a quick round up – radio and reviews

April 19th, 2010

A lovely recent review of ‘strangers with shoes’ here – http://commonfolkmeadow.wordpress.com/.

BBS radio in California have selected a few of my tunes in a recent playlist – http://bbsradio.com/ as have ‘Baie des anges’ in France – http://baiedesangesradio.eg2.fr/ – as has ‘The social media podcast’ in Austrailia – http://socialmediapod.squarespace.com/ and there was a podcast from Germany too but I’ll be buggered if I can remember what it was!

Lastly a big shout out to ‘Fresh Air‘, the Edinburgh student radio station for being the first UK station to playlist me. Happy days and good luck with your dissertation Chris!

amazing grace

April 14th, 2010

Ukulele lessons can be so much fun… worth noting that John was convinced he was never going to be able to play when he had his first lesson nearly a year ago now.

It is so distressing how many people have that silly ‘i can’t play music’ voice stuck permanently in their heads and so much fun helping them to overpower it.

youtube collaboration?

April 6th, 2010

…this made me smile…

album launch photos

March 17th, 2010

A huge thanks to everyone for making it such a special night – Lisa, Stu, Eoin, Emily and Iain for letting me take over their home, Wholefoods, Booja booja, Pukka tea and Yogi Chai tea for the food and drink, my band for being amazing and everyone else for coming and listening!

photos by film41.co.uk

the ballad of hawkwood

March 16th, 2010

An old traditional tune I learnt from Rachael Dadd called ‘Two Sisters’ set to new words of my own.

Written about the Hawkwood nursery run by my friends at Organiclea.

There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
Mulch, sow and then reap
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
And he has green fingers on both of his hands
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me

With the vicar’s fine daughter he dreamed a bold dream
To grow food for his kinsmen as nature decreed.

By the edge the forest they spied a fair patch
And to grow fruit and veg there a plan they did hatch.

The men of the hour dreamed of buildings not plants
A development would far more there profits enhance.

Our forefathers fought for this fair forest land
So now against the law was the businessman’s plan.

After two years had past did the council relent
So now we’ll work the earth as our forefathers meant.

Now if you past by here you may hear a tune:
Mulch, sow and then reap
Now if you past by here you may hear a tune,
The melody is old and the words will be soon.
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me

some tour photos by barbara

March 15th, 2010

 

Photos by Barbara Bartz – taken from http://basiabartz.blogspot.com

the russian connection

March 15th, 2010

A while ago I had a few reviews in Russian which I was finding very hard to get translated – luckily a fellow called John just came across them on my site…

“In a previous existence I was a Russian translator, so I thought he might appreciate knowing what that mysterious internet write-up was about. It’s rather pompous (in a music-writerly kind of way), and I’m a bit rusty but the gist is:

“Only the Missile”
For his influences Robin has made discerning choices of true folk icons, but not icons who are usually associated with “genuine” folk per se. Chief among them Leonard Cohen and Ani Difranco.
 
Overall, if this had been a “commercial” release it would have been hailed as an “album of the year”. That has been said about “non-commercial” artists whose work rarely approaches this quality. This doesn’t just just apply to Robin himself, who plays numerous guitars, keyboards and percussion instruments, but also the guest musicians on a couple of tracks. Excellent performances all. 5/5
 
There then follows a lighthearted debate in the comments about whether he’s English or American (because of his singing accent), before someone tracks down the myspace page and they agree that he’s either from London, or based there.”

J’s Live Journal

Стиль: сонграйтерский фолк.

В качестве образца для подражания Робин выбрал настоящие иконы фолка, но иконы специфические, которые и с “настоящим” фолком-то обычно не связывают – в первую очередь, Леонарда Коэна и Эни диФранко. По большому счету, если бы этот альбом попался мне среди “платников”, он вряд ли попал бы в “альбомы года”, но заметным явлением стал бы наверняка – что уж говорить о “бесплатниках”, среди которых работы подобного качества попадаются крайне редко – причем здесь стоит отметить как самого Робина, сыгравшего на многочисленных струнных, клавишных и ударных инструментах, но и о его приглашенных на одну-две песни соратниках: молодцы все.

5/5

http://j-j-j.livejournal.com/

Thanks John!

album launch party

March 10th, 2010

robin grey image

On Friday 12th March 2010, Robin Grey and The Looking Glass Band present an evening of music featuring the talents of

Barbara Bartz on violin
Iain Macleod on banjo
Amy Bowles on bass
Joe Allen on percussion
Ben Oliver on keys

with support from Theo Bard

…think candles, cake and acoustic music.

Tea by Pukka and Yogi Chai, Banana Cake by Whole Foods and Vegan Truffles by Booja Booja

Facebook page is here.

Unit C, 25 Belfast Road, Stoke Newington, N16 6UN – from 8pm

Tree design by Caitlin Hinshelwood

r.i.p. sparklehorse’s mark linkous

March 9th, 2010

It is with sadness that I learnt of the death of Mark Linkous today – some of the music he recorded as ‘Sparklehorse’ provided much inspiration for me.

Below is a cover of one of his songs ‘Happy Man’ I recorded a few years ago with Iain Macleod on banjo. Aplogise for the slight american twang in my delivery, I was still finding my voice back then!

http://pitchfork.com/news/38114-rip-sparklehorses-mark-linkous/

song on ‘organic nation’ videocast

February 13th, 2010

organic nation have my music on their latest videocast. happy days.

What Is Biodynamic Farming? from OrganicNation on Vimeo.