Don't miss HAZEL O'CONNOR & BREAKING GLASS - Rare screening of cult film, Q&A AND live performance!

Don't miss HAZEL O'CONNOR & BREAKING GLASS - Rare screening of  the cult film, Q&A AND live performance! Special Meet & Greet  after the show.


Fans of the cult film BREAKING GLASS will be rubbing their hands in glee because this month it's time to enjoy a RARE screening of  cult classic film Breaking Glass as well as a Q&A session with Hazel O'Connor  PLUS  a special live performance from Hazel O'Connor  accompanied by Clare Hirst  ( (Bellestars, Communards, David Bowie) on Sax , Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards and Josh Blackmore (Troyka/Strobes )  on Percussion. ) There will also be a Meet & Greet after the show.

It's Manchester tonight (NOV 14)  rest of the dates below! Don't miss - it will be a night of brilliance. Hear those timeless memorable songs from the film ( including Eighth Day, Will You, Decadent Days etc) 




Hazel was certainly catapulted into fame in 1980 in the iconic film Breaking Glass, She not only made her lead role her own, but also wrote all the unforgettable songs. The soundtrack to Breaking Glass went double platinum during its 38 week chart run!

Breaking Glass -  starring Hazel O'Connor, Phil Daniels and Jonathan Pryce.  written and directed by Brian Gibson, co-produced by Dodi Fayed





Those all-important links:
https://www.hazeloconnor.com
https://twitter.com/hazel_oconnor
https://www.facebook.com/HazelOConnorOfficial/

Bank HolidayWeekend Blues? Get to NEWARK NOTTS For The Very First 'STONEDEAF' Festival - be there Sat 25th Aug!

        The VERY FIRST Stonedeaf Festival is almost upon us, (SATURDAY 25th August) and it looks like it will be a rockin' roarsome awesome event! This is  going to be a real rockfest for real rock fans and my use of the word real is because this festival intends to keep it real without all the commercialised fancy schmancy that  has crept into other festivals, because this festival is proudly organised by rock fans for rock fans. what's not to like about that?

So who can you see at the inaugural  Stonedeaf  Festival?

Compere   KRUSHER JOULE will be proudly introducing on the Tommy Vance Stage these great acts

*SKID ROW* 

*THE QUIREBOYS*

*WOLFSBANE*

*GRAHAM BONNET BAND*

 *ANVIL*

*MASSIVE WAGONS*

 *HAND OF DIMES*

 *CHROME MOLLY*

 *FALLEN MAFIA*

SKID ROW are ready to ROCK YOU

Hey YOU - come see the QUIREBOYS

Wolfsbane will make you HOWL for more!

There is STILL time to get tickets! 

Neil  one of Stonedeaf's organisers says: About 18 months ago a bunch of us from the Donington Vets page on Facebook started talking about how expensive festivals had become and that whilst they (the festivals) are great fun the music has become the side show.  The heavy rock family spirit has been diluted and we wanted a bit of it back. Stonedeaf was born.

This weekend won’t be huge numbers wise (2000 plus), the stage won’t be the size of a block of flats and it wont be anywhere near the intense and overwhelming experience a lot of us had at the old Monsters Of Rock shows. ...... BUT what we hope it will be is a throwback to that rock community feeling that being a "HEAVY" meant to us all. A show primarily about our love for heavy music and our fellow rockers and not for some sideshow entertainment  :) A festival you can let your hair down at and not care, take a few beers into the arena, not get ripped off, park for free, not be bothered about the size of bag you take in, chat to other rockers and generally chill out like we used to. Old school stuff we all miss.

Its been a rollercoaster ride for all the committee members, production team and volunteers but its now here. It's now only a few days away. If you’re coming then see you soon, if you know of someone still unsure then see what you feel like on Saturday and just jump in your car and pay £50 on the gate. You wont regret it, it's gonna be a blast.

