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Beck Sian’s 2013 Album plans

Beck writes…

It’s funny how things change… all the time… all is change… Just weeks ago I was determined to release a mini-album of symphonic gothic metal, filled with themes of vampires and haunted ruins. I am a BIG fan of “vampire romances”, as you know. I intended to write the lyrics and do the singing, but to invite some fabulously talented friends to write the music for me to sing to. The motivation behind this project was simply that I needed to “scratch an itch”. While I tend to sing moody, ghostly ballads and dark folk songs, I also enjoy listening to heavier music. I have always wanted to try singing with screaming guitars and angry drums. I wanted to be the wailing banshee over the top of the dark soundscapes.

Now two different things have happened which have caused a sudden change in direction. I am very excited by it all and I hope that you will be too, and that I won’t be disappointing any of you. Firstly, I ‘placed an ad’ on Facebook and my website, announcing that I wanted to sing with heavy, symphonic music and inviting people to get in touch with me. My recording engineer and co-producer of ‘Ye Olde Silent Inn’, Steve Palmer, happened to mention me to Brian Dade of AiiRadio, who happened to know that UK pagan prog/symphonic rock band LEGEND were seeking a singer… and the rest is history… I am now singing for LEGEND. I have just about finished recording the main vocals for the new LEGEND CD ‘Spirit’, to be released later this year. Singing with this epic, awesome music has been such a wonderful experience. I am loving it. I get to sing with all of my “different voices” – my “head voice”, my “tummy voice” and all sorts of challenging transitions between the two. I am always an emotional singer with my main focus on trying to create or interpret moods and atmospheres with my voice, and that is something that LEGEND’s music has really given me an huge amount of scope to experiment with. Singing with Paul’s guitar, Steve’s keys and John’s drumming is SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Steve Paine is LEGEND’s main music writer, as well as being the keyboard player, sound engineer, producer and pretty much bits and pieces of everything else! Steve and I are developing a great recording relationship, as well as friendship, and I feel comfortable exploring my vocal capabilities and trying to stretch myself in new directions. I am looking forward to seeing where LEGEND goes next! (www.stevepaine.org).

So, back to the story… I still intended to go ahead with my little heavy, dark project as well, and I got talking with a friend named Dan Sullivan, who is a pretty awesome guitarist. He agreed to write some music for me to sing to and I started to outline the whole vampire/haunted house theme. We then got together a couple of times to have a play around with some ideas. Then a wonderful thing started to happen… the songs began to take on a life of their own and basically demanded to be able to speak with their own voices. The lyrics, no matter how much I tried to enforce vampires and full moons into them, kept crying out to be emotional words of the heart… of failed relationships, of betrayals, of hurts, of rejections…

So… instead of fighting against change and instead of trying to force the songs to be a certain way, I feel strongly that I must go with the flow and record this little collection of emotionally-based songs co-written by Dan Sullivan and myself. The music that Dan has written is still quite heavy, but the vibe is more “metal ballad” and even “grunge-like”. I have also written a little piece of guitar which Dan and I are developing into a moody little instrumental piece… and you never know… maybe a vampire will still come misting into the words somewhere… but only if the words let him 🙂

So, I feel that I have “scratched my itch” with LEGEND’s ‘Spirit’ CD and my collaboration with Dan Sullivan. I can’t wait to share both collections of music with you! I look forward to telling you more about both of them in the near future.

I am still releasing my fourth solo CD later this year – a wintery, frosty album. As you can imagine, the current weather is perfect for inspiration and the songs are developing in a tinkling, icy, white-fluffy way 🙂

Thanks for listening,

Stay warm and safe,

Beck xx

 

Syd Arthur (featuring Raven Bush) – new single, album and tour announced!

Syd-Arthur-Promo-2012-Sunflowers-Web

We have a real soft spot for this band, not least because one of the members (fiddle-playing Raven Bush) is Kate’s nephew. Fresh, accomplished, joyous music to listen to – and Syd Arthur are only getting better and better. Their recent single ‘Dorothy’ received great national radio support in the UK – including an enthusiastic endorsement from Paul Weller when he guest presented on BBC Radio 2. 11th March sees them releasing a new double-A side single Ode to Summer / Edge of the Earth. A headline UK and Ireland tour kicks off this month (see below or www.sydarthur.co.uk for dates!).

