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 | Arkadaşlar (En İyi 39)
Not the Only Clown in the Village, 1287 kişiyle arkadaş.
hey mr clown tonight old quater otherwise monday tricky with cindy and on wednesday early show for me in the green light at 7pm!! and than depends when jeremia is showing up might be an all nighter or continuing after 11
Have fun @ Platformtheater tomorrow! I can't make it (living more than 200 kms from Groningen and have to work), but I told my bandmates from the North (Iris, Claire and Nellie). Maybe they'll go!
Touren momenteel helaas niet... Maar bedankt voor aanbod! Oja, je moet die Goose uit je reacties halen, die heeft een player in zijn reactie staan die automatisch afspeelt als iemand je site bezoekt...
hey Robin Third Thursday Thing was a moderate succes - well - really good actually Mick, myself and rosie did some good early sets and tourist friendly stuff then Theo did our guest slot and a nice few people turned up inc Frog- up from spain for the IDFA film fezzie- the guy and I were on the scene for years - first time in 15 years we met BRILLIANT- did all the old road songs. Rosie landed herself a nice little earner at a big club playing harp...humpf jealous...the chick on the harp thing got them but great though Precisely what the night is for ;)...which goes to show that the right people heard about it as a showcase have fun in Wales talked to Peter in Groningen and he will leave the bag in the pub K
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.
Online!