For more info : http://www.stonedeaffestival.co.uk/

Twitter https://twitter.com/Stonedeaf_fest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/237397456749576/

Posted by Marilyn Michaels  -  Twitter:  @RadioGirlProds

(With thanks to Jenny Duncan of Stonedeaf Fest) Twitter: @jennystonedeaf 

Paul Carrack Announces New Album ‘These Days (Sept 2018)’ plus UK tour dates for 2019

How is this for fabulous news??!!

Singer/Songwriter Paul Carrack Announces New Album ‘These Days’, plus UK tour dates (dates listed further below)

Paul Carrack returns with a brand new studio album and is ready to reach new heights with 'These Days’, which will be released on 7th September on his own record label, Carrack-UK. ( available to pre-order on CD & Vinyl. )



In addition to the release of These Days, Paul will embark on an extensive 30-date UK tour for 2019, which begins on 18th January in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, and ends on 24th March at The Lowry in Salford.



‘These Days’ is Paul's 17th album, a run that began way back in 1980, but which has been building real, independent momentum since he formed his record label in 2000 with the landmark 'Satisfy My Soul' album release.

A brief glimpse into the career...

 Paul’s breakthrough moment came when he wrote and sang 'How Long', the much-covered 1974 classic from his days with Ace, and was the voice of 'Tempted' from his tenure with Squeeze. Then came such hits with Mike + the Mechanics as 'The Living Years' and 'Over My Shoulder', the latter a co-write with Mike Rutherford. Not to mention that another co-write, 'Love Will Keep Us Alive', was covered by the Eagles and won a hugely prestigious ASCAP Award as Song of the Year.



Diana Ross, covered Carrack's co-write with Nick Lowe, 'Battlefield', and as an in-demand collaborator, Paul's decades of distinction include sessions with the Smiths, Roxy Music, B.B. King and countless others, culminating in a request from Eric Clapton to join his touring band. That rare honour comes up-to-date in the summer of 2018 with their homecoming performance in London's Hyde Park.



Since the turn of the century, instead of making other artists look great, Paul has quietly built a huge, loyal fan base, an audience that not only devours his albums, but turns out to see his frequent, extensive tours in their thousands. He's done that the only way he knows; making high-quality, accessible pop-soul with unmissable hooks and lyrics that say something about all of our lives.



That's truer than ever on 'These Days'. The album's stunning line-up features Paul on keyboards and guitar and regular bandmate Jeremy Meek on bass, joined by Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney, Pretenders, Norah Jones, John Mayer) on lead guitar and drummer Steve Gadd, Paul's Eric Clapton bandmate who has graced the work of everyone from Steely Dan to James Taylor.



As if their exemplary playing wasn't enough, the album's horn section is hand-picked and overseen by the mighty Pee Wee Ellis, the American saxophone ace who was an integral part of James Brown's shows and records of the vintage 'Cold Sweat' era. Five tracks on 'These Days' have lyrics by Paul's friend, former Squeeze bandmate and consummate wordsmith Chris Difford.



As usual, the new songs started in Carrack's home studio, but they came to life in a different and exciting way this time. “I don't write a song and then do a demo,” he explains. “It's a little nugget of an idea and I start messing about with it, chipping away and it becomes something. Usually, that's completed and that becomes the album.



“In this case, I took a lot of the songs quite a way, but then we decided we wanted to make it a bit more performance-based and with some other influences. I've been playing with Eric for about five years now, and I just mentioned it to Steve Gadd, was it something he might be interested in, and he was very keen.”



When Gadd said he'd be coming through the UK on the way home from a European tour with Chick Corea, Paul seized the moment and booked into Air Studios in London for three days to cut a dozen tracks as a band, before taking it back to his home studio.



Plenty of the songs, from the title track to 'Where Does The Time Go', 'The Best I Could' and 'Dig Deep' strike a glass-half-full, pensive mood about the long road travelled and the adventures still to come. “When I think about it, we've come a long, long way,” as Paul sings on the typically catchy and beguiling 'Amazing'.



There was another moment of reflection when Carrack came to choose the striking cover image for the album, as he rifled through a box of his late father's photographs. “When you go through these things, you realise you've come a hell of a long way,” he muses. The gorgeous image is of Paul's brother. “That's us on holiday,” he says. “We're living it large there; I think it's probably the Isle of Wight. Man, that was exotic back in the day. We had pretty humble beginnings.”



