Hi everyone!
It gives me great pleasure to announce the UK shows through to June for this year. There's a possibility of more to be added, but here's what we have. Due to the onset of some weirdly specific seasonal depression (apparently normal for January) I couldn't secure shows in Sheffield and the South West, instead choosing to eat a lot of chocolate I had left over from Christmas. I think it was an okay trade-off.
So, pending further news, these will be the final run of shows dedicated to second album Back Down. The shows will also subject you to me road-testing the occasional new song, causing people to shuffle uncomfortably at the prospect of things they don't know the tune to. I'm pleased to say that, having gigged it for a while now, I'm much more in love with the songs from Back Down than I have been at any other point in the album cycle, now I've finally learned how to play them by myself. This can only be a good sign of things ahead.
Come along and sing the words in the following locations:
2014
14.02.14 CHELTENHAM Frog and Fiddle* // tickets
15.02.14 LEEDS Fox and Newt* // tickets
16.02.14 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners Arms* // tickets
17.02.14 SWINDON The Vic* // tickets
18.02.14 LONDON Camden Monarch* // tickets
07.03.14 COLCHESTER Lakeside Theatre @ Essex Uni // tickets
08.03.14 KINGSTON The Cricketers // tickets
13.04.14 NOTTINGHAM JT Soars // ticket info to follow
14.04.14 MANCHESTER Star & Garter // ticket info to follow
17.04.14 GLASGOW Glad Cafe // ticket info to follow
19.04.14 YORK Black Swan // ticket info to follow
09.05.14 BRISTOL The Louisiana // ticket info to follow
13.05.14 READING South Street Arts Centre // ticket info to follow
31.05.14 CARDIFF Moon Club // ticket info to follow
05.06.14 DERBY Ryans Bar // ticket info to follow
06.06.14 DURHAM Old Cinema Launderette // ticket info to follow
*with Retrospective Soundtrack Players
See you there!
x
Monday, 3 February 2014
Monday, 30 December 2013
a year in rebuke (or, things for your ears 2013)
Well, that was fun, wasn't it? 2013. Thanks for coming. We'll remember you as the year which.. oh, you know what? If you want a proper year in review you should probably watch Charlie Brooker's Newswipe 2013. It's probably on iPlayer already. I'm just here to tell you about nine (correction: TEN) good things you should put in your ears from the past year.
Ten Good Things You Should Put In Your Ears From The Past Year: 2013 Edition
(in no particular order)
Shovels & Rope: O Be Joyful
Second album from Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, albeit their first under the S&R banner. An old-fashioned blues-country trip to the olden days in the Southern states.
See/hear: Lay Low (live at Pickathon)
Chris T-T & the Hoodrats: The Bear
First album in 3,934 years from Chris T-T, this time credited to a full band. Rockier than the normal folk fare but maintains the trademark personal T-T feel. No songs about Nick Clegg though.
See/hear: Gulls
Oxygen Thief: Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused
This is a mini-album but it counts because I say it does. First full-band release from normally-acoustic Bristolian noisemonger. Set faces to melted.
See/hear: Terry Nutkins Salute
Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart
Fiftieth album in two years from Winchester's own folk-punk hero and history/Iron Maiden buff. Probably the most personal album he'll ever commit to record and the most ambitious one to boot.
See/hear: Recovery
Jetplane Landing: Don't Try
Return of Derry's favourite rockers. Political leanings all but banished, replaced with rock, rock and some more rock. And bits for people to yell along to. This shit's important.
See/hear: Beat Generation... Ha!
Jamie Lenman: Muscle Memory
Another return, courtesy of ex-Reuben frontman, and a double album to boot. A mix of beautiful, exquisitely crafted numbers and metal designed to tear out your brain. Set faces to double-melted.
See/hear: Pretty Please
Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo: Dear River
Gentle, wistful folk adventure courtesy of brilliant Aussie and band of chums. Tender, spellbinding, memorable.
See/hear: In The Winter I Return (live)
Off With Their Heads: Home
Disaffected two-minute punk rock at its growling finest.
See/hear: Nightlife
Blitzen Trapper: VII
Seventh album from American rock-country outfit, big on choruses, production values and sometimes murder. Remarkable consistency.
See/hear: Feel the Chill (live at WFUV)
Future of the Left: How To Stop Your Brain In An Accident
Darkly humourous, punchy, punky noise-rock. This is album four, and the spikes are as sharp as ever.
See/hear: Johnny Borrell Afterlife
a note from the author: I haven't heard the new Beans On Toast album yet, so calm down.
Ten Good Things You Should Put In Your Ears From The Past Year: 2013 Edition
(in no particular order)
Shovels & Rope: O Be Joyful
Second album from Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, albeit their first under the S&R banner. An old-fashioned blues-country trip to the olden days in the Southern states.
See/hear: Lay Low (live at Pickathon)
Chris T-T & the Hoodrats: The Bear
First album in 3,934 years from Chris T-T, this time credited to a full band. Rockier than the normal folk fare but maintains the trademark personal T-T feel. No songs about Nick Clegg though.
See/hear: Gulls
Oxygen Thief: Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused
This is a mini-album but it counts because I say it does. First full-band release from normally-acoustic Bristolian noisemonger. Set faces to melted.
See/hear: Terry Nutkins Salute
Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart
Fiftieth album in two years from Winchester's own folk-punk hero and history/Iron Maiden buff. Probably the most personal album he'll ever commit to record and the most ambitious one to boot.
See/hear: Recovery
Jetplane Landing: Don't Try
Return of Derry's favourite rockers. Political leanings all but banished, replaced with rock, rock and some more rock. And bits for people to yell along to. This shit's important.
See/hear: Beat Generation... Ha!
Jamie Lenman: Muscle Memory
Another return, courtesy of ex-Reuben frontman, and a double album to boot. A mix of beautiful, exquisitely crafted numbers and metal designed to tear out your brain. Set faces to double-melted.
See/hear: Pretty Please
Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo: Dear River
Gentle, wistful folk adventure courtesy of brilliant Aussie and band of chums. Tender, spellbinding, memorable.
See/hear: In The Winter I Return (live)
Off With Their Heads: Home
Disaffected two-minute punk rock at its growling finest.
See/hear: Nightlife
Blitzen Trapper: VII
Seventh album from American rock-country outfit, big on choruses, production values and sometimes murder. Remarkable consistency.
See/hear: Feel the Chill (live at WFUV)
Future of the Left: How To Stop Your Brain In An Accident
Darkly humourous, punchy, punky noise-rock. This is album four, and the spikes are as sharp as ever.
See/hear: Johnny Borrell Afterlife
a note from the author: I haven't heard the new Beans On Toast album yet, so calm down.
Friday, 27 December 2013
strange folk for good people (or, tour part 1)
Is it still Christmas? I'm not really sure. It's that uneasy time between Christmas Day and New Year where some of us (or, to be more specific, I) have gone back to work, whereas some people are still sat around in their pants watching Only Fools and Horses.
Whilst we wait for the arrival of Father Time or Mr New Year or for Justin Bieber to ceremonially spit on a tramp or retire from life or for us all to watch a recording from a few weeks ago of when Jools Holland pretended it was New Year (oft soundtracked by cheerless morons, but I don't know who's on it this OH holy wow it's The Proclaimers, HAIM and Lisa Stansfield).. hang on, I forget where I was. NEW PARAGRAPH.
