WES FINCH - New Album 'Awena' out on June 8th

WES FINCH - New Album 'Awena' out on June 8th, booking live tour dates now Even though Wes Finch has released two previous albums ‘Asthill WES FINCH - New Album 'Awena' out on June 8th, booking live tour dates now Wes Finch Even though Wes Finch has released two previous albums ‘Asthill Grove’ and ‘Mayflower’ both of which were recognised in various guises, ‘Awena’ is his first fully studio‐realised album. The title is taken from his mother’s Welsh name and means, appropriately enough, ‘muse’ or ‘inspiration’. Produced by Gerry Diver (who has worked with the likes of such folk music new bloods as Lisa Knapp, Sam Lee and O’Hooley & Tidow, as well as on his own acclaimed solo album), the new album is forged out of a fruitful collaborative year that began with three Wes Finch demo tracks and allowed a special musical and personal rapport to develop and inform their work together. ‘Awena’ is made up of ten tracks, nine originals and one distinctive version of Elvis Presley’s ‘Love Me Tender’. There’s a s lightly discordant, sepulchral ambience to Awena’s opening song ‘Handfast’. Most striking, however, is Wes’s narrative and the impact of his storytelling. His unconventional use of song structure, prose poetry and narration allows his songs and stories to unfold in a natural, creative way. “I've always loved being read to” he says “and had all the sanitised bible stories and folk and fairy tales when growing up. I much prefer the darker ones I've discovered as a grown up” he adds. “I love to hear them but I'm a terrible oral story teller” (he says modestly) “but I have a great love for fiction and especially the short story form. I read a lot for pleasure and I've studied literature of different kinds. Good stories, lines, turns of phrase all inspire me in writing and I love to try and convey a good story through a song". Wes is a rare talent. Stylistically, he creates a sound that is at the same time both gentle and vulnerable but also epic in proportion. Wes is one of a new school of musicians who is rewriting our understanding of modern folk music. Recognised for support by the likes of Billy Bragg and Martin Carthy, Wes is an undeniably important figure for the future of British music. "A blast of originality, primal energy and musical magic in a market saturated with cloned artists and homogenised songs" - (Gerry Diver - Producer) Wes Finch - 'Smiling Loner' As an avid reader and walker, Wes takes his inspiration from stories, characters and landscapes of Old England. His songs offer a great deal of insight and observation and do not shy away from the tougher experiences of life. “There are a few songs” he points out “ that are inspired by some of my reading over the last year or so (Ronald Blythe, Robert Macfarlane, Alan Warner), a few that mix personal experience and personally collected stories and some just purely made up tales. There are some dark themes running through the songs: loss, tragedy, depression and death. Not to worry”, he laughs, “I'm feeling pretty good myself! “I brought all these lyrics to the table and Gerry and I worked on the arrangements of half of them together. We both agreed we wanted to Anglicise this record a little, if that makes sense; to avoid the Americana influences of my previous recordings which can often lead down easy, and overly trodden, musical paths. It felt right to approach the songs in this manner as so much of the subject matter is English in origin and outlook. ’Widow Thomas’ is about the wife of Edward Thomas going to meet the dying Ivor Gurney. ’Man of Bones‘ was written with the tradition of Death And The Lady in mind ‐ someone pleading with the Grim Reaper for more time, trying to bargain for life. ‘Red Coat‘ was inspired partly by a story related to the writer Ronald Blythe about a newly recruited soldier returning on leave to his family and partly by a story told to me by an artist I was apprenticed to about her brother on leave from the navy. 'Jackie's Stone‘ was sparked off by reading a passage in an Alan Warner novel and is a story about the often unsung Irish navvies who built the roads and canals of this country. ‘Handfast’ is about the pagan version of marriage." “Genre barriers seem to be less and less important to listeners now” Wes says. “People like what they like. Modern music is more about what elements you are bringing together. I'm without a traditional folk music upbringing; it was never present when I was growing up. I came through metal, rock, punk, blues and country before I got to folk music and I hope I can perhaps bring something with a unique new flavour to the table because of that. I think a lot of what we do as writers and musicians is to make interesting combinations of the many things that have come before. True originality is rare if not impossible today but there is always a fresh new way to approach and contextualise anything." “Some musical forms, the folk tradition especially can sometimes be resistant to any kind of evolution but, as with language, it inevitably will change and I think that's a healthy thing. Know the 'rules' and the tradition and don’t be afraid to break from it and bring your own interpretation. “Someone like Gerry, steeped in traditional Irish playing but also with a vast knowledge and experience of other styles of music and production, is an incredible person for an artist like me to work with. Gerry isn't scared of taking risks, getting edgy sonically and working in different ways. Partnering with him on a project like this really feels like a potent combination at the edge of modern music making.“ Click here to see Wes perform 'Jackie's Stone' Wes We are taking bookings for this extraordinary artist now to promote his new album, for all enquiries, promo copies and live dates on the album launch tour please contact: GAIL COOKE LAUGHING DOG MUSIC gail@laughingdogmusic.co.uk tel: + 44 (0) 7905 952 374 Click here for LAUGHING DOG MUSIC Click here for WES FINCH MUSIC