‘These Days’ is grown-up pop music made by, and for, people who've had the ups and downs that life unfailingly provides. “It's about getting to an age, and appreciating what you've got,” says Carrack. “I hope it will resonate with people who are going through the same stuff. It's not being frightened of it, and just trying to enjoy it.”


The full list of Paul Carrack’s European tour dates are as follows:


2018



19 Aug            Henley-on-Thames      Rewind South                        



13 Oct             Enschede, NL             Muziekcentrum Enschede      



14 Oct             Amsterdam, NL          Theater Carré             



15 Oct             Zwolle, NL                 Theater De Spiegel                 



17 Oct             Arnhem, NL                Musis Parkzaal Arnhem         



18 Oct             Eindhoven, NL           Muziekgebouw Frits Philips  







2019  Tour Dates



18 Jan              Liverpool                     Philharmonic Hall                              



19 Jan             Liverpool                     Philharmonic Hall                              



20 Jan              Leeds                          Leeds Town Hall                   



25 Jan              Birmingham                Symphony Hall                      



26 Jan              York                            The Barbican                          



27 Jan              Gateshead                   The Sage                                            



01 Feb             Perth                            Perth Concert Hall                             



02 Feb             Hull                             Hull City Hall            



03 Feb             Cambridge                  Corn Exchange                                  



08 Feb             Bournemouth             Pavilion                                              



09 Feb             Plymouth                     Pavilions                                 



10 Feb             Swansea                      Brangwyn Hall                                   



14 Feb             Nottingham                 Royal Concert Hall                



15 Feb             Milton Keynes            Milton Keynes Theatre          



16 Feb             Margate                       Winter Gardens                      



22 Feb             Edinburgh                   Edinburgh Festival Theatre    



23 Feb             Dunfermline                Alhambra Theatre                  



24 Feb             Glasgow                      Royal Concert Hall                



01 Mar             Southend                     Cliffs Pavilion            



02 Mar             London                       London Palladium                 



03 Mar             Birmingham                Symphony Hall 



08 Mar             Guildford                    G Live                        



09 Mar             Aylesbury                    Waterside Theatre                              



10 Mar             Cardiff                        St David’s Hall                      



14 Mar             Sheffield                     City Hall                                



15 Mar             Leicester                      De Montfort Hall                               



16 Mar             Brighton                      Brighton Centre                                 



22 Mar             Middlesbrough            Middlesbrough Town Hall                 



23 Mar             Harrogate                    Convention Centre                             



24 Mar             Salford                        The Lowry                 







Tickets for all dates are available to buy at www.paulcarrack.net/tour/ .





‘These Days’ track listing:



1. Amazing

2. Life In A Bubble

3. In The Cold Light Of Day

4. Dig Deep

5. These Days

6. You Make Me Feel Good

7. Tell Somebody Who Cares

8. Where Does The Time Go?

9. Talk To Me

10. Perfect Storm

11. The Best I Could





Twitter:  @PCarrack 

Facebook : facebook.com/carrack.net

Posted by Marilyn Michaels   - Twitter @RadioGirlProds- 

(with thanks to Dave from Planet Earth Publicity. )

KAISER CHIEFS play WINDSOR – Race Course Saturday 25th August 2018!

Brit Award winners Kaiser Chiefs are back this Summer for an action packed day out performing at Windsor – Racecourse on Saturday 25th August.

  Dance into the evening to the fabulous Kaiser Chiefs in concert for an action packed day out!   Here is a  gig not to be missed…..

