March 13th: Joint Concert with The Brewood Singers at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

Allow yourself to be guided by voices at this unique musical collaboration, a ‘must see’ event for all devotees of passionate singing. The Brewood Singers are directed by David S Brookes, and Dan will be accompanied by John Large on Percussion and Tom Bounford on Violin. Both acts will perform separate sets before joining forces for a finale.

The Brewood Singers are a popular, forward looking choral group who were formed in 1973. The Singers are known for their wide repertoire of classic pop songs, show and film music, traditional and religious music. The variety of repertoire has enabled them to perform many different types of concerts throughout the Midlands and have seen them collaborate with several orchestras and ensembles.

We will perform separate sets before joining forces for a finale (which is the really exciting part!) Please book your tickets to guarantee a seat and don’t miss this ‘one-off’ event.

This is the first time I have ever collaborated with a choir and whilst I am sure there’ll be some nerves I am very excited and honoured that David Brookes accepted my request to be involved.

Buy Tickets Here

If you missed the song I wrote for Ray Gosling that was featured in BBC Inside Out Programme, you can watch it here

Take care,

Dan

Were you at Huntingdon Hall last Tuesday? If so – THANK YOU!

Tom and I had a brilliant night supporting Peter Green and Friends. The venue is a converted church which has been lovingly restored, the staff were lovely and cooked us a chilli con carni, and the audience shocked us with their warm response to our music. 

I am now looking forward to supporting The Miserable Rich this Thursday at Birmingham Glee Club:

March 4th: Supporting The Miserable Rich @ Glee Club Birmingham

They are a breathtaking band from Brighton who have received wide spread critical acclaim and appeared on Radio 4s Loose Ends last weekend. I am honoured to have been invited to open up for them at what will be a special night.

Buy tickets here

March 13th: Joint Concert with The Brewood Singers at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

We will perform separate sets before joining forces for a finale (which is the really exciting part!) Please book your tickets to guarantee a seat and don’t miss this ‘one-off’ event.

This is the first time I have ever collaborated with a choir and whilst I am sure there’ll be some nerves I am very excited and honoured that David Brookes accepted my request to be involved.

Buy Tickets Here

If you missed the song I wrote for Ray Gosling that was featured in BBC Inside Out Programme, you can watch it here

Take care,

Dan

“Death is something that makes men weep, yet a third of life is passed in sleep.”

A Lord Byron quote used in Ray Gosling’s documentary about death and dying broadcast on BBC East Midlands Inside Out last night.

This 10 minute short film discusses different types of burial and assisted suicide and includes a very personal admission from Ray that made headline news this morning.

I appear in a scene filmed at Ray’s house, where he hears for the first time the song I was requested to write for his funeral.

View on the BBC iPlayer

Whilst certain to cause heated and varied reactions, I think Ray has made a poignant and valid input into this ongoing public debate on death.

All the best,
Dan

Next Live Show: March 4th Supporting The Miserable Rich

Steve’s comment is the one left ringing in my ears this morning, following an evening jam packed full of warm greetings, tender exchanges and startling performances. Last night was the launch party for the box ep, my third and final offering of 2009, and I really enjoyed myself…thank you!

Michael Clarke opened the event with a collection of beautiful songs and gave us a sneak peak at some new material which contain some of his most poignant lyrics to date. Everyone (myself included) seemed to instantly warm to ‘The Boy and The Buffalo’ and was excited to hear talk of a new album of ‘acoustic stuff’ (let us know when it’s ready Mike!)

Vashti Anna travelled up from North London to join us, and we were treated to her debut show with new drummer/percussionist Alan. She ripped it up. When she performs she appears to lose control (in a good way), and connects with with something ethereal I can’t quite put my finger on but I know is there!

She mountaineers across a varied landscape of moods, from brooding melancholy (think Joan As Police Woman) to the uplifting jam ‘Infatuation’ (think Feist). Drummer Alan accents and follows her lead effortlessly and I am honoured to have witnessed the early stages of what could be a great bond.

My set was funny, with a good bit of banter with a fake moustache wearing heckler early on!

I want to say thank you very much to my band, who played beautifully, what I love the most is the way that they listen as much as play, makes for an interesting and fulfilling conversation! x

I bought a packet of christmas cards the other day and last night I was very cold in bed (!), two strong indicators that the end of the year is nigh and it is high time I released the box ep, the final part of the trilogy!

I will release the EP with a launch gig at the Glee Club on Friday November 27th. The studio room at the Glee is a beautiful, intimate setting to experience music so I am looking forward to this gig.

Friday Nov. 27 2009
The Glee Club Hurst St, The Arcadian Birmingham B5 4TD
Doors Open 7.30pm. No Entry After 8:15pm
Purchase advance tickets for only £5

There are some very special guests too:

Vashti Anna: I encourage you to take a break, make a cup of tea and have a listen to Vashti’s new EP ‘Stronger in My Skin’. These intimate recordings are performed, produced and recorded by Vashti in her bedroom and reveal a striking, raw talent. West Midlands folk may have seen Vashti previously appear at the Glee Club as a guest of Tom Baxter, she also claims to have learnt to play piano in a cowshed(!) Read more @ BBC.

Michael Clarke:  Going by the name Clarkesville Michael released the critically acclaimed album ‘the Half Chapter’ on Wildstar Records. “The songs I relate to best aren’t the ones that tell me how it is, but let me explore how it is.” Michael is on form and currently recording some of his best work to date with his brother Steve on bass, Stuart Baxter Wilkinson on drums and Birmingham indie- space-rock inventor David Wright on lead guitar. Rogue States have recently released their debut Lights EP. This is a rare opportunity to witness the tender side of Michael’s writing with a personal and exposed solo acoustic set.

