Live Music London

Noted Aussiec guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel, has a new album ‘All I Want For Christmas’ released on Monday November 7^th. This coincides with his UK tour starting on Thursday December 1^st at Hull City Hall. ‘All I Want For Christmas’ follows Emmanuel’s last studio album, ‘Little By Little’, released February 2011. Its released on Steve Vai’s ‘Favoured Nations Entertainment’ record label. Tommy Emmanuel was honoured as the Country Music Awards’ Global Artist earlier this year. He co-produced with veteran Nashville picker/arranger John Knowles, CGP. They collaborated on new arrangements of Yuletide classics including ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, ‘The Christmas Song’, and ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’. Emmanuel also wrote one original for the collection, ‘One Christmas Night’, and arranged a second new composition, ‘The Magic Of Christmas Time’.

Click here for the official press announcement - www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/tommyemmanuel/album.htm

Says Tommy Emmanuel “People have asked me about doing a Christmas album so many times over the last 20 years, and when I had time to really get into this project, it just had a life of its own, and was so easy to make because we all loved the music so much. I’m pleased that there will be so many fans happy about it’s release”

Most of the arrangements for ‘All I Want For Christmas’came together via Skype, while Emmanuel was on tour and fellow guitarist Knowles was home in Nashville..Everything was recorded at Beech Creek Studios in Franklin, TN with KimPerson, who has produced Emmanuel’s last five albums. Emmanuel used several guitars for the sessions, but relied mainly on a new Taylor model that he says, “has a singing quality to it, a beautiful voice
Tommy Emmanuel’s December UK Tour with special guest Gareth Pearson; 24 Hour Box Office: 0871 230 1101, Book online: www.seetickets.com (additional tour info – http://bit.ly/oVpnMD).

Hull City Hall (Dec 1)
Harrogate International Centre (Dec 2)
Buxton Opera House (Dec 3)
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Dec 4)
Birmingham Town Hall (Dec 5)
Brighton Hove Centre (Dec 6)
Cambridge Corn Exchange (Dec 7)
Cardiff St. David’s Hall (Dec 13)
London Union Chapel (Dec 15)
Salisbury City Hall (Dec 16)

For interview opportunities, CD review copies, review tickets and photo passes, please contact:
Peter Noble and Will Taylor at Noble PR Consultancy
0207 272 7772, peter@noblepr.co.uk, will@noblepr.co.uk

In a year which has seen several new festivals this weekends’ festival at Bedford Esquires looks like being one of t he best. It runs from Thursday 13^th to Sunday 16^th October and features some of the most popular performers on the UK scene including LARRY MILLER, CHANTEL McGREGOR, THE NIMMO BROS, PADDY MAGUIRE and several more. We spoke to Larry Miller who said ‘this looks like being a really festival it’s a great venue and set-up’. Bedford Esquires is very popular as one of the best run venues around – its 60a Bromham Road Bedford MK40 20G and a very informative website – www.bedfordesquires.com and don’t forget you can win tickets for the festival right here on this page, just answer three questions and Larry’s yer Uncle…

1) Who wrote Ray Charles’ classic song ‘The Mess Around’?

2) Who wrote the song ‘Vigilante Man’ recorded by Ry Cooder?

3) Which Bob Dylan song did Jimi Hendrix play at the Monterey Festival

Answers by email to diana@lovemymusic.com

Fender Musical Instruments has just announced the arrival of the new EC Series Eric Clapton signature guitar amps, and who better to show what they’re capable of–besides Slowhand himself–than the legendary Buddy Guy. As he showed on his latest album, Guy is Living Proof that being 74 doesn’t mean you can’t tear up the frets like a 20-year-old. There are three new tweed tube amps in the Clapton series–the EC Twinolux, EC Tremolux, and EC Vibro-Champ–and all bear the famed picker’s design touches. Judging by the killer sound Guy gets, you might need one. Here’s the complete sales pitch from Fender:

Each is a specific variation based on three classic Fender tweed tube amps of the 1950s – the ’57 Twin, ’57 Deluxe and the ’57 Champ. Clapton has frequently favored these original amps for specific sounds at various points throughout his amazingly varied career, and the new EC Series amps represent both reverence for his musical legacy and the finest in Fender guitar amp craftsmanship. All three amps are handmade in the United States, with interesting mods under the hood specified by Clapton himself. These include a ’50s-era output tube bias tremolo circuit (which produces a more throbbing pulse than later Fender tremolo circuits) and a switchable power attenuator that reduces speaker output (and can disable one speaker in EC Twinolux for even lower output).

