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GARY BINKS
Acoustic / Rock / Other

"THE ALBUM HAS LANDED"

Lancashire., Northwest
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  8192




Last Login:  7/7/2008
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   Contacting GARY BINKS

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/garybinksmusic  

   GARY BINKS: General Info
Member Since2/26/2007
Band Websiteemail - info@kerbstonerecords.com
Band MembersGARY BINKS – GUITAR and VOCALS..............................With the aid of some fine select session musicians.
InfluencesMany and varied. Richard Thompson was the principal artist that really got me started on what good songwriting is all about. The Clash and a host of other GOOD punk/new wave i listened to as a youngster, such as the often overlooked Gang of Four housing the phenomenal Andy Gill on electric guitar. 'Entertainment' was a soundtrack to my life for a long time and still continues to floor me even now...An AWESOME piece of work. Donovan Leitch, Simon and Garfunkel, Roy Harper, Elvis Costello (the Don) and all those other quintessentially quirky and brilliant British artists like Andy Partridge, Difford and Tilbrook, Joe Jackson.......Also Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Billy Bragg, Bert Jansch, Steve Tilston, Nick Drake (for his guitar style rather than his lyrics), Dylan, Van Morrison and any other songwriter that has intellect and substance. Last few years i've been listening to 'beats' of all kinds, stuff like Martyn Bennett, Shooglenifty, Radio Tarifa and all those great folky, beaty outfits. Also more regular or mainstream beats like Aim, Jazzanova and allsorts of Nu-Jazz...as well as Jazz 'full stop', Davis, Coltrane, Mingus, Henderson, Burrell and loads more.
Sounds LikeThat's not for me to say.
Record LabelKERBSTONE RECORDS
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 5 2008 8:00P
THE HORDENS BLACKBURN, Northwest
Jul 8 2008 8:00P
DRY BAR MANCHESTER (centre of the earth), Northwest
Jul 20 2008 1:00P
WORLD ON YOUR DOORSTEP FESTIVAL Nr Todmorden, Northwest
Oct 31 2008 7:30P
M19 BAR, LEVENSHULME. GREATER MANCHESTER

GARY BINKS's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

GIVING MUSIC AWAY  (view more)

Inside the Mind of a Songwriter  (view more)

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   About GARY BINKS
Born in Salford but raised in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the first significant musical influence that I had in my life as a youngster of 9 or 10 was that of my somewhat older brother playing his acoustic guitar and singing those beguiling songs of the singer-songwriter period of the 60’s and early 70’s. Even as a child there was definitely something of a halcyon feel to that period and it was this that was transmitted to me by this man, this ‘Keats with a guitar’.
The streets of Paris and other exotic Gallic destinations were part of his training ground as a travelling troubadour. When he would come back home on his brief visits, often with a mysteriously tongued French woman at his side, the new songs would be aired along with the tales of his European travels.
The earliest records I remember really connecting with were from my brother’s collection. Roy Harper’s Sophisticated Beggar, Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief and Simon and Garfunkel’s stupefying first records. The music that makes the initial impact upon a child’s heart is probably the music that will continue to stir them for the rest of their life.
In my young mind there was nothing for me to do but to emulate my older sibling to some extent. The only way I could do this as a by now 13-year-old kid, was get my mum to buy an acoustic guitar from the catalogue. Thus the journey began.
By the time I had started to learn how to play the guitar the Punk and New Wave era was firmly entrenched in my blossoming mind. For me this period continues to be the richest, most energetic and refreshing period that I have ever experienced in music. Yes some crazy things went on but many of the artists that came out of this era were quite brilliant songwriters, not least the man who for me is the greatest songwriter of the modern era, Elvis Costello. I must admit though, I never really appreciated Mr Costello’s abilities properly until quite a few years later.
A brief dalliance with Heavy Rock and then thankfully, I grew up.
The 1980’s and most of the 90’s were, in my opinion, not a very productive decade in the mainstream but it was during the 80’s and 90’s that I rediscovered Richard Thompson and newly discovered Nick Drake, so it wasn’t all that bad. Richard Thompson was the first artist to really get me fired-up on what great songwriting was all about. Stories, lyrical wordplay, song construction, stunning melody and great guitar playing were all part of the package that Thompson was and still continues to present. So the bar was set and I intended to reach at least as high.
In 1996 I met him and played the same stage as part of a Songwriting Workshop in Burnley, Lancashire organised by Folkworks. The workshop had taken shape over several weeks chaired by the inimitable Pete Coe, the culmination of which was an evening concert supported by Steve Tilston and of course, Mr Thompson. The song that I composed during the workshop and performed the said evening is entitled Emiline and features as the first track on the CD. The song was written within the Folk idiom of storytelling but with a different slant. It was my intention to create an upbeat and happy song and get people moving in their seats, which isn’t something one hears often in the lyrics of Folk music.
At a similar time I became singularly impressed with Nick Drake, who of course is all the rage now and eminently ‘cool’. He was still relatively unknown when I started emulating his guitar style. I was never too enamoured with Drake’s lyrics but his guitar playing was bewitching, his right hand technique being wonderfully complex. I spent hour after hour perched on the chair arm flicking the records back and forth to perfect the guitar lines. Drake’s influence can be heard on my debut album in the song Canteen Green where I use the same tuning that he used on his song Northern Sky.
So why did I take so long to produce a CD? It’s quite simple really. Money, time and family. Only recently has family not been as dependent and maybe I just needed someone to kick me up the rump and shift me in the direction of a studio.
The resultant work is hard to define even by my standards, moving through a variety of musical influences and styles. It is probably the type of record that will be appreciated most by ‘muso’s’ and those that know their music. Suffice to say that I certainly think if I can get it into the right hands that it will be recognised and applauded and certain hats will be doffed. I believe in this album and I feel that there are songs contained on this debut that fit into the category of very noteworthy work.

Comments from Local Press.
“His songs are stories, filled with vivid characters, barbed comments, strong thoughts and heart- on- the-sleeve emotions which many listeners will identify with”.
“A breath of fresh air in the all too polluted world of commercial pop”.
“Quirky, catchy and full of life”.
“Gary Binks is impossible to define. He is his own man”.
“Impossible to pigeon hole”.
“Distinctive work”.
Soon to be available from iTunes, Napster, Emusic etc, Mail Order and selected outlets.
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   GARY BINKS's Friend Space (Top 24)
GARY BINKS has 706 friends.
 Josh Binks 


 Donovan Binks 


 tom binks 


 Kerbstone Records 


 Lizzy Banoffee 


 Roy Harper 


 Elvis Costello 


 Bert Jansch 


 Audiofile 


 Nic Jones 


 Billy Bragg 


 Johnny Marr 


 Martin Simpson 


 Davy Graham 


 Kate Rusby 


 Nick Harper 


 Flute Girl 


 Damian 


 craig 


 mand 


 Shooglenifty 


 Jont 


 Charlotte O’Connor 


 EELS 





GARY BINKS's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 286 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Dylan Owen:





Jul 6 2008 7:04 AM

hello there old pal
hope you enjoyed the New Inns. I certainly thought your material and delivery were terrific. Must share a gig sometimes,
Dylan
Lizzy Banoffee





Jul 6 2008 4:21 AM

BINKSY!!!!! are you coming to Jims tonight? xx
Clayton MacDonald





Jul 2 2008 11:00 AM

hey check out my new tunes peace! www. claytonmacdonaldmusic. com
Tricoustic





Jul 2 2008 7:00 AM

Thanks for adding Tricoustic !
Katerina Kyrmizi





Jun 29 2008 10:55 PM

thanks for finding me
pleased to meet you...
greetings from Greece
Andrew Quinn





Jun 28 2008 2:12 AM

Thanks for checking me out and sharing your music with me Gary.

Listen to my show on Celtic Music Radio, and if you like what you hear, send me a CD to include in the show.