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The Box EP

The Balloon: The Bubble & The Box: 3 EPs

The final part of the trilogy is almost complete and will be available to buy at the launch gig on November 27th. In the meantime I have posted 3 songs on my myspace.

If you enjoy discussion about music recordings then read on, if not then I shall say goodbye, it has been a pleasure and I hope to see you at the Glee Club show.

“This is one of the very best releases of the year. Really. I’ve been listening to it on a daily basis for quite some time and it never ever disappoints. Never loses its emotional intensity. Never ceases to surprise with its musical invention.” (Read more) – Steve Morris WCR FM Roots and Branches Show (Thursdays 22:00-00:00).

I have been working on the songs for this EP for sometime (though I do hate that phrase ‘working’ and prefer to think of it as growing). The oldest song is ‘Right Here’ which was written in 2000 and is the ‘title track’ of sorts as it refers to the box in the lyric (keen listeners may have noticed a theme running through the last track on all 3 EPs… No? listen more carefully!)

Box recording sessions began in February this year and thanks largely to the patience and commitment of sound engineer Ryan Pinson progress has continued steadily, through ’til the final session last week.

The production of the EP was a real collaborative effort; and I owe a depth of gratitude to the group of musicians that have come to form my ‘core band’ of John Large drums, Steve Clarke bass, June Mori Piano and Tom Bounford on Violin. We rehearsed, arranged and recorded the structure of the songs mostly live in the studio, before inviting several different musicians to contribute.

Highlights included a spaced out Sunday morning of tape delay/space echo lead guitar from David Wright (Rogue States) on ‘If I Grow Old’, knock out gospel from soul sisters Yvonne and Margerat Gordon on ‘Right Here’, the sort of perspective shifting ideas and electrified experimentation that I have grown to expect from Andy Bole and a grand finale of an impromptu choir hosted by the Turnstyle Theatre Group.

I am particularly pleased with the song Where Is The Love?  co written with Eric Barlow and featuring the voice of Carina Round and pedal steel of BJ Cole.

Once you have had a chance to listen and digest the new music do feel free to share your thoughts in person or online.

I also welcome any suggestions of other musicians you think I should collaborate with or play gigs with, get in touch.

All the best

Dan

The Box EP is almost complete! 

I will celebrate this release with a special show in the studio theatre of The Glee Club Birmingham.

Vashti Anna and Michael Clarke have kindly agreed to perform as very special guests.

Vashti is currently touring with Charlie Winston and has previously supported Tom Baxter at the Glee. Michael is lead singer with Rogue States who have just released their debut Lights EP.

Tickets are 5 GBPin advance from the Glee Club site.

Thank you to all those that come to see the band and I perform this year and bought the first two EPs.

Hope to see you at this grand finale!

Dan x

I am happy to announce that my friends and I have been busy in the studio and the Box EP is almost complete.

We have arranged a gig at Newhampton Arts Centre on Oct 10th to celebrate the new music with a full bodied performance! Lisa De’Ville and Lee Mitchell have kindly agreed to be our guests and play what I am certain will be wonderful live sets.

For those of you that missed our previous show at NAC, here is a live version of ‘How Does It Feel?’ filmed at the Bubble EP Launch:

Tickets are selling fast, it is £5 advance but will be £7 on the night.

Purchase x1 ticket for £5 inc p&p

Purchase x2 tickets for £10 inc p&p

Check out the Facebook Event

The Box EP is currently being mixed by our very own musical master chef Ryan Pinson. This is a delicate, lengthy process and although we are all excited about tasting the finished product, we must be patient!

However, if like me you enjoy licking the spoon occasionally then please have a listen to the first mix of ‘IF I GROW OLD’. Grab a free download of the track here – the password you need is tigerdan.

In other news, my talented friend and bass player on the 3 EPs Steve Clarke has released an epic EP with his band Rogue States. The EP features some beautiful, dedicated performances, take a listen here. You can order a CD from their website now.

Hope to see you on Oct 10th!

Dan and band x

Just a quick message to let you know Carina Round will be making a last minute guest appearance at my show at Fingerpost in Pelsall tomorrow evening.  This will be a rare opportunity to see her perform in such an intimate setting and will also give me the chance to bid her a proper farewell and raise a glass to her wonderful performances in London last week.

An extremely talented photographer called Andy took several shots which can be viewed here.

Hope to see you tomorrow,

Dan x

Photo by Tim McGrath 09

I am happy to announce my first full band show in London, at Water Rats in Kings Cross, Thursday July 23rd supporting Carina Round. We’re on stage at 9:45pm and tickets are on sale here.

I shall also be playing guitar in Carina’s band on the night, so i’m currently working hard to try to master her songs!

I have also been in the studio putting (what I hope will prove to be!) the finishing touches to ‘The Box EP’, my third release of 2009.

I have been lucky enough to have some very special guests collaborate with me on this EP and whilst it is still a little early to be making any grand predictions; I am hopeful for a beautiful blossom of sound come the final mix!

My next big hometown show (I am planning on making them a regular occurance, if that’s alright?!) will be on October 10th at the Newhampton Arts Centre (reach for your diaries now!) and I plan to have a few tracks mixed in time to distribute at this event.

Hope all is well out there with you all,

Dan x

ps: I am playing a secret acoustic show in London on July 22nd, whilst i am forbidden from making a public announcement of the location if you email me i can tell you the details!

Greetings!