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Strange Angels

Featuring Jeff Ward: Guitar. (Iron Pig, White Lightning, Mournblade, Ragged Boys, The Barrelhouse Brothers…)

Jeff began his musical career in the underground Heavy Metal band IRON PIG, during the NWOBHM era of 1979. The band recorded three demos, one of which was playlisted by Geoff Barton of Sounds and played some high profile gigs, including Guildford University and London`s Marquee Club, before calling it a day in the summer of 1980.

In 1981 he formed THE HOLLOW with IRON PIG vocalist, Graham Dundas. This band had a more folky/prog rock feel and recorded a limited edition cassette only album Winter in 1982. In 1984, he reunited with former IRON PIG members Simon Pengilly and Gerald Goff , along with former STATIC and ICEMON vocalist, Noel Jones in the ambitious metal band WHITE LIGHTNING. This line up recorded the ultra rare 7 inch single THIS POISON FOUNTAIN, financed by the band themselves. They continued to gig and after the acquisition of their own multi track recording equipment, they recorded more demos.

In the summer of 1985, with WHITE LIGHTNING on hold, Jeff joined the cult Space Rock band MOURNBLADE. They recorded the album TIME’S RUNNING OUT for Flicknife Records, home of HAWKWIND and gigged continuously throughout the year, still finding time to record the unreleased mini-album EIN HELDENTRAUM.

In 1986 , Jeff reformed WHITE LIGHTNING , bringing Richard Max Goddard from MOURNBLADE on Bass. This line up recorded the self financed album AS MIDNIGHT APPROACHES. With rave reviews and the patronage of DJ TOMMY VANCE, who played every track on his legendary FRIDAY ROCK SHOW, the band were signed by Workshop Records, who re-issued the album in larger quantities in 1988. In 1990, guitarist Simon Pengilly was replaced by John Storey and WHITE LIGHTNING proceeded to lay down tracks for the album PARADISE AT A PRICE at Woodcray Studios in Berkshire, where BLACK SABBATH had just recorded their TYR album. More high profile gigs followed including support slots to Japanese HM band VOW WOW and MEAT LOAF. With the album in the can and things looking rosy, Workshop Records folded and the master tapes dissappeared. Thus bringing the WHITE LIGHTNING story to an ignoble close.1991 was spent mostly in the studio working on various projects, including THE COMPLETE WORKS by SKELETON CREW, an album that started a long association with PAUL KING and COLIN EARL from the original MUNGO JERRY line up.

In 1992, Jeff was asked to join the RAGGED BOYS a Blues edged rock band signed to London based Timbuktu Records. An album was recorded and a single RAT TAT (WHO ARE YOU) was released with a video to promote it.

In 1993, Jeff relocated to Co. Cork in Ireland to begin setting up an independent music production company, licensing music to various labels and TV companies around the world, including the ITV coverage of the Bruno/Tyson fight and two further releases with PAUL KING, the solo cd HOUDINI`S MOON and THE MILL IS GONE by THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND, both on the A New Day label. Jeff also appeared with legendary DJ BOB HARRIS, as guests of THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND at the 1996 Cropredy festival. During his stay in Ireland, Jeff met NOEL REDDING, bassist with THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and regularly jammed with him at the famous Friday night sessions in De Barra`s, Clonakilty. An album`s worth of new material was recorded , but due to contractual difficulties, it remains unreleased.

However, tracks were laid down for a proposed Blues album that eventually surfaced in 2002 on the Dutch based Provogue label as PICK IT UP, PASS IT ON by THE BARRELHOUSE BROTHERS and also featured contributions from ERIC BELL (THIN LIZZY), JOHN COGHLAN (STATUS QUO), DAVID JACKSON (VAN DER GRAF GENERATOR) amongst others. During this time, Jeff also recorded an album for folk legend and West Cork resident, ROY HARPER. THE DREAM SOCIETY, considered by many to be Roy`s finest album in years, also featured Roy`s son, NICK HARPER, top session drummer, SMILEY (JOE STRUMMER/ROBBIE WILLIAMS) and IAN ANDERSON from JETHRO TULL on flute. Jeff also engineered some tracks for CORKY LAING (MOUNTAIN) and ERIC SCHENKEMAN (SPIN DOCTORS) collectively known as CORK, for their album OUT THERE.

Jeff returned to his native West London in 2003 to record an album with Legendary Folk/Blues chanteuse DORRIS HENDERSON. The resulting album HERE I GO AGAIN was released to great critical acclaim and reunited her with JOHN RENBOURN, with whom she had recorded in the 60`s. A further album was recorded with her backing band, THE COHORTS, before her sad death in March 2005.

