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July 2010
Folk on the Lawn was fab. See pics and video on the website - www.folkonthelawn.com - and clips on YouTube (Folk on the Lawn1).
Tonight (15th) we head up to play Cwmaman Acoustic Lounge with a FULL BAND!
June 2010 (2)
Pics from the BRFM session http://jalbum.net/browse/user/album/641436/;jsessionid=maqbkawy9eht1ptg64fe8wuj (We need a change of name...something more regular!) Thanks to all the crew at the station, who made us more than welcome and did a great job with the sound etc. We were told that you can listen to the session for the next week, here .http://www.podcast.canstream.co.uk/brfm/audio/brfm_16-06-10_3-21_1276718403.mp3 It was also filmed and we HOPE to get a clip or two on this site or YouTube.
June 2010
On Wednesday 16th, at 9pm, we carry out a live radio/tv session for BRFM - link to the website here and to watch here. Then it's full speed ahead for Folk on the Lawn at Tintern.
Thanks to all the wonderful people at the Druid for another great night. What a place to play! What a community! Thanks to Colin for making all the arrangements and to the kind folks who put us up. Great to have Sean the Keys back on board for a gig too!
On Saturday, we had a chance to jam a bit from Simon and Dave from the marvellous Hittites - the outcome of which will become apparent at Folk on the Lawn. We're working of a few Hittites songs/arrangements - see the latest demos on Look and Listen
May 2010
Another gig - Blackwood Miners' Institute - lunchtime, June 2nd...and another at the Acoustic Lounge, Cwmaman, July 15th, 9pm. We'll also be playing at the Cwmaman Festival in September - details tba.
So...gigs in the Aberystwyth area on the weekend 11th - 13th June: The Druid, Goginan, on the Friday, Scholars, inn Aber, on the Saturday and we hope you will catch us on the prom on Sunday! And, of course, Folk on the Lawn, Tintern, on June 26th/27th.
April 2010 (2)
We are playing at the Big Green Festival at Waunfawr Park, Cross Keys, on Saturday 15th May. We kick things off - an 11 am start - so it'll have to be an early night on the Friday!
Folk on the Lawn line-up basically finalised. See www.folkonthelawn.com
April 2010
In addition to the existing gigs (see below), we will be playing at one of our favourite places on planet earth on Friday, 11th June - the wonderful Druid Inn at Goginan, near Aberysytwyth. Further dates during the weekend tbc.
New review of 'And what was that...' - click on 'reviews' at top of Recordings page
March 2010
SORRY, but had to renew the 'Old Songs/New Songs'...songs. Replaced with two songs from the 1980s
Confirmed live stuff: March 11th - Llan Acoustic, 5 songs, introducing the ubiquitous Mike Hopkins on bouzouki and guitar (a case of one minute producing the band and the next you're playing in it); May 15th - Waunfawr Park, Community Festival; June 16th - live session (9pm), BRFM; June 26th/27th - Folk on the Lawn, Tintern. More to follow.
Feb 2010
We play a special concert on March 1st - a local (i.e. Gwent, Wales) St. David's Day bash no less. It's an exclusive sort of thing, with tickets set (not by us) at £25 a time (which includes food and beverages). If you are desperate to part with your cash, contact info@jonairdrie.com and we'll put you in touch with the organisers.
The songs on the LISTEN page will be updated soon. Can't believe how many people have downloaded 'Christmas This Year'.
We're back in reheasal, stalking the basements in preparation for a few things planned for the spring and early summer.
J
an 2010 (2)
Have placed some recent(ish) album reviews we've found on the Recordings page. We're really grateful for what are perceptive and thoughtfully made comments
Also, following contact from two of the reviewers, we've placed put some lyrics on the site - again via the Recordings page. At present, these relate to some of the tracks off 'and what was that...?' and they are in the form of MS Word docs. A few concerns: not sure if the lyrics read as they sound; the lyrics do change overtime, so the docs may not match the recordings; it's going to take a long while to get the all up here.
Jan 2010
Happy new year and all that!
Some folks (mainly me...Jon) have put a load of albums on Last FM. See http://www.last.fm/listen and type in 'Jon Airdrie'. Much of the stuff is free and many of the samples are full downloads.
