I Am Back!!

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Paul Carr

It has been over two months since my last post, so I thought I had better get started again. Over the last couple of months I have regained my love for the guitar again (I actually want to do some gigs again – and done a nice gig with Derek Nash a month or so ago), worked on a proposition for a book on Frank Zappa, worked on setting up a Foundation Degree for people within the Welsh music industry, written two book chapters (One on Zappa and another on Welsh identity in music) and started some research for the Welsh Music Foundation on the live music scene in Wales. On top of this of course I have been lecturing – so pretty busy really.

I intend to try and post once a week on how some of these things are progressing – so watch this space. Meanwhile, here is a link to some great music by a band that has not received enough attention.

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Some Bands Do Play In Wales!!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Paul Carr

Contrary to some of my earlier posts, it is great to report news of a few national tours where artists are playing in Wales. A recent CMU post highlighted a few up and coming UK tours, and as I was preparing myself to moan about bands not playing in Wales – on this occasion they were. So, the following tours are taking place!! Congrats to everyone for making it happen.

FENECH-SOLER

30 Sep: Edinburgh, Electric Circus
1 Oct: Aberdeen, The Warehouse
3 Oct: Dundee, The Doghouse
5 Oct: Glasgow, King Tut’s
7 Oct: Newcastle, The Other Rooms
8 Oct: York, Fibbers
10 Oct: Liverpool, The Shipping Forecast
12 Oct: Wolverhampton, The Little Civic
13 Oct: Nottingham, Stealth
14 Oct: Leicester, Lock
15 Oct: Coventry, Kasbah
17 Oct: Leeds, Crudenell Social Club
25 Oct: Bristol, Thekla
26 Oct: Cardiff, Barfly
27 Oct: Huddersfield, Tokyo
28 Oct: Wrexham, Central Station
29 Oct: Stoke, Sugarmill
1 Nov: Exeter, Cavern Club
2 Nov: Brighton, Audio
3 Nov: Tunbridge Wells, The Forum
4 Nov: Peterborough, Met Lounge
6 Nov: Norwich, Arts Centre
7 Nov: Portsmouth, The Kraken Wakes
9 Nov: Oxford, Jericho
10 Nov: London, Heaven

Ardade Fire

1 Dec: London, O2 Arena
8 Dec: Birmingham, LG Arena
9 Dec: Cardiff, International Arena
11 Dec: Manchester, Central
12 Dec: Glasgow, SECC

The Like

8 Aug: Leeds Festival
29 Aug: Reading Festival
1 Sep: Glasgow, King Tut’s
2 Sep: Newcastle, The Cluny
3 Sep: Manchester, Ruby Lounge
4 Sep: Sheffield, Plug
5 Sep: Nottingham, Bodega
7 Sep: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
8 Sep: Birmingham, The Rainbow
9 Sep: Bristol, Start The Bus
10 Sep: Oxford, Jericho
11 Sep: Brighton, Audio
13 Sep: Cambridge, Haymakers
15 Sep: London, ICA

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Live Music in Wales Research Project

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Paul Carr

I have just completed an online questionnaire that is the first stage of a research project examining the live sector of the Welsh Music Industry. If you are involved in the Welsh sector in any way, I would really appreciate 15 mins of your time to complete the survey. I am interested in responses from as many stakeholders as possible (musicians, promoters, managers, venues, PA hire, etc, etc), so I would appreciate you passing this link on to anyone who you think could contribute. If you are active in the live sector outside of Wales and feel the questions resonate, I would appreciate any thoughts via Facebook/email etc.

The url is https://www.survey.glam.ac.uk/livemusicwales/

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Why Don’t More Bands Come To Wales – Part 2

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Paul Carr

Earlier this week I posted a couple of examples of ‘UK’  tours that for some reason don’t take in Wales. I thought it would be useful to place other examples as I become aware of them. Here are two more.

