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"Old News" Tim Moon Summer 2004 Newsletter The Three Line Whip for Mid Summers Night If you've checked the Website Recently you'll know that I have a gig at The New Roscoe in Leeds on the 21st June. The gig, a bit of a showcase, needs as many people to come for me (as distinct from the other two on the bill) as possible. I would really appreciate it if as many of you as possible could turn out for this gig. The New Roscoe is at Sheepscar, which is the bit of Leeds down the hill from the city centre via the A58, where the Harrogate Road splits from the Wetherby Road. I haven't checked if there is a website, but Google up New Roscoe and there should be something, it's a popular venue presenting the likes of Pentangle. But... I remember The (Old) Roscoe which was demolished when they put in the new roads. A proper Irish pub with sessions every night and thousands of Yorkshire men who spoke like Tykes but sang like Dubliners! Great days! Fairport at Saltaire It was fantastic to support the Fairports at their Acoustic gig in Saltaire a few weeks back. As well as consummate musicians they are also consummate gentlemen, and thanks also to Simon Hegginbotham who promotes the Saltaire Live events at the Victoria Hall and does a superb job. He knows how to treat musicians. Don't forget to support Simon's future events which recommence in the Autumn. But back with the Fairports. After my set they presented two consummate set's of their own, sounding so clear in the four piece line up and running through music from the second album (What We Did on Our Holidays) to the one that has just been released as you read this (Over The Next Hill). Post gig it was back to the splendid Nigel Schofield to sample Curry delights prepared by Steve Tilston. It's a toss up over which he's best at, musicianship or chefdom. They're both top stuff! Progress On Invicta The new album is progressing well. The first session put down basic tracks for most of the album, although some will be re-recorded, of basic rhythm instrument; guitar, mandola, banjo etc, bass guitar, second rhythm instrument and Lead vocals. This gives me chance to listen and live with the basic song before putting on the fiddley bits. A few thanks for loan of instruments; thanks to David for the loan of the Celtic harp and Sian for the loan of the crumhorn which graces the final track. On the 23rd June annA rydeR is due to doing a flying visit to Woodman studios to add French horns, trumpets, accordion and vocals to a couple of tracks and I'll do the rerecordings that need to be done. Coming later to add their bits are world famous jazz guitarist Gary Boyle, Peader (Long) not playing his usual sax parts but contributing bass clarinet and saxophone. Finally, backing vocals will be provided by Sian Pederick (who was on 'Anger and Kiss') and her daughter Ceri who is beyond superb. If Ceri isn't world famous within five years I'll eat my hat! Finally, after the Saltaire gig Dave Pegg asked if he could contribute bass to 'I Wish I Could Dance With You' and we're hoping to get that sorted out, but with Dave's busy schedule it will take some planning. Session's And Press and Stuff Some lunchtimes are so good! As you know, alongside the gig's and Moon de Lune and stuff I try and do a certain amount of community music work. I've just finished working in Barnoldswick with a group of young people who presented a piece of devised drama for which we had written three songs together. The project was not without it's problems but they came up trumps on the night of it's public performance. Thanks kids, well done! I'll be doing three weeks working on Summer Projects for North Yorkshire Council writing songs with young people in Whitby and Scarborough during July and August, which keeps the money coming in and provides a bit of seaside in the Summer. That was one of the calls this lunchtime. The second was from Mark Ansty, manager of The Incredible String Band asking if I would do a session for Clive Palmer's forthcoming CD. Of Course I would! Clive was a founder of the ISB but left after the first album. He returned for the reformed band in recent years and is now a celebrated hero of the young and talented. Witness the Johnny Marr praise in the Guardian last week, which featured the word 'genius'. More on that next time. I've been getting good press for 'Black Concertina' on 'The Transports Silver edition' on Free Reed, Folk Roots and Mojo both gave the song rave mentions (both written by Colin Irwin, thank's Colin!) and Jim Ellison in the new Tykes News says very nice things about it. New Instruments Having got me bit of birthday money thoughts turned to instruments, because let's face it, our house doesn't have enough of them does it? Having happened upon (and snapped up) a serangai (Indian multi stringed bowed instrument) at TkMax (Or however it's spelt!) for £25 a few months back, and bought new keyboards and electric drums for the new album what could be left? A trawl through the net revealed a half size sitar at a good price and that is due to arrive tomorrow. And while I was on the site, there was a shenai for under a tenner! How could I resist! I couldn't So have a fab Summer! See you at Cropredy? Thanks for your support, Love to you all, Tim
