A unique voice within the fabric of music in the UK
WORD PAINTINGS
THE KEITH JAMES SONGBOOK
A long awaited Concert tour
Mature, insightful and intriguing – sensitive and honest
Spanning the past 50 years, Keith has performed thousands of enthusiastically received shows in Arts Centres and Theatres throughout the UK. Thoughtful, interpretive concerts devoted to the writing of visionary Songwriters and Poets who he has always admired.
The success of these concerts has been such, that it has somewhat eclipsed Keith’s own material (which has mostly been heard on his 12 Album releases) so the writing and release of this new and significant body of work Word Paintingshas given Keith, and those alongside him the confidence to open a door and let this treasure chest of original songs be heard.
The songs from Word Paintings, a stand-alone, much championed, new collection, are at the heart of this concert, set amongst the characterful and fearless songs from Can you imagine 2020, the vital commentary of Paradise lost 2019 and the poetic imagery of Message from the Gods 2017, even some songs that date way back through his music year career. The best collection of Keith’s original material in one concert – which is by no means just music. There is a ‘chatting late into the night at a Taverna’ feel about the backstories and the embryonic seed of inspiration to each of the songs.
‘Anyone who remembers and longs for great songwriting, please listen to this’
How the light gets in.
‘devotion, integrity, experience. All spinning as one’ Guardian Weekly
‘I really enjoyed the Album! It has a haunting quality’ Ian Rankin
‘Brave enough to write the music he truly believes in’ Bob Harris OBE
‘This album more than earns its place in the gallery of old masters’ Mike Davies, Birmingham Radio
‘This album finds a creative and imaginative artist at the peak of his powers’ Trevor Dann. Nick Drake Biographer
‘Word Paintings is a musical triumph’ Radio Caroline
‘There is a delicious soulfulness going on here’ Colin Hall
It’s that time of year again – when many of the farm fields of Cropredy in Oxfordshire get transformed in to a festival city!.. and many things start arriving….The catering stalls, the gift stalls the brilliant Cropredy Bar, the toilets, the showers, the magical stage, the lighting, the fences, the roadways, the walkway path lights, the generators, and most importantly the love .. and the huge family that are Fairport Conventions loyal fans – generations of them… all convening for what is for most, a yearly pilgrimage to the legendary Fairport Conventions Cropredy Festival.
This years Cropredy Festival falls on the 8-10th August.
But this year it is with great sadness we mourn the loss of Fairport’s drummer Gerry Conway, who sadly passed away after a spell of illness from Moto Neurone disease in March. Gerry served as Fairport’s drummer from 1998 until 2022. A man that I became to know from my very limited occasions of meeting and interviewing him to be a kind wonderful, gentle warm hearted beautiful soul and exceptional musician.
Our thoughts, love and condolences are with his partner Jacqui and his family from all of us at the folking.com team.
Cropredy 2024 – spanning the generations..
This year especially reminds us of the multi generational ethos of the festival with the amazing Rick Wakeman, playing his Journey to the centre of the earth album live. This year he will be joined by his son Adam Wakeman another hugely talented and successful musician, on stage playing keyboards alongside his father for this very special performance.
In addition and again in line with the generations of great musicians, Rick Wakeman will also be joined by the brilliant bass player Mr Matthew Pegg – son of none other than Mr Dave Pegg. Matthew is a hugely talented bass player just like his father. Who despite his father Dave Pegg telling me in our latest interview (below) that he tried to encourage Matthew to become a dentist or something similar!! he ignored his fathers advice and has forged a brilliant successful career in the music industry playing with many bands including The City Funk Orchestra and Jethro Tull to name just two often stepping in to deputize on bass for Dave Pegg when he has been injured!
So the generations roll on in that living tradition that now spreads across multiple generations of the band itself as well as their friends, musical acquaintances and the families of the Fairport fans who flock to this magical festival – where the Fairport’s song ‘Meet on the ledge’ so perfectly captures ‘It all comes round again’ really rings true for this years Cropredy festival.
From a personal point of view I like I’m sure thousands of others will be joined this year by my two daughters, who grew up coming to the Cropredy Festival and are now bringing their children… so the generations keep rolling on!
So…the line up. So who can you see????
