"Having marked the 80th birthday of Christy Moore earlier this month, only right that we now celebrate the 70th of his little brother Barry. Known to the world as Luka Bloom, his 2005 album 'Innocence' is one of our favourites, a superb collection of intimate and compassionate songs."
Hang on one cotton picking minute! Luka Bloom is my hero Christy Moore’s little brother Barry?!?! shut the front door! I adore both their singing and didn’t know this and now I am old and obviously getting infirm? How the feck did that just happen?!🚪
Kate Rusby told me? . .. . . In her Facebook comments!!!! Yes THE Kate Rusby!
I have been a fan of both and didn’t know they were brothers!!!!!! Say what now!?
For Kate’s new album When they All Looked up and with arrangements by her equally brilliant hubby Damien O’Kane, the peerless voice of Kate Rusby does it again . . . .
Hope you’re all keeping well and enjoying the lighter evenings – aren't they just glorious! BBQs galore!!! ☀️
There’s a few bits and pieces to tell you…..
☀️☀️☀️☀️WHEN THEY ALL LOOKED UP REVIEWS☀️☀️☀️☀️
Thank you so much for all your support so far with the new album. It is so lovely to hear how much the songs mean to you in different and wonderful ways. We’ve had some great reviews so far from you guys and the Press and my heart is so happy 💛
🎉BANDCAMP FRIDAY – THIS FRIDAY 2nd MAY!! 🎉
It’s that wonderful time again –BandcampFriday is back this Friday 2nd May, and as always, it’s such a fab day for artists because we receive every single penny from anything you lovely folks buy from our Bandcamp page 💕✨
As a big THANK YOU, I’ll be signing all copies of my brand-new album ‘When They All Looked Up’, as well as any CDs from my back catalogue, but only if they're bought via Bandcamp on this very special day 🖊️💿💌 We have also added our gorgeous navy hoodies into the site, so make sure you have a look at them 😍 If you've had your eye on anything, Friday’s the perfect day to treat yourself (or someone special! 🎁)
Kate Rusby - Glorious (Single Edit) - Available NOW on all Major Digital Platforms.
Taken from Rusby's new Christmas record LIGHT YEARS, due for release 01.12.2023.
‘GLORIOUS’ proves categorically that Christmas is not just for Christmas, composed as it was one February when Kate, standing in her snow-laden garden and longing for spring, was captivated by the thought of a lost and broken angel sitting in one of the trees. It’s a song of renewal, healing, hearts of light and wings of love. It's likely to invoke the presence of those we need to reach out to, or those we have cherished and lost over the years in the most heartening and emotive manner possible. You might want to put a box of Kleenex on your Christmas list.
Written by Kate Rusby
As the clocks go backwards in signalling the end of summer on it’s last day and we are terribly saddened to hear of the death of the wonderful, warm, kind and funny actor Matthew Perry (1969 - 2023) . . . . .the darkness descends as the witchy season comes upon us and I wanted to share some songs for autumn . . . . . . . . the wolves are running (John Masefield - Box of Delights)
Kate Rusby - introduces Hunter Moon (which we have not long said goodbye to . . . )
"Season of the Witch" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan from his third studio album, Sunshine Superman(1966). The song is credited to Donovan, although sometime collaborator Shawn Phillips has also claimed authorship.
"Season of the Witch" was recorded at the CBS studios in Hollywood, California, where most of Sunshine Superman was recorded. According to Donovan, he and Phillips wanted a "rock-combo sound" for the song and chose some local musicians from the local clubs. They included Lenny Matlin on keyboards, Don Brown on lead electric guitar, Bobby Ray on bass and "Fast" Eddie Hoh on drums. Donovan played the second guitar part, as he explained in his autobiography:
I played a white Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar on "Witch," chunking down on the chord pattern, wailing a chilling chorus. A major seventh with an open G, to D 9th with a G-flat bass (Bert Jansch chord). The riff is pure feel.
In a retrospective song review for AllMusic, Lindsay Planer commented: "Few songs so perfectly reflect the dawn of the psychedelic pop era as aptly as Donovan's 'Season of the Witch' ... Both lyrically as well as musically, the languid and trippy contents project a dark foreboding atmosphere [and] a sort of sinister tale of paranoia and the paranormal". John Bush called the song "easily [one of the two] the highlights of the album ... a chugging eve-of-destruction tale"
The pair ultimately collaborated on several songs, including "Season of the Witch", for which Phillips (though uncredited) composed the melody. Phillips also appeared on several of Donovan's albums, including Fairytale (on which Phillips is credited as writer of "Little Tin Soldier"), Sunshine Superman, and Mellow Yellow.[citation needed] Through Donovan, he met The Beatles and contributed backing vocals on "Lovely Rita” . . .from Wiki
On Palomino, Johanna and Klara Söderberg, aka First Aid Kit, again share their irresistible voices and impeccable harmonies, the project unfurling as the duo’s most pop-adherent and lavishly rendered sequence to date.
it's fab too! Check out Kate's Facebook page for fun quiz with prizes and she is also touring currently so promoting it like a wild thing! and she is leaving gift bags all over the place as random acts of kindness bags! How generous is THAT?