Tickets for the WINDSOR – Race Course show are available from:



Saturday 25th August 2018   

WINDSOR – Racecourse

Box Office No:  0844 249 1000

Website – http://www.vmstickets.co.uk/

Gates Open – 4.00pm

Ticket price - £39.00



For further information on KAISER CHIEFS, check out below and  the following websites / social media links:


Website – http://www.kaiserchiefs.com


Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kaiserchiefs


Twitter -  https://twitter.com/KaiserChiefs   


You Tube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/KaiserChiefs  


“Kaiser Chiefs have done rather well out of having ideas above our station,” decides frontman Ricky Wilson, “Making our first album, we weren’t trying to be the best indie band in Leeds. We weren’t even just competing with guitar bands. Almost by accident, we were competing with Girls Aloud”.

Funny how things turn out. Fast-forward through the years and the girlband have split, reformed and split again. Kaiser Chiefs, meanwhile, have managed to lose only one member and presented multiple albums

. “Groups are often at war — with their label, their management, with each other — and you can’t write great material when you’re like that.” 

Tracks such as  Oh My God kick-started a run of hits that also includes I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less And Less, Never Miss A Beat and the Number One single Ruby.

Mercury nominated debut album Employment propelled the band to three Brit Awards wins and its successor, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, went twice-platinum in the UK alone. 

Then, of course, came 'The Wobble', including the departure of founding member Nick Hodgson. The pop history books all warn us that this should have signposted the end of the band on a creative and commercial level

“Most sane people would have given up,”  says Ricky, but in a chapter of the Kaiser Chiefs story that might as well be titled Escape From Indie Landfill, Ricky appeared on primetime television as a coach on The Voice.

Shortly afterwards the band’s fifth album Education, Education, Education & War became their first Number One in seven years. When it did so, Ricky tweeted: “I love it when a plan comes together.”

It’s tempting to place all the credit on Ricky’s increased UK media profile, but that doesn’t explain the album also becoming Kaiser Chiefs’ first Number One in New Zealand, and the highest-charting of their career in the US.

“We suddenly thought, wow, we weren’t dead weight after all,” Ricky laughs. “It was about proving it to ourselves as much as to anyone else. Thinking about it now, that success was all about turning the boat around”.



“We might never get to the point where we can sit in an armchair with our arms behind our heads and go: ‘lads, we’ve done it’. But at the same time, maybe that’s why,  later, Kaiser Chiefs are still here”.

Posted by Marilyn Michaels  -  follow on Twitter: @RadiogirlProds  https://twitter.com/RadioGirlProds

( With thanks to  Maria of MP Promotions )

THE LEVELLERS SHOWS CANCELLED THIS WEEKEND (JULY 28/29) DUE TO SINGER MARK CHADWICK ILLNESS

LEVELLERS – Hull Zebedee’s Yard show cancelled this weekend.

No band ever likes to cancel a show , but health comes first.  Get well soon Mark! 

JUST ANNOUNCED :

short notice cancellation of Levellers  show in Hull on Saturday July 28 and at the Y Not Festival on Sunday July 29 - due to frontman Mark Chadwick falling ill.





An announcement from the Levellers:


"Sadly we are going to have to cancel our shows this weekend - in Hull on Saturday, and we will not be performing at the Y Not Festival on Sunday.  Mark Chadwick is unwell and it’s become clear over the last 48hrs that he needs more time to recover - he will not be well enough to perform this weekend. 
Refunds will be available from your point of purchase for the show in Hull, we are not able to reschedule the date. Thank you for your understanding, apologies from us and we’ll let you know as soon as we have any further updates. x" 

Levellers website: https://www.levellers.co.uk/  https://www.levellers.co.uk/news

INFO From INNER CITY LIVE:
From all of us at InnerCityLive & VMS Live we wish Mark all the best and speedy recovery.



TICKETING

As a result of the cancellation of their appearance by the Levellers on Saturday July 28th at Inner City Live in Hull we are unfortunately cancelling this event and ticket refunds will be made for ticket holders from point of purchase, however, if you would prefer tickets for any of our future Inner City Live events in August for shows with the Happy Mondays & Peter Hook & The Light (August 24th) or The Wombats & The Rifles (August 26th) please contact your ticket agent, these tickets are subject to availability and any variation between the face value of each ticket will be need to met by the customer.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.  - ends


----- Thanks to Maria at MP Promotions for the heads up .---

Marilyn Michaels
Twitter: @RadioGirlProds

UK temperatures will soar for the next four weeks

The UK is not somewhere we usually think of when it comes to a 'heatwave' but even so, we are set to bake and bask in the sun for around another four weeks according to weather forecasters  who are expecting 'very little rain and high temperatures throughout the month',

 There is a heightened risk of grass and forest fires as the hot temperatures continue to soar. At Saddleworth Moor, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are still tackling blazes  dozens of fire crews and soldiers remain on the hills between Tameside and Oldham as the enormous moor fire continues.