Fairport have have done it again!…what a fantastic line up for this year – and tickets are selling fast so ‘If you snooze you loose’ as they say so – visit www.fairportconvention.com to buy your tickets asap!
Other ‘generational legends’ performing this year are the brilliant time spanning entertainer Tony Christie.
You can hear me talking to Tony Christie about his appearance at the festival and other life matters including speed awareness courses! in my Pre – Cropredy Chat with Tony Christie here….
Also continuing Fairport’s constant commitment to championing new young bands at the festival there are several younger bands on the bill…among others a fiery, energetic and extremely talented band of Blues Rockers from my neck of the woods (Medway Towns in Kent)
The Zack Shultze Gang
Hear my pre Cropredy chat with Zack Schultze here..
Another catalogue of generational hits from the 80’s 90’s and beyond…will be played by the Brilliant Trevor Horn band!
If you have never been to the Cropredy Festival I can’t express what a special friendly, safe and comfortable festival this is, and always has an eclectic mix of music to suit all tastes, that Dave, Simon, Rick, Chris and Gareth the festival Manager / Director always bring. This is not just a folk or folk rock festival but a music festival that never ceases to amaze with its huge variety of music.
I only have to mention some of the past acts that have performed here over the years to give you an idea, past performances include The Buzzcocks, The levellers, The Proclaimers, The Water Boys, Petula Clarke, Madness, Toyah and Robert Fripp, Alice Cooper , Beach Boys, Level 42, Mark King, Marilion, Robert Plant, Solstice, Nile Rogers.. to name but a few and always topped off with stunning performances on Saturday night from those boys them selves Fairport Convention.
Cropredy will always surprise you, but never disappoint you !!!
The folking.com crew will also be there bringing you the vibe and the magical atmosphere of the festival via our social media and any further back stage interviews with artists and bands I can bring you…
It may come as a surprise to learn that Gryphon have never before released a live album but with A Sonic Tonic they more than make up for that – a double CD covering a complete performance from their 2023 tour in set list order.
They open with a sparkling ‘Kemp’s Jig’, noted as the first track the band ever recorded and follow that with ‘The Astrologer’, a song from the Hammond and Gardiner collection. I’m old enough to have witnessed the band on stage first time round and it does seem to me that the current incarnation is a rather different beast. It may be better recording techniques or Graeme Taylor’s skill at the mixing desk but they sound very crisp and not so meditative – no more joss-sticks and lava lamps.
Originally a quartet, Taylor, Dave Oberlé and Brian Gulland remain from the original line-up. Richard Harvey returned for a one-off reunion in 2009 but left and a number of players have come and gone, notably Graham Preskett who contributed greatly to the writing including the third track, ‘Dumbe Dum Chit’ and the beautiful ‘Sailor V’, both from the Reinvention album. There does seem to be a certain levity about the band now so Graeme Taylor’s ‘The Brief History Of A Bassoon’ does come across as rather silly.
Brian Gulland is honest about ‘Hospitality At A Price…(Dennis) Anyone For?’ which gets a bit Bonzo-ish but vocalist, violinist and keyboard player Clare Taylor restores a little decorum with ‘Christina’s Song’, her setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti featuring Andy Findon’s flute. Gryphon’s newest bass player, Rob Levy, contributes ‘Forth Sahara’ and then it’s a brief return to tradition with a nicely creepy ‘The Unquiet Grave’. ‘Haddocks’ Eyes’ is a poem by Lewis Carroll with music by Graeme Taylor which the band develop into a mad production number.
Then it’s the nostalgia trip with 1974’s ‘The Red Queen Muddle’, or at least a medley of themes from the album. Taylor’s ‘Parting Shot’ comes from Gryphon’s most recent studio album and then we’re back in history for ‘Estampie’ from their 1973 debut.
I’ve commented on some of the silliness on A Sonic Tonic but in the context of a live performance the mix is just right: a few laughs, not too many of the serious pieces which dominated fifty years ago and, overall, a display of musical skill and dexterity that few bands can match.
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It may come as a surprise to learn that Gryphon have never before released a live album but with A Sonic Tonic they more than make up for that – a double CD covering a complete performance from their 2023 tour in set list order.
Thanks for stopping by. Please help us continue and support us by tipping/donating to folking.com via
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