London – The Ladies of the Lake is the first themed compilation of the gold and platinum-selling EXCALIBUR series of Celtic Rock albums.
The creator of Excalibur, Alan Simon, said of the compilation: “Since for creation of the first Excalibur album, it’s been a privilege to work with so many strong ladies characters. I speak not just of Guinevere and Morgane, but also of the talented singers who have brought some of the roles to life.”
The compilation follows the re-release of the Excalibur Trilogy, and the recently released fourth album, Excalibur IV: The Dark Age of the Dragon.
Alan Simon continued: “The rock genre is often dominated by so many male musicians, but it shouldn’t be forgotten how much Moya, Jacqui, Maddy, Karan, Kohann, Nikki, Sonja, Siobhan and Maite have given of their unique musical talents. This compilation is a tribute to them. they are the Ladies of the Lake. the Ladies of Excalibur. Please enjoy :)”
The compilation features the guests:
Moya Brennan
Maddy Prior
Karan Casey
Kohann
Siobhan Owen
Jacqui McShee
Nikki Matheson
Sonja Kristina
Maite Itoiz
Tracks:
1) The Origins feat MOYA BRENNAN
2) Secret Garden feat MADDY PRIOR
3) The Girl & the Demon feat KARAN CASEY
4) Skye feat KOHANN
5) Calling For You feat MOYA BRENNAN
6) The Last Lament of a Fairy feat SIOBHAN OWEN
7) There is Someone feat SIOBHAN OWEN
8) Silver Moon feat MOYA BRENNAN
9) Yseult feat SIOBHAN OWEN
10) Sacrifice feat JACQUI MCSHEE
11) A Prayer For My Lover feat SIOBHAN OWEN
12) Morning Song feat NIKKI MATHESON
13) The Passion feat SONJA KRISTINA
14) Dreaming Again feat SIOBHAN OWEN
15) Dun Angus feat MAITE ITOIZ
In May 2018, Anneke van Giersbergen performed two career-spanning concerts with orchestral arrangements together with Residentie Orkest The Hague. Now those special concerts will be available for all to hear when they are released as ‘Symphonized’, an 11-track live album due out on November 16th, 2018.
Today sees the launch of a brand new promo video for the unreleased track “Zo Lief,” and you can watch that here:
Anneke comments: “The song “Zo Lief” is about hanging on and letting go. I always thought that I would be a pretty relaxed mom, but dealing with transitions turns out to be more challenging than expected. Every time my son Finn enthusiastically welcomes a new stage of his independence, I have to admit that letting go of parental attachment isn’t that easy. An English translation of the song title is ‘So Sweet’ and this is the very first time I release a song in my native language as a solo artist. I wrote and demoed ‘Zo Lief’ a couple of years ago and Gijs Kramers made a subtle arrangement for orchestra. The video was shot at the Dutch North Sea coast by director Mark Uyl.”
You can listen to the previously released orchestral version of “Your Glorious Light Will Shine – Helsinki,” originally from VUUR’s debut album, here: https://youtu.be/LzWAkj0uwfs
Taking in material from across her career, she performs stunning versions of songs by VUUR, The Gentle Storm and The Gathering as well as solo material. Anneke comments: “’Symphonized’ was recorded last May in Dutch venues 013 (Tilburg) and Paard (The Hague), as I performed alongside the wonderful Residentie Orkest The Hague conducted by Arjan Tien. The orchestra is one of the leading Dutch symphony orchestras and regularly initiates cross-over projects. When artistic director Sven Arne Tepl invited me to create new renditions of songs I have previously recorded, I was immediately enthusiastic. I thought it was the perfect prelude to my 25-year anniversary next year, as I made my stage debut with The Gathering in 1994. The compelling arrangements were written by Marijn van Prooijen and Gijs Kramers. Instead of a band with additional symphonic accompaniment, we chose to solely use the instruments of the orchestra and I’m very proud of the result!”
The album will be available as CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD & as digital audio download.