 Hosepipe bans are already in place in some areas such as Northern Ireland where householders have been banned from using hosepipes to water  flowers and lawns and face fines of up to £1,000 if caught. doing so. (The use of watering cans is still allowed )

 These bans are likely to spread to other parts of the UK.  It is vital we all try to conserve water., a sensible approach means taking measures such as not leaving the tap running while you are brushing your teeth, taking a quick shower instead of a bath and watering your garden with rain from a water butt can make a huge difference to water supply levels. Water is precious. We can not waste it.

(c) Marilyn Michaels 2018

Wilko Johnson - New album 'Blow Your Mind' - live show at Manchester Academy May 12 2018

(photo: Richard Young Rex )

"Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there. And there are a lot of people who'll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It's some legacy." - Paul Weller

The original Dr Feelgood guitarist known for his incredible distinctive chopping guitar style.  Wilko had gone on to find further success with Ian Dury & The Blockheads and after teaming up with Roger Daltrey on 2014’s Going Back Home.  An album of the year it featured reworkings of songs from Wilko’s Dr Feelgood days such as ‘All Through The City’ and ‘Going Back Home’.


 In Sept 2017, Wilko celebrated his 70th birthday by playing a sold-out show at the world famous Albert Hall in London.

‘I’m supposed to be dead!’  - In 2012  Wilko was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Despite the doctors’ worst predictions, he continued to perform.  In 2013, Wilko announced that thanks to a second opinion and subsequent life-saving surgery, he was cancer-free.

Recently  Wilko  & I braved telephone technical traumas* to have a chat about his forthcoming new album Blow Your Mind (out June 15th) and his May tour (with Hugh Cornwell and a host of others as special guests ) (*Ok, suffice to say HE braved it, I got rather flustered and ended up nervous, as there is nothing worse when trying to do an interview by phone, and there are problems with said phone! Upside to that was I got an impromptu lesson in breathing exercises, so can add that next to getting my rain-soaked hair towel dried by James Brown & his bodyguards at Glastonbury, filed under Weirdly Wonderful Interview Moments ;-) )

This interview aired on Radio Deeside May 7th 2018 and variations of it will be airing on a couple of other radio stations, a full transcript is forthcoming but for now, enjoy a taster below :

MM:   You're about to embark on a tour in May, this tour is obviously to promote your new album: Blow Your Mind, are you looking forward to the tour? 

WJ:  I just really like playing you know. I'm just really glad to be out doing gigs. We've just done a tour of Finland, we were putting in the new songs from the new album and going very good, yeah that's what it's about for me. Finland, now there's a place, I like it there, very very mysterious.

 MM: This album (Blow Your Mind) is the first one in thirty years?

WJ:   (starts laughing) You see that's what they're saying after roughly asking me how many records, I mean I haven't made many records right, and I think I forgot 2 or 3, (laughs) so they worked out it's been 30 years but maybe it just feels that way!

'We did it in November, in 2 weeks, using more or less the same  kind of set up that we used for the Roger Daltrey album, and yeah we just bashed it out in 2 weeks, it takes so long for them to actually make it into a record,but I;m very very pleased with it'' - Wilko Johnson on 'Blow Your Mind'  

MM: You mention the Roger Daltrey record, that was 'Going Back Home', that was 2014, what was that like to work on? 

WJ:  That whole album is really strange to me you know, because I was expecting to die of cancer, they told me I had 10 months, I think it was in  the 11th month, Roger got in touch with me and said 'let's do this album' so we just went and did it. I never even thought I would see it released, then, in fact, it was enormously successful, most of which I missed because by then I'd had my operation and  I was lying in hospital in a stupour, so I kind of missed it all so that whole album is kind of strange, good though!