Tim Moon Spring 2004 Newsletter Sessions Ahoy! More session work as the next album for Guy Manning gets under way. At time of writing I've done some cello parts and some viola parts which took a lifetime and may still be replaced with violin. Well, if people will insist on having Ab in their music!! Shorter and quicker was a session for Blaize to record some music for a dance project in Whitby. The group had been working with a CD of The Dubliners so Mike Bettison had been asked to find some songs with a more local flavour and fit them into the arrangements of the Irish stuff. Thus we recorded 'Scarborough Fair', 'Whip Jamboree', 'My Girls a Yorkshire Girl' and 'Herrings Head' with a band which consisted of Janet Russell (Lead and Harmony vocals and guitar), Peader Long (soprano sax, flute, whistle and bass clarinet) and Mike (Lead and backing vocals and melodeon) with myself contributing 'cello, fiddle, mandola and bouzouki as well as lead and backing vocals. Oscars Look Out If you've been keeping up you will remember my long contribution to Third Theatre with numerous international tours and instrumental music. Phil Knight, director, moved to Brittany a while back and so that seemed the end for the company. But no. A phone call from him the other week invited me to appear in a feature film which he is directing, described as a Celtic Western, in which Lucy and I will play a Yorkshire farmer and his wife. Like Third Theatre the script will be a mix of improvisation and written script and filming will take place in September or early 2005. Education, Education, Education Thankfully the need to do much supply work has died down a little, and when I do it's purely doing music. I've still got a few months of doing three music sessions a week with adults with learning difficulties at Craven College and at present I'm also doing a song writing session at Barnoldswick for a few weeks. Gigs April 22nd I will be back at the Puzzle Hall Inn for the official launch of 'Why is a Mouse When it Spins?', the live album. Always a pleasure to go back to my old local, always such a warm friendly gig. The Address is Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. May9th is a Sunday and I will be supporting Fairport Convention (acoustic) at Saltaire Victoria Hall, near Bradford. The Saltaire Live gigs have not only been well organised affairs but also very popular so book early for this one. There's also a Moon de Lune gig on April 17th at Birmingham Star City. A number of half hour spots from 2.30 to 6pm. Transports The launch of the Free Reed box set of Peter Bellamys 'Transports' which included the original in pristine digital quality but also new recordings by various people including Simon Nicol and Chris Leslie, The Witches of Elswick and John Kirkpatrick. I'm rather flattered to perform the only none Bellamy / Trad number on the album with 'Black Concertina'. The launch saw many of the new performers at the Bacca Pipes Club singing the songs from the album and a second Bellamy related item. I chose 'Tumbling Dice', one of the Stones songs Peter used to perform live and the song that I intended to perform at the 'Vaulted Echoes' launch until I came up with 'Black Concertina'. Till Next Time, Enjoy the Spring..
Tim Moon Newsletter Winter 2003/4 LETS START BY SAYING SORRY So yes the last newsletter was huge. Blame the heat, blame me being in a rush, blame it on the night. So for those of you whose computer crashed, gas ovens exploded and so on, my abject apology. You'll notice that to make up for it there was no Autumn missive. ON THE SESSION SCENE So, this Summer has seen me on the sessions, both playing instruments that only really pop up on recordings rather than live outings. One was for my good friend John Pederick who asked me to guest on his forthcoming album playing a bit of harmonica. Now, as a devout multi-instrumentalist you can't believe how naked I felt heading for Mike Hockenhall's studio with just my shoulder bag, (in which live my harmonicas on a permanent basis). Having only jammed on the song twice before I just played on the track a few times till we got the best take, which was take six I think. John is a fine guitarist and songwriter and singer and I look forward to hearing the album when it's finished. The main session was for Guy Manning (website home.hccnet.nl/n.wywh/who_manningguy.htm) , a keyboard and guitar player from Leeds. The album, out since last October, is called 'The View From My Window' and is what, I suppose, you would call progressive rock if such a term still exists. Kind of Charisma period Genesis is as good a reference point as any. I contributed fiddle, cello, flute and whistle (the tenor recorder was dropped from the final mix) and I had to say I was pleased as punch to be involved in a style of music that is not normally my area. More live work with Guy may follow in 2004. COUNTRY FOR A WHILE... As part of my drive to get involved in other music's I answered an ad for a player in a country band and spent the middle of the Summer rehearsing, playing electric fiddle, electric mandolin, accordion, harmonica and lap steel on all the old standards of the genre; Copperhead Road and so on. Sadly the band imploded while I was on holiday in Cornwall. Oh well. THE LIVE ALBUM The live album was released just before Christmas. You may remember I recorded a gig at The Topic Folk Club in Bradford earlier in 2003. The results were even better than I could have hoped for although technical problems meant the removal of 'The Secret Morris Team', 'Over the Waterfall', 'The Melodeon Tune Set' and 'No Amnesty!' from the finished recordings. I debated long and hard as to whether to record a second gig and fill the gaps but in the end decided to go for the cohesion of one gig and shuffle the playlist to balance. I also debated even longer whether to keep in the between song chat but in the end removed it so that it didn't begin to jar by the umpteenth play. Anyhow, the album is available at gigs, from the Website (www.timmoon.fsnet.co.uk) and from Borders Books in Leeds. TALKING ABOUT THE WEBSITE The wonderful Jim Lawton has redesigned the whole