Thanks to all those who have made kind comments concerning 'And what was that all about?'
Dec 2009
The new alum|: here it is !!
A little seasonal thing - HERE
Nov 2009 (3)
And here it is !!
Nov 2009 (2)
The new album - And what was that all about? - WILL be for sale (the whole thing and/or track by track) on various sites. Having read various articles and heard interviews of late, where the wisdom is that no one buys music anymore, we're not sure how this will go (well...badly, we presume!) but remember, folks, Jon has a family to feed and countless addictions to service. He needs the cash! We'll put some links on this site when we're clearer over what is happening.
The album takes a look back at events from nearly three decades ago. This theme of refection on the dim and distant - as Jon races towards his dotage - has been pursued over the last month or so. Firstly, with work on what may be known as The St. Ismael's Sessions (9 songs recorded live at Jem's cottage, and being patiently re-assembled by Andy P for 'release' sometime soonish) and, secondly, with Jon working on songs written about 20 years ago. With regard to the latter, two tracks - Waiting For You and Beat That Drum - have been placed on the Look and Listen page.
Sadly, due to unavailability of a number of potential band members, we've had to cancel the December gigs. Sincere apologies. Thanks to Tim for trying his very best to re-organise things.
Finally, got a little write-up in Acoustic Magazine. Here.
Nov 2009
The new album is READY!! See 'Recordings' for details and clips. Thanks, once more, to David Briggs at Discburner for a fabulous job and great customer support. I commend David and his company.
Oct 2009
Things have been so hectic that there's been no time to document them! New album is Co-producer, Mike, co-opted - willingly, we would hope - a family member into the project. Thanks Rhys! The album now looks, as well as sounds, most beautiful.
A side project: one weekend in September was spent at Jem's cottage with the patient, resilient James engineering 9 live tracks, amidst general chaos and debauchery. These tracks were 'special' in that they were songs that Jon, Jem and his brother, Andy - who has picked up a bass guitar only once or twice in the last two decades (so he claims) - first played many, many years ago. The versatile Jon Matthews joined them on electric guitar and organ. Andy is pulling together the whole thing. Will try to put some tracks here.
August 2009 (3)
22 songs at the Drifter on Sunday. Phew. Thanks, once more, for listening and giving kind words.. Would love to play there again - it's a long trek though! Thanks to Jon M for everything, Dave for the filming and Jamie and Stuart for coming along.
August 2009 (2)
Gig just added -
and imminent: A '(Familial) Shelleys Duo' line-up (Jon Airdrie and Jon Matthews)
at the Drifter, Lowestoft, Suffolk, THIS Sunday evening: August 18th
- 218-220 London Rd South, Lowestoft, NR33 0BE (01502 563387)
August 2009
See below, and...
Two demo tracks Cheap Night and Rain Falls on the Look and Listen page. Throwaway demos, maybe, while the new album awaits completion.
July 2009 (4)
Thanks to Alan Coles for organising the UK Songwriters night at the Unicorn.
Just a few pics of recent gigs (thanks Trish) on the Shelleys page. Had to remove some older ones to accommodate.
A compilation film of the Folk on the Lawn events: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61118796
July 2009 (3)
Thanks to the magnificent folks at the Beehive, Swindon, and the sturdy, resilient crew at Folk on the Lawn! If we weren't so exhausted, we'd put some pictures etc on. Will do so as soon as we can. REALLY, thank you SO MUCH!!
Another gig: Unicorn, Pontypool (a lovely venue with lovely food - vege conscious), on 30th July. Playing a few songs, but what's different ("Different???" I hear Jem say) is that I (jon here) will be TALKING about them...even inviting questions. Part of the UK Songwriters thing: www.myspace.com/uksongwritershowcase
July 2009 (2)
Late booking: Beehive, Swindon, THIS Sunday (July 12th) - 3 pm start.
Thanks to all the folks who turned up at Cwmaman. Tintern tomorrow - 1.30 start. If the weather's bad, we'll be in the bar area, which is a magnificent interior.
