THE OCCASIONAL ORCHESTRA evolved slowly but very effectively as a few friends and ex band colleagues would turn out and play at Darrells solo gigs.
With time it all got a lot more serious and we started to rehearse full sets and arrange songs for the band and the line up has now settled as Barry Light on cajon, Jon Taylor guitar / bouzouki / vocals, Spencer Garrett plays either acoustic or electric bass, Tracy Smith sings with Barry O'Brien adding percussion.
The Orchestra though is wide ranging and many others have performed on stage with us including George Whitfield (accordian), Robert Coyne (guitar), Yasmin Light (vocals), Stefan Zehle (bass) and the 7 in a Bar barbershop singers with many more yet to be.
with special guests Robert Coyne and Stephan Zehle - video shot by Clive Product, thanks Clive
Influences
Japeeza!: An emphatic expression of pleasure or approval, often accompanied by a short dance.
BUY THE JAPEEZA CD by mail order through our website www.japeeza.com
Sounds Like
"I really enjoyed the album. Especially glad to hear your lovely version of Lonesome Valley, as my Dad's version was a favourite of mine when I was a kid". Robert Coyne
"fantastic insightful lyrics and catchy rhythms are sure to put them on a fast track to success" Spratton Festival web site
"Immense" Ben, Acoustic Ballroom
"I really enjoyed listening to the new songs, he's in fine form writing and playing. And I was so pleased that people stopped and listened, it's a tough call supporting us sometimes." Damian, Pressgang
"Bracktastic" Tristan, Performin Room, Brackley
"A top class songwriter" George, Pressgang
"Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the set from Darrell Mitchell and the Occasional Orchestra. Darrell is another artist who has just got better and better in recent years. Tonights set featured a guest appearance from none other than Robert Coyne on guitar on Lonesome Valley. This was the track originally recorded for the Kevin Coyne tribute album, Whispers From The Offing. Originally covered by Kevin on his Marjory Razorblade album in 1973, it was an absolute joy to see his son Robert playing it here tonight".
"If Darrell had have been born in Scotland he would definitely have been
"Sparrows" in particular caught my ear - a wonderfully gentle song, all the more powerful for its sparsity and soft nature. (Darrells) voice is excellent - especially the tiny vibrato on held notes - and compliments (the) intriguing lyrics to great effect. The chord change behind 'like sparrows on the wind' is excellent." Matchbox Recordings
"we'd be glad to have you back next year of course..." Dave Bunkfest
"Excellent tunes and will add them all to the afcollective artists playlist" - rick, afcollective radio
.. Visit AFcollective Artistic Network
First there was HOME & ABROAD 'The Tonka Toys of Pop' who released records all over but enjoyed their best relationship with Madrids ELEFANT RECORDS; the bands Smoky Town single being Elefants first ever release. HOME & ABROAD included Darrell Mitchell on guitar, vocals and songwriting and Barry Light on drums.
After a few enforced line up changes Jon Taylor joined the band and stayed with Darrell in various other projects while Darrell also played with other bands including PRESSGANG who covered his song Stain on Your Heart on their Fire album.
Sometime later there came a studio based project STUMBLE ON THE VALVES, who had their cover of the White Spiritual, Lonesome Valley, included on the Whispers from the Offing CD tribute to KEVIN COYNE.
Darrell started gigging again, solo at first, in August 2007 but soon began to gain the support of the slowly evolving Occassional Orchestra and now live shows are usually the full 6 piece band. After the virtually solo Live CD recorded at Rising Sun Arts Centre there's now a new studio CD "Japeeza" recorded with the band.
BUY THE JAPEEZA CD by mail order at www.japeeza.com
Darrell is a songwriter first and foremost and the problem is he just cant stop writing songs! If anyone is driven to perform or record any of them he'd be happy for you to if you could just let us know you're doing it? Thanks and hope to see you at a gig somewhere cos we cant stop doing those either.
Please support our Indie Pop "EP CLUB" presented by Series Two Records and Eggnog Records. It is a collaboration between an Indie Pop label in Nebraska and one in New Zealand. The indie pop EP CLUB's include artists from around the world.
Saturday October 31st Chalfont St Giles Memorial Hall what do you mean wheres that? In Buckinghamshire, sort of just above Slough but not quite as far as High Wycombe. Come and be Untidy with us and our chums including Occasionally David Clive Product, The Unfortunate Bongo 5, Darrell Mitchell & The Occasional Orchestra, and The Kings of the Wild Front Ear
It all kicks off at 7.45 and costs a mere £3 on the door.
Love Giant's Hands - like the way it grows. Looking forward to seeing you next Saturday - I'm without any band other than possibly some bongos - do you fancy busking along with guitar? Julian
Its been a while and we thought it was about time we updated you on what we've been up to. Our debut EP Little World is now available at our gigs and will soon be available from our myspace and facebook pages, you will also be able to download it from itunes, but we don't have a release date for this as yet.
To celebrate the fact that we have now reached 25,000 plays on myspace, we are giving you a free MP3 of Rockabye Baby. All you have to do is send your email address to queen.elvis@yahoo.ie and we will send it to you.
We have spent the last year rehearsing with a full band and are now ready to bring it on the road. You can get a look at us when we appear on Balcony TV this week with the full line up. We are currently taking bookings for gigs/concerts/festivals and can be contacted on the email above, or through our myspace and facebook pages.
Thankyou for your continued support in what has been a great year for us!
Goodmotning guys - It a bra bright morning here in Sunny Paisley and the birds are wearing thermal under wear - Lol !!
The kids are going to school in sleighs - it wont be long to xmas and I am just getting into the spirit - wishing you all a good day - love and peace Theresa x x
Fantastic perfomance at Lupus Fest last night Darrell - and wonderful to see you again after so long.
Thanks for your support and for your friendship mate, any time you want to come down to Weymouth / Portland we'd *love* to see you - and if you'd like us to organise some gigs for you while you're down here to help to pay for the petrol just let us know! If we don't see you before we look forward to having you back again next year for Lupus Fest 2010 - I see your diary's filling up already so if anyone asks you about the weekend 8/9/10 October just tell 'em a punk called Eddie's already spat on those dates! Loads of love, Stewart & Carol
Hi Guys I recieved your CD okay - it is brilliant and I love the differant sound of Pantomine Horse - I will email yous as I have something important to ask !!!! Love Theresa x
My god 'Boating lake' is such a beautiful, evocative tune.. Of course I have heard it before live, but sitting here, the last thing I listen to before I drift off, is quite special..
The summer schedule of Big Untidy CD releases has just been completed with the release of the new Kings of the Wild Front Ear album. A Picnic In The Country [BU*CD007] is available to download free of charge at www.biguntidy.com. Japeeza by Darrell Mitchell & The Occasional Orchestra [BU*CD006] was released in July and is available mail order through the bands website www.japeeza.com while the new Clive Product album [BU*CD005 - we had to let him have that cos it rhymes with Clive] can be obtained direct from Mr P through MySpace. Soon enough we'll have an Untidy shop at the website but till then we're back in the studio getting ready for a single (not off the album) by Darrell Mitchell & The Occasional Orchestra and Banana Moon the debut album from The Colin Stark Quintet. Isnt it time we had one of those Island / CBS type sampler albums?