thing and will in the future hand over update stuff to Lucy and I. Thanks to Jim for tremendous work on the site from it's inception. Cheers me dear! GIGS We are in a situation where, until contracts change hands and dates are solidified I can't give you any dates, but check the website for latest stuff. THE TRANSPORTS You probably know that 2004 marks the anniversary of 'The Transports', my late friend Peter Bellamys amazing Folk Opera. I am proud to be featured, along with Fairport and many others, on the lavish CD box set that Free Reed are releasing. I reproduce Neil Waynes press release below. (I've enlarged the relevant section) March is Transports Month!! The Free Reed Revival Masters Box-set of Peter Bellamy's masterpiece Ballad-Opera 'The Transports ' The Silver Edition Box-Set' (FRDCD 2122), is to be released on 29th March 2004 Peter Bellamy's masterwork'The Transports' a Ballad Opera' was one of the jewels of 1970s folk music: It's an epic tale of the transportation of a Norfolk couple, their time as British convicts, and of love and loss, and of the birth of the Australian nation. Its 1977 vinyl release' in a lavish gatefold sleeve, with bound-in libretto, large poster and detailed history' gained plaudits around the world; it was acclaimed as'Folk Album of the Year', and 25 years on, is still way up there, recently cited in both MoJo Magazine's'Top 100 Recordings of the 20th Century' and in BBC 2's'Best folk albums of the 20th century'! The original set featured most of the leading folk personalities of the day, singing the parts for which Peter had so carefully crafted for them, sung to stunning period-orchestral settings by master-arranger Dolly Collins. It's just over 25 years since its release, but since Bellamy's masterwork had been unavailable for some time, Free Reed's Nigel Schofield (a great friend and admirer of Peter, and co-producer of his'Wake the Vaulted Echoes' 3-CD tribute set) proposed a 25th anniversary'silver Edition' of the ballad opera, on Free Reed's Revival Masters box set label; word soon spread, and so many of Peter's old friends and admirers asked to become involved that a whole new recording of the entire song cycle was mooted, and the friends' performances planned as a second CD for the set. To complement these two new Transports CDs in the box-set, Free Reed have reinstated the song cycle's entire libretto and historical notes not seen since the vinyl LP release' and have added a wealth of'Transportation & First Fleet' tales, convict history and artist biographies' all featured in a superb companion book for the set. The complete'silver Edition' Box Set is now released on 29th March. CD1 of this lavish Silver Edition box-set features the original 1977 recordings, carefully re-mastered for the first time; Peter's tale of 18th century transportation was presented as a cycle of new compositions, performed by singers from the front rank of the 1970s folk revival (Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Mike & Norma Waterson, A L Lloyd, June Tabor, Cyril Tawney and many more)' and are a veritable time-capsule of that exciting era. There's a fine archive of Tony Fisher's previously unpublished photographs of these 1977 recording sessions as part of the set's 136-page companion book. The second CD'The Transports 2004'Peter's Friends' was recorded during 2003 by many of Peter's close friends and admirers who have revisited and reinterpreted his classic collection of Transports songs, and their startling performances feature as CD2 of the set. Performers include Damien Barber, John Kirkpatrick, Steve Tilston, Grace Notes, Witches of Elswick, Tom McConville, Pete Morton, Coope Boyes & Simpson, and members of the Bacca Pipes folk club; Fairport Convention have provided a unique, specially-recorded reinterpretation of the'Convicts' Wedding Dance'; the five-part linking Ballad that was created by Peter Bellamy for himself and Dave Swarbrick, is here performed by Fairport's Simon Nicol and Chris Leslie. The Transports songs on this'Peter's Friends' CD are neatly framed by some other pieces, being opened by an early Cockersdale recording of'Black & Bitter Night' featuring the late Keith Marsden, and by Jim Lawton's reading of the words of one of Henry Cabell's descendants; the set is closed by a powerful and supremely emotional performance of Tim Moon's'Black Concertina' (composed by Tim in memory of his friend Peter), and recorded by Tim at the launch of Peter's tribute CD set at The Famous Bacca Pipes folk club, Peter's beloved home club at the time of his passing; Peter's own performance of'Roll Down'' a unique recording of the encore from his very final concert at St Louis' Focal Point' closes the set. The Set's fine 136-page book details the History of the First Fleet and of the English'Transported Convicts'. There's a full discography, detailed artist biographies of both the 1977 and 2004 casts, with reminiscences, many interviews, and a Recording The Transports rare picture archive. Free Reed are proud to make one of the classics of British recorded folk music available again, and to keep the memory of Peter Bellamy and of his epic creation at the forefront of our musical heritage. So that's it for now. Thanks for all your support. Love to you all