The 2×12″ EC Twinolux, 1×12″ EC Tremolux and 1×8″ EC Vibro-Champ are single-channel amps with high-gain and low-gain inputs, hand-wired all-tube circuitry on eyelet boards with premium components, custom transformers, and premium tubes and speakers.

The EC Tremolux has fixed bias for increased headroom and an internal speaker disconnect that allows use of an external 8-ohm speaker enclosure. The EC Vibro-Champ has an internal speaker disconnect that allows use of an external 4-ohm speaker enclosure, and a footswitch jack for an optional tremolo footswitch.

All three EC Series amps have a cosmetic treatment that elegantly befits an artist of Clapton’s stature. Each is ruggedly built with a finger-joined solid pine enclosure, and each authentically evokes Fender’s original 1950s golden era with lacquered tweed covering, vintage-style brown/gold grille cloth and a leather strap handle.

And in the most outwardly visible personal touch, each amp bears an “EC Series” badge at front lower right and Clapton’s signature on the control panel. Each amp also includes a deluxe fitted cover.

BLUES FOR HEROES a fundraising concert in aid of injured servicemen and women.will take place on October 22 at The Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, on the bill are The Blues Band, Matt Schofield and Ian Siegal London, in addition noted guitarist Robin Trower and ace pianist Paddy Milner will join the show as guests of the Blues Band.

The organizers have gathered some of the best of British Blues talent for the concert. Ian Siegal described by Mojo as ‘the cleverest writer and most magnetic performer of blues in the UK’ will open the show with a solo set. Ina Siegal will be followed by Matt Schofield and his band. Schofield is being talked of as one of the best British blues players of recent years. He is gaining an increasing world audience and comes to the Cadogan Hall from an extensive US tour.

Closing the night, Paul Jones and the Blues band who need little introduction. 30 years and 19 album releases says it all. As noted they will be joined by Robin Trower and excellent pianist Paddy Milner, who has been steadily carving a niche for himself as one of Britain’s finest blues pianists.

Press enquiries:
Richard Pavitt, Nugene Music +44 (0)7973 217140
richard@nugene.co.uk

Bert Jansch a major figure in the British folk revival of the 60s and one of the most respected musicians of his time has passed away, dying from cancer at the age of 67.Bert Jansch was a founding member of one of the UK’s most innovative bands Pentangle; he was a truly renowned as a guitarist of virtuoso standard and was sometimes compared to Bob Dylan.

Bert Jansch was born in Glasgow on 3 November 1943, he released 23 solo albums, the last of which was called ‘The Black Swan’, released in 2006 it featured collaborations with Beth Orton and Devendra Banhart. He was awarded two lifetime achievement prizes at the BBC Folk awards – the first in 2001 was for his solo achievements and the second, in 2007, was as a member of Pentangle. The band reformed in 2008. In June 2009, following what was at first a routine visit to the dentist; he discovered he had a golf ball-size tumor on one of his lungs. Following treatment, he went on to co-headline a US tour with Neil Young. Jansch had recently been forced to cancel a live show in Edinburgh due to ill health and was living in a hospice in north London at the time of his death. He influenced many including Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Bernard Butler and Paul Simon. According to fellow guitarist Johnny Marr: “He completely reinvented guitar playing and set a standard that is still unequalled today … without Bert Jansch, rock music as it developed in the 60s and 70s would have been very different.”

