Crossroads, Glee and King Alfred's Head

I played three brilliant and varied gigs last week. First up I returned to Crossroads Blues Club to play the featured set. Crossroads takes place at The Tower of Song in Cotteridge, Birmingham and is something of a home from home. When I first started gigging I was an avid attendee of the monthly jam night at the crossroads and did a lot of learning (and stealing) from the players there. I don't get to visit so often now and it's always a great occasion to get down there again.

The night began with an open mic session featuring many of my favourite crossroads regulars as well as some new faces. Musicians were playing in various combinations from solo to formed-on-the-spot bands and as usual the music was of a very high quality. 

I started my set solo acoustic playing originals and blues tinged covers. It felt really good to do some new songs for the first time, particularly as many of the regular audience members have seen me play a fair few times now. 

For the last half an hour or so I invited some friends up to join me and I finished the night with an electric set playing some loud rock and roll and blues. Noticing the time at 11.15 I said goodnight, but wasn't getting away that easy and was called back up to carry on! 

Friday's gig at the Glee Club in Birmingham city centre was a rather more intimate and reflective event. I was supporting Lotte Mullan in the studio space. The gig was very well attended and it was lovely that some of my cast mates from The Mother were able to come along. I played a 30 minute set of mostly original songs. The audience were very nice and gave me their full attention, joining in with a little bit of banter and singing along (quietly but the effort was appreciated) when requested. After a short break Lotte played a lovely set of songs. I really enjoy her writing style and the way she uses her voice, and watching her chatting to her fans after the gig shows how much time she has for the people supporting her music. After the gig some friends and I ended up in a bar which was playing very very loud salsa music. It was an exceptionally warm May evening and as we sat outside we could almost kid ourselves we were holidaying somewhere Mediterranean. 

On Saturday I travelled to Wantage near Oxford to open up for Canadian band Cherry Suede at a benefit event for CDH UK, a charity supporting families of babies with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. I'm going to post more information about CDH UK soon but what was really shocking from talking to organiser Megan was how little known the condition is, especially as it affects 1 in 2500 babies.  

The gig it's self was taking place in the beer garden of King Alfred's Head (Wantage being the birthplace of King Alfred the Great in 849.) I played a 40 minute set and after a short break (during which I helped draw winning tickets for the raffle...exciting!) Randy and Randy of Cherry Suede performed a brilliant set that had everyone up dancing. The night was loads of fun and it was great to catch up with Cherry Suede and their tour manager Jude. I'm very pleased to have met Megan and found out about the amazing work of CDH UK. 

Tower of Song tomorrow

Tomorrow night, Friday the 3rd of September I'll be introducing my new band featuring Matty Pinfield and Mick Jeynes. The band will be playing the EP Twenty Two in it's entirety, as well as some covers by my biggest influences and some rocky blues tracks.

I'll also be joined by two excellent singer songwriters, Becky Rose and Brains for Breakfast.

The doors open at 8.45pm and the music starts at around 9pm.

Depending on how things go, I'm also hoping to play 1 or 2 or 3 brand new tracks that haven't been heard at a gig yet.

The gig is free entry (we will pass the hat around during the evening)

Spaghetti Gazetti

Some promo for the Tower of Song gig

So, I've got some more gigs together with the band I formed back in May for a "one off" gig in Bridgnorth.

Except that it's not quite the same band. Ken Stratford, the wonderful Double Bassist who can be heard on Pessimistic Me and seen in the videos from the said Bridgnorth gig, will be away for a few months. So I've recruited another musician I've met through playing at the fantastic Crossroads Blues Club, Mick Jeynes to join us on electric bass.

I meet up with Mick this week to play him the tracks we will be doing, and teach him the bass parts for my originals. This was fine, as far as the tracks I know the bass parts for. You see the thing is that I played bass on three of the tracks from Twenty Two, whilst the remaining two feature Matty on electric bass and Ken as mentioned above. Now, I know more or less what they played, because I wrote the songs and was sitting right next to them as we came up with and put the parts down, but I have trouble remembering what I myself did yesterday, let alone what someone else did months ago. Plus the fact Ken's part was played on an instrument I can't even play...

And to add another layer to the fun, I had to sit and actually work out what I myself had played on the tracks I played bass on. Like I did when I taught them to Ken, and didn't think to write them down for reference later.

So this time I not only gave Mick chord sheets, but hand written (and beautiful) bass tabs like this one, with instructions to be as free as he likes and keep what he thinks is good. Because things are never finished are they? They keep changing and I don't want to get all these great musicians on board and not have them put ideas forward.