Tim Moon Newsletter Number 7 Autumn 2003 50 Not Out! Yes, unbelievable as it may seem I actually reached the half century with most parts of my body intact! May 31st (which the gods had ensured was a Saturday) saw the big do as we boarded the Worth Valley train at 11.20 and set of for a lunchtime o booze special. The reserved carriage was right next door to the handpulled beer buffet car that features every year in the national good beer guide and the assembled multitudes took the opportunity to drink it dry throughout the day. And dont ask about the bar bill! Birthday One sees the man of the hour giving it some mandola as the window becomes obscured by cards (not a Pink Floyd album!) Top right sees the view from the platform of the trimmed coach and the mega gift of the day, a'cello! Birthday 2, and Janet Russell does something while I aim an inane grin out of the window. Birthday 3 and it's the wonderful woman who sorted out the day and who makes it worth living every day. Lucy downs another whiskey and surveys the sight of a coach load of happy people! Aside from the wonderous'cello Nigel Schofield put together a 4 CD box set, a la'Carthy Chronicles' /'Unconventional' etc containing long unreleased tracks, tracks from limited edition cassettes and the whole of'Another Pennine Day' which I recorded for Nigel way back in his radio days. In due course I'll distill a single CD release out of them for public consumption as the long promised'The Bootlegs on the Other Sock Foot Volume 1' Session Time Guy Manning is an excellent musician and composer from Leeds. I did some session work for his forthcoming album ('cello, violin, whistle, flute & tenor recorder) which will be out in the Autumn. Check out Guys website . The Live Album..at Last!! Well, you've kept asking me and I've finally got around to doing it. I decided that the gig at The Topic in Bradford earlier this year would be as good a place as any to record a live album and duly worked out a set suitable for the occasion, that is some of the nw songs destined to turn up on the next studio album, some reworked older matrial and some'No Amnesty!' stuff that needed a 21st century release. I'm hoping to have the album out for Christmas, much hangs on whether I put it out as a charity album for the Bradford Centre I supported last year, in which case'No Room!' will be added to the CD, or as a independent release (in which case it wont. The next newsletter will have a track listing when I assess the material and perhaps record another gig to choose best versions, although the Topic gig only has two tracks that I really want to re-do. UPCOMING LIVE GIGS 1st, 2nd & 3rd August ; The French Market, Blackburn Town Centre (Outdoor gig, mixture of material, fantastic cheeses!) 6th & 7th September ; MOON DE LUNE ; Rotherham October ; 1 in 12 Club, Bradford. Support for Robb Johnson Full Details Autumn Newsletter
Tim Moon Newsletter Number 6 Winter 2002/2003 Where Did You Spend Christmas? The release of the single 'No Room!' In November was quite an amazing feat all things considered. It was only in late October that, after playing a concert for Speak Out day I was asked if I would write a song to help raise money for the St Marys Centre for the homeless and their Christmas refuge. Thanks to Woodman providing free studio time, and not withstanding a family bereavement at the studio, they did a great job of providing a master for the 3 track CD 5 hours from playing the first note. The song is unusual in that it's the first piano led track I've recorded for many years (although the live version is on bouzouki) and I tried to put a more 'commercial' tilt to the song. The other two tracks are a live take of 'Black Concertina' from 1999 and a one take performance of'The Money Keeps Rolling In' recorded in the studio live. Thanks to Jackie Hughes of the centre for providing the impetus and arranging all the business side of things. As there was such a short, though successful, sales time for the CD it will be re-released next year with the two extra tracks replaced by a full length live album, thus two birds with one stone. If you haven't got a copy of 'No Room!' yet send £3.50 now me with cheques payable to THE PLACE @ ST MARYS All profits do go to the centre in Bradford, and thanks to those who helped. More CD's As well as'No Room!' there have been three more Blaize Arts CD's that I have had a hand in.'I Could Be' was done with Skipton teenagers and features some blues flute and real Velvet Underground'cello work from myself (amongst the usual mix).'Rolling Down the Hill' is a sweet CD of songs written with Bainbridge Primary School while'Empty Fields' was done with year 13's at Settle High. It's a radio ballad about foot and mouth that really works. I had to provide a song for a gap in the piece so'Blood and Chemicals' is a bit of rock that I really enjoyed doing. The album also features some acoustic bass guitar, which was nice to play. Of Nelson and Gambia and Related Things The 'Will You Be My Friend' CD is at last out, though it's title is now 'Games for Gambia'. As you may remember it features Lucy's voice and my instruments performing songs put together by Kathy Tristram as learning games for young children. The package comes with the CD a booklet of lyrics and games instructions and sheet music for the original material. All profits will go to the school in Gambia that Kathy & Christine Schofield supports. Contact me for purchasing details. Santa brought me a mandola this year (called, by the Rhubarb Thrashers, Nelson Mandola). It's an interesting instrument which has been beautifully converted from a small Russian guitar which gives it a lovely full tone. I've also had my old twelve string guitar out of the case and enjoyed hearing it again. Must bring it along to gigs in 2003. I've also had the didgeridoos out for working with children which is very dangerous given the amount of saliva that flys on these occasions. Two more Blaize projects are lined up for 2003 in County Durham and in the meantime I'm heading for prison! Thankfully they should let me out again as I will be working on songs at Northallerton Young Offenders with the inmates there.
