Lifesigns UK tour, which starts in Swindon on Friday! All going well, the band is sounding great and we’re introducing a few new tunes to the set. Hope some of you can make it along – full gig list below. Last weekend I recorded the guitar parts for a new 15 minute epic piece for the forthcoming Lifesigns album. The track is called ‘Altitude‘ and is sounding amazing. It won’t be included in the set as we’re still working on completing it and it will need a lot of rehearsal, but I hope it will be ready to be included in subsequent tours later in the year!
On tour with Lifesigns, Fernando Perdomo, Sally Minnear & Strawbs!
DAVE BAINBRIDGE (SOLO) 15th June The Royal Oak, Hampton, London (Dave playing 1/2 hour set at the Jam Night – free entry!)
STRAWBS ELECTRIC BAND UK TOUR (Further info here) 17th June Cheese & Grain, Frome 19th June Clarence Hall, Abergavenny, Wales 20th June Trading Boundaries, East Sussex 21st June Cambridge Rock Festival, Peterborough 22nd June Robin 2, Bilston 23rd June The Stables, Wavendon
As mentioned in the previous newsletter, another very exciting project I’ve been working on with Rob Ayling from Gonzo Multimedia is a new Iona 30th Anniversary box set!! Actually this will be the first of several Iona box set releases and will be titled ‘The Book of Iona’ In the past few weeks I’ve been going through my extensive archive of Iona recordings, looking for things to include on the companion disk which will accompany each of the studio albums and I’ve discovered some amazing stuff! Previously unreleased songs, original demo tapes, alternate mixes, live recordings I’d completely forgotten about etc!! A real treasure trove for all Iona fans. I played some of these to Rob the other day and he was blown away by what I’d found – some real gems, including a recording from August 1989 of the very first time Joanne and I got together to record demos of some of her just written songs for the first album! It’s taking me a while to go through everything and choose what to include, but the recordings give an incredible insight into the background behind the band’s albums and working methods. Above is an illustration of how the box set will look. I saw a prototype of the box a few days ago and it looks really great – very substantial and classy – a real coffee table item! More on this soon and on the new Open Sky Records online store, which will be launching very soon!!
We are very pleased to announce that the UN Singers will perform with Strawbs in the Grand Finale of the band’s 50th Anniversary celebration at the Strand Theater, Lakewood NJ on Saturday April 27, 2019.
The UN Singers are designated by the United Nations as unofficial ambassadors of goodwill who convey a message of peace and tolerance, and a celebration of other cultures and religions, through music.
The UN Singers, a club affiliated to the UN Staff Recreation Council (UNSRC), were formed in 1947. Members of the choir come from all walks of life and from all over the world.
Featuring special guests Tony Visconti, Annie Haslam, Larry Fast and others! Weekend celebration of the first album release by seminal British band.
In celebration of their 50th anniversary, UK music legends Strawbs, plus a host of guest performers, former Strawbs, and Strawbs-related artists, will be performing at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ on April 26-28, 2019!
Come join a weekend celebration of the first album release by seminal British band Strawbs!
Strawbs are Britain’s most successful international progressive folk-rock band. They are mentioned in the same breath as progressive rock bands Yes, King Crimson and The Moody Blues. Strawbs have a devoted fan base that continues to grow on the strength of their incredible live performances together with their classic albums over the years including “Grave New World”, “Bursting at the Seams”, “Hero & Heroine” and “Ghosts.” The band has achieved sales of over three million albums, seven consecutive Strawbs albums have featured in the US Billboard Top 200 albums.
Many top musicians have featured in the Strawbs line up over the years, including Sonjia Kristina, Blue Weaver, Don Airey and as well as Rick Wakeman , both his classically trained sons Adam and Oliver have been featured, a certain compliment to the band’s talent. After several years of touring in both acoustic and electric lineups, in 2017 Strawbs released “The Ferryman’s Curse,” their first studio album of original material in eight years. The album returned to the album charts and garnered rave reviews worldwide!
The current Strawbs line-up comprises David Cousins, lead guitarist Dave Lambert, bass player Chas Cronk, and drummer Tony Fernandez, who recorded and toured together in the 1970s. They are joined by keyboard and guitar virtuoso Dave Bainbridge of Iona – a band who created a mystical blend of rock, folk, Celtic and ambient music – a perfect match for Strawbs.
ARTISTS:
STRAWBS (Present)
David Cousins (1968 – present) Dave Lambert (1972 – present) Chas Cronk (1973 – present) Tony Fernandez (1978 – present) Dave Bainbridge (2016 – present)
With TERRA NOVA ORCHESTRA – 30 PIECE ORCHESTRA
STRAWBS (Past)
Blue Weaver (1971 – 1973) (subject to visas) – Amen Corner, Mott the Hoople, Bee Gees (Played on “Saturday Night Fever” and the 1970s hits) John Ford (1969 – 1973) – Velvet Opera, Hudson Ford (Writer of Strawbs biggest single “Part of the Union”) John Hawken (1973 – 1976) – Nashville Teens, Renaissance, Illusion Brian Willoughby (1978 – 2092) – Mary Hopkin, The Monks, Nanci Griffith
SPECIAL GUESTS
Tony Visconti – David Bowie, T Rex, Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, Angélique Kidjo Annie Haslam – Renaissance Larry Fast – Nektar, Synergy, Peter Gabriel Eric Bazilian – The Hooters, Joan Osborne Wesley Stace – John Wesley Harding, Cabinet of Wonders Cathryn Craig – Bill Medley
HIGHLIGHTS
Tony Visconti – conducts Strawbs with the Terra Nova Orchestra for the first orchestral performance of “Oh How She Changed”, the band’s first single, featuring a new Tony Visconti arrangement.
David Cousins, Blue Weaver, John Ford will play the whole of Strawbs classic album “Grave New World” with Eric Bazilion and narrator Wesley Stace.
Annie Haslam – sings Sandy Denny’s “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” with the Terra Nova Orchestra, featuring a brand new arrangement by Tony Visconti.
Eric Bazilion – sings “What If God Was One Of Us,” the hit he wrote and produced for Joan Osborne, with Strawbs and the Terra Nova Orchestra.
Sandy Denny and the Strawbs – the classic songs recreated by Annie Haslam and Acoustic Strawbs.
Larry Fast and David Cousins – Peter Gabriel’s synthesizer master and the complete songwriter put a new edge on Strawbs lesser known material.
WHERE:
Strand Theater Center for the Arts 400 Clifton Avenue Lakewood New Jersey 08701 Phone: (732) 367-7789
Historic 1922 theater for the Jersey Shore. 60 minutes from Newark Airport 90 minutes from Manhattan
DATE AND TIME:
Friday – 26 April 2018 Performances 6pm – 10.30pm
Saturday – 27 April 2018 Performances 1pm – 10.30pm
(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
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