The very lovely people at Chronic Ape have been kind enough to do a nice little piece about the Twenty Two EP, which I'm very grateful for.
Have a look at the site, they have a whole load of interesting music and cultural news being added all the time by a range of excellent contributors.
Showing posts with label twenty two. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twenty two. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
itunes
At long last I am very happy to announce that my first EP, Twenty Two, is now available on itunes. Click this link to go to the itunes store...
To wet your appetite, here are some reviews of the EP that have recently appeared on the net.
Media Essentials
Sloucher
Excitment!
To wet your appetite, here are some reviews of the EP that have recently appeared on the net.
Media Essentials
Sloucher
Excitment!
Friday, 27 November 2009
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
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
Monday, 19 October 2009
Monday, 14 September 2009
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
Monday, 31 August 2009
Storyjohn
John Edgar, the Wolverhampton based writer and story teller, has featured "Well Adjusted" on his monthly "Storyjohn" Podcast. The show is a monthly podcast featuring performances, interviews and Techy reviews.
Next month I'll be chatting with John on the podcast, so get it subscribed on your itunes or whatever clever doofer you use for such things...
Next month I'll be chatting with John on the podcast, so get it subscribed on your itunes or whatever clever doofer you use for such things...
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Edinburgh Fringe
I've been up at the Edinburgh Fringe for a week and three days.
We've seen some great shows and acts including Susan Calman, 4 Poofs and a Piano and Kevin Tomlinson, "Seven Ages" as well as a lot of street performers...
Which brings me to, me. I've been busking for 6 days between 11.45 and 12.15 next to St Giles, which is right in the heart of the Edinburgh Fringe on the High Street, the "Royal Mile"
At the time of day I've been performing passers by seem to be mainly family's and older ladies, and I've had several very sweet toddlers who like to dance by the side of me while I'm performing, which has been lovely. I've also been photographed by a lot of tourists, which again is pretty cool, to be thought of as part of their Edinburgh Fringe experience.
Here at the Fringe it seems that people are most interested in street performers doing something a bit unusual, like the fire eating, juggling and five part opera singing that seems to draw the big crowds. Humble solo singer-with-guitar people like myself seems to be a pleasant distraction between these big draws. At times, however, I've had nice crowds build up to watch me play, and as my first time busking anywhere I've learnt a lot about what catches peoples attention.
All in all, I've had a great time and the bit of money I've earned has been a very cool bonus. The main aim was to promote the EP a bit, and I've shifted quite a few copies of it so that seems to have gone well.
I'll do a more in depth round up of each day later, but for now here's some images of the first day, one of the two days when it rained very heavily. Playing in the rain seemed to elicit some respect from passers by, and this was oddly one of my biggest earning days...
The rain got so bad, I ended up getting a bit of help keeping dry... (this video sums up the whole thing really, people pass and smile or nod their heads but keep moving, it is raining after all!)
We've seen some great shows and acts including Susan Calman, 4 Poofs and a Piano and Kevin Tomlinson, "Seven Ages" as well as a lot of street performers...
Which brings me to, me. I've been busking for 6 days between 11.45 and 12.15 next to St Giles, which is right in the heart of the Edinburgh Fringe on the High Street, the "Royal Mile"
At the time of day I've been performing passers by seem to be mainly family's and older ladies, and I've had several very sweet toddlers who like to dance by the side of me while I'm performing, which has been lovely. I've also been photographed by a lot of tourists, which again is pretty cool, to be thought of as part of their Edinburgh Fringe experience.
Here at the Fringe it seems that people are most interested in street performers doing something a bit unusual, like the fire eating, juggling and five part opera singing that seems to draw the big crowds. Humble solo singer-with-guitar people like myself seems to be a pleasant distraction between these big draws. At times, however, I've had nice crowds build up to watch me play, and as my first time busking anywhere I've learnt a lot about what catches peoples attention.
All in all, I've had a great time and the bit of money I've earned has been a very cool bonus. The main aim was to promote the EP a bit, and I've shifted quite a few copies of it so that seems to have gone well.
I'll do a more in depth round up of each day later, but for now here's some images of the first day, one of the two days when it rained very heavily. Playing in the rain seemed to elicit some respect from passers by, and this was oddly one of my biggest earning days...
The rain got so bad, I ended up getting a bit of help keeping dry... (this video sums up the whole thing really, people pass and smile or nod their heads but keep moving, it is raining after all!)