After Dorris`s death , Jeff teamed up with fellow COHORT, MAC McGANN, who has also worked with RALPH McTELL, BEVERLEY MARTYN and McGUINNESS FLINT, for the acoustic blues album and recent BLUESTONE RECORDINGS release, ALL CHANGE.

Les Sampson: Drums (Noel Redding Band, Clonakilty Cowboys, Road, Stray Dog, Gas)

This veteran British rock drummer has drummed not only in Road — a band and not something a touring band drives around on — but in Gas as well, again a band and not what the band needs in order to do the aforementioned driving, nor what some members might find themselves suffering from after another greasy meal on the road with Road. The Road that recorded in the early ’70s at the Record Plant in Los Angeles was a Noel Redding project, Gas not. Sampson‘s other experiences with Redding, famed original bassist from the Jimi Hendrix Experience, include Ramatamand the Clonakilty Cowboys. Sampson relocated to West Cork, Ireland, to be closer to Redding and his projects, and may have had an even more sympathetic musical relationship with the unique guitarist and bassist than the better-known Mitchell.

The drummer also worked in Stray Dog, a trio formed in the ’70s with two American musicians. The combo was given an energetic production and promotional push by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Gas, like more than a few of Sampson‘s collaborations, was a heavy power trio featuring bassist Dell Vickers and guitarist and vocalist Donnie Burke. Song co-writing credits for the drummer pop up here and there with these various groups, such as the helpful “I Would” and the freaky “Mushroom Man.”

Jerome Rimson: Bass (Van Morrison, Phil Lynott , Steve Winwood, Aretha Franklin,Freddie Mercury, The Detroit Spinners….)

Jerome Rimson (the Detroit Hit Man) from Bad Boy Blues is familiar as an impeccable – 10 years playing with Van Morrison, bass player with Phil Lynott after the Thin Lizzy days and roving musician with the likes of Steve Winwood and Aretha Franklin.

Jerome, who was born in Detroit, lived just down the road from Aretha Franklin

He has had the honour of performing with many of the world’s most renowned people in the music business, as well as recording classic albums with Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Eddie Cleanhead Vincent and the late great Muddy Waters. The Hitman has recorded with modern blues giants Steve Winwood & Van Morrisson, rock legends Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Phil Lynott, Ginger Baker, Alvin Lee and jazz artists Al Jarreau & Al Di Mieola and not forgetting The Detroit Spinners.

Michael McGovern is a 25 year old singer / songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland. From picking up the guitar as a child and writing songs from an early age, Michael has defined his folk sound in the thriving music scene in his hometown.

His forthcoming debut album, ‘Highfield Suite’, is a summation of his work since he began writing songs as a teenager. The music mirrors this period of life, focusing primarily on friendship, love, regret and reconciling with your mistakes.

The album prominently features a nylon string fingerpicking guitar, and expansive vocal harmonies. Tipping its hat to some of Michaels great inspirations from Leonard Cohen, to Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Springsteen and Fleet Foxes.

In 2019 Michael released a live single “The Harbour”, with his folk duo Between Brothers.He went on to play four sold out shows in Glasgow, including at the prestigious Celtic Connections festival as a debutant, as well as a Sofar Sounds performance. Michael then went on to perform at Maui Waui Festival in Suffolk, and along with regular weekly performances is building up a loyal following. 

Since the pandemic brought an end to live performance, Michael spent much of 2020 in isolation recording this album. The majority being recorded into a single microphone in a small wooden cabin in Ireland.

The tracks were then expanded alongside Dublin-based producer Bill Shanley (Cauldron Music), engineered by Andrew Holdsworth, and mastered by Denis Blackham (Skye Mastering), who put the finishing touches to this collection of songs.

David’s journey into music began with hearing Ed Shearan’s first album however he has only began to perform publicly in the middle of the pandemic in September 2021.

Since then he has plied his trade busking and at a select few private functions where he caught the eyes of the organisers of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival who then immediately booked him to perform from the Duff Box for 2021’s festival. This performance was captured by photographer Ciaran Foley and featured in the Irish online music blog Golden Plec.

AnTara – Matthew Noone and Tommy Hayes

AnTara is a unique duo comprised of Tommy Hayes & Matthew Noone that explores the spaces in-between the traditions of Irish and Indian Classical music. Both regarded as pioneers on their chosen instruments and fearlessly inventive, they create a diverse yet cohesive musical experience.

Tommy plays bodhran, bones, spoons, marimba, bells, mbira, jews harp, silk worm cocoons and goats toe nails.

Matthew plays the 23 stringed North Indian lute called sarode. He also makes loops and drones.

