The Making Of....

I suddenly realised the other day that I haven't posted all of my more recent You Tube videos within this blog.

So, here is a follow up to my video about my appearence on the BBC in July of this year.

This video tells the story of how that tv appearence came to be and what happened during the making of that piece.

Radio, Video and Local Music

I've been on the radio again. This time it was for Carnival FM where I was presenting a series of Local Music Shows.

Here's a new YouTube video about it all and some things that have come out of it all.

Hastings Pier Rises Again.

I recently wrote a blog post for the Pierless Music website that I help to run and I thought I'd share it with you here.

It's all about Hastings Pier, a favourite topic of mine and it contains some good news at last.

Here's a link to that post. Please let me know your own thoughts on this, even if you live away from Hastings itself.

Hastings Pier Rises Again

Another Radio Show To Listen To.

As you may have seen already, I have posted my Local Music Shows for the 2013 Hastings Rock broadcast onto the radio stations own Mixcloud site and may well end up posting them on my own Mixcloud site as well.

But, I have now also decided to post a couple of my 'normal' Hastings Rock shows onto my personal Mixcloud site.

This is the first one and it was originally broadcast on Monday 27th May between midday and 3pm.

I hope you enjoy the show and I will post another one in due course.

Hastings Rock 2013 - 27th May 2013: 12 - 3pm by Andy Gunton 

on Mixcloud

Pierless Music.

I've only gone and started something new.

Pierless Music website: http://pierlessmusic.co.uk/

Let me know what you think.

WordPress: http://wordpress.org/
Instant WordPress: http://www.instantwp.com/ (Only works with Windows btw)

Album Review: The Ukuleles by The Ukuleles.

For a while now i've been thinking of writing some reviews of albums by local bands and musicians. Local to the Hastings area that is.

I used to write periodic reviews for my local newspaper and therefore sent this one into them recently. But, because they apparently don't have room for local album reviews, it has not been printed. I can't say i understand that reasoning, but there you go.
There is a chance that come October this situation may change, we'll see.

Meanwhile, here is that first review.
I intend to do some more. Especially if i get the source material and also if the local paper find room to print them.

The Ukuleles by The Ukuleles.

Just recently it seems to me that you can’t turn on the tv, or the radio without someone talking about ukuleles and how they are back in fashion.
Part of that media interest has been centered around this new album by The Ukuleles. I’ve seen this duo on two tv shows over the past few weeks alone.

But, did you know that The Ukuleles include local man Logan Wilson, who plays in the Hastings area on a regular basis and who has released two solo albums over recent years? Both of which were released on a local record label and both of which i’ve had the pleasure of playing on local radio.

Neither of Logan’s solo albums, "Geography" (2006) and “This Luxurious Life”  (2010) feature a ukulele. But, they have included the mandolin and bazouki, which does suggest that Logan has an affinity with lesser used musical instruments.

The Ukuleles are Logan Wilson and Martha Paton.
The story goes that they met at a music festival in Brighton, where Martha was playing a ukulele. This sparked something in Logan and The Ukuleles were born.

This eponymous album, released on the DMG label, contains 16 tracks, all bar one of which is a cover version. The exception being “Sky”, a track originally on Logan’s “Geography” album, albeit a slightly different version.

On first listen, it was these cover versions that grabbed my attention. Because the vast majority of the songs are fairly recent chart hits, such as “Price Tag”, “Rolling In The Deep” and “Forget You”, my initial thought was, who is this album actually aimed at?
My reasoning being that these performances are really just straight forward cover versions, but with added ukuleles. After the tv appearances that i’d seen of The Ukuleles, i was expecting different arrangements of these very well known songs. Maybe more stripped down versions to accentuate the use of the ukulele?

For that reason, my two favourite tracks from the album are “Sky”, which is a pretty laid back song anyway and “Over The Rainbow”, which is a stripped down version with a very understated arrangement.

Having said all of that, the album is definitely a “grower”.
It is well produced, Logan and Martha obviously work very well together and the vocals are strong from both of them. Logan also plays most of the instruments on the album including drums and keyboards, apart from the obvious ukulele.

The album is also very easy on the ear and made the perfect accompaniment to a recent long car journey. It even had me singing along to songs that i’m not really that keen on. Just think yourselves lucky that you weren’t there to witness that!

And, if you buy the album itself, rather that downloading it, the cover art features diagrams of how to play four different chords on a ukulele.
So, if listening to this album makes you want to join the current surge in ukulele playing, it will also give you a head start on the opposition.