Tim Moon Newsletter Number 5 Autumn 2002 More Albums from Me and Them
The Instruments Keep On Coming... Many years ago some of you may remember that I featured bouzouki quite a lot. It was a fine Stefan Sobel model which did not belong to me. That being so I phased it out and eventually it went back to it's rightful owner. Then there was the Greek bowl backed model which looked good but had a weak neck. It's still around but with nylon strings for recording only. So I'm pleased to announce that a new bouzouki is now back with me and active in gig land on a number of songs that had found temporary accomodation on open tuned guitar, 'Boys in White/Capt. Marches....' being a prime example. You can see it in action in the photographs in this newsletter. Another new item that has grown fron the need to carry lots of things around during workshops is the backpacker guitar. This a great little thing that allows me to take a guitar with me because its not much bigger than a mandola and very light. This gives it such a nice sound that it will appear even when the trusty old Fender is around on gigs. And talking of Mandola's...... well, watch this space! Playing Up in the North East I've spent some time up in County Durham working with Jack Drum Arts on a project with 10 to 12 year olds. They had five days to produce drama with music and props on the theme of lead mining. I, of course, handled the music and four nice songs emerged, two on the life of miners and two on a supernatural theme. As I worked on the last two days of the Wolsingham production I played on the performance but the Barnard Castle production managed a couple of stand in guitarist's, so my thanks to them. Bet you can't wait to see if 'The Nasty Goblin Ted' appears in my live set! Puzzle in the Sunshine The August bank holiday festival at the Puzzle Hall in Sowerby Bridge (which actually commemorates the famous Crumlin Festival which featured Fairport and Pentangle amongst many others) was the usual lovely event, enhanced by the sun and good spirits. It was the debut of the backpacker guitar, and indeed the first proper gig for the bouzouki. It was rather strange to be at the Puzzle and not see Jerry rushing about being the life and soul. The set was well recieved so watch out for a Thursday gig this Autumn. Song For Woody Ever tried singing a novel? On the 28th August at the Melobourne in Bradford I took part in an hour long tribute to Woody Guthrie with words, recordings and music all but together by Karl Dallas. For my sins I chose the mammoth 'Tom Joad' on bouzouki and backed others on fiddle, harmonica and whistle. Seemed like a really good show. UpComing Gigs I'll be playing at the Bacca Pipes benefit November 1st in Keighley, there is a gig, venue to be arranged, in Todmorden before the end of the year and there are dates yet to be confirmed at Widnes Folk Club and the Grove in Leeds, a legendary venue that has some kind of music all week long, including a session alongside the folk club. So, that's it for now. Christmas will be on the way when I speak again. Watch the website for the new gallery page. Thanks for your continuing support.. Tim Moon
Tim Moon Newsletter Number 4 Summer 2002 Jerry Mellonie- A Life Cut Short Too Soon As I mentioned in the Spring Newsletter my old friend Jerry Mellonie sadly died in early May, a short time before his 50th birthday. It would be twenty years ago that I first met Jerry, in The Puzzle Hall Inn in Sowerby Bridge. I had just moved to the town and heard him talking about railways. I struck up a conversation and we became firm friends and fellow performers. We started a mummers team, in which I played the Doctor and this led on to Plus Support Theatre Company. There was just one gig with this large unit, although the staging of my multi-media show,'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?' used the title for the performers involved, chiefly Jerry and his then wife Jane alongside myself and Helen Porthouse doing the music. Jerry and I then settled in as a theatrical duo called Roadworks, doing improvised pub theatre, shows for special occasions (including the opening of the Puzzles indoor toilets!) and the pub show'Called to the Bar' which we toured around Britain, including London gigs. After Jerry and Jane split up in the early eighties I found myself having an affair with Jane. This didn't bother Jerry but I felt awkward and we drifted apart. We reunited some years later while Jerry was landlord of the'Dolphin' in Robin Hoods Bay. Third Theatre were on tour and after a gig in Scarborough we found ourselves at the Dolphin for the night. Jerry laughed all night, the old sparks flying as we improvised one surreal sketch after another. Next day we sat around the pub drinking with Craig Charles (name dropping, I know) and still laughing. His subsequent return to West Yorkshire, his take over of the Puzzle and his cana l boat were all so Jerry that it was a huge shock when he was taken ill at Easter. Even in hospital he was Jerry, albeit a little subdued, and looking forward to coming out. His funeral with his coffin carried up the canal by barge, the morris dancers, the songs afterwards, the