P.R. Often hailed as the ‘First Lady of Folk’, Kate celebrates an amazing 30 years as a professional musician in 2022 with the release of this brand new album. This anniversary album, features a stellar array of guest musicians who have all inspired Kate during her career: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Hawley, Darlingside, KT Tunstall, Sarah Jarosz, Sam Kelly, Dan Tyminski, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Damien O’Kane and on the physical version of the album, a bonus track with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. The songs are newly recorded versions of favourites from across Kate’s career.
Commenting on her career 30th anniversary, Kate said: “Music has taken me all over the world in those 30 years, where I've met the most incredible musicians and singers. 30 : Happy Returns is a culmination of those years, the music, the singers, the laughs, the songs, the memories. Here I am joined by some of my all-time musical heroes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Richard Hawley, KT Tunstall, Darlingside, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Sarah Jarosz, Damien O’Kane, Sam Kelly not to mention the amazing lads in my band! I am in awe of their talent and generosity in sharing it and can safely say there are so many “dream come true” moments on this album. By my very nature I've never been ambitious so I am astounded taking this retrospective look over the years and feel so blessed to sing with these incredible artists. I am one very happy, happy girl!!”
To help publicise her forthcoming new album 30 HAPPY RETURNS! Kate and hubby D (Damien O'Kane) have recorded another session from they lovely home and with this I will bid you all good night!
“Music From Grizzly Man,” coming May 6! RT will be reissuing his soundtrack from the Werner Herzog film “Grizzly Man,” which contains all of the out of print material he recorded for the acclaimed documentary about life and death in the Alaskan wilderness. From intimate solo recordings, to tender detailed melodies and quietly visceral improvisations, “Music From Grizzly Man” is one of RT’s best kept secrets in his catalog.
"Thanks to everyone at Verve for having me on the label."
Michael Wilson took the cover photo; Tim Stedman designed the LP and CD packages.
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Emily and her partner in crime Lukas Drinwater, are back home and they are playing the phenomenal Union Chapel in London 8th April 2022
Whilst they is no new album her visit to her homeland of Australia and her enforced quarantine meant the produced and recorded a covers album '822' in their hotel room [hence the room number] during the 2 week lockdown!
Kate posted links to this song of hers yesterday and it seems it was written for a friend, Jodie, who tragically never got to hear it.
She says:
My lovely, beautiful friend would have been 40 today.
I wrote this song for her and I was waiting for the album to be released to surprise her, she didn’t get to hear it.
But I love that her memory lives on, not only in this song but more importantly in her wonderful wee girl who we love and adore.
Kind, gentleness and love to you Jodie.
Denise and Joe, she was so gorgeous
UNTIL MORNING
In the deepest, darkest hour
Where the strongest soul will cower
And it feels like it's so long till morning
I know your weary head needs rest
And we both know you've done your best
So I'll hold your hand
Until the day comes dawning
I know the world's been cruel of late
And your heart can't bear the weight
And it feels like it's so long till morning
But together we are bound
So I will keep you safe and sound
And I'll hold your hand
Until the day comes dawning
Don't worry, let the night go drifting by
And tomorrow you can fly
In the dark night you are lost
Counting stars to count the cost
And it feels like it's so long till morning
So I will catch the moon's bright beams
To guide you gently through your dreams
And I'll hold your hand
Until the day comes dawning
When there's stillness all around
And your heart's a deafening sound
And it feels like it's so long till morning
I will stay with you, old friend
So you can heal and you can mend
And I'll hold your hand
Until the day comes dawning
Don't worry, let the night go drifting by
And tomorrow you will fly
Now it's time to make your peace
Into the night your fears release
And it feels like it's so long till morning
And we will claim the night for ours
And we won't see the dark for stars
And I'll hold your hand
Until the day comes dawning
Don't worry, let the night go drifting by
And tomorrow you will fly
And tomorrow you will fly
I dedicate this here to to the memory of Kate's friend and to all of us who have lost someone, to my brother, my father and my mother who I miss every day. To my mother and father in law. To my friend Stephen Blackman . . . . . all those we have lost . . . . let me hold your hand until the day comes dawning
