Thursday at HRH Prog 3

Things had begun when we arrived but once we were settled in it was off to find the main room in time to grab a bit of food and see most of Knifeworld's set. They were bonkers. I think there was eight of them. The layers of sound were almost overwhelming and I will have to look into them a little bit more.

Rounding off night one was a Lithuanian band called The Skys. They were loud (in a good way) and their keyboard player rocked out in an almost trancelike state, she was mesmerising.

Then it was back to our little flat type accomdation to prepare for day two.

HRH Prog 3 Begins Tomorrow

This is really a bit of a test to try out blogging from my phone.

HRH Prog 3 begins tomorrow and if there's a reasonable signal I should be able to post updates from the event.

Now, please note - any pics in posts sent from the event will have been taken on my phone so they won't always be that good. Also I really dont know how much time or signal I will have for updating.

I will probably also post pics to my instagram account. My user name is booweb if you want to take a look.

There will be proper pictures and hopefully a proper write up after the event.

Fingers crossed this works.

International Pop Overthrow Liverpool Schedule Goes Online

The schedule for International Pop Overthrow Liverpool (May 12 to 19) has been published online.
Click here for details.

Current line up of gigs for 2015. (edited)

I finally kick off my concert going year next weekend with a trip to HRH Prog 3.

My 2015 gig calender is growing slowly.

After HRH Prog there's The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in London April 17th followed in May by the International Pop Overthrow Liverpool event and Chas and Dave.

In June I get to enjoy my Christmas present and see Elvis Costello in Liverpool. And I think I then have to fast forward to September for my birthday gifts to myself of tickets for King Crimson and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

I think that's it so far, but there's bound to be more.

ETA: Donovan! I keep forgetting Donovan in October.

King Crimson UK Tour Dates

Tickets on general sale tomorrow 

There was a pre-sale this morning via Live Nation. 

New Album By Dave Rave and The Governors

Just giving Sweet American Music by Dave Rave and The Governors a listen on bandcamp.

Click here for details.

And here's the title track 

CD Review - In Animal Character by Bruise

I received this CD around Christmas time but have only just been able to give it the time it deserves.

On their social network sites Bruise describe themselves as Nu Folk (facebook) and Progressive Folk (twitter), but my only labels for them are Jim and Isobel who I have known now for several years. (Which is my way of declaring a little bit of bias.)

I was enchanted from the opening track by the vocals, the arrangements, instrumentation, the melodies. Seriously, I know it sounds like I'm just gushing, and to be honest, I am. The songs already feel like old friends as I play it through for the second time. The opening track, Dreamland, is the kind of tune that is going to lodge itself into my subconscious and echo around in there at random moments for quite some time. And as I listened to the second track, I Am A Dancer, I was already recommending the album to family members! My Favourite Hurricane sounds brilliant played loud through my headphones, and even as I pick out tracks for comment I feel I shouldn't be leaving the other tracks out.

You can buy In Animal Character here direct from the band via Amazon, or if you prefer the instant gratification of a download you can get one by clicking here.

And don't just take my word for it about this album, check out these tweets from Gordon Giltrap.