Friday 3rd September 2010
Robert Lane returns to the Tower of Song. This time the local singer songwriter will introduce his brand new band, featuring the talents of Matty Pinfield on Drums, Simon Davies on Keys and Mick on Bass. A regular Crossroads Blues Club attendee, Robert has recently performed at The ForumLive area of The LG Arena, Birmingham, before concerts by Mark Knopfler and John Mayer. He formed the new band for a one of gig in Bridgnorth, and had so much fun he’s decided to get them together again at his favourite venue.

The band will be playing Robert’s originals as well as a whole host of Blues covers and tracks by some of Robert’s biggest influences. Robert will be supported by the excellent Becky Rose, Worcester based Singer Songwriter and Pianist. As on the previous two occasions, there will be no door entry but the hat will be passed around during the interval. It all kicks of at 9pm

Crossroads

Last Thursday, the 15th April I was asked to kick off the open mic session at the Crossroads Blues club. As anyone who reads this blog with any regularity will know, The Tower of Song and it's Thursday night Crossroads Blues Club are among my favourite clubs around.

Last week sums up what I love about The Crossroads. The gig was to turn up and lead the house band through a few blues songs. The fun bit is that there isn't a house band-it's formed from whoever happens to be around on the night. So the set started of with me singing Matchbox joined by Mal on snare drum and Tony on harp, and we were slowly joined by a bass player (sorry, didn't catch your name...) and finally Snake on guitar. Once I'd sang about five tunes Snake took over for two before we got off and let a whole host of musicians perform short sets. After the break the excellent Mellow Peaches played the featured set. Once again the place was full to bursting, and from the people I spoke to it seems I wasn't the only one having a very enjoyable night.

Here are some pictures taken and very kindly sent to me by Stan Newton

Here's another video from Robert Lane and Guests at The Tower of Song.
This one features the talents of the three acts who were kind enough to support me on the night,

Simon Davies
Lee Goodall
Sam Draisey

Robert Lane and guests at The Tower of Song

A week ago this time I was preparing for my night at The Tower of Song, Birmingham. It was my second time running a night at my favourite venue after the launch of my EP Twenty Two Last October.

This time round I was joined by guests Sam Draisey, Simon Davies and Lee Goodall, plus Ken Startford, Steve Butt and Gaz Barham returned to perform as the house band.

I'd had a very odd week with a pretty nasty throat, and that very morning had been shunted by a white van man on the M6 (no damage was done-to me at any rate!) Happily the night was fantastic, my one complaint being that it went much too quick.

The house band are legends, Sam Draisey gave us a beautiful performance, Lee Goodall was hysterical and Simon Davies not only performed his own set with class but joined me and then the house band for some fabulous jamming.

Just like last time the audience really made the night, and I'm very grateful and truly hope they all had a great time, as we did.

There are plenty of photos and footage of the night to appear, and here's the first bit. We opened the night with a jam through Matchbox. The players are Ken Stratford on Double Bass, Steve Butt on Guitar, Gaz Barham on Harp, Simon Davies on Keys and myself on Guitar and Vocals.

Hi!
Tomorrow night is the night, Robert Lane, plus guests at The Tower of Song, Birmingham.

The last time we did this was a great night and with guests including Simon Davies, Sam Draisey and Lee Goodall, plus Steve Butt, Gaz Barham and Ken Stratford making up the jam ready house band, this time looks set to be even better.

It starts at 8.45pm and it's free in. More info can be found in the gig listings and the Tower of Song website

Get in touch with me if you have any questions
See you tomorrow!
Robert

Birmingham/Black Country news website The Stirrer have run a nice little preview of The Tower of Song gig.

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

EP Launch Deatails

The launch night for my EP, Twenty Two, will be on Friday October 23rd at The Tower of Song Bar in Cotteridge, Birmingham. The Tower of Song is one of my favourite venues, it's home to some of the best nights around including the Crossroads Blues Club and Rea River Roots. It also has a really great atmosphere and a really cool crowd of regulars.

On the launch night I'll play the songs from the EP as well as some brand new tracks and covers of some of my favourite artists and biggest influences. I'll also be joined by Chickenbone Blues, Singer/Songwriter Johnny Hands and comedian Lee Goodall, who are all performing sets in the first half of the evening. I'm planning to end the night with a great big blues jam, depending on who is there to play along...

And I'll be selling the EP, of course!

So get it in your diaries... October 23rd, which is a Friday, from 8.45 to 11.15pm at The Tower of Song Bar. £3 on the door.


107 Pershore Road South
Cotteridge
BIRMINGHAM
B30 3JX

I'll be doing a couple of songs at Rea River Routes folk night at the Tower of Song in Birmingham tonight.

The tower of song is one of my favourite venues, and Rea River nights are really cool, well run and very laid back and welcoming.

It's free in, so if your around why not pop in? Starts at 8.45