1. Feel Alive
2. Amity (originally released by The Gathering)
3. Your Glorious Light Will Shine – Helsinki (originally released by VUUR)
4. Two Souls (originally released by Lorrainville)
5. When I Am laid In Earth (aria by Henry Purcell)
6. Travel (originally released by The Gathering)
7. Zo Lief (unreleased song in Dutch)
8. You Will Never Change
9. Freedom – Rio (originally released by VUUR)
10. Forgotten (originally released by The Gathering)
11. Shores Of India (originally released by The Gentle Storm)
Dutch vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen is easily one of the hardest working people in music, and an artist that defies being pigeonholed by genre. She will forever be known as the vocalist for melancholic metallers The Gathering, but since striking out on her own in 2007, she has solidified a solo career, recorded and performed multiple times with Canadian metal genius Devin Townsend, and lent her honey-sweet, yet powerful voice to the likes of Anathema, Icelandic folk group Árstíðir, Within Temptation, Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen, Moonspell, John Wetton and Napalm Death.
Residentie Orkest The Hague was founded by its first principal conductor Henri Viotta in 1904 and quickly attracted composers like Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel. The orchestra’s reputation as one of the finest orchestras in Europe makes it an appropriate figurehead for Dutch city The Hague as a cosmopolitan place of justice, peace, and culture.
Having proven her credentials and immense vocal talent for 13 years as front woman of The Gathering, in 2007 Anneke van Giersbergen felt it was time to begin her own solo career. Along with her new band Agua de Annique the charismatic singer quickly established herself as a solo artist, releasing several albums to critical and popular acclaim.
2012’s ‘Everything is Changing’ was something of a milestone in Anneke’s solo career. The album, which was the first to be released under her own name got her nominated for two Edison awards – Holland’s most prestigious music prize – in the categories ‘Best Female Artist’ and ‘Best Album’.
On March 20 2015, Anneke van Giersbergen and Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) released their collaborative album ‘The Diary’ under the name The Gentle Storm.
Anneke’s new progressive metal band VUUR released their much-anticipated debut album ‘In This Moment We Are Free – Cities’ on October 20 2017. The album entered the Dutch Album Top 100 at number 2, Van Giersbergen’s highest-ever chart position. Watch the bands video for ‘My Champion – Berlin’ here: https://youtu.be/gAwDw5zXtLI
(Above: A fun moment on stage with Jon Poole during the Lifesigns appearance at Resonate Festival, London, 8th September 2018)
Hi, Thanks to everyone who came out to see us on the various gigs over the past couple of months. So many great highlights, including my first tour of Canada with Strawbs (great to meet a number of Iona fans at those gigs! Iona played in Canada several times). I’m just about to start another month of touring in the UK with Lifesigns and Strawbs, so I do hope some of you can make it along – we’re getting to a few places we’ve not been to for a while, including the North East and Scotland, which I’m looking forward to.
Also just confirmed, a very special Dave & Sally gig in The Wirral on 8th December. My good friend and Iona co-founder David Fitzgerald will be joining us on flutes/saxes/whistles, which I’m thrilled about.
Lots more exciting stuff coming up over the next 6 months, including the Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend in New Jersey in April, with some amazing special guests, including Tony Visconti, Larry Fast, John Ford, Blue Weaver, Annie Haslam, a 30 piece orchestra (recruited from the finest orchestral players in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia), and a certain caped crusader….I’m currently working on a few of the orchestral arrangements for this, so it’s all go at the moment.
GIG GUIDE
Gigs below are in chronological order.
LIFESIGNS
7th November, O’Riley’s, Hull, UK
8th, Queen Vic, South Shields, UK
9th, Backstage at the Green, The Green Hotel, 2 The Muirs, KY13 8AS, Kinross, Scotland
10th, Drygate, 85 Drygate Street, G4 0UT, Glasgow, Scotland
11th, Bannermans, Edinburgh, Scotland
STRAWBS UK TOUR
14th November, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
15th, The Robin, Bilston
17th, HRH Prog Festival, Pwllheli, Wales
18th, Corn Exchange, Hertford
19th, Public Halls, Harpenden
21st, The Pier, Worthing
22nd, The Brook, Southampton
23rd, The Astor Theatre, Deal
24th, Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
25th, Cheese & Grain, Frome
26th, Under the Bridge, Chelsea Football Ground, London
March European Tour, (further dates still to be added) 7th March, Das Rind, Offenbach, Germany 8th, Bluesgarage, Isernhagen, Germany 9th, De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands 10th, Yard Club, Cologne, Germany 17th, The Musician, Leicester, UK 24th, The Half Moon, Putney, London, UK
STRAWBS
12th April, YMCA, Boulton Center, Bay Shore, NY, USA
13th, Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, USA
14th-16th, USA dates TBC
17th, Lovin’ Cup, Rochester, NY, USA
18th, USA date TBC
19th, Towne Crier, Beacon, NJ, USA
20th, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, USA
26th-27th, Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend, Lakewood, NJ, USA
(with very special guests and symphony orchestra)
Top: Strawbs rocking the Club Soda in Montreal, 11th October 2018
Bottom: First concert on the tour, playing to a packed house at Maison de la Musique, Quebec City, 10th October 2018. Photos by Sharon Rudolph.
Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear – Live in the Studio DVD
Released in 2018
A beautifully filmed and recorded document of the duo’s live set, honed over numerous concerts throughout the past 4 years. The main programme features around 85 minutes of material and demonstrates the range and diversity of music that Dave & Sally perform at their always well received concerts. Featuring the duo’s arrangements of music from Dave’s previous band Iona, his solo albums and several traditional Irish folk pieces, filmed, recorded and mixed at Dave’s Open Sky Studio. DVD Extras include Dave & Sally ‘In Conversation’, plus some live footage from their concert at The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield in March 2018.
‘Wonderful’ -Tom Newman (producer Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells etc)
“Dave Bainbridge, Thank YOU! ..it was a stupendous evening. Absolutely brilliant and beautiful performance. Sally’s singing is incredible, we loved every minute! Everybody go and see this duo, they are something very special indeed, we can’t wait to have them back.” -Debs Earl (promoter – www.folkinthebarn.co.uk )
“Great show last night with Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear.” -Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention)
“I’m not sure I have the words to say how much I enjoyed every moment from 3pm to pack down – Sally (what a voice!) and Dave were a joy to work with and absolutely fantastic throughout. As for the gig one word – Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!” -Steve (promoter)
“Great Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear gig last night in Farncombe performing a mix of Iona, Dave solo and some traditional arrangements. Two amazingly talented musicians! I can’t think of too many musicians who are both virtuoso guitarists and pianists but Dave excels on each and not forgetting his pretty mean bouzouki playing! I’m sure Dave could turn his hand to stand up comedy too – some very funny introductions last night! Beautiful vocals too from Sally. If you get the chance to catch them live then grab it. ))” -Ian Jones (Karnataka)
PERSONNEL:
Dave Bainbridge – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Bouzouki, Keyboard
Sally Minnear – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Tenor Recorder, Tin Whistle, Keyboard
PRODUCED BY: Dave Bainbridge
LABEL: Open Sky Records
TRACK LISTING:
1 Kells Theme
2 Treasure
3 Vox loops/Heavenfield/Jigs
4 My Lagan Love
5 Piano Impro/Machrie Moor
6 The Humours of Ballyloughlan
7 Caoineadh Cu Chulainn
8 Today
9 Songs of Ascent Pt 2
10 The Storm
11 Shuil a Ruin
12 Innocence Found
13 Revelation
14 Heaven’s Bright Sun
15 Beyond These Shores
16 Castlerigg/Reels
1 Chi-Rho
2 Veil of Gossamer
3 Irish Day
4 Luke – The Calf
Dream Theater’s upcoming release, “Distance Over Time”, comes out in February 2019. To announce the details of the band’s most recent offering, Dream Theater has enlisted the help of fans to spread the word about the release and even to break the news of the record release date, cover artwork, and to share the first taste of never before heard music. With this album, a return to the band’s roots, Dream Theater hoped to create a fan engagement experience unlike any previously undertaken.