Friday, 24 July 2009
Last Night
Bohemian Juke Box was eclectic. I was first on, and performed the three songs on my new Ep, Twenty Two. I also tried a brand new track, which will be called either "Pessimistic Me" or "Come to Nothing" (it's jollier than the names suggest.) I also played the 1969 medley again which starts with Bowie's Space Oddity which was great because on one of the walls there is covered with a huge picture of the Apollo 11 Astronauts on the Moon. As well as this I did a few more of my own and the old blues tune "Love in Vain."
I was followed by Arc Vel who was an instrumental electronica artist whose performance featured a projection of wild life footage. I thought it was rather cool
Next up was Z+, a finger style acoustic guitar singer/songwriter. Some really lovely, understated guitar passages and tunes. And he did a fantastic recovery when his guitar string broke, and the guitar he borrowed from the next performer didn’t want to stay in tune. Moments like that make you want to cry when your performing, but he made a good bit of funny entertainment out of it.
Mitch and Murray, another solo singer/songwriter again had some nice acoustic finger style tunes, as well as an endearing persona in the “preamble” to the songs. As he noticed there was something of a running theme to the night, as he, Z+ and I were all performing at the venue for the first time, and trying out at least one song we’d written in the last 24 hours.
The Victoria is a fabulous pub, all original Victorian style (including some great urinals upstairs) and French Burlesque posters. I can’t help but think maybe the nights would be a bit cooler if they were free entry then perhaps people in the main bar downstairs might wonder upstairs for a few songs. As it is the audience, though very welcoming and pleasant, consisted of people the acts had brought with them rather than new listeners for everyone. I blogged about this a little while ago and this has been the first gig in a while I’ve done where the punters pay £4 or something similar to get in, and the performers are required to bring a certain amount of their regular supporters. In all honesty, I think I prefer nights like Acoustic Brew where it’s free in. True they might not always have big audiences, but at least an artists’ regular audience don’t have to pay. I have sometimes wondered if a few of us singer songwriters wouldn't be better off organising a gig in the back garden and inviting our regulars along for a pound a head or something, would that work?
I'm also thinking of doing some kind of "launch" for the EP. The idea would be that I'd play the songs from it, perhaps with a full band arrangement like on the CD rather than solo performances. I'd also invite some other performers to play, maybe comedy as well as music, and if possible I'd organise a few Jam's along the way with some of the blues players from the crossroads that I admire so much. What do you reckon?
I was followed by Arc Vel who was an instrumental electronica artist whose performance featured a projection of wild life footage. I thought it was rather cool
Next up was Z+, a finger style acoustic guitar singer/songwriter. Some really lovely, understated guitar passages and tunes. And he did a fantastic recovery when his guitar string broke, and the guitar he borrowed from the next performer didn’t want to stay in tune. Moments like that make you want to cry when your performing, but he made a good bit of funny entertainment out of it.
Mitch and Murray, another solo singer/songwriter again had some nice acoustic finger style tunes, as well as an endearing persona in the “preamble” to the songs. As he noticed there was something of a running theme to the night, as he, Z+ and I were all performing at the venue for the first time, and trying out at least one song we’d written in the last 24 hours.
The Victoria is a fabulous pub, all original Victorian style (including some great urinals upstairs) and French Burlesque posters. I can’t help but think maybe the nights would be a bit cooler if they were free entry then perhaps people in the main bar downstairs might wonder upstairs for a few songs. As it is the audience, though very welcoming and pleasant, consisted of people the acts had brought with them rather than new listeners for everyone. I blogged about this a little while ago and this has been the first gig in a while I’ve done where the punters pay £4 or something similar to get in, and the performers are required to bring a certain amount of their regular supporters. In all honesty, I think I prefer nights like Acoustic Brew where it’s free in. True they might not always have big audiences, but at least an artists’ regular audience don’t have to pay. I have sometimes wondered if a few of us singer songwriters wouldn't be better off organising a gig in the back garden and inviting our regulars along for a pound a head or something, would that work?
I'm also thinking of doing some kind of "launch" for the EP. The idea would be that I'd play the songs from it, perhaps with a full band arrangement like on the CD rather than solo performances. I'd also invite some other performers to play, maybe comedy as well as music, and if possible I'd organise a few Jam's along the way with some of the blues players from the crossroads that I admire so much. What do you reckon?
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