affection of the many mourners, all smacked of another good man gone down. The penultimate week in May was the ultimate week for me. Two lifelong ambitions fulfilled! Firstly, as part of my transport radio programme I was given a footplate pass to travel on the Worth Valley Railway and completed one and three quarter trips on the line on the footplate of an LMS 3F 0-6-0 tank! And as if that wasn't enough for one week on the Wednesday I was down in Oxfordshire at the launch of the splendid 4 CD retrospective 'Fairport Unconventional' During the course of the afternoon I found myself sitting under the tree in the pub garden playing cuatro (see below) with Chris Leslie on fiddle and guitar (my guitar!) by Dave Pegg and Maart Allcock - picture. Not the first time Maart and I have played together, but the first time for about twenty years! And, I even got to sign my autograph on the box set for a couple of people, including annA rydeR, although I did have to quote the page number so that anyone would have an idea as to why I was signing the Fairport box! Cuatro! Well what is the cuatro of which I speak? Well, it's a 10 string/ 5 course instrument from Puerto Rico. It is tuned in fourths (hence the name) and has a body shaped like a viol. The sound is somewhere between a 12 string guitar and a mandola. Already the instrument has settled into the set list, including a revival of the'No Amnesty!' track'Roll on Brother' I also noticed a very well priced bouzouki in the same shop so expect the return of the bouzouki to the stable. At long last the borrowed Stefan Sobbell instrument will be replaced. Shades of a Robin! Which brings be on to that old Incredible String Band favourite the bowed ghimbri. I believe they were strummed until Robin took a bow to one. Still, there I was at the Vintage Transport gathering and there on the crafts and curios stand was a bowed ghimbri, strung with horsehair! But for £3!?!?!? Snapped up it is now strung and fitted with machine heads which will be given a cosmetic appearance of ethnicity (the push in pegs were very pretty but a sod to tune!) Should pop up on'Hidden Gullies' Less than a year to the Half a Century! Yes, incredible given my youthful good looks but I will be 50 in 2003. As a requested present Nigel Schofield will be producing a 'Carthy Chronicles' style box set for me and only a few others. However the return to CDR of much reel to reel stuff should allow me to put an official bootleg CD out in due course. Actually I realised the other day that 2003 represents another milestone. I formed my first band ('The Modbeats!') in 1963 and that makes 40 years in music. Actually I had played piano with my grandma on stages since about five, but how long's a piece of string? More Session Stuff Many of you may know Pete Chapman, one of the 1in12 chaps, presenter on BCB and performing poet. In the latter context himself and 'Dickie' are produceing a CD and I have overdubbed a number of instruments; fiddle, electric and slide guitars, cuatro (it's recording debut!), pottery drum, flute, mandolin, viola, whistle, alto sax, mando-cello, bass recorder, balalaika and saz (also making a recording debut!) I'll keep you informed about title, release date etc. Back On the Line I was back on the steam trains again on June 8th for my second year on the Straw Race Special on the Worth Valley Railway.The home made stand for my instruments came in very useful for putting the instruments ready for play and the train reserved musicians tables in the buffet car (Near the bar!) The musicains from the Lamb sessions were in attendance once more and dancing again took place on the platform at Keighley. The locomotive, for those who need to know, was the Taff Vale tank.. Moon de Lune Occasional mention is made of Moon de Lune in these newsletters without any real explanation as to who or what they or it is. Let me take you back to old days. Kitsyke Will are recording at Bill Leaders studio in Halifax, the result will be their only album and it will appear on Highway records. The band consists of Patrick Gundry-White on french horn and keyboards, John Burge on bouzouki, guitar, banjo and fiddle and head honcho is Dubliner (though resident of Pateley Bridge for a number of years) Peader Long on saxes, flutes, clarinets and whistles. Bill Leader invites him to the Puzzle and (so legend has it) tells him he must meet me. Anyway, Patrick decides to leave as he's London based and the band is Yorkshire based. Peader asks me to join. I do and stop being a Univac system programmer in the big business sector. Having joined John feels threatened at having another string player in the band. He leaves. Patrick decides to rejoin the band and Pete Coe comes in on his usual instruments including bass. It doesn't gell and Kitsyke Will falls apart. Peader and I do a little busking together and start getting paid street work with shopping centres country festivals, shops... you name it. We manage not to rehearse and play bits of what we know that we think the public will recognise. I play banjo and Peader plays sax. It is circa 1984. 