WJ:  I remember arriving at  Heathrow airport from somewhere or other  and we were just driving out of the airport and there was these huge hoardings for the new HBO series, and there was one for Game Of Thrones:  a big picture of Sean Bean's face , and then looming in the background is my glorious self (laughs)   - Wilko Johnson on Game Of Thrones

. 

Catch Wilko Johnson and special guests at Manchester Academy Saturday May 12. 

WILKO JOHNSON

with special guests

HUGH CORNWELL (band)

MIKE SWEENEY & THE SALFORD JETS

& MOLLIE MARRIOTT

MANCHESTER – Academy 1 on Saturday 12^th May 2018!

R&B legend Wilko Johnson plays Manchester – Academy 1 on Saturday 12th May with special guests Hugh Cornwell & Band, Mike Sweeney & The Salford Jets and Mollie Marriott and more tbc.

Wilko Johnson Links:

Website http://wilkojohnson.com  Twitter @WilkoJohnson  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WilkoJohnsonBand


HUGH CORNWELL & BAND
www.hughcornwell.com

Hugh Cornwell is one of the UK's finest songwriting talents and accomplished live performers. As the original guitarist, singer and main songwriter in the British rock band The Stranglers, he's enjoyed massive success with 10 hit albums and 21 Top Forty singles, etching himself into Europe and the USA's musical psyche with classic songs, including Peaches, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Nice N’ Sleazy, Always the Sun and Duchess.

This electric band performance will feature songs spanning his career from early Stranglers to the current day.

MIKE SWEENEY & THE SALFORD JETS

Classic old skool post punk rock whose single 'Who You Looking At' was global hit across the whole of Manchester in the 1980s as well as breaking the band in the national charts.  The band reformed in 2003, still fronted by the mighty Mike Sweeney - vocals, guitar and former Piccadilly Radio DJ (now broadcasting on BBC Radio Manchester), and Diccon Hubbard on bass and vocals.


MOLLIE MARRIOTT
www.molliemarriott.com 

Having supported and backed some of the best rock stars in the industry including Robert Plant, The Faces, Mark Knopfler and Paul Weller, Mollie  is set to take the industry by storm with her debut album Truth Is A Wolf later this year.

Tickets available from:

MANCHESTER – Academy 1

Box Office No – 0161 832 1111

Website - https://www.manchesteracademy.net/order/tickets/13331624/wilko-johnson-and-special-guests-hugh-cornwell-and-band-manchester-academy-2018-05-12-16-30-00

Doors – 4.30pm  /  On-Stage from 5.00pm

Tickets - £25.00 advanc

RHYTHM OF THE 90’s - Live at Manchester Club Academy Saturday May 5 2018

Warning: By the end of this post you may have the words and beats  ' No no, no no no no, no no no no, no no there's no limit'  going around your head, and if that excites you and makes you jump up to dust off your clubbing gear and dance shoes then you will be very  happy to know  you have the chance on May 5 in MANCHESTER to re-live and go back to the 90’s clubbing scene - RHYTHM OF THE 90’s are here with a Spring 2018 - UK Tour, to relive the dream,  so get down to Manchester – Club Academy on Saturday 5th May.


Since their inception in 2012, Rhythm of the 90’s have become THE band to get any party started!

Armed with only 2 simple ideas, to bring the best dance hits from this seminal decade back to the masses - and to perform them FULLY LIVE! This 7 piece band have found themselves in the eye of the 90’s nostalgia whirlwind and have taken the UK by storm with sold out show after show across the country, reaching crowds sizes of 20,000 people all bouncing along to all their favourite 90’s hits.

With highly acclaimed performances at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Latitude festivals and main stage slots at Love Saves the Day, Mutiny and Victorious Festival the popularity of the band just keeps on growing. It’s only a matter of time before they have the whole of Europe dancing, wearing dungarees and dusting off something called shell suits.