Greatly inspired by the sonic pioneers of the late 60s and early 70s, they have patiently learned how to engineer, produce and mix themselves, using an innovative hybrid of analogue and digital techniques. They seamlessly mix bucolic, retro reveries, devastating blasts of precision controlled riffing, sweeping folk, fleet-fingered mandolin work and a musical vocabulary that’s as fluently conversant with world music as it is the time signature twists of many progressive artists.

Meanwhile, their impressive new album, “On An On”, has been warmly embraced by the music press:

‘Dorothy begins with a calmative wash of heat-have guitars, then cedes to a lazy, joined at the hip groove that’s a small marvel of poise and subtlety…. Enchanting’ – MOJO 

‘Dizzyingly intricate… they bristle with energy and ideas’ – Q

 ‘Strong compositional ideas… a careering piece’ – Uncut

 ‘Absurdly talented’ – Word

‘Syd Arthur are sons and heirs of those Canterbury musicians who did sometimes whimsical, sometimes intense things with psychedelic and progressive rock’ – The Guardian.co.uk 

‘Staggeringly good. It will take something exceptional to beat On An On to Prog Album Of The Year’ – Classic Rock

‘Fleet-fingered folky flavours steeped in prime prog history’ – Prog

‘A unique sound that is both full and intriguing… curious and surprisingly uplifting’ – Guitar Techniques

‘Blends taut mandolin lines with fuzztone propelled jazz guitar… fresh and relevant’ – Guitarist

HEADLINE UK TOUR FEB 2013

9th – BREWERY ARTS CENTRE – KENDAL
Adv Tickets: £7.50 Doors: 8pm
http://www.breweryarts.co.uk/music/listing/syd-arthur

10th – THE MAZE – NOTTINGHAM
Adv Tickets: £6 (£4 NUS) Doors: 8pm
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/197835

11th – OPORTO – LEEDS
http://oportobar.co.uk/

12th – BAND ON THE WALL – MANCHESTER
Adv Tickets: £7.50 Doors: 7.30pm
http://bandonthewall.org/events/3720/

13th – BROADCAST – GLASGOW
Adv Tickets: £7 Doors: 8pm
http://www.pclpresents.com/shows.html

14th – ROISIN DUBH – GALWAY
http://www.roisindubh.net

15th – WHELANS – DUBLIN
Adv Tickets: €6 online, €8 on the door Doors: 7pm
http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/live/

19th – LOUISIANA – BRISTOL
Adv Tickets: £6 Doors: 8pm
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/197838

20th – SEBRIGHT ARMS – LONDON
Adv Tickets: £7 Doors: 8pm
http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/live/

21st – STICKY MIKES FROG BAR – BRIGHTON
Adv Tickets: £7 Doors: 8pm
http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/live/

Cloudbusting: Gigs for 2013

Cloudbusting were formed in Spring 2012 with the aim of performing live the uniquely beautiful music of Kate Bush. The band says: “We all know there can only be one Kate and no-one does it quite like her! At a Cloudbusting show you can expect all of the atmosphere, musical style and visual excellence of Kate Bush, faithfully recreated LIVE on stage…”

The band’s new year kicked off at Remedies Bar Taunton today and will continue on Saturday 16th February at The Palladium Club Bideford, Friday 29th March at the The Patriot Inn Crumlin, Thursday 9th May at the The Diamond Sutton-in-Ashfield, Friday 10th May at Huntingdon Hall Worcester, Saturday 1st June at the Cream Tea Charity Biker Run North Devon, Friday 12th July at The Tropic at Ruislip Middlesex, and 18th August (tbc) at the Tribfest Sledmore House Yorkshire. Other dates will follow.

On Saturday 13th April the band will perform on BBC Radio Devon’s John Govier Show.

 

 

 

 

Cloudbusting does Nocturne:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXT9cx9Vb10[/youtube]

 

Further details, and sound and video clips on the band’s website here. You can also follow the band on Facebook.

 

Maaike Breijman’s “Wow – A Celebration of the Music of Kate Bush” to tour in 2013

http://www.dreamingofkate.com/

The Kate tribute show featuring Maaike Breijman will tour the UK in 2013. “Wow, A Celebration of the Music & Artistry of Kate Bush” will open at The Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool on Friday 22nd February, and the tour will proceed as follows: Saturday 23rd February – St. Georges Hall, Bradford Mon 25th February – Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Wednesday 27th February – The Sage, Gateshead, Thursday 28th February – Opera House, Manchester
Saturday 2nd March – De Montford Hall, Leicester, Sunday 3rd March – The Anvil, Basingstoke, Monday 4th March – Waterside, Aylesbury, Wednesday 6th March – Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Thursday 7th March – Opera House, York, Friday 8th March – Derngate Theatre, Northampton, Sunday 10th March – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London.