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN UK AND IRELAND TOUR

Tour dates 2010:

1 Dec: Belfast, Ulster Hall
3 Dec: Dublin, Union Canal Theatre
5 Dec: Gateshead, Sage
6 Dec: Birmingham, Symphony Hall
7 Dec: Manchester, Apollo
9 Dec: Bournemouth, Academy
11 Dec: ATP Bowlie 2 festival
14 Dec: Leicester, De Montfort Hall
16 Dec: Bristol, Colston Hall
21 Dec: Glasgow, Barrowlands

MT DESOLATION ANNOUNCE FIRST TOUR

Tour dates 2010

9 Sep: Belfast, Spring & Airbrake
10 Sep: Dublin, Whelans
12 Sep: Nottingham, Bodega
13 Sep: Birmingham, Glee Club
14 Sep: Newcastle, Academy 2
15 Sep: Glasgow, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
16 Sep: Inverness, Hootanannys
17 Sep: Stornoway, Woodlands Centre
18 Sep: Loopallu Festival
19 Sep: Fort William, Watercolour Studio
21 Sep: Isle Of Mull, An Tobar
22 Sep: Dundee, Fat Sams
23 Sep: Aberdeen, The Tunnels
24 Sep: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
25 Sep: Manchester, Deaf Institute
27 Sep: London, The Scala
28 Sep: Brighton, Ballroom

Why is this? In the cases above I understand the Scottish and Irish inclusion, but why is there not a gig in Cardiff?

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PRS Royalty Consultation

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Paul Carr

PRS For Music has extended the deadline on the consultation part of its review of live music licensing. As previously reported, the songs collecting society is currently reviewing the rates it charges the promoters of live events to cover the copyright royalties due on the songs that are performed.

The live sector fear the review is really part of a plan to increase the rates promoters are charged. PRS will probably point out that as the live sector is now in better health than the recorded music sector it is appropriate the music publishers get a bigger share of their revenues.

But promoters will say that, because PRS get a percentage of revenues under the current system, they are already benefiting from the growth of the live business. But, they will add, if PRS up their royalty fees, just as VAT goes up to 20% next year, that growth could falter, meaning the song owners get less money overall, even if their percentage share is higher.

To read the rest of the post, visit CMU’s site here.

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Why Don’t Bands Come To Cardiff?

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Paul Carr

As outlined in a recent seminar as part of the the 2008 Swn Festival, there seems to be a real issue regarding some bands playing in Cardiff. I am interested in finding out why this is, but copied below are couple of examples (Taken from CMU) – what can be done about it??

VAMPIRE WEEKEND UK TOUR DATES
Vampire Weekend have announced some tour dates. They will happen in the UK in November and December. Tickets for them go on sale on Friday.

Tour dates:

25 Nov: Blackpool, Empress Ballroom Arena
26 Nov: Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
28 Nov: Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
29 Nov: Sheffield, Academy
1 Dec: Brighton Centre
2 Dec: London, Alexandra Palace

THE SCRIPT ANNOUNCE SEPTEMBER TOUR
The Script sold 1.8 million copies of their debut album, which would suggest that someone will actually be interested in these dates. That someone may also be interested to know that the band have a new single out, called ‘For The First Time’, on 5 Sep, followed by their second album, ‘Science & Faith’ on 13 Sep. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

Tour dates:

11 Sep: Liverpool, University
12 Sep: Leeds, Academy
13 Sep: London, Hammersmith Apollo
15 Sep: Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
16 Sep: Leicester, De Montfort Hall
17 Sep: Portsmouth, Guildhall

It is interesting how both acts are playing in Scotland – not not Wales!

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PhD Studentship Available in Live Music

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Paul Carr

I have been contacted to publicise an excellent opportunity for someone after a funded PhD into the live music industry in Bristol. If anyone is interested, contact me in the first instance – and I will pass details on. Details below

PhD Studentships

UWE is offering a part-time PhD Studentship in Popular Music and Everyday Life as part of the Bristol Live Independent Music Archive Project (BLIMA).

