Tour Diary: Most Recent Entry
Its been an exciting few weeks. I signed my record deal with SonyBMG at
Brixton Academy last Thursday, where I played with Alanis Morissette, I'm
supporting her on her UK / Europe tour at the moment.
The Alanis tour took us to the beautiful Alte Opera in Frankfurt to start
with. We played at the Zenith in Paris 2 weeks ago too, it was the biggest
crowd I have ever played too, about eight thousand people they said. It was
terrifying up there on my tot but the crowd were just brilliant, there's
something about Parisians, I think I love them!
We then went and played the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. With all this
Euro football fever at the moment and Holland playing France on the same
night of the gig I was expecting to see a little bit of orange in the crowd
in Amsterdam, but there were these little orange lions and football shirts
flying onto the stage. .. I tried to get with the football fever so I put on
a Dutch football shirt that had been thrown onstage. Didn't fit.. but thank
you to whoever's shirt it was. It stayed for the set. I went out for a beer
after the show and was blinded by the thousands of orange dressed Dutch
partying their britches off on the streets of Amsterdam.. after their big
win.
Last week, back in the UK , I went and played at the Isle of Wight Festival.
It was a nice sunny day on the island. Being the Isle of
Wight I slipped in a wee Hendrix riff in a song or two which was fun.
As soon as I came off stage I went on the backwards bungie ride with my mate
Tyrone. He said he'll put a wee video of the experience on YouTube, excuse
my language. Frightening ride.
So up I rolled on the rail line to Birmingham to play a gig there with
Alanis last Wednesday. An intimate crowd of die hard Alanis fans, they
really are looking after me. Ill be back to Birmingham soon.
Click image to buy my new EP
'WE HAVE COME SO FAR' on www.dobedo.co.uk
Despite his years, it’s been a long journey for 25-year old Liam Gerner. Having written songs and performed in his native South Australia since the age of 12, his relentless touring schedule has provided him with countless stories to explore in his songs. The result is a debut album packed full of narrative pearls to penetrate the heart of the human condition.
"These are the songs I wrote while in the Australian desert playing in bars to miners. There are tales of a dustman I saw in London, a refugee boat in Indonesia, an Aussie character called Benny Seal and a certain Spanish lady!
Recorded at Air Studios with top producer Andy Strange (Elton John, INXS) and influenced by old blues and folk, Liam continues, "I've tried to capture all of the stories, places and music I've had in my life so far on this record".
Whilst playing in Australia, Liam was invited him to play at WOMAD, first in Australia, then in the UK. These shows led to successful headline performances at the Islington Academy and The Borderline in London. The touring continued extensively over the next six months playing support slots with Teddy Thompson, Newton Faulkner and Amy Macdonald. A dedicated fan base soon started to grow organically culminating in a sold out solo residency at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a slot on the iTunes Festival in London replacing Dizzee Rascal to a rapturous response!
The relentless gigging continued at the Isle Of Wight Festival and subsequently supporting Paul Weller and Duffy at the Royal Albert Hall as part of April's Teenage Cancer Trust week.
Weller watched Liam's set from the side of the stage and having seen his instant connection with the enthusiastic audience, invited him onto his 18 date UK tour which started in Oxford and ended with 3 nights at the Hammersmith Apollo.
After touring with Weller, Liam continued his non-stop road trip, this time invited to support Alanis Morrisette around UK & Europe on her "Flavours Of Entanglement" tour playing to thousands in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Turin, Barcelona, Vienna, Prague, Madrid and others.
Having constantly been on the road since November 2007, it was only appropriate that Liam signed his record deal with Sony BMG in his dressing room at the Brixton Academy on 19th June 2008.
Liam will release his debut album through the Arista label in 2009.
www.liamgerner.com
God Fearing Atheists stormed through their usual strong set of fine
americana but best of all was Liam Gerner, an Australian. Armed with a
guitar and looking a little bit like a bedraggled Art Garfunkel he took
command of the stage. Accompanied on a couple of songs by Corby Schaub from
the Bingham band on mandolin, he came across with the vim and vigour of a
younger Loudon Wainwright although his delivery was at time reminiscent of
Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers. On this showing he is someone to
watch out for.
-Paul Kerr, AmericanaUK
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