The minimum ticket price will be £19.50 and you can buy tickets from Maaike’s webite here.

The first European date will be Thursday 25th April – Carre Theatre, Amsterdam and the minimum ticket price will be 17 Euros. Further dates are to be announced.

Says Maaike: “While we’re still in production rehearsals it’s a little bit of a guess which songs will be my favourite to perform, as they might be different from the ones I love to sing most or listen to at home.  But I’m really looking forward to performing Breathing, Them Heavy People and Army Dreamers. I won’t say anything more about the set list though.”

Producer Spike Beecham says: “It was important to me that this show was treated as if I was putting together a show for Kate Bush and our idea of what we believe Kate Bush would have done with the songs she never performed live. We have an amazing live band, taken the elements of dance we found in videos and from footage of Kate’s one and only tour and used these as a basis for some newly choreographed routines.

 

Beck Sian’s current album Ye OId Silent Inn, and new projects for 2013

Beck is Kate’s cousin’s and a talented songwriter and singer.  Her current album, released in October 2012 is The Old Silent Inn. Beck says this CD is “a night-time, up on the moors, wraiths, haunted staircases, and highwaymen, and very much influenced by the ghost stories and scenery surrounding The Old Silent Inn at Stanbury, near Haworth”

The tracks are as follows: Wycoller Hall, The Black Silk Handkerchief, The Moon on the 13th, Ye Olde Silent Inn, Down in Yon Forest, The Dark Stairs, The Moors, Lady of the Wind, Molly Malone, The Old Clock on the Stairs, Her Soul to a Highwayman, Top Withens, Tales of a Wayside Inn, and The Mirror in the Deserted Hall.

Listen to it in the Winter twilight by the flickering light of a candle, and not alone.

Here are Beck’s own notes on some of the tracks:

The Black Silk Handkerchief: I once fell in love with a traditional Irish song called ‘The Holland Handkerchief’ on a CD by American Celtic singer Connie Dover. Ever since that moment I knew I had to sing my own interpretation of it. It’s such a wonderful story-song.

Ye Olde Silent Inn: I have been very fortunate to have been invited repeatedly over the past few years to sing and perform in Haworth and Stanbury. For the past two years, when I have performed at the folk night organised by the Folk at the Wuthering Heights (at the Wuthering Heights Inn, Stanbury), I have stayed at the Old Silent Inn. I am an avid reader of books featuring true accounts of ghostly phenomena, and I had read all about the ghosts of the Old Silent long before I stayed there. I love the place. I love the name! I love its location. I love the stories. It’s been such an inspiration. I wrote this little song about it, and then it developed into a whole CD loosely based upon stories and places that surround the Old Silent.

Top Withens: What can I say?… If you’ve never walked out across the moors to Top Withens near Haworth, then you really must (if only because my CD will make more sense once you’ve experienced it (at the very least, look at images on the ‘net and imagine the wind wuthering and howling). I wrote this song as a tribute to the wind, and the spirits of the wind, and the memories lurking in the ruined farmhouse at Top Withens. In this song, with my voice, I try to BE that mischievious, heartless wind.

The Mirror in the Deserted Hall: With some of the most haunting, atmospheric music by Chris Gill that I have ever had the privilege to hear, I created a performance based upon the idea of sitting in an upstairs room in Wycoller Hall, but in my imaginings there are still floorboards there, and a cracked, dusty old mirror on the wall (or maybe I’m in East Riddlesdon Hall – another very haunted and moody building in the area). I’m in a dusty attic and I’m alone, but very aware of the sound of children laughing, toys being moved around by unseen hands and an old rocking horse moving back and forth by itself. A ghostly nanny flits about, looking for the children, unaware that many years have passed since the fire that took them all away…

You can purchase Ye Old Silent Inn CD at this link or you can download individual tracks or full albums here.

Beck’s has busy plans for 2013: “I intend to release two CDs in 2013!! Both will be slightly shorter than my previous CDs, and both will have strong themes, concepts and imagery. One will be a seasonal, frosty collection of Winter songs. The other will be a darker collection, allowing me to explore and experiment with my love of metal ballads and gothic themes and sounds. I am very, very excited about both projects, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the wonderful Steve Palmer again (engineer and co-producer of ‘Ye Olde Silent Inn’) and also my good friend Chris Gill. I also look forward to singing for Steve Palmer and Chris Gill on their own projects.”