Katuš & Yankuba Conteh @ Lincoln Drill Hall Thu 30 April

Katuš & Yankuba Conteh @ Lincoln Drill Hall Thursday 30 April 8pm

Katuš' new album 'The Spring of 2022' is a truly world mix of English, Czech, Polish, Russian and Mandinka. In 2013 she met Yankuba Conteh on her way to the ‘Festival of the Desert’ and they spent a month performing together. Yankuba follows his father and grandfather in the griot tradition of storytelling, composing & performing and Katuš has toured all over the world. The duo are accompanied by Ben Monypenny on fiddle and Tom Corda-Stanley on Double Bass Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions) from 01522 873894

 www.lincolndrillhall.com

 Lincoln Drill Hall Freeschool Lane Lincoln LN2 1EY

New Jazz 5 present @GiladAtzmon & The Orient House at Lincoln Drill Hall @lincdrillhall 11 April

Saturday 11 Apr 2015   8:00pm

New Jazz 5: Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House

Maverick, award winning saxophonist Gilad Atzmon leads this incredible quartet, which has toured all over the world stunning audiences with firebrand performances packed with drama, luscious harmonies and wit. Gilad’s style and artistry produces live performances that are simply breath-taking.

‘..the best musician living in the world today.’ Robert Wyatt

• Tickets for Sat 11 Apr at 8:00pm   £14.00 / £12.00 / £5.00 from 01522 873894
  Lincoln Drill Hall, Freeschool Lane, Lincoln. LN2 1EY

O'Hooley and Tidow live @ Lincoln Drill Hall April 10.

Friday 10 Apr 2015   8:00pm

O'Hooley & Tidow

One of the most exciting acts on the contemporary folk scene today; Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow are accomplished interpreters of everything from Massive Attack to traditional Irish ballads, but it’s their own songwriting and exquisite harmonies that have earned them such a fantastic reputation. 

‘Remarkable. Surely one of the albums of the year.’ Guardian

• Tickets  £12.00 / £9.00 from 01522 873894
  Lincoln Drill Hall Freeschool Lane Lincoln LN2 1EY

News From Graham Parker and the Rumour.

Written in Graham's second home of New York and recorded in just 6 days in the legendary RAK studios in London, Mystery Glue is an album of conscious rock that harks back to Graham Parker & the Rumour's genre-defining music of the 70's whilst paying homage to Dylan, reggae, soul and rock'n'roll. Often cited as a major influence on Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Paul Weller and Bruce Springsteen, Parker's song writing prowess and live intensity lead Springsteen to declare "This guy combines the best of Van Morrison, Eric Burdon and John Lennon... he's the only guy around right now I'd pay money to see". Pre-order now for your limited signed copy and you could win tickets to an intimate acoustic gig The Graham Parker Duo (with fellow Rumour member and guitar legend Brinsley Schwarz) is about to head out on a UK tour, starting 15th April in Sale then travelling the length and breadth of the country. For &tickets  info click here:  Check out all your favourite albums and songs by Graham Parker and The Rumour now and subscribe to the profile to be the first to hear new tracks and playlists.

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Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble @ Lincoln Drill Hall

New Jazz 5 presents Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble

Saturday 11 April 8 pm @ Lincoln Drill Hall

Maverick, award winning saxophonist Gilad Atzmon leads this incredible quartet, which has toured all over the world stunning audiences with firebrand performances packed with drama, luscious harmonies and wit. Gilad’s style and artistry produces live performances that are simply breath-taking. ‘..the best musician living in the world today.’ Robert Wyatt

Tickets £14 (£12 Concessions / £5 students/under 16s) from 01522 873894

Check out this You Tube link https://youtu.be/esq1cxpGGYo?list=RDesq1cxpGGYo

Lincoln Drill Hall Freeschool Lane Lincoln LN2 1EY

Box Office 01522 873892

Full Event and Venue Details at www.lincolndrillhall.com   

D H Lawrence & The Vaudeville Skiffle Show Upcoming Gigs

#BandFromCountyHell @ #SpankyVanDykes on St Patrick's Night! @spankyvandykes

The Band From County Hell are at Spanky Van Dykes, 

Goldsmith Street, Nottingham

On St. Patrick's Day Tuesday 17 March. 

Show Time 10pm.

www.spankyvandykes.com