July 2009
We play Cwmaman Institute on Thursday 9th. For getting there, see Google maps: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=cwmaman+institute&fb=1&split=1&gl=uk&cid=0,0,9337691518359320919&ei=A4xQSvXjOYaNjAemxdyzBQ&ll=51.687297,-3.442411&spn=0.013063,0.026565&z=15&iwloc=A
Next Saturday (11th July) we conclude the Folk on the Lawn series of events at Abbey Mill, Tintern. See: www.myspace.com/folkonthelawn
The Acoustic Magazine performance in Exeter last week was interesting. The organisers were very generous. Thanks to them. We'll have to see if anything comes from this.
Aware that new material - and esp. the promised rough mixes from the new recordings - has not been added for some time. Hope to correct this in the next fortnight.
June 2009 (3)
Exciting things going on:
It has often been quipped that the band needed a doctor and, preferably, a psychologist. Well, now we have both in one person - our esteemed singer etc, Nicola Canale, is now Dr. Nicola Canale. Therapy begins on Tuesday.
A fine cellist, Mr. (soon to be Dr. himself, as it happens), Andrew Powles has been providing some beautiful parts ready for the new recordings. We'll try to put some tasters on this site shortly.
The mysterious news item below refers to a performance Jon is making in order to gain a chance of obtaining various items and a festival slot. See www.acousticmagazine.com . !!! Jon was told he was one of 6 selected from 330+ entries (so I was told at the event!!). (Jon thinks that the grainy video helped a great deal).
June 2009 (2)
Jon is playing - unexpectedly - at the Phoenix Theatre in Exeter on June 30th. Details tbc. If you're interested, contact info@jonairdrie.com and details, when they are clarified, will be provided.
June 2009
The work on the new collection continues at Mike's studio. See Youtube clip of the session involving Jem's drums
Significant involvement in Roots/Folk on the Lawn at Abbey Mill, Tintern - www.myspace/folkonthelawn - which kicked off on June 13th in fabulous style
See Jon Matthew's version of an (unreleased!) Airdrie song (to which Mr Matthews has added verses) on Youtube also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7TtWWbKUeY
May 2009
Having exhausted inspiration at home, the latest set of recordings have been blessed by a member of the nonconformist clergy, wrapped in tissue paper, packed in cardboard boxes and transported by barge to Towpath Studios, run by producer/musician Mike Hopkins: www.towpathstudio.co.uk . Mike, together with a bunch of other wise and credulous (or otherwise incredulous) people, are deciding on which songs to work on. The decision was based on listening to Mike's impressive work. Additional bits will be added, as will - perhaps - one or two brand new songs. Mike will then mix the whole thing and a new album will be complete by the autumn. That, anyway, is the plan....
Check out the Abbey Mill gigs for salubrious summer Saturday afternoons: www.myspace.com/folkonthelawn
April 2009
Gerry has 'laid down some tracks' (Hmmm...). Other recording events happening also. Again, take a Look and Listen
Some (rare) appearances in the summer confirmed. See Performances.
March 2009
'Retrospective' now available - at snip at £5! Just email info@jonairdrie.com
Thanks to David Biggs at Discburner (www.discburner.co.uk) for a service that was helpful, friendly and thoroughly professional (thanks, David, for the kind comments about the CD's contents also)
New stuff on the Look and Listen page
February 2009
A new run of the 'Retrospective' collection is more than in the pipeline (Indeed, it's at the duplicators) and the delay is totally my fault - an ineptitude with Photoshop and the files from the previous run being lost. Hopefully, all will be complete within the next fortnight. Jon.
January 2009
Happy new year to you all!
Came across this very generous review of the 'Unsuitable' album. Thanks to David Kidman - not a relative or a friend! Points taken re. both the lack of lyrics and the tawdry packaging. See: http://www.netrhythms.co.uk/reviews.html#airdrie
We have literally a handful of copies of the album left if anyone is interested. Also have copies of '40'. Send an email to info@jonairdrie.com
The new stuff is at a stage now where contributions from the Shelleys is desperately required. Some examples on the Look and Listen page
December 2008
Thanks to all the folks who came along to the Llanhilleth gig. Thanks especially to Gareth Seymour who did such a brilliant job with the sound. Just a few photos from the gig here. There is, also, a little film footage via You Tube:
