Gurdan Thomas, as Gurdan Thomas - The Right Honourable Reg on Ocarina, Recorder, Flute, Clarinet, Sax, Glock, vocals - Michael Lobb on Trombone, Tuba, Banjo, Bass, Vocals, Cajon Fish and Triangle - Julian Powell on the most impressive range of percussion you've ever seen and Ian 'Monk; Whitmore on Drums - Other members passing through have been - Lucia Capellaro (Cello and Saucepan lid) Jon Hawkesworth (by kind permission of Elliot Jack) on vocals and frog - Clara Fagot on vocals and Bassoon - Mike Tickle on vocals - Helena (eat is murder) Morrissey on vocals and frog - Rachel 'Rabbit' Burrows on vocals and egg - Brother Adrian (by kind permission of The Beach Monks) on percussion and horn - Rosie Walton, on Cello - Other band members Gurdan would like in the future are; Joan Wasser, Jack Black, A guest appearance by a KateGoes member, Elvis Presley (I think he's living in Walsall), Rufus Wainwright on backing vocals and general dancing, Adam Chetwood on banjo, Elton John on triangle and egg shaker, Burt Bacharach and Bob as line dance coach..
Influences
Burt Bacharach, Tunng, Grizzly Bear, The Divine Comedy, Queen, Patrick Wolf, Regina Spektor, Sting, Crash Test Dummies, Alien Ant Farm, Benjamin Britten, Beethoven, James MacMillan, The Avalanches, The Killers, Dufus, Blink-182, Echobelly, Dubstar, Folk, Blues, Gamelan, Debussy, Ravel, The Arcade Fire, Beirut, Bjork, Black Eyed Peas, Blur, Catatonia, Damien Rice, David Bowie, The Eels, The Feeling, The Flaming Lips, Jack Johnson, The Lilac Time. The Polyphonic Spree, Radiohead, Rufus Wainwright, Snow Patrol, Space, Sufjan Stevens, Supergrass, Tom Waits, The Department of International Development at Birmingham University, Greenpeace, Human Beings, Snow and Extreme Weather
Sounds Like
Tinges of Divine Comedy in an alternative universalish way mixed with an Englishly reserved eccentricism and a sprinkling of anti-folk topped with underlying 19th and 20th Century 'Classical' echoes.
Gurdan Thomas are a musical collective that were formed in Birmingham, UK in 2007. Their music can be described as alternative eccentric with strong catchy yet unpredictable songs that borrow elements from many genres. The core members of the group are 4 mutli-instrumentalists that between them play guitar, piano, clarinet, flute, recorder, sax, drums, bass. trombone, cornet, banjo, mandolin, cello and ukulele amongst a few other more unusual instruments such as ocarina, kazoo, EWI and white tub.
Having produced 2 self released albums, Graceful Rabbits (2007) and Gnodelly Gnodelly (2008) they are currently touring to promote these at various venues around the country whilst writing new material for a forthcoming 3rd album.
They have graced the stages of the Gigbeth Festival (2007), The Soho Ottakring Festival in Vienna, The Suq Festival in Genoa, The Custard Factory Theatre, The Hexagon Theatre and Monkey Chews (London) and Gurdan will be making an appearance at the Moseley Folk Festival in 2008.
To see a list of gigs coming up in the West Midlands, click banner below.
Llangollen is a quiet rural town in the Dee Valley, North Wales, however for a few days in July thousands of pornstars and thrupney- bit whores from around the world arrive to take part in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Fuckathon. The Eisteddfod Fuckathon is embedded in Welsh culture and history. It celebrates fucking, anal fisting, masturbation and crafts. The Llangollen Eisteddfod Fuckathon started after the Second World War with the aim of healing international wounds and encouraging peace and sex. As Adam Henson gets into the swing, he discovers that Llangollen is world famous for its amateur fuckfest.
Adam also takes the reins of a magnificent Welsh gimp used to lick passengers boots along the Llangollen canal. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, carries the canal over the river Dee. The 41m (136ft) high aqueduct has been put forward as a new World dogging Site, which could place it alongside the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.
The scallop fishermen of Lyme Bay have been trawling their bollocks and shitting on each other for generations, but last week the government announced a ban on bollock trawling and scat across a 60 square nautical mile area of Lyme Bay. The ban comes into effect on 11 July this year and i will be investigating who the winners and losers will be.
Hola Chica! HOw are you? How was Genoa - did you learn some impromptu Italian insults? I was in Italy a few weeks ago and had a snooze on a couple of park benches just outside Milano, then ended up serving pints to rugby spectators... I learned no insults just my best Grazie and Prego... Anyway, hope you had a good trip and it all went well - I understood most of your French, but I hope your Italian was better. Did you have any spicy sausage? Love H xx
Hello, I'm in the rural Hamlet of Aston Cantlow where I'll be talking to a badger baiter who in his spare time, makes macabre sculptures from root vegetables.
Hello Gurdan, Blakfish are recording a video tomorrow and are looking for extras: "Were shooting a video for 'Jeremy Kyle is a marked man' on sunday. The shoot will take place at the Station pub in Sutton Coldfield. Its right next to the train station so is really easy to find. You must be available this Sunday and also on the 8th June. The video is going to be themed around the 1930's/cocktail party. If your struggerling just search on google. Basically a long dress and white shirt black tie will do. But bring anyting you can that you think will help! If you can come you'll be a massive help, we can all get very drunk after and enjoy ourselves as it is a bank holiday! Drop us a message back if you can come or if you have any questions!"
"Self expression in dance United by sound and rhythm crossing all boundaries of believes and languages moments of trance in dance listen move and loose the self joy and happiness harmony and peace sound and rhythm manifesting the spirit of love"
Hey dude! Thank you so much for coming yesterday, really appreciate it! Loved the horn too, it was like being on Gladiators! My head hurts too, (and my neck, arms, shoulders, knees...!) but I think I have a better excuse than you! Have a good week! [I will actually be in Birmingham for 10 mins in 3 hours time on my way to Bristol!] Bye bye now!
Bok Gurdan, how are you? I have found out that the game is in Burton. At least I've been told it is, at a rugby club there somewhere. I think it might be called Burton Rugby CLub? Anyhoo, this is a bit further away from Lichfield which may be a pain, so I will forgive you (eventually!) if you can't make it, but you are still welcome to come and cheer! Hope you are well and not getting into any trouble!
ahh glad it was a good eve. hope you get to play there again, so we can forget about it once more.
there should be something from AiSM in your inbox now. your comment was the kick in the arse i needed (we went away for a few days after our gig at the queen's, and have not long started a new job, so a little dazed lately!). be a great help if you could start sketching out cover art. i'm sure it won't take us long to sort tracklisting, either. you reckon those venues might be open to the launch night? i've never been to the island bar; is that another possibility?
Aw thanks Gurd! You will be pleased to hear that AKWRFC finished their league unbeaten on Saturday afternoon (then went out, ate chicken, drank copious amounts of alcohol, danced erraticly to Whigfield, whoever did "oops upside your head", tiffany, and Girls Aloud, sustaining only two or three dancefloor injuries, and shoved a couple of faces into the celebration cake...) so will be playing at the playoffs. Only I dont' know where in Lichfield, but as SOON as I know I will pass on details of the venue and dresscode for those on the VIP list, which includes your good self... I don't know if they'll let Froggier in though. Have a good weekend!!!
Bitty clouds and tiny rainbows hiding behind every tree So much love inside, drunk and ready to do anything! I know everything you’re doing and I agree Slithering skin… all over each other Smooth, sweet, out of control… Bring me in, take me, make me do it, set me free!