Beck’s previous album was 2009’s Luminous Wings and Unseen Things, sixteen songs inspired by haunted gardens: Lavender’s Blue, In the Greenery, The Garden Seat, I Just Am, Siúil a Rúin, Down by the Salley Gardens, In a Secret Garden, Bushes & Briars, Old Mr. Crow, Tall, Waving Delphiniums in Storm-light, Thornfield, The Topiary Garden, She Moved Through the Faire, Weep Ye No More, Sad Fountains and bonus tracks Moss (Live), and Thornfield (Acoustic).

 

2006’s Unfurling, contained sixteen songs set within the light and shade of a Haunted Forest, featuring Celtic harp by Beck, didgeridoo by Stax: The Didgeman, keys by Paul Strahan, fiddle by Pieter Hart, bullroarer by Beck’s dad, David: Dungarvan, Unfurling, Moss, Tangled In Green, Shadow of a Dream, Greensleeves, Messages In Dreams, Under Thunderous Skies, The Blacksmith, Sherbrooke Forest, The Night Will Never Stay, The Foggy Dew, Mountain Ash, and Bonus Tracks Strahany’s ‘Black’ Mix, Ethereal, and Dream Beneath Trees.

These albums are available from iTunes or Beck’s website.

You can follow Beck on Facebook.

‘Cloudbusting’ Kate tribute band get us in the Christmas mood!

Quite lovely! Read more about ‘Cloudbusting’, the Kate Bush tribute band currently getting raves in the Kate Bush fan community at their Facebook page, here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ3YenjbtgU[/youtube]

WOW – A Celebration of the Music & Artistry of Kate Bush

New link: http://www.dreamingofkate.com/

The blurb says: “‘Wow’ introduces Maaike Breijman performing in the role of Kate Bush, with whom she shares a birthday and an uncanny resemblance in appearance, performance and vocal style. Kate Bush is one of the most iconic and unique British artists of our time – with hits such as Wuthering Heights, The Man with the Child in his Eyes, Babooshka, Running up that Hill and many others. She captivated fans across the world – but remarkably, she only performed one full tour (1978’s Tour of Life). This is a chance to hear those life-changing songs brought into glorious life as Maaike sings Kate’s greatest works and performs numerous dance routines live on stage with a full troupe of musicians, dancers and state of the art light and video show. ”

Of course we have long since known Maaike as ‘The Dutch Kate Bush‘ so we wish her the best for this show and others to follow.

The Sage Gateshead 27th February 2013 7.30 pm Ticket Office: 0191 443 4661.

Update for Tribute Band Cloudbusting dates

The new Kate Bush tribute band Cloudbusting have updated info on their first dates:

Friday 10th August – The Clinton Arms – Frithelstock, N. Devon

Saturday 8th September – The Ginhouse – Bodmin, Cornwall

Thursday 11th October – The Roadhouse, Stirchley, Birmingham

Saturday 8th December – Seven Stars – Winkleigh, N. Devon

This is what the band say: “We are musicians dedicated to playing and performing the music of the unique and incomparable Kate Bush. We all know there is one Kate and no-one does it quite like her. We concentrate on performing the music and bringing Kate’s songs to the live stage – some of which have never been heard live before

This band is good, so we urge all who can, go to see them!

 

Their website is here.

Tribute Band ‘Never for Ever’ return to Lichfield Garrick

Never for Ever are a four piece band based in the North West who share a love of Kate Bush and “a passion for recreating the music and visual experience of this iconic performer”. The set list will include Wuthering Heights, Babooshka, Running up that Hill and Cloudbusting, as well as many ‘lesser known tracks’.

Never for Ever will perform on May 5 at 7.30pm. Details and tickets from the Lichfield Garrick.