The Ukuleles website: The Ukuleles

Amazon UK: The Ukuleles You can listen to snippets of the album tracks there.

Happy listening.

Ideas Of A Solitary Walker.

Walking often leads to ideas. Here i'm talking about a few.

Vinyl Junkie blog: http://vinyljunkie58.blogspot.co.uk/

A beach vlog.

AudioBoo - Death Of A Pub.

listen to ‘Death Of A Pub?’ on Audioboo

Talking about the potential loss of a local pub & the loss of history that goes with it.
The book mentioned: The Pubs Of Hastings & St Leonards, 1800-2000 by David Russell.
Available from the author via hastings.pubs@gmail.com & local booksellers.
The photo is not of the actual pub mentioned by the way

I'm On The Radio Again.

I'm going to be doing some more local music shows & even doing a bit of of comedy acting as well.

Carnival FM: http://www.carnivalfm.co.uk/

Local Music Shows - Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August, 6 to 8pm BST

ARIVMIA Go To Guilfest

Following on from my previous video. Here is a behind the scenes look at my day at Guilfest with the band ARIVMIA.

The sound is muted during the live shots due to mic distortion!

Check the band out here:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/ARIVMIA/96581858421
Reverb Nation - https://www.reverbnation.com/arivmia

This video was made especially for the bands Facebook page.

Steep Learning Curves.

More strings are added to my bow.

What i've been up to.

Here's a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_YrQUHw4g

Twitter - Thinking Local.

This piece of audio was originally recorded for Hastings Local Radio: http://www.hastingslocalradio.co.uk/
It was recorded to tell people about the local aspect of using Twitter. Something that is often overlooked by those who are new to the service.

What People Really Think.

In life you don't often find out what somebody really thinks about you.
I just did & it surprised me.

Nominate somebody to carry the Olympic torch:
http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-torch-relay/carrying-the-olympic-flame/

AudioBoo - Sticking To Your Principles.

Just because i may not like what you do, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

AudioBoo - Musical Enthusiasm.

Chatting about the local music scene in Hastings. Something i'm very enthusiastic about.

Never Meet Your Heroes?

A meeting with Roger Daltrey of The Who & i got paid to work with him. All because i said "Yes' to something a few years ago.
Who knows where your decisions will take you.

AudioBoo - Favourite Waste Of Time?

Talking Twitter and communities.

Another Nail In The Coffin?

It appears that Hastings has lost yet another part of its musical heritage.

I heard via Twitter (once again) that both The Crypt and The Street has closed their doors for business yesterday, 31st January 2011.
Coming as this does only a few months after a fire destroyed the Pier Ballroom on Hastings Pier and hot on the heels of the confusion surrounding Venuu in George Street, this is another bad day for live music in the Hastings area.

The Crypt has played host to so many young bands in its time. Bands such as Coldplay and Snow Patrol played there on their way to global success. The venue was a part of the established live circuit for up and coming UK bands and many of them have passed through its doors on their way to bigger things.
The Crypt also attracted more established acts like Gil Scott Heron and Ash to play on that tiny stage, next to that sticky floor!
It should also be remembered that The Crypt played host to some great DJ's and helped spread the word about the Dance Music revolution of the 1990's.

Like the loss of the Pier Ballroom, the closure of The Crypt has robbed Hastings of so many musical memories. The combined musical history of both The Crypt and Hastings Pier takes in pretty much the whole of popular music since the 1960's.
When the heyday of Hastings Pier faded, The Crypt was ready to step into the breach and provide a venue for touring bands to play in.

As with Hastings Pier, so many local and not so local people will have their own happy memories of evenings and nights spent in The Crypt, including my entire family.

But, it is not just those memories that have been lost. This is also the loss of yet another live music venue in the town. Apart from, obviously, not now being able to attract some of those new up and coming bands to Hastings. This will also hamper the emergence of any new local bands and musicians.

One thing The Crypt was always good at was helping to provide a live venue for new local bands. I've seen many there myself.
Any town of this size needs venues where young bands can play on a real stage, with a proper sound system. This is where they learn their "trade" and the experience of playing on a stage where so many of their own musical heroes may well have played is always a good thing.

So, is this yet another nail in the coffin of live music in Hastings?
Initial thoughts would suggest so, after all we have had more than our fair share of bad news recently. But, i  certainly hope not.
Maybe, the reports of The Crypt's demise are exaggerated.
We can but hope.

"Not The End Of The Pier" CD Vlog.

Yes, it's finally here.

Website: http://nottheend.co.uk

AudioBoo: Give Local A Chance.

Just because it's local doesn't mean it's no good.