New album ‘The First Snow’ out now – free to all mailing list members!

My latest album, ‘The First Snow’, is now available to download at Bandcamp. All mailing list members have been emailed a download code to get the album for free. If you’re not yet a member of the mailing list, click here to sign up and a code will be emailed to you. The album comprises of thirteen tracks I recorded at home this year, including cover versions of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dragonfly’ and Ryan Adams’ ‘When The Stars Go Blue’ and, as it’s Christmas, my take on ‘The Coventry Carol’.

Four of my earlier albums are also available to download from Bandcamp – and all for free for a limited period: ‘Solomon’s Tump’, ‘What You Do Comes Back To You’, ‘Final Whistle’ and ‘Carruthers Gets Bashed’. All in your choice of high quality format. ‘By The Banks Of The A350′ will be available on the site soon, and ‘Antheology’, ‘Latest Pop Sounds’ and ‘The Parousia’ will all follow in 2012. All albums come with bonus material: demos and rare tracks, sleeve notes, pics and original artwork. Click here to view.

On 4th December I was interviewed on Radio Swindon 105.5FM and performed songs from ‘Stay Human’. You can download the podcast here: http://soundcloud.com/blake-1-2/podcast-blake-on-the-late-gig

As soon as I have a release date for ‘Stay Human’ on 208 Records I’ll let you know.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Blake

Stay Human picked up by indie label!

Good news! It looks likely that Stay Human will be getting a UK release via 208 Records which I am absolutely delighted about. Rob Dady, the label owner, is a really nice guy and really gets my stuff, I feel. Strangely, our paths crossed before a few years back when the band he used to play in, Roundabout, received a mention on the same blog as me, and our musical similarities were highlighted by the blogger. You can read it here: http://partlyporpoise.wordpress.com/tag/roundabout/

(Hilarious that, even then, on the release of Solomon’s Tump, I was referring to it as my last shot!!)

Furthermore, musician and music journalist Simon Wells, who is currently on tour promoting his album ‘Sometimes In The Morning’, also on 208, has very kindly offered to write the sleeve notes! Simon has just published his book about The Rolling Stones drugs bust in 1967, ‘Butterfly On A Wheel’. I am half way through reading it and enjoying it immenseley – I heartily recommend it to anyone remotely interested in the sixties! You can order it via Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Butterfly-Wheel-Great-Rolling-Stones/dp/1849389950

I did my first electric gig for a while at the St James Wine Vaults in Bath on the 4th November. It was really good fun. Thanks to everyone who came. Here’s the set list:

A Better Way

Such A Shame

Stay Human #1

Shooting Star

Kiss of Judas

Anyhow

Mr Dawkins

Fire Fire

Youve Got To Give It Up, Baby

I Wanna See You Again

Can’t wait to do more. Maybe one at The Croft in Bristol in soon. Playing The Beehive in Swindon on Sunday 29th January, 2pm.

I’ve also finished writing the songs for another album of original material likely to be called The First Snow. I’ve recorded eight out of twelve tracks so far at home. Obviously, the release date for this one will be sometime later in 2012. I have no idea at the moment when Stay Human will surface but watch this space for details. You can listen to some provisional mixes of the new material at Soundcloud.

On Tuesday 13th December I will be performing with The Bearfield Commune at Holt Acoustic Club - a monthly event that myself and Helen and Richard from The Commune organise at the Old Ham Tree pub in the village. Entry is free and Jessica Vincent and Killing No Murder are also on the bill. From 8pm.

Cheers

Blake

Blake live in Bath tonight!

Hi.
I didn’t have much advance notice of this gig so this announcement is somewhat late in the day, but you may be interested to know that myself and the band are appearing at the St James Wine Vaults in Bath this evening. http://www.stjameswinevaults.co.uk/ I don’t know the names of the other acts on but we’re onstage at 9pm so I’m told. It will be a 30 minute electric set featuring some of the songs on Stay Human and some older ‘hits’ (ha ha!)
In other (exciting) news, I have found a fantastic indie record label that would like to release Stay Human! More details to follow…
Oh yeah, and I can give you advance notice of our next gig which will be at The Croft, Bristol on Monday 14th November: http://www.the-croft.com/
Hopefully see you soon.
Cheers
Blake

Stay Human album finished!