18 years later and we still haven't rehearsed. We sometimes expand as a fun concert band to play Irish stuff, but essentially you can still hear'How Much is that Doggie in the Window' (in French) amongst other gems. Don't tell the folk Police! The Last Bit You'll have to keep an eye on the website (or local press) for the gigs, I'm a little tied up with workshops for a while, though we've just done a mammoth mail out of demo tapes and publicity so we'll see what that brings in the Autumn. We've still got to sort out the next Love Apple gig.. you'll remember the last one was postponed because the venue double booked. It should be a joint gig with Peader and Dave Nelson, as was planned before. Don't forget to try and get a listen to the radio programme on BCB. It's 96.7FM around West Yorkshire or on the net from www.bcb.yorks.com There's details on the programme there too. Also the email from that address (timbo@bcb.yorks.com) sends on to the home address so either will get to me. Soosh, our little Staffordshire cross puppy is growing up fast and proving to be a lovely dog and a worthy successor to Jingles, Cider and (of course) Hollie I've always thought dogs have got life far more sussed than we humans, and Soosh proves. Have a really hot, fab Summer, enjoys your holidays (we're going to the Isle of Man) and I'll see you again in the misty fruitful Autumn. Thanks as Always....
Tim Moon Newsletter Number 3 Spring 2002 Another year and another newsletter. The new year has seen a plethora of new CD's from yours truly, including the long promised re-release of the 1985 album 'No Amnesty!' which was only available on cassette when first released, and for the last few years it has not been available at all. The album was planned as a limited edition, and indeed all copies are numbered but with our recent conversion to a better computer (and an Apple Mac no less!) we should be able to burn CD's and keep producing them as demandallows. Anyhow, for those who do not remember the album it features the wonderful voice, hammer dulcimer, concertina and bohdran of Chris Coe and long time musical partner Peader Long on saxophones, flutes, whistles and clarinets. There are also the two women who (at different times) formed the other half of the eighties duo's which went under the New Moon name. Helen Porthouse handles vocals on the traditional spiritual'Wayfaring stranger' and Jane Mellonie on acoustic guitar on'Even Song'. The cover is based on the original and the sleeve insert features some further modifications of the original sleeve with extensive notes. The second CD is 'Ephemera 1' which is a compilation of the poetry of the Puzzle Hall Poets, the loose formation of those who performed at the poetry nights of the eponymous pub in Sowerby Bridge. The nights maybe no more but the loose group continues with a gig this summer at the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. On the album I perform'Happy with his Pipe','Shipping Forecast', 'Millennium Poem 13','Face Powder' and'Early Invasion'. Among the other poets is my own beloved, Lucy, reading four of her own poems. The album is available from Woodman Studios in Elland. Album three also features Lucy, indeed she handles all the vocals while I play acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, whistle, piano, synth, mando cello percussion and banjo. the album is called'Will You Be My Friend?' and features well known songs with new lyrics by Kathy Tristram. It is intended for primary schools and profits from the CD will support a school in Gambia which Cathy and Christine Schofield support and visit. There is due to be a launch soon so I will keep you posted and as soon as I can sort out the details you should be able to buy copies from myself at gigs or via the website. Talking of Schofields, Nigel (Christines husband) who has had huge success with his recent 'Carthy Chronicles' retrospective (and before that with Peter Bellamy) is at present working on the Fairport four CD set and yours truly will be mentioned in the sleeve notes. After recording with Maart and now this isn't it about time I was asked to join Fairport? I'll find out when I attend the launch at Woodworm in May, a glittering event which will feature the likes of Ian Anderson (Tull, not Froots) and Robert Plant amongst Fairports past and present. I'll tell you about it in the Summer newsletter. I've done a couple of gigs at Heath Stroke Club in Halifax since the last newsletter. They are enjoyable affairs, you can play and relax and though the members cannot clap and whoop the comments afterwards are very pleasing. I'm also working on a couple of shows. The first I am preparing for Summer 2003 is a show with words and music on Village Halls and designed to tour these splendid rural institutions. If you have any anecdotes or historical items on village halls please send them along to my new email address below. The second show has been mooted and seems like a good idea but I'll inform you if and when... The basic premise is that Jim Woodland and myself tour together showcasing our songwriting and playing solo and duo wise. Fingers crossed. Gigs confirmed include working for both Yorkshire Dales Workshops and Blaize on songwriting workshops and concert dates below....
GIGS CONFIRMED FOR SPRING 2002 May 16th (Thursday); Puzzle Hall Inn, Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge. approx 8.30 start. June 8th (Saturday); Straw Race Train from Oxenhope Station in the evening. Contact the Oxenhope Straw Race for further details. Our new Mac computer and the Blaize MiniDisc Recording desk should produce some new albums in due course. A live one is definitely on the cards while an instrumental album is also a possibility. Meanwhile the first steps of recording 'Anger & Kiss' follow up CD 'Hidden Gullies' should take place in the weeks to come with mostly new material and some re-recording of gig list favorites. The other Mac computer new thing is that we now have our own Email without going through my BCB site. It is.. timlucy@insidemotion.freeserve.co.uk Feel free to contact me anytime you want, I look forward to it. Watch the website for further gigs...till next time..
The Tim Moon Newsletter Number Two Autumn 2001/Winter 2001/2 Tim Moon - God to Mosh Pit Teenagers Shock! Welcome to the second edition of the newsletter. The beer festival gig at the 1 in 12 in September proved to be a bit of a rum do (or traditional beer do, I suppose!) With the audience in another town and the artistes entertaining each other. More fun were the two gigs at the back end of August. The first was another on the Worth Valley Railway train, but this time behind steam. The event was to replace the Oxenhope Straw Race, which was cancelled because of foot and mouth. I provided music for those arriving at Oxenhope station, a little on train playing and a little playing of ceilidh music with the players from 'The Lamb' at Oxenhope. Dancing in the moonlight at Keighley station with a steam locomotive simmering as a backdrop is a heady mix. Charity wise the event raised a good amount and will be repeated next year whether or not the Straw Race takes place. The August Bank holiday festival at the Puzzle Hall Inn in Sowerby Bridge was a lovely affair, as ever. My spot was in the early evening, out on the outdoor stage, the smell of barbeque, ducks flying (No link there... I was on the veggie burgers and veggie hotdogs) and the sun sinking over the two valleys. Nice to be back in the Puzzle, my ex.local, and in a way an end to the summer... the setting sun like a adieu to the fair months and on to mellow fruitfulness. A little arty there, who says I have no soul? A project that I have been working on over the end of August and into early September has given a great deal of satisfaction. The work, at the adoption unit in Shipley, has been led by Jim Woodland (the other best songwriter in West Yorkshire) with a group of young people. We have been helping them to write songs and poems, though many of them needed little help to produce some great songs. The CD of the project will be released in October and will feature the young people singing, speaking and playing percussion, and keyboards while Jim produced, played guitar, percussion, and sang. I contribute guitar, bass, banjo, organ, mando-cello, mandolin, bottleneck, fiddle, whistle, vocals and percussion. Main percussion work (and some computer jiggery-pokery) was undertaken by the chap who I last worked with in 1989 on Third Theatres 'Dispossessed', and who is now a member of Inner Sense, Gafro. I look forward to the release of the CD with keen anticipation. Leading on from this project I appeared at Bradford Town Hall performing 'Fly Away', a song which I wrote with Jim Woodland from an idea by the group, with Siobhan handling the main vocals. The poshest gig venue of 2001, no contest! The'Love Apple'gig planned for December was going to feature 'Tongue and Groove', who are Dave Nelson and Peader Long on keyboards and sax/flute/whistle/clarinet respectively. As well as their own jazz tinged set they were also going to join me for a few numbers, reflecting our occasional collaboration as 'The Rough Micks', as well as my long standing partnership with Peader in 'Moon de Lune'. Was going to? Were? Yes, sadly because the venue double booked the much publicised, and keenly anticipated, gig on the 18th December had to be cancelled. Fear not, the gig will be re-arranged for February 2002. Watch local press, and the website, for details. I had a gig in Lewes , East Sussex, which should lead to further gigs around the Channel ports in; 2002. In November I performed a gig for 'Children in Need' day. The Airedale centre couldn't help, so my thanks to Offshoot Health Food Shop in Keighley. I performed for a couple of hours outside the shop, who brought me hot tea, and raised £40. On top of that my playing made Offshoot decide to do their own fund raising so we earned a tidy three figure sum together. Thanks to all who helped. I have another 1in12 gig organised for January 18th 2002 (TBC) with the Love Apple gig mentioned above in February and another Puzzle Hall early in the year. Again watch local press and the website. Finally, time to explain that banner headline. A recent charity gig in Keighley to raise money for breast cancer saw me sharing the bill with teenage grunge bands who after my set (and during theirs) announced that,'...this next number is dedicated to Tim Moon... he's just a god!' I have later discovered that they wanted a copy of 'Anger and Kiss' but couldn't raise £10 between them! I'll pass them one on as soon as possible, you can't disappoint your teenage fans! That's about it for now... more when the Fair Maids of February come along................. Till Then Thank You for you Support
The George at Barford St Michael May 2002. photo - Nigel Schofield
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