Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

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COVER: Wild Wood LIVE

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Released: Jan 1, 2009

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COVER: Wild Wood LIVE
3:40
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Flakes Theme
3:49
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Drinkers Meme LIVE at Headingham
2:21
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Love Magic
1:32
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COVER Song To the Siren at Headingham
5:16
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Total Plays: 29,386 / Plays Today: 1See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Alternative / Experimental / Folk Rock
Location Touring, Please select your region., Un
Profile Views: 120354
Last Login: 1/28/2012
Member Since 6/28/2006
Website http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFzaG1hbmRyYWtlLmNvbQ==
Record Label Ashmandrake (staying unsigned)
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
To book me for a paid gig, either ring 0792 627 8022, or email to bookings@ashmandrake.com . I don't use myspace for emails any more. About Ash This is a story of industrious energy, inner torment, and determination. His mother knew how to enjoy singing; his grandmother was a Polish play write and composer. As a child Ash soaked up sounds from films - Cosaks, Gypsies, Zulus; the sound of Tarzan Yodeling and the super-human magic of Yma Sumac. By fourteen He’d acquired his first guitar. He was discouraged, but kicked back. By eighteen, he was soaking up Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Shostakovich. He’d discovered his voice and started writing songs. He was experimenting with unusual instruments and playing in bands. However, for more than a decade, he lived with the uneasy tension between a true passion for creative expression and a powerful drive to achieve academically. He studied hard; science, humanities, management. He worked globally, in industry and universities; as a computer programmer, a teacher, examiner and manager. But he also worked for a while as a stripper/kissogram, and studied fine art. Eventually though, something had to give. And Ash gave in to just being himself and making music. What a relief ! Lol. With newer influences and discoveries like Bjork, Tim Buckley, Moby, and John Martin, Ash started to take covers out to open mics. He started customising instruments again and experimenting with sound scapes and vocal layering. These days, He performs solo. “Working with other people can be great fun and really fertile creatively, especially if there is a deep connection. But performing every single night as a means to building a business is too difficult with a band”. Driven by the slightly reckless edge of the maverick, He has managed to unleash the gypsy in his soul. “Touring is proving to be the healthiest job I‘ve ever done, and that‘s probably because it’s exactly what I should be doing.“ His audiences are populated by colourful souls. They are drawn by the mix of emotion and mischief in the live act. They are delighted by the hats and costumes, the stories and the comedy. This act shouldn‘t really work in pubs, but it does. And that is testament to the seductive power of true innovation, quality and passion. (Samantha Phelps: 2010) Recent Gigs Include:.. The Union Chapel, London.. The Cheltenham Big Easter Gathering.. The Bell Inn, Bath.. The Musician and The Donkey, Leicester.. the Running Horse, Nottingham.. The Tower of Song, Birmingham.. Ashton Court Festival, Bristol.. The Royal Oak Folk Festival, Bath.. Glastonbury Festival: Played 19 times including "The Left Stage",“The Band Stand”, “Avalon Café”, “The Fired Earth Cafe", "Small World Stage", "Green Fuse Stage”. .. The Big Session and The Sumer Sundae, Leicester Bath Fringe Festival.. Circus Idilique, Radford Farm, Wilts. ..
Members
Just Ash Mandrake But I owe special thanks to the following informal sponsors: Acknowledgements and Thanks: .. Informal Sponsorships.. Paul Nocher (Loan of a recording system and condenser mic and music journalism).. Andy Manners from Vintage and Rare Guitars, Bath (Custom guitar work) .. Niel Gay from The Cedar (Getting me up on myspace, tech work and the long term loan of a guitar) .. Steff from Riffs Music Shop, Stroud (Pedal board work) .. Sprogg (Mixing and CD production) .. Anver Anders (CD production and marketing) .. Steve Forward (Pedal board design, advice and web help).. Martin Tompkins (Photography and artwork) .. Johny Heart (Photography and artwork) .. Ed Hutchins (Photography) .. Barnaby (Photography) .. Ian Clutterbuck (Film production and editing) .. Andy Cottle (Filming) .. Chuck McQuillan.. Philippa Toop (management).. Tom & Ruth McNaire.. Husqvana Studio, Bath (sewing equipment) Rob Spalding (long term loan of a guitar).. Greg Beadle (the gift of a loop machine).. Terry from Headingham Music Night (Graphic Design) .. Simon the upholsterer.. Corrie Schrijver (leather).. Dominic Allen (leather).. Charley Allen (Music Journalism).. Thanks to the management of Moles Night Club and Invention Studios for the use of their locations for photo-shoots. Special thanks also go to the following who recently helped with my van appeal: Martyn Johnson Chuck McQuillan John Harrington Jane Salt Ross abates Frances Powell Howard Coleman Glyn Hale Paul Beck Diane Billinghurst Duncan Baty Gerry Albrow
Influences
Sounds Like
It’s important to realise that we're trying to describe an all-round and well-rounded entertainer here. There is a huge variety of work, including comedy, performance poetry, story telling and serious music. It is also important to note that everybody starts by saying… “It’s difficult to describe, because it isn’t really like anything else.”.. It sits most comfortably in the genre of folk rock, but there are elements of world music, blues and jazz. There are medieval elements, but with a very modern take... On the psych-folk/freak-folk front - describing the type of work (i.e. more being like than sounding like), some have made comparisons with Gong, Comus, Doctor Strangely Strange, The Incredible String Band... On the serious music front some have mentioned Tim Buckley, Roger Waters, Jethro Tull, Peter Hamill, Pavaroti... Here are some quotes:.. Ash Mandrake sounds like Sting having swallowed an opera singer or Midge Ure crossed with velvet......(Charley Allen).. "THE DOCTOR JOHN OF STONEHENGE" steeped in the spirit of ancient cultures and the river mist common to all...... (Chuck McQuillan).. ...Sounds like the warmth of a fire flickering in the hearth as evening draws in and people make merry… The soft voice from the shadows tempting the edge of your darker soul to feel virtue......(Charley Allen).. Ash Mandrake sounds like James Joyce reads......(Ook Warrior).. This is what a singer sounds like who has no need for conventions, who is beyond normal boundaries, beyond normal reality. It sounded, for all the earthly world, like the songs of mushrooms in autumn: rootsy, earthy, wild... (The Tower Of Song: Birmingham UK).. Is he a singer-songwriter, poet, shaman, philosopher, pumpkin gardener, or in fact 800 years old and as wise as Yoda? His is a scintillating magical performance which skilfully combines his shimmering, almost eerie vocals with virtuoso musicianship and great hats. It leaves you bewitched and here at The Royal oak, we love this man... (Royal Oak Music and Beer Festival, Bath 2009)..

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May 16

Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

Ash Mandrake has a show on 2012-05-18 at 20:00 @ The Hawthorns in Glastonbury, SMR http://t.co/uNgRm2Iw #concert

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May 15

Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

Ash Mandrake has a show on 2012-05-17 at 21:00 @ The Beehive in Swindon, WLT http://t.co/BPiTFiVZ #concert

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May 04

Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

Ash Mandrake has a show on 2012-05-06 at 20:00 @ Gig 4 - Sweeps ... in Rochester, KNT http://t.co/o706vHdp #concert

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May 04

Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

Ash Mandrake has a show on 2012-05-06 at 20:00 @ Gig 3 - Sweeps ... in Rochester, KNT http://t.co/bZNNjJKC #concert

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May 04

Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Mandrake

Ash Mandrake has a show on 2012-05-05 at 21:00 @ Sweeps Festival... in Rochester, KNT http://t.co/xCzLqvHP #concert

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