To quote the revered 90’s philosophers 2 Unlimited “There’s No Limit” and Rhythm of the 90 ’s fully intend to prove it.

If you remember when rhythm was a dancer and groove was in the heart,  (or  like me, a  fairly new convert to that 90s sound )  then I am sure you will love this show.

Tickets for the MANCHESTER – Club Academy show are available from:

 MANCHESTER – Club Academy   
Box Office No:  0161 832 1111

Website – https://www.manchesteracademy.net/order/tickets/13331292/rhythm-of-the-90s-manchester-club-academy-2018-05-05-19-30-00

Doors – 7.30pm      Ticket price - £15.00

Website – https://www.rot90s.com

Facebook – https://facebook.com/ROT90s

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ROT90s


You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/user/rot90sband

Former Big Country Bassist Tony Butler Releases Long Awaited Debut Solo Album! 'My Time'

On 1st June 2018, former Big Country bassist Tony Butler will release his debut solo album ‘My Time’ on Phoenix Rising Records.

Butler’s debut album arrives after 40 years working in the music industry, having worked with the  likes of Pete Townshend, Chrissie Hynde, Ray Davies, Steve Lillywhite, Roger Daltrey, Nils Lofgren and Siouxsie Sioux, before becoming a founding member of Big Country, who would go on to sell over 10 million records.

While Butler sings and plays electric, acoustic and bass guitars throughout the album, ‘My Time’ includes contributions from Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki, who plays on four of the album’s eleven tracks (‘She’s Coming Home’, ‘Scared to the Bone’, ‘My Big Ferrari Heart’ and ‘I’m Getting Old’) and Big Country’s long-time touring keyboard player Josh Phillips (‘I’m Getting Old’).

“After years of working with some of the finest songwriters, musicians, producers and, of course, Big Country, I feel that this time is ‘My Time’ to put myself out there; apprenticeship well and truly served.” -Tony Butler

After Big Country singer Stuart Adamson’s untimely passing in December 2001, Butler harboured a deep desire not to be involved in the music business, so ruled out all opportunities to become part of any ‘supergroups’. Instead, Butler became a music lecturer at a college in Devon.

Despite his initial reluctance, Big Country reformed in 2010 with The Alarm’s Mike Peters’ on vocal duties and embarked on two sell-out UK tours.

However, while the tours were hugely successful, Butler was unhappy with the new material the new line-up had begun to write, amongst other things, so made the difficult decision to leave the group in August 2012 - which led Butler to the proverbial crossroads of his life.

In the summer of 2013, Tony started to enjoy writing again and set about the task of writing his debut solo album with renewed vigour. He also began writing a book charting the demise (from his viewpoint) of the post-Adamson line-up of Big Country, called ‘Then Came the Great Divide’.

Being managed once again by former Big Country manager Ian Grant gave Butler the confidence to see the project through. Butler said, “After mixing and mastering the album I presented it to Ian, which would be the real acid test. Fortunately, he really liked it and, all of a sudden, the project would be real.”


“I felt I had finally earned the right to take a central role for the first time, to be able to put together a musical project that is essentially about my life, loves and tragedies is something that I have owed myself for a long time.” -Tony Butler

Tony started recording the backing tracks for the album while he was still teaching, and it was here that he really started to conceptualise the basic premise of the album. “I then went onto recording everything else at my new studio,” says Butler. “I commandeered one of the rooms in my partner’s house, where I spent a very enjoyable period completing the album. I was able to spend a lot more time working on the lyrics, as by this time I had ended my employment at the college.”


The lyrical aspect developed a personal flavour, but not so personal that other people would be unable to relate to it themselves. “I was writing about people I knew and loved, so the words were a labour of love to write,” Butler says. “Stuart Adamson is very much remembered in this album, for nothing more than being an inspiration. Big Country had a unique sound, attitude and understanding in terms of people. Each part made the whole, but with this album, I am keen for people to understand my contribution to the band’s creativity; what I contributed, what I developed, and what I learned. This is ‘My Time’ and I’m really happy.”