TOUR! I'm doing a tour! Second album Back Down was released in May 2013, so I'm doing some shows in the first half of this year aimed at putting the album to bed, and maybe showcasing some new songs too, if I'm feeling confident. The first batch of dates have been released, the final batch to follow in a month or so. I'm really, really sorry that despite spending most of my life working til I cry to keep people happy, I'm probably not visiting the pub down the road from you, but hey, if you'd like to come to a Ben Marwood show in the few weeks spanning February 14th to March 8th, here are your choices:
--
FEBRUARY
w/Retrospective Soundtrack Players
14.02.14 CHELTENHAM Frog and Fiddle
15.02.14 LEEDS Fox & Newt
16.02.14 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
17.02.14 SWINDON The Vic
18.02.14 LONDON The Monarch, Camden
MARCH
not w/Retrospective Soundtrack Players
07.03.14 COLCHESTER Lakeside Theatre, Essex University
08.03.14 KINGSTON The Cricketers
I'm also playing a warm-up show at the Oakford Social Club on 29th January to kick the whole thing off. Why not come along? Or, if you don't enjoy live music, arrange to meet all your loudest friends at the bar?
If that's not the news you wanted, hold on tight for more dates announced early in 2014 and if that's still not good enough, maybe gaze into this poster and see if you can change the locations with your mind:
No? Oh well, you'll get 'em next time, champ.
xx
Whilst we wait for the arrival of Father Time or Mr New Year or for Justin Bieber to ceremonially spit on a tramp or retire from life or for us all to watch a recording from a few weeks ago of when Jools Holland pretended it was New Year (oft soundtracked by cheerless morons, but I don't know who's on it this OH holy wow it's The Proclaimers, HAIM and Lisa Stansfield).. hang on, I forget where I was. NEW PARAGRAPH.
TOUR! I'm doing a tour! Second album Back Down was released in May 2013, so I'm doing some shows in the first half of this year aimed at putting the album to bed, and maybe showcasing some new songs too, if I'm feeling confident. The first batch of dates have been released, the final batch to follow in a month or so. I'm really, really sorry that despite spending most of my life working til I cry to keep people happy, I'm probably not visiting the pub down the road from you, but hey, if you'd like to come to a Ben Marwood show in the few weeks spanning February 14th to March 8th, here are your choices:
--
FEBRUARY
w/Retrospective Soundtrack Players
14.02.14 CHELTENHAM Frog and Fiddle
15.02.14 LEEDS Fox & Newt
16.02.14 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
17.02.14 SWINDON The Vic
18.02.14 LONDON The Monarch, Camden
MARCH
not w/Retrospective Soundtrack Players
07.03.14 COLCHESTER Lakeside Theatre, Essex University
08.03.14 KINGSTON The Cricketers
I'm also playing a warm-up show at the Oakford Social Club on 29th January to kick the whole thing off. Why not come along? Or, if you don't enjoy live music, arrange to meet all your loudest friends at the bar?
If that's not the news you wanted, hold on tight for more dates announced early in 2014 and if that's still not good enough, maybe gaze into this poster and see if you can change the locations with your mind:
No? Oh well, you'll get 'em next time, champ.
xx
Thursday, 26 December 2013
ho ho ho and a bottle of gin for helen chambers, please
So, there you go. Another year draws to a close. Massive highs, crushing lows: standard fare for the 21st Century.
Personally, after the final shows of the year in York, I've been booking some shows, spending time at a desk and, in the past few days, back at the family home for that one time of the year it's acceptable to sit around and definitely not fight at all, no sir. I've just about recovered from the Christmas Party held at the Duchess in York after the final Black Swan show. Helen Chambers somehow managed to escape a hangover the next day despite being what I estimate to be 50% gin, so I bravely had enough of a hangover for both of us. Personally, I'm putting my downfall down to the Duchess serving their spirits in half-sized cups so, being a man of little desire to change my drinking pace, I managed to imbibe twice as much. All's fair in love and nightclubs. I'll see you next year for the rematch, Chambers.
I'm pretty damn happy with how a lot of things this year went. The difficult second album finally saw the light of day (indeed, I don't normally use the phrase Difficult Second Album, but some of the terms I have used for Back Down are just not fit for a public forum) and wasn't chased out of town like a scary mutant, we went touring in the US with Frank, tore 2000Trees a new chimney over the summer and finally admitted that you probably shouldn't be taking life advice from me via the medium of t-shirt.