Daragh Lynch is best-known as a member of Lankum, the award-winning folk group who won the Choice Music Prize in 2019 for their album The Livelong Day. Signed to Geoff Travis’ Rough Trade Records, the band are at the vanguard of the current Irish folk renaissance.

Merpire, the moniker of Melbourne-based artist Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt writes music living somewhere between the rom-com and horror movie sections of her mind. This is evident not only in her music but her videos too. The teenage-bedroom inspired video for her song ‘Dinosaur’ was quickly added to ABC’s Rage – a teenage dream for Merpire.

A year on from co-founding the online streaming festival ISOL-AID as a reaction to the pandemic in 2020, Merpire has just released her debut record, ‘Simulation Ride’, co-produced with James Seymour, via ADA Records – a record about looking for positivity in anxiety. It landed the feature album spot on Double J and SYN radio, winning hearts around the country. Overseas, lead single ‘Brain Cells’ was featured on BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders’ Future Artists, ‘Village’ on NPR and La Blogothèque as well as features in CLASH magazine, NME, Atwood magazine and more. Double J has continued to play three songs from the record every day since its release.

As Merpire goes from strength to strength, so too does her fanbase and their loyalty to her, her music and her live show. Merpire’s captivating and predominantly female band has landed her a slew of Australian festivals (A festival called PANAMA, Brunswick Music Fest and featuring with RAT!hammock at Laneway) and supports with the likes of Julia Jacklin, Paul Dempsey, Angie Mcmahon. With powerful, versatile performances that are an emotional roller coaster to behold, It is no wonder her album launch sold out in a matter of days before having to be postponed due to a 6th lockdown in Melbourne. With funding from Creative Victoria, and Merpire’s defined themes, it is sure to be a show like no other and her fans know it.

Think you know Clonakilty? wait till you’ve seen it through the eyes and songs of ballad master Seán Fitzgerald. Seán paid a research visit to Clonakilty this summer, soaking in the historical tales and urban legends that spring from every corner of every street. He returns now with a batch of new songs inspired by those stories, and will lead a walking/singing tour of Clonakilty that will be both enlightening and enlivening!

Tours are free of charge and begin from Recorders Alley – Next to Tojo the Monkey Statue (O Donovans Hotel) at the following times:

• Friday 22nd – 5pm
• Saturday 23rd – 2pm, 4:30pm
• Sunday 24th – 1:30pm

Ballad Tours Dublin singer Sean Fitzgerald gives musical tours around the historical landmarks of Dublin. Sean Fitzgerald also has recently set the poetry of Seumas O’ Kelly to music and Sean recorded the songs recently as The Connacht Peep Show.

The Shaker Hymn craft sharp and thoughtful pop songs, reminiscent of the lush and warm guitar music of the late 60’s such as The Byrds and Pink Floyd blended with the cavalier approach of acts like Supergrass, Cass McCombs and Kurt Vile. There is a lyrical wit and a bite that is distinctly recognisable from their hometown of Cork. Their third album ‘The Last Concorde’ was released in June 2022, a classic powerful glam rock inspired guitar album infused with hypercosmic sonic flavours.

The group began recording their latest album over five years ago with producer Brendan Fennessy and released a single, ‘Dead Trees’ the following year in anticipation of the new record and live shows to accompany. Unexpectedly, drummer Shane Murphy became seriously ill and a routine procedure in the summer of 2018 turned into a distressing ordeal which left him in critical condition for a number of weeks. During a tumultuous 2018 and 2019 he worked himself back to strength while plans for the band decidedly took a back seat until, during the more tempered months of lockdown of 2020, the band was able to finish recording their long awaited third album.

The band, which began making rudimentary teenage noise back in 2005, and matured into The Shaker Hymn during a two-month American excursion early in 2012 have released two albums to date. 2014’s `Rascal’s Antique’ and 2016’s ‘Do You Think You’re Clever’ as well as a five track EP ‘The Shape Of The Sea’ were all filled with deft hooks, acute observations and compelling songwriting. The group have toured Ireland extensively including festivals; Body & Soul, Hard Working Class Heroes and Knockanstockan as well as touring the UK and Belgium. Their single ‘Sucking It Out’ appeared on the soundtrack to breakout Irish film ‘Handsome Devil’.

* STEREOGUM “Gorgeous retro pop-rock” 

* LouderThanWar  “Big sounds, big ideas, great production and lots of charm” 

Gerron is an Irish singer-songwriter making melonchonic alt-pop which explores imagined storylines through complex arrangements characterised by rich harmonies and intricate rhythms.

With the unavoidable inspiration of growing up homeschooled in a musical household, she first started composing instrumentals at the age of eight, bouncing from genre to genre for fun.

https://youtu.be/_lMe-yoSp6E