News

November 09 News

OK; I give in…….
Enough people to make me feel guilty have asked me why my website hasn’t been updated for a while. I ask them in return; why do plumbers have leaky taps and carpenters creaky doors? Some of these nice people have even been using the site to see where the next gig is..and to buy my C D.
So, a quick catch-up…………………….
I have been playing pretty regularly (for me…) at The Odd Fellows Arms, Monday night session in Middleton. Seriously, if you paid to go in, you’d ask them to raise the ticket prices. There is a kernel of regulars; all fine players, singers or composers in their own right and they do a mixture of traditional Irish tunes interspersed with songs. There is only one Bodhran player who is good at it, so that post has been filled.
I remember when I played sessions in Ireland, word would get around and musicians would turn up in increasing numbers. Not to be left out, those who didn’t play an instrument that you could get a recognisable tune out of, opted for the Bodhran. Soon, the session would be full of Bodhran players and you couldn’t hear your ears for the massed drums. The session would move to somewhere else and the location kept secret for as long as possible. No offence to Bodhran players, but one is usually enough for a session.

Gig Diary: incomplete as usual….
The best gigs we’ve played lately have been in Deia (in Majorca)… magical evening in an enchanting place with a capacity audience and more acts than could be fitted in.
Another of note was in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Stu Pickering and I kicked off and we were lucky enough to have John Howarth of the Oldham Tinkers, Big Martin Hall, and Pete Mc Millan as our guests. A word of warning to those who might be doing a gig there in the Steam Hall; the acoustics are really difficult and even our very experienced mixer for the evening (BBC soundman Alan Sutcliffe), found it hard to get the message through. We eventually managed to gather a hundred or so of the audience up to the front and the evening ended happily for all concerned. A huge thanks to the organisers who could not have been kinder or more welcoming.
Next on the list of notable events was our gig in Gregson Lane Folk Club. I think its one of the best clubs I’ve ever visited. The people are down to earth and most of them sickeningly talented. They have a very democratic booking process; although with the talent they have on hand, I’m surprised they book anyone. Just put the club name in Google for dates and directions. Highly recommended and a great place to bring your music to.
Next on the list of interesting gigs is the one I did in that London on November 22nd. It was special in many ways; mostly because I got to accompany and sing with my daughter Anna Friel in the Bloomsbury Theatre, just opposite Euston. She was brill (of course). It was a charity event and all power to the fab actor Jonathan Price for his organisation and unstinting energy.
Stu Pickering and I are on at Jackson’s Pit in Oldham on Thurs Dec 3rd; another club well worth a visit and yet again full of talented singer song-writers.  Neil who runs the gig can be found/ heard at; http://orangeunsignedact.co.uk/acts/tea-for-one
Do try to fit a visit in; its only on once a month so you get four weeks for the price of one. No charge on the door, but they do ask for contributions so that guests get at least the price of their petrol!

 Other news:

I have 10 new songs and/or tunes ready for the next CD and have promised faithfully do actually do some promotion of this one. I have been threatening to play 5 string banjo at gigs if people don’t buy it. Then again, G banjo is the new black; look at Steve Martin the film funny guy, he has been a closet 5 string player for 30 years and has at last come out and owned up. He has even played with Bella Fleck (look him up…) and he and I share the experience of having jammed with Billy Connolly. Maart Allcock knows more derogatory jokes about 5 string banjo players than anyone else I know; but be warned, we are coming…( and will doubtless provide even more fodder for the humorous amongst you). And another thing; 5 string banjo is really difficult to play well… its even difficult to play badly.
I’ll update again soon or my 5 fans will lynch me.
Love to all and keep it live.

 

Rochdale Health and Safety rule bans bands.

June 20th saw Cigna, Marshall and I turn up at ridiculous o’clock (for musicians anyway), at the Exchange Centre in Rochdale.

Nigel Pickering had organized a whole rake of musicians to turn up and play in support of our local hospice. The day was to run from 12.00 through to the evening. The first band went on and bemused shoppers got a free gig. Then yours truly… followed by Cigna with Marshall on backing guitar. They played a storm.

