Monday, July 21, 2008

Cambridge folk festival Current mood: content Category: Music Hello Everyone Just to let you all know that the Cambridge folk festival is just over a week away & that yours truly will be playing a short show in the club tent courtesy of the Cambridge folk club. Many new songs to choose from that will be on the new album and one or two new "old traditionals". One of which is "Lord Franklin" which was played & taught to me by the Master Nic Jones while we were jamming in a CGCGCC tuning. Im not sure what time I will be on stage but suspect it will be later in the evening on the friday night. I will be selling albums on the day with a special festival EP with some of the new tracks I will play on the day. These will be free when someone wants an album. Looking forward to seeing you all there. Remember the real festival revolves around the club tent (Its the only tent with a bar!) Love Robert

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Touring & Time out. Current mood: content The last two months have been madly busy playing shows from Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkhire to Penzance at the tip Cornwall. As usual the rest of the year is going to be crammed with shows up and down the country. But Im glad to say that this year the touring has been more structered regarding both logistics & venues. Last year it seemed I was getting blown about by the wind at times. But then again it was my very first UK tour on my own without a band behind me, and its always tough starting from scratch. In the gaps between tours Ive managed to fit in two trips to the Atlas mountains and a few concerts, one of which I have to mention. For many years since I started in music I have always had respect and admiration for Neil Diamond. His voice and the songs that he has written. Upon hearing that he would be playing the O2 Dome in London I immediately decided I was going to see him live. Neil Diamond has always seemed to balance inbetween cool & cheesy depending upon which song you are listen to. All I can say to the sceptics is...See him Live! Only when you see someone like this live do you realise how good they actually are & how poor most of the new offerings of bands & artists we have to endure today. In a show of  over two hours I was never bored and watched & learned from a real professional at work! I was amazed at how many songs he sang that I knew & he even left out "Red red wine, Hello again & America"! Friends have told me that the O2 has very poor acoustics for live bands so I was very interested to hear how the show would be presented(it has a very high ceiling). Diamonds voice was well on top of the bands volume level which was excellent and you could hear every word. overall it was one of the quietest concerts I has ever been to. Perhaps this is the way of dealing with a venue not really desinged for live music.  His voice & stage presence were amazing. It could be a long time before I hear a live show as good.. Love Robert

Thursday, June 05, 2008

First 60 shows completed Current mood: content Category: Music Hello Everyone Just to say that the spring part of the tour is now over and the summer one is just begining. With 60 shows under my belt already I cant wait for the reat of the tour. I had a really nice time visiting new people & places, and Im chomping at the bit to get out there again after a week off. See you at the shows. Love Robert

 170 date Tour coming to an end!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: MySpace

Its been a long road since April and many thousands of miles have been driven, but the end of the tour is now in sight.

October saw me play a mammoth 28 shows which has to be a record for me. I only have around 25 shows left to play till the end of the year on what has been to date my longest tour. Look out 2008!

Its been a wonderful experiance & Ive seen some incredible places & met some amazing people along the way. Nic & the Jones family were a top bunch of peeps & can rustle up a mean Chilli!

Im looking forward to some time off over the winter to record some new material for 2008. Watch this space for any news of a forthcoming release.

A big thankyou to all the people who have made a difference & helped me along the way of this massive UK tour.

See you at the shows next year!

Love Robert

Splish & splashy Glastonbury 2007.

Hello Everyone

Well it was wet muddy but it was far from uneventful.! I hope you didnt all get too bored of having to watch the drivel that the buisness wanted you to see & hear on the TV. Away from the main stages you will find the true Glastonbury in all its wonderful splendor.

from arriving Wednesday I knew it was going to be diffrent. I felt a vibe in the air that was very positive. I gave up coming to Glastonbury 6 yrs ago because I got fed up of having to search the small stages & tents for a talented act. Well this year I found many such artists who would put nearly all the named acts to shame.

Since I last came there have sprung up small venues all over the festival. My favourite of all of these was the Ban Yan Tree tea tent that ran a 24 hr open mic stage. Great people & a great atmosphere. You never knew who was going to get up next. One particular guy who came up was "Splish". Playing guitar & singing he was one of the most original & off the wall acts Ive heard from a long time. Suffice to say we hooked up and by early Sunday monday morning (4am Slot) we had put together a band and played a show at the Earth Heart Tent. Good going really as the evening before, myself & Splish were part of the House band at the Jazz World Stage party. Me Guitar & Vocals, Splish  playing acid jazz piano and Rap mongering. Was Brilliant fun & got to shmooze with all the acts.

I think all in all I played over a Dozen sets over the 4 days in Venues ranging from the Jazz lounge, Croissant Neuf bandstand, Jazz World Stage Lounge, Earth Heart, Tiny Tea Tent and best of all the Ban Yan Tree Tent. My thanks to Bob & the rest of the team for running the best small venue in the Green fields. To all the new people I met & the new friends I made, including the muddy but beautiful Amwyn from the vallys! Will look forward to seeing  you again next year.

My thanks to Sally & Andy from Croissant Neuf who gave me the Chance to come & play.

Love Robert

She likes to Hurt Me

Hello all

Just back from my travels in Morocco and I feel full of life and anticipation. I got to see some old friends who are the greatest Berber musicians I know. Visit the Djemaa el-Fna Square in the old City of Marrekech and look for the two Hassans who play Banjo with 5 incredlble percussionists. They Rock!

On another note, there is a new song on the myspace player "She Likes To Hurt Me" Recorded at the Rock N Roll Kabaret in March 2007 with Dominique and Grinder on Bass. Its a bit rough at the edges but this was the first time all three had ever played a gig together and guess what? no practice! Straight in and play no pissing about. For me it was so much fun playing that song electricly with a band. I hope the enthusiasm of the performance cuts through the bum notes.

Im about to get under way with a heavy May schedule which Im really looking forward to.

See you at the shows.

Love Robert