Today Andy Rowland, producer on Stay Human, is sending off the audio master for duplication. The CD is being released at the Greenbelt festival on Friday 26th August. It will be on sale in the G-Music tent on site. The digital release will happen sometime in September – watch this space. It’s been loads of fun recording it and I have the following people to thank for taking the time to come into the studio to record different contributions:
Chris Scrivens – drums
Jon Godfrey – drums and percussion
Helen Bousfield – bass, concertina and flute
Richard Bousfield – lead guitar
Amy Evans – vocals and keyboards
Paul Kench – lead guitar
Joe Brown – vocals, bass and mandolin
Eddie Giddings – mandolin and acoustic guitar
Claire Horton, Jill Perrett and Liz Weldon – vocals
Richard Kilbey – banjo, mandolin and slide guitar
Thank you guys – what a fabulous bunch of talented people! I’m very lucky to have you as my friends.
You can watch a video diary of our time in the studio at my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/thisisblake
I owe a special debt of gratitude to Andy Rowland. He has been incredibly patient and good natured throughout the entire process, despite me putting him under an enormous amount of pressure owing to the limited amount of time we had to get the job done. We finished the final mix at 3.15am! He has also contributed so many fantastic ideas and I am absolutely delighted with the way each of the tracks on Stay Human has come out. He completely ‘got’ the project from the outset and the finished album sounds just like I had imagined it would in my head. His skill as a producer is exceptional. I have never met anyone with ears like his!
I also need to thank my lovely wife for her patience throughout a very testing few months while I raised the funds to enable me to embark on the project via PledgeMusic and while I have been away from home so much recording at the studio. I owe her big time and I have promised to make it up to her. Any ideas on how I might do this as quickly as possible would be gratefully received!!
Finally, I want to thank everyone who pledged to buy the album via the PledgeMusic site. Stay Human would not have been produced without you and I really hope that you will enjoy listening to it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
See you soon
Blake

Stay Human album funding reaches target!

Hi. Just thought I’d update you that my Stay Human project on PledgeMusic.com has reached its 100% target. In fact, thanks to you it currently stands at 129% which means we’ve raised nearly £300 for Greenbelt, so well done to everybody who made a pledge – it’s very much appreciated! If you haven’t already, there’s still time. Just visit http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/blake I’ll be starting recording at Gatehouse Studios, Swindon, with producer Andy Rowland on Saturday 23rd July. I will be posting regular updates on the pledgemusic site, so if you’ve made a pledge you can expect to receive more free goodies such as rough mixes, video diary etc…

Also wanted to mention that Stay Human T-shirts designed by Richard Kilbey are now available exclusively from Spreadshirt.co.uk Check them out! Richard’s fantastic prints are also available to purchase from the pledgemusic site. Click here to browse the gallery of photographs.

Hope to see some of you at my gig with The Bearfield Commune at the weekend. I’ll be performing five songs from Stay Human plus some other Blake originals and an eclectic selection of covers. We’re being backed in the second set by vocal group ‘Harmony’. Details below (click on poster).

Stay Human T shirts available

The Bearfield Commune Live Saturday 16th July 2011

Stay Human – new charity album project

I’ve teamed up with PledgeMusic to create my new album ‘Stay Human’ in collaboration with my friends and fans, with all profits going to the Greenbelt Arts Festival. I have written ten new songs for the record, many in response to the news of the death of the Italian peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni in the Gaza strip. His inspirational book, ‘Gaza: Stay Human’ was written during the 22 day siege of Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force in 2009. He was tragically murdered by Islamist extremists on April 14th this year. The group responsible was seemingly unconcerned that Arrigoni was living in Gaza as part of the International Solidarity Movement to try and raise awareness of the suffering of the Palestinian people. Please follow the link below to watch a short film I have made about the project and to pledge your support. If you would like to help, you will receive exclusive updates such as demo tracks, exclusive mp3s and behind-the-scenes videos and pics. There are all sorts of other incentives to pledge listed on my page, too. As I say, I will not be making a penny from this project, but all profits will instead go to Greenbelt. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the festival, please watch the film. Thanks for your time. I hope that together we can make something memorable. Blake