the strapping lone figure of me on stage is accompanied by my taylor electro-acoustic guitar and on occassion a harmonica, proving categorically that men can multi-task. I am also very often accompanied by a small amount of nerves but I balance this out majestically by owning a large pair of bollocks. and also.. if that isn't enticing enough for you, you can if you have a facebook page have a quick search on there and you never know, you may well come across a group imaginatively entitled 'oliver j brooke'.
Influences
the man who made it all possible...elvis presley.
plus, b. dylan, j. lennon, l. cohen, t. & j. buckley, j. cash, j. hendrix, n. gallagher, i. brown, r. ashcroft, p. doherty, p. weller, r. charles, b. knight, l. armstrong, e. fitzgerald, l. v. beethoven, w. shakespeare, w. owen, and o. wilde.
Sounds Like
i seem to get told i sound like someone new every time i play. at the mo i'm just trying to make each song i sing interesting, fun and believable.
right, i'm oliver j brooke, greetings. first off if you're interested you can hear me most often in the biltmore, swinegate, york. every other sunday 5.30pm - 7.00pm, singing some good ol favourites. i've also just secured some very special gigs at harvey nichols in leeds which i'm very excited to be a part of so will keep you posted on all the news with those. i've been writing my own words and music and generally putting them both together at the same time for about two years now. the songs you can hear on this profile right now are my more chilled out stuff. they were written as part of a process to work out some sort of structure in my songwriting, and to play around with lyrics and that and show off my voice cos' i'd say my voice is my strongest asset. i'm also working on some mint songs at the mo which i'm well excited about, that are in a completely different style to what i've done so far. i'm focusing more on rhythm than before and these new one's have a much more up-beat feel so listen out for them soon. up 'till now i've tried to steer away from the 'commercial pop' scene by making my lyrics a bit more personal and keeping my act stripped down and acoustic. it's still important to me to keep that element of authenticity in my songs and that but to be honest, i don't worry about that too much anymore. i'm enjoying singing and that's the whole point of it for me at the mo. it's prob worth pointing out that acoustic music aint all i can do. i'm not deliberately trying to be part of that 'solo male singer/songwriter' thing that's in vogue at the mo, it's just a lot easier to get on a train and go to london with one guitar than a whole band, so don't fence me in folks with your musical preconceptions. i've got my sights on being the next elvis and he never even wrote a song in his life!
i've got a degree in music from bristol university which is cool but to be honest can actually seem to overcomplicate the writing process for me a bit aswell. i suppose tho it shows that music is everything to me, not just a hobby and i'm certainly not just some unopinionated wannabe. for what it's worth i ain't just no picture and a voice either, there's a real, approachable person just an email away like, so if you're an a&r man, a gig booker, a good manager, the ceo of emi, an old or even a new friend, then by all means fire off an email in my direction and we'll talk.
thanks, be good!
p.s also a very special thank you must go to imp hut studios for the recordings and to jim poyner photography..............for the photography!
Thought I'd check in and say hey - hope all's well!
I've just redisigned the myspace, had a photoshoot, created a youtube channel, made a banner you can use on your own page as well as a whole load of other I Have Clones related stuff - if you're interested head on to my page to check it out!
My Dance Gavin Dance remix is also now up on the page, if you haven't already heard it, I'd love to know what you think!
Don't forget that all my music is available to download completely free from my page...
=)
Also, I've still got some merch left, if you like the music and the designs have a look before they're gone!
Lastly if you're in the UK and promote shows, know someone who does, or are in a band and want to play a show with me this Summer hit me up!
Hiya We are playing at the Junction in York next Sunday on March 8th and the Wardrobe in Leeds on the 19th March. These gigs will be the first outing for Katie and the Questions with our new Drummer, Guitarist and Bass Player so we hope you can come and check us out love K&Qs xxx
December Num Num Fun! Saturday 13th Dec The nights are drawing in, and the days are getting decidely chilly, but don't let it get you down! Come along to December's Num Num club and warm the cockles of you heart (and ears!) The line up is ace and looks a bit like this:
Andy Stones - "John Martyn meets Nick Drake: Folky, finger picking brilliance!"
Ryan Spendlove - "Ex-Blueskins frontman now playing solo acoustic blues goodness"
Martyn Fillingham - "98 PAGES singer and guitarist, singing and playing his guitar - mint!"
Delta Maid - "Acoustic blues sung by a modern female Mississippi John Hurt - ace!"
Andy Gaines - "York singer songwriter and purveyor of all things Cardboard and Runaway!"
Val Marshall - "Americana female singer songwriter a la Lucinda Williams / Alison Krauss"
Should be rather special night! Cheaper, advanced tickets are now on sale from the City Screen Box office.
Doors at 7:30pm
Hope to see you there!
PS. Coach tickets are now on sale for 'Num Num Club on tour' in January! visit: www. myspace. com/numnumtour for more info!
We are headlining an Oxjam Charity gig at the Junction in York on this Sunday (26th October) with support from Hannah & the Junk Funk, Euphoria Audio & The Review, £3 on the door (8pm start), We hope you can make it; we’d love to see you there.
We are also playing the York Speakeasy 6th Nov, the Packhouse in Leeds on the 7th Nov and back at the Junction (in York) on the 21st Nov,
We have nearly finished mixing our mini album ‘Kitchen Drums and Turn-up Tantrums’ which will be freely available from us at gigs Hope to see you soon
This Sat, 1st Nov @ The Little Num Num Club in York...
Andy Gaines, David Ward Maclean, Holly Taymar, Joe Solo, DaisyB, Andy Stones and Aimie J Ryan all playing together in a big acoustic night of fun! Only £5 in adv, or £6 otd. Come along, it should be ace! City Screen Basement, Coney St, York. 7:30-11:00pm Sat 1st Nov
THIS IS GREAT GIG COMING UP ON TUESDAY NEXT AT THE BASEMENT,NOW GIG OF THE WEEK IN THE YORKSHIRE EVENING PRESS. PRINT OFF THE FLYER BELOW TO TAKE TO THE VENUE AND YOU'LL GET IN FOR A FIVER!!!
Hiya We are playing at the Junction in York on Friday 21th November; it would be really nice to see you there but we understand if you can't make it
We’ve put some of the new live recording up on our Myspace and are re-mixing our mini album ‘Kitchen Drums and Turn-up Tantrums’ which will be freely available from us at gigs soon Take care
Hallo me dears - Some fab songwriter friends are coming up from London to play at the Basement Weds 13 8pm - entry by donation. I may also play a couple of numbers. But don't let that put you off - the rest of them are brill. Come on down...
Hi Oliver. Enjoyed the set at the Minster FM show on Saturday. Shame about the weather. I've put a small selection of images in 'my pics' (MINSTER FM 2008 Album) which you are welcome to use if you wish. Rob
Online Now!
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