I did have "Just me", but I now see that loads of solo performers have that, so... "Solo".
Influences
Charlie Parker, John Scofield, Boden & Spiers, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Steely Dan, XTC, The Beatles, Dusty Springfield ...
... Nic Jones, Kim Richey, Martin Carthy, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention ...
... everybody, nobody ...
... Richard Shindell, Maggie Holland, June Tabor, Martin Simpson ...
... and on, and on ...
... Kurt Vonnegut. So it goes.
Sounds Like
None of the above! Influenced by? Oh, yes, if only subliminally. I try not to copy anybody.
Here's the gratuitous list for getting me noticed in the search facility. I may have at some point or other covered a song by or been likened to all/many/some/none of the following:
Bob Dylan
John Lennon
The Beatles
Steve Earle
Chris Wood & Andy Cutting
Martin Carthy
Kelly Joe Phelps
Anna Massie
Spin Doctors
Good Charlotte
Chris Smither
John Martyn
Alison Krauss
Lucy Kaplansky
Kim Richey
James Taylor
Steve Tilston
Gillian Welch
Bob Fox
Kate Rusby
Nic Jones
Record Label
No aspiration in that direction. It's just a habit
Please sponsor me on behalf of Sightsavers International and The Prince's Trust here:
Thanks!
" 'Cos it's fun, that's why." Hamish loves the folk scene in all its variety – 'cos it's fun. The participation, the interaction, the spontaneity: the total "live" performance thing.
Having appeared as the guest artist at clubs from Cumbria to Sussex and featured at festivals from Yorkshire to Dorset, he is equally at home in a small, intimate acoustic setting with whites-of-the-eyes contact right up to bigger stages with audiences in hundreds and thousands. "Seeing them
floundering about in all those little coloured sugary balls is such a hoot" he says. (Okay, so he's never actually played to thousands. But that's not going to stand in the way of a fantastic joke about cake decorations.) Meanwhile, back at the profile... communication is what it's all about. Whether it's putting over the drama of a traditional ballad or setting up a rousing chorus, the audience is always an integral part of the performance.
He doesn't like to mention his self-deprecating sense of humour. "Because", he says, "it's not very good."
Originally from the east coast of Scotland, folk music was always part of the landscape. But it was on moving south half a lifetime ago and discovering English folk music that his performing really took off. His repertoire is now taken from the traditions on both sides of the border, laced with some original and contemporary material. And fun. And cake decorations.
I've had quite a few enquiries about my guitar. It's a Northworthy. My one's a Carsington Custom. Top's solid spruce, back and sides are solid myrtle from Tasmania. The neck, however, is an old sycamore fence post! Tell Alan I sent you...
From Across The Vast Reaches of our Uncharted Realms... we bid you Welcome & Well Met!!!...
Feel free to stop by any time!... We now have a Facebook page & group as well... In fact, there's a bunch of networking links on our page here....
If you want the News Of Import™....well, that we need a regular e-mail to send to... Try as we might, the formatting gets trashed when we try to post it here...
We are looking forward to seeing our friends next weekend (10th to 12th July) at Roger's Rant - a Dorset celebration of traditional & contemporary folk music, song and dance. There will be some of the best of local amateur singers and musicians as well as some from further afield. There is also the opportunity for aspiring singers and musicians to have a go in a friendly atmosphere at the Sports Club. The Village Hall will be used for the dance workshops on Saturday & Sunday afternoons, with a Ceilidh on Saturday evening.
The Kittiwakes - CD Launch - Clerkenwell 22nd June
Leigh-on-Sea 3-piece, The Kittiwakes, celebrate the release of their Midwich Records debut, ‘Lofoten Calling’, a collection of original folk songs written about the people, landscape, folklore and history of the Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle and influenced by the traditional music of Norway and the British Isles.
'The Kittiwakes craft timeless and magical acoustically dappled folk treats - gentle and alluring ostensibly Gaelic in sound texture and gorgeously flighty braided as they are by corteges of mandolins, accordions and violins.' [LOSING TODAY]
'The Kittiwakes (rissa tridactyla): delicious, intriguing and evocative music, beautifully played and sung by this talented trio. Recommended to twitchers and lovers of folk music alike' [LEIGH FOLK FESTIVAL]
Had a great session tother night at the Egypt Cottage, busy assesment time yikes! all that. Great to hear about the gigs thing, i'm rehersing a composition that will be performed on the 1st so looking forward to that and hoping to get other stuff down in the mean time! Catch up soon when i'm down south!
Hamish, We've still got you down for a floor spot at our place tonight when Kim Richey descends. Are you still planning on gracing us with your presents? (mine's a pint of Pride) Gerry
Yes, it was good to meet your spy Deidre, though I think she might need a pseudonym if she's to get a part in a bond film. She gave a couple of really good songs in the singaround too.
What a great club they've got there. Tons of talent in the club and really friendly bunch. Its restored my faith in gigging!
I hear you're busy too, hope things are going well for you and I hope we meet up again some time soon.
Thanks for your message Hamish. Yes it's going well - and I'm looking forward to the autumn tour. There's a couple of dates yet to fill - but I'm working on them. Fingers crossed for your potential project x
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