the brilliant night that was my EP launch at the Tower of Song, Birmingham. I started the night off with Four Years, one of the songs form the EP, Twenty Two. I was then joined by Ken Stratford on Double Bass, Steve Butt on Guitar and Gaz on Harmonica, as Steve led us through Mystery Train and Gaz fronted the band for Honky Tonk Women.


Next up was Smokin' Ade Wakelin, playing a beautiful acoustic blues set, again joined by the wonderful Ken Stratford for a few numbers.

Next up was stand up from Lee Goodall. Sadly, no one seems to have taken a picture of lee doing his thing which is a shame as he is a lovely looking lad, and his set went down a treat. Lee was followed by Johnny Hands, a great young singer songwriter who played a fabulous set of his lovely original songs, be sure to check him out

For the main part of the night I performed songs from the EP as well as brand new, never before heard tracks. I also threw in a few covers of songs by my biggest influences.

To round the night off I was once again joined by Ken, Steve and Gaz from a jam on a few raucous Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins Rock and Roll tunes, which had the audience dancing and my band mates lying on the floor, playing guitars behind there heads and generally have a good time. I can't thank all the performers, audience and everyone at the Tower enough, that evening was one of the best I've ever had.

More pics and videos to come soon

A Catch Up

This month seems to be passing so fast, how quickly our everything has changed from that late blooming summer in September, through an increasingly chilly October, right through to the lovely romantic fog of Bonfire Night. I have so much I have been wanting to talk about on this blog, from more information about my EP launch back in October, to the gigs that I've had through this month. So, first of all, a little catch up.

I spent a fabulous week in South Wales, leaving on my Birthday on the 12th. The original intention was to perform at the Tenby Blues Festival, but in the end my girlfriend and I made a lovely week long break out of it. I had a great time, and it was very special to share a place that was a huge part of my growing up with her.

I did perform at an open mic session during the Tenby Blues Festival and it was a good gig. There was a very large and excited crowd crammed into a medium sized sea side pub, and they were very nice and kept asking me to play more tunes, not something that often happens at open mic sessions...

On Sunday the 22nd I was once again at The Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, to take part in a brand new Songwriters Evening. It is always a treat to perform at this fabulous venue, which is still pretty new and little known. It must have the best sound of any venue in the Midlands, as well as a lovely atmosphere and some of the best bar/sound/door ladies and gentlemen ever to have devoted their time and talents to making performers and audiences happy. (I might even have said that if there weren't so many of my friends working there!)

Some of my ever loyal friends and family came along, thanks very much to them. I had a good time and got to play a few new tunes, which seemed to go well. I enjoyed the other acts;

the crazily named and very talented singer/songwriter Brains for Breakfast, who as well as doing a very nice cover of Human League's Don't You Want Me, also has a very good line in witty narrative songs.

Matt Anderson, another local singer/guitarist performed an energetic set featuring tracks with memorable vocal hooks.

Rich Batsford, virtuoso pianist with the sweetest voice and stage manner who played one of the few songs that can make me cry, The Beach Boys God Only Knows, and allowed me to do a very unfair trade of one of my 3 track EPs for a copy of his newly released 12 track piano solo albums.

So the sound was great, the other acts were cool and I had a good time. Just a shame there wasn't much of an audience to speak of! Such is the nature of Sunday evening gigs I guess...

Balcony TV

On February the 2nd I will be performing on Balcony TV, which is a "leading daily online viral music show that features bands, musicians and other variety acts on balconies around the world."

It's a very cool idea and has featured sets from artists including Ash, The Script, Biffy Clyro, Nouvelle Vague and Dengue Fever.

I'll be standing on the London Balcony, singing one song that I want you lot to help me choose a bit closer to the date...

A Biography

I haven't really got a propper bio, so my friends and I tried to put something together. What do you reckon?

Short Bio
Robert Lane is a 23 year old Guitarist, Songwriter and Singer based in Birmingham. This year he has released the EP Twenty Two on which he performs vocals, guitars, bass and percussion as well as various keyboards and pianos.
Robert exudes a proudly eclectic style which touches on introverted singer songwriter, broken hearted blues journeyman and pop tinged troubadour. Robert is a natural performer and a hard working one at that, and he can be seen regularly at many fabulous midlands venues.

Less Short Bio
I’m a Singer Songwriter and Guitar Teacher from Birmingham, England. I’m 23 years old, and have made noises with musical instruments since I was about 6. I have been playing music more or less seriously for about 8 years, ever since I snuck into my older brother’s bedroom whilst he was at work and liberated the acoustic guitar from his wardrobe. He never played it and I thought it was my duty too. Plus the fact I’d been starring in the mirror with a tennis racket singing Beatles songs for few months by then, and despite what seemed like weeks of requests he hadn’t let me play with it yet.

Because my first few self-taught guitar lessons were of a secretive nature, I wasn’t able to re-string the guitar for a left handed person (which is what I am.) By the time I was using his guitar legitimately I had learnt too much to start again and so to this day I play the wrong way round.

This year I’ve recorded my debut solo EP, Twenty Two, and have played some fantastic gigs. I want everyone to hear these songs and see me play. If you would like me to ask to play somewhere, please don’t be shy, go ahead and do it!

I also write a blog www.robertlanemusic.blogspot.com where I talk about what is happening with me and life as a musician. I really like interacting with people who listen to my music and follow what I'm doing, so please say hello.

This month I’ve hosted a launch party for Twenty Two at the Tower of Song in Birmingham which was a fantastic night. I’m a regular at the Crossroads Blues Club and Rea River Roots and The Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton. I’ve supported some cool performers including Dan Whitehouse at his recent EP launch party, and some 1960s “Brum Beat” legends like Mike Sheridan and the Rockin’ Berries.

I Like November. The way things have suddenly gone very autumnal, the dark nights, the cold and fog, I find it oddly romantic. Like a Dickensian novel.

I don't know if I'll visit any firework type gatherings, in a way there's not much point is there? Wherever you are you can hear and see it all outside anyhow.

November is very good. Do you know what day it is a week today?