The Magpies in Ripon

Last night  I went to Ripon to see The Magpies on the first night of their tour to launch their first album. I didn't know what to expect  as I hadn't listened to their music beforehand but was interested in going to the gig after seeing it announced on Sarah Smout's Facebook page, which I liked after seeing her play cello in Michael Chapman's band  in York last year.  Sarah was not there last night and the band consisted of Bella Gafney, Polly Bolton and Holly Brandon. I was very very impressed. I've been a huge folk fan for most of my life and The Magpies are one of the most exciting bands I've ever seen. They have real charisma and their blend of voices and instruments is stunning. All three write and write very well. Bella and Polly are both really distinctive lead vocalists. Their original songs are extremely good. The standout for me was 'Golden Girl', a beautiful haunting song, inspired by Swaledale (where my lead miner ancestors worked before they walked to Durham to become coal miners).Their covers were interesting and well chosen. I bought their CD (and was actually the first person ever to buy one) of which they unsurprisingly sold quite a few. 'Tidings' is excellent and I've played it more than once today. I've become an instant fan and will make a point to seeing this band again soon.
If you get a chance to see them on their current tour or subsequently, don't miss the opportunity. I'd be surprised if they didn't become stars of the folk music scene quickly.

https://www.themagpiesmusic.com

8 Tracks

This is my first post to this blog in just over 4 years. You can find other activities of mine in other places on the web if you search for manonadune or radioRAERONA. I'll post more about my web radio station later but the reason for posting today is to post a couple of playlists. I was sorting through my unread emails and came across one from 8 Tracks, sent at the end of December saying that they were ceasing streaming on 31st December. The email included the playlists I'd posted on 8 Tracks, so I thought I'd post them here:

a first mix on the first day of February | February 01, 2010

A first attempt at a mix here. There are ten tracks, including music by Tom Rapp, The Outsiders and Doll by Doll.

1. The Jeweler (2006 Remastered Album Version) by Tom Rapp
2. Daddy Died on Saturday by The Outsiders
3. Disorient Express by Largo
4. The Key Shop (War & Peace) by Hofstede-Kloet-Stips
5. Through us all by Isaac Guillory
6. The Four Horsemen by Aphrodite's Child
7. Ordinary Joe by Terry Callier
8. Main Travelled Roads by Doll By Doll
9. A Thing Well Made by The Mutton Birds
10. Sad Eye by The Pretty Things

manonadune's 2nd mix for February's cold days | February 19, 2010

ISB aren't on this but their song about February is in my head anyway. Here are ten tracks including music by Old Blind Dogs and the Tragically Hip

1. Do It by Jesse Winchester
2. Cordelia by The Tragically Hip
3. Bad Words, Evil People by Skin Alley
4. John the Baptist by John Martyn
5. Battle of Waterloo by Old Blind Dogs
6. Treehouse by Timebox
7. Backwards Down the Number Line by Phish
8. Woodland Bop by Tyrannosaurus Rex
9. Too Close to the Sun by The Mutton Birds
10. The Light Will Stay On by The Walkabouts

a short playlist for mid December

Here's a short playlist I compiled this afternoon:

Tindersticks — People Keep Comin' Around
The Roches — Pretty and High
Mouth Music — Snowgatherer
Van Morrison — Snow in San Anselmo
John P. Strohm — Tangelo
Stalk-Forrest Group — Gil Blanco County
The Coal Porters — Idiot Wind
The Johnstons — The Tunnel Tigers
Tri Yann — Complainte Gallaiset
Al Anderson — Without Your Love
Exlovers — Wicked Game
Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo — Pause

Music in Belfast

In September, we visited Belfast for a short break. This was the first time I had been to Northern Ireland and I will definitely be visiting again and hopefully many times. I felt instantly at home in Belfast, which quickly became one of my very favourite places. While there we came across from great music and you can find a link to some videos I shot below:

Johnny McCarney - The Road

Gerry Norman - I Bit The Bullet

Tristan O'Meara - Feels Like Home Again

My latest cdr compilation

After listening to music in the car from a usb stick for a couple of years and usually random playing hundreds of tracks,  I'm now driving a car that has only a CD player. It's made me be more actively creative and below is the tracklist, comprising just under 80 minutes of music of my latest CDR compilation.


It Ain't Easy - Claudia Lennear
Shake It - Terence Boylan
I can't Live Without You - Jimmy Clif
Bad Time - Grand Funk Railroad
Staying Awhile - Isaac Guillory
Deep Water - Grapefruit
Flying -Robert Walter's 20th Congress
When I Was A Cowboy - Harper's Bizarre
Sit Yourself Down - Genya Ravan
Tired Of Trying, Bored With Lying, Scared Of Dying -Manfred Mann
I Will Be A Pilgrim - Arch Garrison
Crawling Kingsnake - Elvin Bishop
Working On A Building - Richie Havens
Long Handled Shovel (Take 8)- Pacific Gas & Electric
Know Me When I'm Gone - Quarter After
Genuine Imitation Life - Jackie Lomax
Save Our Ship - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Always Another Train - Brian Short
Down By The River - Jill Sobule With John Doe
Desperation - Calvin Russell
Sixteen Days - Tristan O' Meara

Nacht En Ontij

I first heard Nacht En Ontij by Boudewijn de Groot when a friend in den Haag played it to me many years ago. I've been playing it again a lot recently. There really is no other record quite like it for evoking a particular atmosphere. Even though I hardly understand a word it doesn't matter at all. The music and vocal performance are pure brilliance. I think this is one of the truly great records.

Jacco Gardner at the 100 Club

At the end of April I went to see Jacco Gardner at the 100 Club. I recently heard Jacco's music for the first time and became an instant fan. He plays a psychedelia for the 21st Century that channels the 1960s with real flair. Young enough to be the grandchild of the musicians who originated psychedelic rock,  he brings his own uniqueness to the genre. This is music strongly rooted in the Dutch psych tradition and was played by a superb band. I was very very impressed. A nice bonus for the evening was the support band VENN. Playing only their fourth gig they made a big impression me and I will go and see them again.