Thanks one and all for your support. I really couldn't (and, more to the point, wouldn't) do this without you. There really are too many people to thank, so if you're reading this: this is your thanks.
See you in 2014.
b
Personally, after the final shows of the year in York, I've been booking some shows, spending time at a desk and, in the past few days, back at the family home for that one time of the year it's acceptable to sit around and definitely not fight at all, no sir. I've just about recovered from the Christmas Party held at the Duchess in York after the final Black Swan show. Helen Chambers somehow managed to escape a hangover the next day despite being what I estimate to be 50% gin, so I bravely had enough of a hangover for both of us. Personally, I'm putting my downfall down to the Duchess serving their spirits in half-sized cups so, being a man of little desire to change my drinking pace, I managed to imbibe twice as much. All's fair in love and nightclubs. I'll see you next year for the rematch, Chambers.
I'm pretty damn happy with how a lot of things this year went. The difficult second album finally saw the light of day (indeed, I don't normally use the phrase Difficult Second Album, but some of the terms I have used for Back Down are just not fit for a public forum) and wasn't chased out of town like a scary mutant, we went touring in the US with Frank, tore 2000Trees a new chimney over the summer and finally admitted that you probably shouldn't be taking life advice from me via the medium of t-shirt.
Thanks one and all for your support. I really couldn't (and, more to the point, wouldn't) do this without you. There really are too many people to thank, so if you're reading this: this is your thanks.
See you in 2014.
b
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
As never seen on TV
The nights are drawing in, the air has a chill in it, and somewhere some evil bastard is compiling a Christmas playlist for supermarket radio nationwide. England will soon be in the grip of winter, and there's not a damn thing you or me or Professor Brian Cox can do about it. What did they teach you, Brian?
Anyway, as newspapers report that we're facing a brand new ice age, the worst winter ever contemplated and, in the Mail's case, that we may as well start sacrificing our illegal immigrants immediately (probably, I haven't checked, but it's quite likely isn't it?) to use as fuel, I at least have some good news to warm your hearts and give your eyes something to focus on as the icy hand of Jack Frost - the seasonal character, not the detective played by David Jason - prepares to make our cold water feel colder and our gardens a barren place of woe.
Am I overdoing it?
New tour dates! London, Reading, Cardiff and York
Sure as eggs are eggs, I have some shows to end the year. They go like this:
NOVEMBER
22 - LONDON - Camden Monarch (free!)
24 - READING - Rising Sun Arts Centre (w/Franz Nicolay) // tickets
30 - CARDIFF - Moon Club (w/Ieuan Williams) // tickets
DECEMBER
13 - YORK - The Black Swan (w/Jonny Gill + more) // tickets
14 - YORK - The Black Swan (w/Helen Chambers + more) // tickets
You can even get tickets at the link above, and if you're mental and wish to attend both York shows, there's a special combi-ticket right here.
Ben Morse wants to show you how good he is at stuff
Did you know that videographer, director, photographer and Vitamin Water enthusiast Ben Morse is really good at being a videographer and also directing, photograpy and.. er.. enjoying vitamin water?
Here's him showing you how good he is at three of those above four things.
And finally.. Xtra Mile welcomes Oxygen Thief!
The final member of the Exclamation Triumvirate (as Oxygen Thief, Jim Lockey and I never call ourselves) has finally been claimed by the good people of Xtra Mile Recordings. It's been a long time coming, and about time too. The good folk at Xtra Mile will be releasing Oxygen Thief's first full-band release Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused on 9th December. Can't wait! You can catch him on tour everywhere, and if you need any more information than that, I don't know what to suggest. http://www.oxygenthiefmusic.com/, perhaps.
