Date entered - Thu 08/05/08
Oh The Summer Time is Comin'.........
My God its May already! How does that happen? January lingers eternally, February drags on, then you wake up one day and its MAY! Its a sudden explosion of colour everywhere (except Australia, sorry!).
I just returned from a really enjoyable tour of the UK. While I've done many shows down the years in various cities in the UK, this past year is the first time I have tried to begin the process of returning regularly and singing to the nearest neighbours. And it is really enjoyable to do it. Take the ferry, and drive through that glorious countryside, having ye olde pie in the yummy Inns that still thrive in rural UK. Then go to great venues and sing for willing audiences. Its a lovely feeling, starting out in a country which still feels very new to me, making some new friends. Thanks to all the people who came to our gigs from Edinburgh to Brighton and places in between; and a big thank you to Jane Skinner who made it happen.
At the minute, I am getting ready to face the last stretch of road in bringing the record home. As we have yet to mix it, I won't say too much, except to say that we had a really fantastic time recording in Grouse Lodge in County Westmeath; a truly magnificent place to work, run by fantastic people. The hope is to be finished in mid to late June, and look to release it in autumn (Spring in Australia!).
There will be lots of gigs. Beginning with some east coast shows in the USA in September; Ireland in September, finishing in Vicar Street Dublin on November 1st.- then Belgium, one Amsterdam gig, and Switzerland in November and finally Germany in December. Then somewhere between Late February and late May 2009, the USA and Australia. That's just a rough sketch for now. The dates will be finalised as confirmed on the website.
The work goes on. Life is good. It is so good to able to make plans like this and continue to get out and sing my songs for people. The organisation is mildly chaotic, but somehow we get there. We all show up and off we go. Happy days.
Sorry to the people of the US and Australia for the delay in releasing the DVD. We're working on it.......
Finally may I take this opportunity to recommend a band for you all to check-out. They are called Rachel Unthank and the Winterset. Went to see them last Sunday evening in Whelans in Dublin, after my gig in Belfast (don't ask!). Having heard their two records, I was keen to hear them live, and they were fantastic. Four women, celebrating the beauty of English song, with really interesting music and a very unique contemporary take on great ballads. Not to be missed in my humble opinion.
www.rachelunthank.com for dates in the coming months.
OK, the kettle is boiled, the sun is out; I'm off to the hammock for the afternoon.
See ye down the road,
Luka
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