   
Those all important links to click: 

www.tonybutlertb.co.uk/ 

https://twitter.com/tonybutlertb60  ( @tonybutlertb60 )

facebook.com/tonybutlerTB/



Posted by Marilyn Michaels
Find me on Twitter via https://twitter.com/RadioGirlProds  ( @RadioGirlProds )  and https://www.facebook.com/MarilynMichaelsRadioGirlProductions/

Terry Reid To Play Live Date in LONDON at Nell’s Jazz & Blues 26th April 2018

Terry Reid -    who is one of the greatest rock vocalists this country has ever produced - has confirmed a live show at Nell’s Jazz & Blues in London on Thursday, 26th April 2018.

 Reid will be joined on stage by Neil Hubbard on guitar, Jennifer Maidman on bass guitar and Ash Soan on drums, performing songs from across his five decade-long career; from albums such as Bang, Bang You're Terry Reid (1968), Terry Reid (1969), River (1973), Seed of Memory (1976) and Rogue Waves (1979) all the way through to some of the new songs Reid co-wrote and sang on for Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry’s latest solo LP ‘Sweetzerland Manifesto’.

 Looking ahead to the show, Reid said, “It’s the first time I’ve had the opportunity to play with my great band at Nell’s Jazz & Blues, so I’m really looking forward it. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to catch up with friends both old and new. Come on down and we’ll see you there!”

Opening the show will be Reid’s special guest Jon Allen, the highly acclaimed sing-songwriter who releases his new album ‘Blue Flame’ on May 18th 2018 on Monologue Records.

Tickets are available from: www.seetickets.com/event/terry-reid-special-guest-jon-allen/nells-jazz-blues/1207199

Terry Reid (photo: Jaxpics)

 Terry Reid has a remarkable history. Affectionately known as ‘Superlungs’, the in-demand Reid famously turned down Jimmy Page’s offer to become the front man for the band that would become Led Zeppelin, instead recommending and introducing Page to his friends Robert Plant and John Bonham. Due to contractual obligations, Reid also turned down a similar offer to front Deep Purple after being courted by the band’s guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.


And when Aretha Franklin cites you as England’s finest alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as the Queen of Soul did in 1968, you know you must be doing something right.

 Reid’s credentials were further consolidated on two world tours with The Rolling Stones, U.S. tours with Cream and U.K. tours with Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac. Reid also performed at The Isle of Wight Festival in 1969 and the inaugural Glastonbury Festival in 1970, and also performing as part of an all-star jam at Mick and Bianca Jagger’s infamous wedding reception in San Tropez in 1971.

But that’s not all. Reid’s story includes numerous collaborations with Graham Nash, his songs being covered by the likes of The Hollies, Marianne Faithfull, The Raconteurs and a back catalogue of six studio albums - including the seminal 1973 album ‘The River’ and the 1976 Graham Nash produced album ‘Seed of Memory’.

Following a return to the Glastonbury Festival in 2009, Reid played a three night residency at Ronnie Scott’s in London - one of only a handful of non-Jazz artists invited to help mark the legendary venue’s 50th Anniversary. Reid played to packed houses, critical acclaim, and returned in 2010 and 2011 to sell out three consecutive nights.

 In May 2011, Reid toured Ireland for the first time in 30 years and released a new live album ‘Live In London’, which included several previously unreleased tracks. Uncut Magazine then presented a show featuring Reid at The Jazz Café and he toured England before returning to Glastonbury once more, headlining the Spirit of ‘71 stage.


In 2012, Rumer introduced Reid to a new generation when she featured his song ‘Brave Awakening’ on her 2012 album ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ (which entered the UK Album Chart at No3), before Reid returned to perform at the Isle of Wight Festival for the first time since 1971. Later that year, DJ Shadow invited Reid to write the lyrics to a new track for his forthcoming ‘Reconstructed’ album, which became the song ‘Listen’. The song’s official video has since been played on YouTube over 500,000 times.

 For further information go to:
www.nellsjazzandblues.com 
 www.Facebook.com/nellsjazzandblues  
 www.terryreid.com

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