help franz do the struggle

Hey friends,

you like good music, right? some of you might have seen the incredible Franz Nicolay on the Frank Turner tour this May, and he's coming back to these shores in November/December for some shows. See him if you can, it's heartily recommended.

Even back in May his new songs alerted people to how good his new album will doubtless be, but (take it from me) funding a new album is not easy if you're not on a label who will throw money at it. Franz has set himself a goal of raising $10,000 to go towards recording his new album through Kickstarter, and given that he's one of the greatest songwriters to ever do writing to a song, it would be just plain rude of me to not encourage you to throw your hard-earned in his direction.

No coins though.

Link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/625130797/franz-nicolay-do-the-struggle-lp?ref=card

this december: a non-christmas party

hi all

so i've confirmed gig #20 of my twenty-gig tour to end the year, so we are officially at full capacity. the final gig, on the 11th of december, is something like a party, and it's also in December, but let's make this very clear, this is not a Christmas party. i mean, come in christmas wear if you like, but it's September so don't even begin thinking about that now. you should still all be thinking about what you're going to trick or treat as this year, right?

right.

so anyway, this party is less like a get-drunk-and-throw-up-on-yourself party, and more like an excellent gig-party, at which i'll be joined by a couple of very special guests to be announced this very weekend. the show is on a Sunday night so doors will be at the earlier time of 7pm, and we'll be done by 10.30, so if you're feeling brave enough to trust me that the line up is superb, you can part company with £5 in exchange for a ticket right here:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/136096

the full list of dates is now like this, and hopefully shall remain so:

SEPTEMBER

17 Glastonbury The King Arthur

OCTOBER

1 Manchester The Garrett

2 Kidderminster The Swan (matinee show)

7 Bristol Louisiana

8 Birmingham Bright House

9 Nr. Swindon House Show

29 London Borderline

NOVEMBER

4 London The Wheelbarrow

6 Portsmouth Edge of the Wedge

9 Oxford Port Mahone

11 Bath Green Park Tavern

12 Leicester Crumblin' Cookie

13 Cheltenham Slak

19 Reading Rising Sun Arts Centre

24 Swindon The Vic

DECEMBER

2 Nr. Kettering House Show

3 York City Screen Basement

4 Leeds House Show

4 Huddersfield House Show

11 Reading Ben Marwood's Non-Christmas Party @ Rising Sun Arts Centre

Obviously you're too late to come to the Glastonbury show, but hopefully I'll see you at some others.

Take care

b. x

one down, nineteen to go

2011 careers towards winter and, if today is anything to go by, the sky looks set to hang heavy in autumnal grey anytime.. now. Or perhaps it was just because today was Monday, a day when even the brightest tapestry is reduced to the texture of soggy microwaved lasagne.

Actually even that's not as poor as the BBQ Chicken pizza I just attempted to eat. Oh Monday, i'll get you back for this.

As I type this I am one date into the final tour of the year - that one show being a delightful, smalltown show in my new favourite Glastonbury pub, the King Arthur. Friendly hosts, nice locals, and a couple of greatly entertaining supports - and with that out of the way, nineteen dates remain. Originally we were looking at one more, but due to that old enemy Miscommunication, the Oxford house show on 9th October is no longer going ahead. I'll still be at the Port Mahon on November 9th though.

The next leg of the tour takes us to the following places, all of which are with Oxygen Thief, who has been recording a new video this past weekend. More on that when.. he tells us more on that. Dates!

OCTOBER

1 Manchester The Garrett (onstage 8.30pm)

2 Kidderminster The Swan (matinee show, doors 3pm)

7 Bristol Louisiana

8 Birmingham Bright House

9 House Show

Take it easy, kids!

Ben

new song goes Mile High / tour dates confirmed

Hey all!

Stalkers take note - I've moved house. Alas, this means I'm mostly without internet until later this week, so hello from my parents' lounge with this important news update. My mum is currently down the pub, my dad is.. shortly on his way to the pub. It's good to have a routine.

NEW SONG EXCLUSIVE TO iTUNES

After the warehouse fire that destroyed more or less the entire stock of Xtra Mile Recordings back at the start of August, those cheeky chaps are bouncing straight back into action with a compilation called Xtra Mile High Club Vol. 3 which, would you believe, is the third instalment in the Xtra Mile High Club series and is an iTunes exclusive.

Naturally I'm delighted to be included on such an awesome compilation. The track in question is a solo acoustic version of 'We Are No Longer Twenty-Five', which proved a big hit at shows this year. Also included on the compilation are the likes of Frank Turner, Chris T-T, Dive Dive, Franz Nicolay, Crazy Arm, Fighting Fiction and many, many more.

More information is available here - go see!

ALSO, TOUR DATES CONFIRMED

Yes, at long last, the full list of tour dates have been confirmed for the upcoming tour. Alors!

SEPTEMBER

17 Glastonbury The King Arthur

OCTOBER

1 Manchester The Garrett (OT) - free show

2 Kidderminster The Swan (OT) - matinee show, 3pm, free show

7 Bristol The Louisiana (OT)

8 Birmingham Bright House (OT) - free show

9 House Shows

29 London Borderline (DG)

NOVEMBER

4 London Wheelbarrow (KE)

6 Portsmouth Edge of the Wedge (KE)

9 Oxford Port Mahon

11 Bath Green Park Tavern (OT)

12 Leicester The Crumblin' Cookie (OT)

13 Cheltenham Slak (OT)

19 Reading Rising Sun Arts Centre (OT)

24 Swindon The Vic (OT)

DECEMBER

2 House Show

3 York City Screen Basement Bar (OT)

4 House Shows

(OT) denotes with Oxygen Thief

(DG) as a guest of Dave J Giles

(KE) with Kyle D Evans and Mynameisian

See you out there!

b. x