Stay warm!
b
Anyway, as newspapers report that we're facing a brand new ice age, the worst winter ever contemplated and, in the Mail's case, that we may as well start sacrificing our illegal immigrants immediately (probably, I haven't checked, but it's quite likely isn't it?) to use as fuel, I at least have some good news to warm your hearts and give your eyes something to focus on as the icy hand of Jack Frost - the seasonal character, not the detective played by David Jason - prepares to make our cold water feel colder and our gardens a barren place of woe.
Am I overdoing it?
New tour dates! London, Reading, Cardiff and York
Sure as eggs are eggs, I have some shows to end the year. They go like this:
NOVEMBER
22 - LONDON - Camden Monarch (free!)
24 - READING - Rising Sun Arts Centre (w/Franz Nicolay) // tickets
30 - CARDIFF - Moon Club (w/Ieuan Williams) // tickets
DECEMBER
13 - YORK - The Black Swan (w/Jonny Gill + more) // tickets
14 - YORK - The Black Swan (w/Helen Chambers + more) // tickets
You can even get tickets at the link above, and if you're mental and wish to attend both York shows, there's a special combi-ticket right here.
Ben Morse wants to show you how good he is at stuff
Did you know that videographer, director, photographer and Vitamin Water enthusiast Ben Morse is really good at being a videographer and also directing, photograpy and.. er.. enjoying vitamin water?
Here's him showing you how good he is at three of those above four things.
And finally.. Xtra Mile welcomes Oxygen Thief!
The final member of the Exclamation Triumvirate (as Oxygen Thief, Jim Lockey and I never call ourselves) has finally been claimed by the good people of Xtra Mile Recordings. It's been a long time coming, and about time too. The good folk at Xtra Mile will be releasing Oxygen Thief's first full-band release Accidents Do Not Happen, They Are Caused on 9th December. Can't wait! You can catch him on tour everywhere, and if you need any more information than that, I don't know what to suggest. http://www.oxygenthiefmusic.com/, perhaps.
Stay warm!
b
Thursday, 29 August 2013
ben marwood's USA adventure
The excellent recent US tour with Frank Turner and Off With Their Heads seems like many a moon ago now (well, I've been home three weeks today), but the impact is far-reaching. To me. Today.
Why? I'm glad you asked. It's because the phunky photographer and vivacious videodude Ben Morse has created this small account which accurately sums up the following points which came to light on the US tour:
1) USA! USA!
2) The shows were fun
3) I was tired and look tired
4) Some Americans struggle with my surname
You can see the video in all its wondertastic glory below.
Why? I'm glad you asked. It's because the phunky photographer and vivacious videodude Ben Morse has created this small account which accurately sums up the following points which came to light on the US tour:
1) USA! USA!
2) The shows were fun
3) I was tired and look tired
4) Some Americans struggle with my surname
You can see the video in all its wondertastic glory below.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
US Tour: a tale of two videos
Hey everyone.
This is my first post since getting back from the US tour a couple of weeks ago - my final show there was indeed two weeks ago this very night, which is weird because it feels like a lifetime ago now - and the silence is down to trying to write a tour summary which isn't a) needlessly emotional, b) one million words and c) shit.
Whilst we're all enjoying Ben Marwood Being Silent here's two videos from various stages of the tour: one on the opening night at The Chance in Poughkeepsie before doors opened with me and Frank playing through Question Marks, and the second filmed at the other end of the tour where I am looking bedraggled and much shorter: Frank's festival survival guide, filmed at Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada.
Enjoy!
For the second video, click here!
This is my first post since getting back from the US tour a couple of weeks ago - my final show there was indeed two weeks ago this very night, which is weird because it feels like a lifetime ago now - and the silence is down to trying to write a tour summary which isn't a) needlessly emotional, b) one million words and c) shit.
Whilst we're all enjoying Ben Marwood Being Silent here's two videos from various stages of the tour: one on the opening night at The Chance in Poughkeepsie before doors opened with me and Frank playing through Question Marks, and the second filmed at the other end of the tour where I am looking bedraggled and much shorter: Frank's festival survival guide, filmed at Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada.
Enjoy!
For the second video, click here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)