Andy
justmegan





Jun 27 2008 9:45 PM

Hope you have a FABULOUS weekend!
jm. like no other... find out for yourself:
visit www. justmegan. net but don't forget to leave some love!

luv. jm.
Matt Jones





Jun 27 2008 11:38 AM

Nice tunes Gary, thanks for the add man,
Matt
klaus eichberger


Is Online


Jun 27 2008 7:48 AM

thanks for the add. do like your music.

klaus
Maryann Frew





Jun 26 2008 4:23 PM

Hello nice to meet you. I had a listen and I love it.
Keep in touch
Maryann x
acousticfest





Jun 22 2008 1:10 PM

xxxxxxxxx
STAMPERFREON





Jun 21 2008 6:06 AM

Thanks for the request, you are most welcome!
Cheers
P.
:>D
Out On The Air





Jun 20 2008 7:34 AM

I like your sound n' style Gary

Cheers
justmegan





Jun 18 2008 10:53 AM

Gary...
thanks for the friendship!!
have a rockin' wednesday!!
stay in touch, and best wishes!
*big hug* luv. jm. xoxo



Ånkhvenaris





Jun 17 2008 4:48 PM

Hello Gary
Thanks my friend !
great space and wonderful music !
All the best from France to you
Take care
x
Ånkhvenaris
Legacy





Jun 16 2008 3:54 PM

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
cranium pie





Jun 14 2008 4:29 AM

Photobucket
welcome to the bakery..!!!
Mat Wilkinson





Jun 13 2008 11:26 PM

Hey, so another Richard Thompson aficionado?? Mucho respect :)
Mik Gobel





Jun 13 2008 9:54 PM

I noticed your mood post when I signed in. Yes. It is deep, deeper than a puddle, more like an ocean. We are all simply specs of dust. We are all like bristles on a brush, in a warehouse full of brushes. You choose to do a massive invite. But did you care to look at the microcosmic world of those you sent invites to? I doubt it. I believe your intent is pure. But I doubt you have fathomed the vastness of the planet earth. Be humble. Do what you do and realize that the process is the essence. Go play the 'live circuit'. It is the route to reality. My space is simply a link, not a salvation.
tom binks





Jun 13 2008 8:16 AM

I have entered into a pact with the great benevolence to ride the astral plane into your emerald green dimension, my mission being to save all tiny creatures and then to spread clouds of star-shaped fairy happiness dust all around. Earthly coordinates are Sat June 21st Manchester Airport terminal 1 at 15.45hrs according to your time space comprehension. I hope to merge with your luminosity soon after this, and then to transmit waves of healing light all over the indigenous population.
tom binks





Jun 12 2008 6:24 AM

a.s.a.p.
tom binks





Jun 12 2008 6:12 AM

ring me!
Bo Adams





Jun 10 2008 2:06 PM

Gary,
I really enjoyed listening to your stuff. It's very thoughtful and you're a quality wordsmith. Keep it on, man.
Peace&Light,
BA
Ruvane Kurland





Jun 10 2008 9:49 AM

Real Wood Records





Jun 9 2008 3:41 PM

Si Hayden





Jun 9 2008 3:29 AM

Thanks for the rqst, a pleasure to be linked with you.
Steve Kelly





Jun 7 2008 9:45 PM

Thank you so much for the friendship Gary - hope that things are going well for you.

Love

Steve
caris arkin





Jun 7 2008 11:23 AM

Thanks for being drawn to "connect" on these pages... The energy of your music certainly makes me want to get back over to England as soon as possible. Maybe we can hook something up over there as well. Take care!...ciao4now... "caris"
Mik Gobel





Jun 7 2008 7:51 AM

Had a listen w/ my morning coffee. Tasty licks a la RT. Perhaps I should give networking a crack. Good luck from Pacific NW.
Michael D. Lewis





Jun 6 2008 8:49 PM

Gary, thanks for the add request. Your music is outstanding, I enjoyed listening to it!

Michael D.
Lewis
DC Cardwell





Jun 6 2008 3:05 PM

Great stuff, Gary. Love the Richard Thompsonesque first song, especially. Lots of meat to chew over in the lyrics, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. You have lots of similar influences to me - Thompson, Young, Harper, punk...

- DC
Richard Thorne





Jun 6 2008 9:35 AM

Hey Gary.,

Thanks for the add and for checking out my songs I just listened to yours . Very nice.
Best from the States

Richard
Callaghan