The Studentship comprises an annual bursary of £3,000 plus tuition fees paid for up to five years.

About BLIMA

BLIMA has been set up to compile an archive of the city of Bristol’s live independent music scene, from 1950 to the present. The archive is to be an invaluable resource for researchers and historians of popular culture, music, and everyday life. It contains primary materials connected to live events held at venues through the city. Contributions could involve such activities as conducting interviews, organising research events, collecting and collating archival material.

Applications

Applications are invited from candidates who wish to conduct research in one or more of the following areas:

  • Live performance and locality
  • Music as everyday experience
  • Identity and hybridity
  • Genre and independence in music

For more info, click here.

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What am I listening to: Sampled Vocals

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Paul Carr

This post was originally going to be about The Books, but it got me thinking about my love for listening to music with sampled vocals. By disembodying the vocal/voice, I think the meaning of voice samples (and also ‘Found Sounds’) can be ironically accentuated, or alternatively changed (A great example of Post Modernism). So….. Instead placing links to just The Books, I thought I would mention a few other artists that have interested me with their sampling activities.

Robert Ashley Despite being in his 70’s now, to my mind he is a pioneer of using vocal sounds out of context. Listen to his Opera Robert Ashley – Celestial Excursions

Another under represented composer in this style is guitarist Scot Johnson, who somehow mixes samples with jazz rock and art music influences. Start off by listening to this Scott Johnson – John Somebody

I have already mentioned the Books. Listen to this Spotify Playlist The Books

Vicky Bennett’s ‘People Like Us‘ are really worth a listen. I  placed a post about People Like Us a while back regarding the copyright issues they face when sampling, and how a Creative Commons licence would help circumnavigate some of the issues that restrict creativity. Although not on Spotify, in true Creative Commons style, Vicky has placed all of her music for download here.

Finally, no account of vocal sampling would be complete without mentioning Steve Reich. Start off by listening to Ensemble Modern – Steve Reich: Different Trains

Finally, and not that I am comparing myself in any way to the great artists above, but here are a  couple of my experiments with vocal sampling. The first was written as a commission for dancer Gabriela Daris, and the 2nd in an attempt to combine jazz rock with vocal sampling.

Prodigal Son

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What Am I Listening To: Brand X

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Paul Carr

Having mentioned Beady Belle in a previous post, I thought it would make sense to go through some of the music I like in alphabetical order. This band represent one of my earliest experiences of realising that music could be complex and interesting. In my opinion they are one of the least appreciated ‘jazz rock’ bands to emerge from the 1970’s, so here is my miniscule contribution encouraging more people to listen to them. In addition to  their guitarist John Goodsall (A hero of mine as a 15 year old), they featured a Jaco influenced bassist Percy Jones (or did he influence Jaco??) and wait for it – Phil Collins on drums (on some albums). In short, if you like guitar led Jazz Rock – listen to this Spotify link.

F,inally, here is a You Tube link of an incarnation of the band playing in 1997

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More live music under threat

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Paul Carr

Brighton venue The Freebutt has announced that it will no longer be able to put on live music after it was ordered to reduce the cut-off level on its volume limiter by the local council.

As previously reported, The Freebutt was served with a noise abatement notice in February this year after the council received just one complaint from a neighbouring resident. Various steps were taken to remedy the issue, though the venue, the council and audio consultants brought in on either side found it hard to properly diagnose and monitor the problem because the complainant refused them all access to their property.

Apparently this situation changed earlier this month, when audio consultants were finally allowed access to the complainant’s home. They found that there were, indeed, still sound leakage issues, and the venue’s owners estimate that it will cost twenty grand to address them – twenty grand they don’t have. The result is that the council is now strictly enforcing its noise order, basically making it impossible for Freebutt gigs to go ahead.

To read the rest of this post click here

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