Gig Review: WOW – A celebration of the Music, Lyrics & Dance of Kate Bush

LSMedia on last night’s Maaike Breijman’s tribute gig:

There may have been the odd one or two in the audience… that would have been in the audience the only time Kate Bush actually played in Liverpool and …the only ones to be there over 30 years later from that date to hear the sensational talent of Maaike Breijman go through two sets of the most sensual, inspiring and classic music from one of the queens of British popular music …There are not many women who would willingly go through so many costume changes in the name of music but as soon as Maaike came out on stage for the opening numbers of Moving, James and the Cold Gun and the haunting Babooshka, the audience knew they were in for a night that went …into the realms of performance high art…

The second act of the show was just as impressive with tracks such as This Woman’s Work, the incredible Running Up That Hill, Cloudbusting and the sensational Wuthering Heights …This was so much more than a gig or even a celebration of music created by one of the most endearing song writers of her generation …it became a show of importance, a moment in time that captured the essence of the music and left the audience stunned by the spectacle and roaring with their approval…”

Wow ….“A celebration of the Music, Lyrics & Dance of Kate Bush”

From Alt Sounds:

Thursday 12 April 2012 at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool

‘Wow’ is the brainchild of Liverpool promoter Spike Beecham and sees the introduction .of talented Dutch performer, Maaike Breijma. Not only does Maaike share her birthday with the icon, she is blessed with an uncanny resemblance both in her appearance, performance and vocally with the singer. Maaike is set to astound audiences worldwide, as she sings Kate Bush’s greatest songs and performs many of the dance routines by Kate Bush on stage and in video.

Maaike is backed by a band of top Liverpool musicians and dancers under a production designed by the team that brought you Lord of the Dance …”

Tel: 0151 709 3789 Tickets from £15.00 to £21.00 Doors 7.00pm

Liverpool Philharmonic-Gig details

Maaike is also known as “the Dutch Kate Bush” – see our featured artist page here

Kate Bush Tribute Show in Chicago Tomorrow Night (Thursday 8th December)

Chicago KB tribute nightSo sorry we’re late with this one! From the organiser’s Facebook event page: “In honor of the release of Kate Bush’s first wholly new full-length album since 2005, “50 Words For Snow,” we are paying tribute to the legendary songstress extraordinaire once again. Parlour on Clark will play host to a coalition of Bush-phile DJs — DJ Joshua, DJ Belazauberin and DJ Josie Bush — spinning a selection of music and videos by Bush herself and the many other artists, new and old, who have been influenced by the innovating musician’s sprawling catalog. The event will serve as a fundraiser for TGIF (Trans, Genderqueer, Intersex Freedom) Pride. Attendees are invited to offer up a $5 suggested donation to help make the first-ever event happen and Bush-themed treats will also be available for purchase. All proceeds from both the door charge and the “50 Words” bake sale will benefit TGIF. Finally, we heard a rumor that several copies — both CDs and on vinyl — of “50 Words” will be up for grabs at the event. Don’t miss this!” (many thanks to Joe Erbentraut and again sorry we missed this before now!) This event may come just in time for some snow in Chicago!

Del’s new song and video

Del Palmer Kate’s long time bass player and sound engineer has released a new solo track Fallen Angel which you can find on his FaceBook page.

Del Palmer

Beck Sian prepares for new album

Beck’s latest newsletter is on our featured artists page. She has started work on her third full-length CD, called Ye Olde Silent Inn very much influenced by the ghost stories and scenery surrounding the famous Inn at Stanbury, near Haworth. Night-time, ‘up on the moors’, Brontë Country, wraiths, haunted staircases, and highwaymen! Beck hopes to record and release the CD in 2012 and launch it at the Inn next Autumn. Meanwhile check out the newsletter for special album offers.

Syd Arthur to release new single, ‘Ode To The Summer’

Syd Arthur 2011

Regular site visitors will know all about Syd Arthur, a band based in Canterbury which features Kate’s nephew Raven Bush on violin and mandolin. An accomplished live band, they are greatly inspired by the sonic pioneers of the late 60s and early 70s. I can’t wait to catch them live some day!

With their unique and organic aesthetic, the band have since found themselves the integral part of an exciting new music scene. Several bands have developed strong ties, united by an encouraging spirit of camaraderie and a shared love of such greats as Soft Machine, Fela Kuti and King Crimson, to name but a few.

Syd Arthur have recently announced a new single – Ode To The Summer – to be released on Dawn Chorus Recording Co on 31st October. Featuring an exclusive non-album B-side, Black Wave it will be available on digital/limited 7″ vinyl. Ode To The Summer can be pre-oredered from all major online retailers from now, or pre-order through us direct and you will receive the download right away. Also Limited 7″ Green Vinyl available in limited numbers at www.sydarthur.bandcamp.com

These guys sound fantastic on this – check it out.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/25189505″]

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