Neil Young has said “With deep regret Pegi and I acknowledge the passing of Bert Jansch. We were lucky to play with him on all of our shows for the last couple of years. He is a hero of mine, one of my greatest influences. Bert was one of the all-time great acoustic guitarists and singer songwriters. Our sincerest sympathies to his soul mate Loren. We love you Bert.”

What others said about Bert Jansch –

“As much of a great guitar player as Jimi [Hendrix] was, Bert Jansch is the same thing for acoustic guitar…and my favourite” Neil Young

“At one point, I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that LP [1965], I couldn’t believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that” Jimmy Page

“He revolutionized the guitar…I don’t think anybody has ever been revered as much as he is” Dick Gaughan

“If you didn’t know he was a guitar hero to many – including Jimmy Page and Keith Richards – your ears might tell you” – THE EVENING STANDARD

Robin Denselow wrote: “Bert Jansch was that rarity, a musician who really did deserve to be regarded as a legend, and who retained that status throughout his career. He was an extraordinary guitarist and a thoughtful songwriter, and generations of would-be pickers sat at his concerts watching his finger-work with envy and astonishment.”

Bert (Herbert) Jansch, guitarist, was born 3 November 1943 and died 5 October 2011

Following the success of last year’s Zappa plays Zappa concert as part of the Roundhouse’s 70th birthday celebrations for Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa and The Zappa Family Trust are delighted to bring the show to the UK in November and December 2011 for a 13 date UK tour.

Frank Zappa’s eldest son Dweezil and his band ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ will perform the classic 1974 album ‘Apostrophe’ in sequence and in its entirety, plus there will be a host of other Zappa favourites; and in a final twist, the performance will also feature a section – from grave to stage – in which Frank himself will perform with the band via synchronized audio/video technology using unreleased video footage.

Dweezil Zappa has said

“Not only will we be performing with Frank once again during the live performance via enhanced video;   we will also be performing the works from one of his most well known albums -’Apostrophe’, it’s always been one of my favourites and a fan favourite as well. My first experience playing to a large audience took place in the UK at the Hammersmith Odeon with my dad when I was 12.  Years later I still feel a connection to the UK because it’s part of a touchstone type of memory for me. One day I would love to come full circle and play at that venue again. I know the venue now lives on under a different name but there’s a parallel there. My father’s music is also living on under a slightly different name, Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa.”

“I’m really looking forward to this upcoming tour especially on the heels of the Roundhouse Zappa festival. That was a great experience. We’ll have plenty of surprises in the set as well. We always strive to learn new material each time we tour and this time we’re going to dig deep.” DZ

The dates are as follows: NOVEMBER 2011

Thurs 17th York, Barbican

0844 8542757 / http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk £24.50 / £28.50

Fri 18th Gateshead, The Sage

0191 4434661 / http://www.thesagegateshead.org/ £28.50

Sat 19th Edinburgh, Picturehouse

0843 2210100 / http://venues.meanfiddler.com/hmv-picture-house/home £28.50

Mon 21st Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall

0151 7093789 / http://www.liverpoolphil.com/ £10.00  / £18.50 / £23.50 / £28.50 (main price) / £33.50 (boxes)

Tue 22nd Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

0161 9079000 / http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/ £24.50 / £28.50

Wed 23rd Cambridge, Corn Exchange

01223 357851 / http://www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/portal/ £28.50

Thu 24th Basingstoke, Anvil

01256 844244 / http://www.anvilarts.org.uk/ £28.50

Sat 26th Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre

0247 6524524 / http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/ £24.50 / £28.50

Sun 27th Leicester, De Montfort Hall

0116 2333111 / http://www.demontforthall.co.uk/?cat_id=1&level=1 £24.50 / £28.50

Mon 28th Oxford, New Theatre

0844 8471585 / http://www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk/index.asp?VenueID=103 £29.50

Tue 29th London, Barbican

0207 6388891 / http://www.barbican.org.uk/ £29.50

Wed 30th Bristol, Colston Hall

0117 9223686 / http://www.colstonhall.org/ £25.00 / £28.50

DECEMBER 2011

Thu 1st Brighton, Dome

01273 709709 / http://www.brightondome.org/ £28.50