It was pleasant watching the faces of passers-by who are quite unused to free stuff happening in Rochdale’s Exchange Shopping Centre. Many of them stopped and listened all the way through and contributed mightily to the hospice fund.

As we were playing a festival later that afternoon, we couldn’t hang around. Just as well; in the name of Saint Health and Safety, the gig was brought to an early close. The wee men and women with the important walkie-talkies and uniforms couldn’t hear each other (in the event, I imagine, of an earthquake, terrorist attack, or plague of locusts). In a centre that size, they could see each other, but this didn’t seem to count. You know the rest; every band had to cancelled and Nigel, to his eternal credit, was landed with that job. All power to the elbows of those Centre staff who made a huge effort that day; I’m just sorry it didn’t pan out the way it should have. And by the way; THANKS FOR HAVING US!

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE

The same afternoon saw us in the beautiful Yorkshire village of Luddenden, to play the Fete de la Musique. Its quite a festival and much bigger than we’d anticipated. Stu Pickering was there and we did the gig as a duo, with Cigna doing a guest spot in the middle, ably supported by Paul Marshall. I played along in the name of the collective. The rain tried hard to get in on the act (probably believing it was Glastonbury), and managed to force the organizers to abandon the main outdoor stage.

Undaunted, they worked minor miracles and shifted players from pub to Dome and Local Church and made the whole thing work. They are great people and I look forward to further musical collaboration with them in the future. If there is another event in Luddenden, do try to get there; you will not be disappointed. By the way, I did a couple of songs with Samantha Jane ….. playing fiddle. She just jammed along and is a fab wee player. Her regular band is “State of Undress” and I have their CD which is great craic. Try to see them if you can.

Radio Lancs

We have at last managed to co-ordinate Stu Pickering, Maart Allcock and myself for Phil Brown’s “ The Drift”…… show on Sept 11th (this year, honest). We’re doing it live and it should be great craic.

Radio Lancs

Phil Brown has played a few songs on his show “The Drift” (BBC Radio Lancs, Thursdays 9.00 PM), and said some really nice things about me and the songs. If you get an hour or two, listen in, or if you miss it, you can get the latest on the BBC website. Just go to BBC Radio Lancs and click on “listen again”.

Maart Allcock, Stu Pickering and I are trying to co-ordinate a date to play the show. I’ll you informed through this and any other medium I can.

Big thanks to Phil and please keep up the fab show.

Have also been getting some airtime on some of the local Yorkshire stations; thanks to them also and to the Topic in Bradford, the oldest folk club in the UK, for the gig a few weeks ago.

Fairport Convention

The guys at Fairport have done me the honour of including my CD “Circumstances” in their website shop. It is a kind and lovely gesture and gives me faith. I still have memories of early Fairport gigs (and more recent ones), where I don’t think I blinked once during the usual awe inspiring musicianship and downright entertainment. And they didn’t ask me to say that. Honest.

The club trek goes on!!

Between Marshall, Cigna and myself, I think we could now write quite an authoritative guide to the plethora of folk/singer/acoustic/open-mike clubs in this region; along the lines of “Lonely Planet”. You know the sort of thing; should you take a packed lunch? Is the beer drinkable? Is there ANY beer? (We turned up at one place where it appeared the landlord had done a runner and the taps were running dry). Does this club book people? Is the average audience more than six? Is it a session? Is it run by someone who knows you’ve travelled 40 miles and tells you they can fit you in for 2 songs; and then proceeds to introduce his first song for 15 minutes? Does the image portrayed on the website bear even a vague relationship to reality? If you get a booking, will it happen before you die of old age? Will it cost you more in beer and petrol than you get paid? Is it brilliant and well organized like some of the clubs we invaded? Are there loads of really good musicians and singers like the last two we went to? Do you need to inform the police and nearest relative of your destination and possible time of return; just in case?

I don’t know; the things we do for love.

There is one thing all these musical meeting places have in common and that is usually a love of the craic. And as always, there is a welcome and a chance to make new acquaintances and hear some rare tunes.
We will continue our quest ……………………

Australia

With the Friel clan widely distributed throughout the known (and probably unknown) world, there is no shortage of willing hands to help promote the CD “Circumstances”.

One of my musical brothers passed the songs on to a friend of his and she has been playing them on her radio show. This inspired a couple of others to take up the good fight and they too have been giving the songs an airing. Apparently phone-in responses (positive), have been quite high. So to everyone in New South Wales and Queensland, g’day and thanks a million.

Majorca

Spent a week in May in beautiful Deia on the western coast of Majorca. It is a healing and peaceful place. Started two new songs there. Often you get the raised eyebrows and knowing , quizzical look when you mention Majorca. Its like the North of England; up the M6, turn left and you have the brash, tacky and fun-filled Blackpool. Drive another hour and you’re up to your neck in the wondrous Lake District.

Played a few songs and distributed the CD to writers, artists, musicians, poets and generally assorted nice people. The feedback was kind, encouraging and sometimes inspiring.

The four days of unaccustomed rain kept the head down and either into a book or a new composition.

Northern Ireland

Have been hearing from some of the old former band members and friends in “The North”. All of them are still bashing away (musically) and doing some pretty impressive performing. Many thanks for the kind messages and to Fin, Pete et al for getting the CD.

Most importantly to my wee brother for getting the message out. He’s quite a player himself. I am threatening to come over and sincerely hope it does not coincide with a last minute rush to book foreign holidays.

Gigs

Have started getting bookings for next year and will do a “Dates” section as soon as there is a respectable list to put up there. The strangest to date is next September in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Just so long as they don’t take me for an exhibit.

If you run a club and would like me, my friends, my band members and/or others, to turn up and do a spot and you’re not located half way to Mars, and there’s the possibility of some work if you/the audience/ the landlord-lady/ like me/us…..(delete where applicable),
…..then please drop me a line on the website contacts page.
Many thanks and I’ll update again soon.

Circumstances

The CD (Circumstances), is ready at last. It only took 35 years to get round to it, (which is pretty good for me). It contains a spread of songs written over the years and they tell their own stories. To buy a copy, please go to reaction records.

I’ve had this idea for the next CD……………since I write short stories as well, I thought of alternating songs with some of these literary efforts. As my short stories take the same time to read as listening to a pop song, it might make a change; and I could then be accused of originality and helping to keep up the oral tradition.

California.

Just returned recently from Los Angeles where a great time was had by all. Met some good people ( and some fine musicians) who were very generous about the songs and said “awesome” a lot. Who am I to disagree?

Roots music is alive and well in Rochdale. Turned up at a gig that Kirk Mc Ilhinney invited me to play….. to discover that I was on the Poster advertising the event. He insists that he told me by e-mail and then added that his e-mail doesn’t work. I just love musicians. Had a great time and heard some great music. We have several music venues in Rochdale; there’s something on nearly every night.

The vast majority are open mike nights and everybody gets to have a go. There’s usually a “metal” bias and by ‘eck can they bash it out. There are some brilliant players who should be up there with the best of them. Try to see Johnny Sax (I reckon one of the best in the country) and Nigel Pickering ; old flying fingers himself.

I’d love to get Channel 4 up here to see just how healthy the music scene is in one of the (supposedly) most deprived towns in Britain, (to do a documentary on our lack of musical deprivation). Do they do GOOD news as well?

CD LAUNCH (ES)

We (Reaction and me), are currently planning a series of launches for the CD. These will generally consist of me turning up at gigs and flogging my CD. There will be a small poster at the door which I’ll probably put up when I get there so that people can see it on their way out by which time it’ll be too late.
Other events will be more formal and will be announced in advance. I daresay these will be “invitation only” gigs as you can’t get many people in the average front room.
If you do find yourself at one of these, please buy the thing as it took ages to complete.