To lead into the initial release of material, an Alternate Reality Game was launched. This game encompassed a “treasure hunt” whereby fans were able to search for clues hidden in various photos, video, social media posts, and more. Cooperation to host the Alternate Reality Game focused on various fan communities. The band’s fan club, forum members and Reddit each brought in technical expertise to create puzzles for the participants. Each and every week, a new puzzle would be released, often in the form of a candid photo or video from the studio where Dream Theater recorded their latest album. This would contain a piece of the puzzle – a clue to be used in the process of solving that week’s mystery. The puzzles were usually based on some encryption scheme or hiding information in the files, such as hiding a zipped file with text in an image file or hiding text within the spectrogram of an audio file. One puzzle had the fans decoding Morse Code on a light diode of recording equipment, while another had the fans decoding a touch-tone number from a phone call. Fans had to solve a sonogram, sudoku puzzle, reverse engineer an encryption scheme to find a key that would decrypt a specific text. They had to solve crosswords and trivia games. Fans were eager to participate and often worked together to collectively solve the puzzles within hours of their release.
Ultimately, there would be one person – one fan who would be the first to solve the final clue. As their prize, this fan would be the first person to possess previously unreleased Dream Theater content. The very first person outside the band to have possession of any new music, new artwork, new album title. It would be the fans who would solve the puzzle, complete the game and break the news of the release, disseminating this brand new Dream Theater news to the world from their personal online presence.
It is the hope of Dream Theater to have created a fun and engaging fan experience. A unique manner to amp up the excitement for the new release, and to involve the band’s fanbase in a new and interesting way. On behalf of Dream Theater – congratulations to the winner, and thank you to everyone who participated.
Gryphon are a British progressive rock band return with first ne studio album in 41 tears, formed in the 1970s, and best known for their unusual medieval and Renaissance sound and instrumentation. The band briefly flourished in the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, and then retired to other musical activities before reforming for a one-off reunion in 2009. Subsequently, Gryphon played some gigs in 2015, featured at the Cropredy Festival in 2016, and in 2017, an invitation to a ProgRock festival in Portugal, and in the UK, the NewDay Festival near Canterbury.
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Pipe Up Downsland Derry Dell Danko (4:49)
2. Rhubarb Crumhorn (5:56)
3. A Futuristic Auntyquarian (5:58)
4. Haddocks’ Eyes (10:58)
5. Hampton Caught (5:12)
6. Hospitality At A Price… Anyone For? (3:11)
7. Dumbe Dum Chit (3:08)
8. Bathsheba (5:37)
9. Sailor V (8:37)
10. Ashes (3:32)
11. The Euphrates Connection (4:43)
12. Bonus Track
Line-up / Musicians
Graeme Taylor / acoustic & electric guitars, producer
Graham Preskett / violin, mandolin, keyboards, harmonica
Brian Gulland / bassoon, bass crumhorn, baritone sax, recorders, piano, vocalizations
Andrew Findon / flute, piccolo, fife, soprano crumhorn, soprano sax, clarinet
Rory McFarlane / electric & double basses
Dave Oberlé / drums, percussion, vocals
Releases information
Artwork: John Hurford
CD was self-released on August 17, 2018, in the UK
According Chri Topham at Plane Groovy, Another huge announcement today; the wonderful new album from Gryphon”Reinvention” will be released on Plane Groovy, hopefully just before Christmas. We’ve been given a priority manufacturing slot for this one. Double heavyweight vinyl, strictly limited to just 300 copies worldwide. There is one bonus track in addition to the CD version. Orders through Burning Shed will come with a download code too. We *might* be making a small number of these colored if so it will be just 100 copies. I expect pre-ordering to go live next week and details will be finalized before then 🙂
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
