Members are Robin Benson, Craig High, Catagramma Zelphante and Raggin Charlie. Belly Poet and Space Dancer Guinevere sometimes provides snake-like gyrations onstage with The Clowns as does hoop spinning "Twista". Jumping Jill sometimes guests on Bass Clarinet, Clarinet and percussion and Ervine The Bard often recites Space Poetry. Nik Turner from Hawkwind, Inner City Unit, The Fantastic Allstars and Tootin Ska Moon often guests on Sax and appears on the live tracks above. Jason from Johnny Action Finger guests on guitar and vocals on the studio tracks as well as having engineered and co-produced them. Robin is the founder of Circus Malarkey and Tidy Like Records {who have dozens of bands from West Wales on their books} as well as being a well established circus performer and experienced musician in his own right. Craig is also involved in Tidy Like and has been in dozens of bands since he started singing and playing woodwind and percussion in South London back in the early eighties. Raggin Charlie, apart from drumming in The Clowns, also plays bass and sings in other line-ups, two of which include Raggin Richard and Messaround Sound. He's an all-rounder when it comes to musical genius. Guinevere is an all-round festival entertainer and bona fide Belly Dancing instructor. Twista is a hoola hoop contortionist who is also a film maker in her own right.
As with any 21st century renaissance co-operative project this band's members are also involved in film making, promoting and setting up gigs, raves and festivals, providing music and circus workshops and creating graphic art and literature.
The Clowns have played many gigs in 2009. Other bands on the same line-up have included Sicknote, Johhny Action Finger, The Powersteppers Jah Free at three different gigs at The Queen's Hall in Narberth, Sendelica & The Nik Turner Band at a Pagan Summer Camp in West Wales and The Beatzers, The Mamaku Project, De Gringos, The Suicide Birds and The Ken Parson's Band at The ADM Traveller's Festival in Amsterdam.
The Clowns have also been playing street gigs in Amsterdam, Bruges and Swansea with 30 watt battery powered amplifyers taking it to the public with issue based songs and their own brand of electric eclectic mayhem.
Tidy Like Records can be reached on www.tidylikerecords.com. Craig's musical and literary journey is well documented on www.highpanch.org.uk.
The two animated videos on this page were made by Dave Eyre http://www.myspace.com/vjflickeringlight
The first is all about the alledged credit crunch. The second is a dedication to Robin's brother Ben who passed away last year after an inspiring battle with the big C. Below the animated films are some clips from a Clowns street gig in Swansea taken by Craig "Columbo" Davies in June 09.
Not the Only Clown in the Village's Friend Space (Top 39)
Not the Only Clown in the Village has 1256 friends.
Clowns ahoy. Looks like I'm starting a band with Doobs and looks like the comment part of myspace is still ok even if there are probs uploading photos at the moment. Peace love and bananas, Cxx
Thanks for taking the time to check out the new tracks, it really means a lot to me, as I think your work is unique, meaningful and has real artistic integrity.
My favorite of all your songs I've heard is still Smiling Yer Cancer, when I first listened, I hadn't read about it being a dedication to your brother, but knew it was a song that had an awful lot of passion in it (feel free to post it or any of your videos on my page anytime).
I like your new tracks, not sure if I like Swine Flu the best, maybe God Bless America, but they're all good tracks.
I have a couple new tracks up that have a bit of a new sound for me - been told it's Abbey Road era Beatles/Badfinger meets Tribal/World percussion...if so, I did manage to get the sound/vibe I was trying for.
Anyway, as you liked 13 Mirrors, I would love your honest and unbiased feedback.
How are you?? Robin, how's Amsterdam? Sorry I couldn't make it in Amsterdam! I am very busy moving currently. Anyway i heared you guys play in Groningen at the end of november! i will defenitly be there! Probly with my bandmate Iris! :D Looking forward to it!!!:D:D
Book coming along nicely. Film making coming along. Just tested new equipment by constructing a pop vid for Genocide Rush using Clown footage from this year's events. Will post you full resolution dvd copy as soon as I tidy it up. Am now editing Sendelica vid as well as filming for them. Am filming full length Sci Fi movie with Nik Turner's posse. Am in a band with weekly gigs on Pembrokeshire pub circuit. It's a Blue Grass outfit called Dai and The Devils with washboard, two guitars and me on Djembis. Am still trying to get clown orchestra together and I'm collaborating over the net with ex-fellow band members from years gone by after we all met up at a wedding in London last weekend. Will be getting clown cd off Jay this weekend and hope to establish where he wants Tidy Like Wales to go. Still can't afford Halloween. Too many domestic priorities where cash is concerned. Any idea when you'll be back in Wales? If you give me plenty of warning I'll book some clown dates. Cxx
25 th Acoustic talent Night at TWSTD Tuesday 27th Oct Weteringschans 157 21 30
With
Gentry Bronson (USA) The punk pianist with a lot of panache
INFO in Dutch_: Een jaar geleden bracht Gentry Bronson zijn Engelstalige versie van de Boudewijn de Groot klassieker Avond uit. Naar aanleiding daarvan bezocht De Groot een optreden van de Amerikaan, complimenteerde Bronson met diens vertolking en nodigde hem uit voor verdere samenwerking. Per email stuurde De Groot enkele vertaalde nummers aan Bronson. Tijdens de komende tournee zal hij zijn bewerkingen hiervan voor het eerst presenteren aan het Nederlandse publiek.
Gentry Bronson is zelf ook een begenadigd songschrijver. Hij werd al eens omschreven als 'Tori Amos met ballen' en vergeleken met Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Michael Stipe en Nick Cave. Op zijn nieuwe EP staan vier nieuwe eigen nummers. Voor deze tracks werkte Bronson samen met diverse muzikanten en engineers uit San Francisco en Los Angeles, waaronder Ken Lee, die onder andere verantwoordelijk was voor de remastering van Nirvana's Nevermind.
De laatste paar jaar heeft Bronson zich echter steeds meer ontwikkeld tot een unieke vakman, componist en een opwindende showman. Met zijn vele live optredens heeft hij enorm aan publiek gewonnen, onder meer onder liefhebbers van rock, pop, americana, folk, jazz, blues en ambient. Tijdens zijn optredens waarbij hij zichzelf op piano begeleidt weet hij bij mensen zowel een gevoelige snaar te raken als hen te vermaken met duivels en bevreemdend bluescabaret dat van zweet is doordrenkt.
Kristina Hanses (Sweden) Playing alternative pop with her band
DJ Rachel (Hungary)
Special Guest - Lori J Ward (Canada) Renowned DJ and producer will tonight be singing a few tunes as well
Online Now!
HAVE A SPOOKILY GREAT WEEKEND
