For the first time in a long time my full band line-up will tread the boards in Sydney. So here’s an opportunity to hear a smattering of new/old songs before we head to France.
Infinity Broke, The Tall Grass and myself have all been invited to play the 10th Anniversary of the Binic Folk Blues Festival on the 27th – 29th July. Sideshow dates are also to be confirmed very soon.
So, before we leave, a Bon Voyage Fundraiser of sorts has been confirmed at The Factory Theatre (Marrickville) on Friday July 13th with all 3 groups performing and sharing members. This is the first time Infinity Broke have performed in about 18 months and it’s my first Sydney show in close to a year. So if you grab some tickets now we can all afford our French etiquette/language tutors and sumptuous French cuisine when we arrive.
Tickets available from The Factory Theatre website:
Big news just in. I’ve been invited, with the full band in tow, to play in Binic, France at the 10th Anniversary of the Binic Folk Blues Festival from July 27-29 2018. I’ll be heading over with an Australian contingent including Infinity Broke and The Tall Grass. Jamie Hutchings, producer of my upcoming album, will be particularly busy playing in all three line ups. Much excitement. More dates to be announced.
PS Slowly but surely we’re chipping away at the mixing of the new album. More news on that front sooner or later….
Finally, after 12 years in the making, the new album from my side project, The Supahip, is available for preorder on Big Radio Records. If you order now you’ll receive an immediate digital copy of the album with a CD to follow in June. Score a copy at BANDCAMP.
Here’s my ramble lifted from Facebook about the making of the album:
Well
While I wait for my new solo album
to be mixed n mastered
Other projects are coming to fruition
Sometimes
it can feel like nothing is happening
yet all the while
behind the scenes
wheels are slowly turning
and now,
we ease the handbrake off
and begin to roll
and
first in the queue
is this
The Supahip
A side project with my old compadre
Michael Carpenter
He’s produced things for me in the past
We’ve worked together
co-producing the albums of others
we’ve shared the stage in various guises
and way back in about 2007
we started the 2nd Supahip album
A collection of songs
Taking up
from where we left off on our debut
Writing
Rehearsing
Recording
Mixing
each song
in a single day
Start the day with nothing
Sun goes down
we have…
something
Collaboration
Cooperation
Occasionally disagreeing
no surprises there
that’s always a big part of any joint project
But in the spirit of the project –
more about friendship than anything else –
we quickly move on
….we’re very different
yet we’re much the same….
Collaboration would be pointless
without a little push n pull
And it’s only music, ain’t it?
A mutual love of McCartneys 70’s period
is often the main catalyst of inspiration
and to the naysayers
yeah
even the occasional granny songs
even the eccentric naff songs (especially those)
even the sentimental ballads
his bouncing bass lines
or the cheesy thumbs up pop songs
they all still give me a warm
nostalgic glow
McCartney and Ram
remain in my all time favourite albums list
then
throw in Carpenter’s love
of upbeat power pop
his enthusiastic passion for
Petty, Springsteen, The Beach Boys
alongside Matthew Sweet and Cotton Mather
and my soft spot for melancholy melodies
a Paul Simon inspired lyrical twist
or a Costello-ish musical turn of phrase..
somehow when we get into the same room
a song will arise
summery
naff
sad
upbeat
poppy
retro
humorous
unashamedly upbeat
and we commit it to tape
capturing
the mood of the day
wherever the whim may take us
we’ve laughed a lot making this
we laughed just as hard
making the album art
we laugh at ourselves
and each other
we’re certainly not taking ourselves
too seriously here
I mean it’s only taken 12 years
to complete this musical collection
If you’ve made it this far through
this ramble –
“The Two Sided Face”
Will be available for preorder
at Bandcamp on Big Radio Records
April 2nd (tomorrow)
Head on over to The Supahip FB page
and give us a friendly like
….more details soon
Along with upcoming news on other fronts
love
Mark
x
A few weeks ago we made a start on the follow-up to An Ear To The Earth. I enjoyed making that album so much that I’ve decided to recreate the same atmosphere and record this album in much the same way. So we set up camp in a house at Frenchs Forest for 4 days and captured 10 songs live to an analog tape machine.
Once again Jamie Hutchings (Bluebottle Kiss/Infinity Broke) is sitting in the producers chair and Chris Colquhoun is engineering. The old band members all returned: Scott Hutchings (Drums), Reuben Wills (Bass), Adam Lang (Slide and Banjo) and Jamie Hutchings jumped on his trusty Jazzmaster for electric guitar duties. I’m quietly (super) pleased with the results and will be champing at the bit to share it with you.
It’ll be a while before we’ll have anything to make public – but you should finally see some more activity here at Moldre HQ. Watch out for my new Recording Diary and Studio Pics.
When I first recorded An Ear To The Earth I set a goal of creating a clip for every song on the album. Finally I’ve reached the target. Last Card marks the 10th clip and the conclusion of my Black and White Western Trilogy that began with “Where Will I Be?” and “Bone Orchard”. Last Card was directed by Ben Jones of Red Bird Films.
Hey folks I’ll be heading north to the Hunter Valley with banjo/slide master Adam Lang to play the Sunday Wind Down Exclusive at Dashville for the closing of the Dashville Skyline Cosmic Country Weekender on Sunday October 2nd. You can snag tickets HERE
Check out the complete lineup which includes Brian Cadd, Henry Wagons, The Brothers Comatose, Melody Pool, William Crighton, Jordie Lane, Charles Jenkins, Jason Walker and more HERE
It’s been awhile. But, finally the songwriting side of my brain is stirring. We had our first stripped back rehearsal for a batch of new songs. Reuben’s Mum was a fine host and made us a grain free lunch and a fine supply of home brewed black coffee. Here’s a pic to prove that we’ve actually made a start. #soitbegins
Heya Folks
Things have been quiet here at Moldre HQ for a while
But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things a-happening behind the curtain.
Whilst I’ve been trying to awaken the slumbering half of my brain that writes songs
(oh, and there are some new tunes that have made it into my notebook)
I’ve been busy coming up with the next clip in our series from An Ear To The Earth And this means that we only have one to go so that every track on the album has an accompanying clip
This time round my collaborator has been my favourite movie director
My 14 year old daughter Bronte
We worked together on a concept, created a storyboard and designed a costume
Filmed the clip on her iPad – with my banjo/slide players (Adam Lang) young son – William Lang
William certainly deserves an Oscar nod for his performance
Bronte then edited all the footage and assembled it as you see it below
I couldn’t be prouder of the result
So, here’s the new one O, Dreamtime Blues
The closing track from An Ear To The Earth
PS. A few months back I received a message that from a French pastry chef and her staff about how much they enjoyed my new song Madeleine which they’d been playing on YouTube. In fact they said the song was tastier than their very own French Madeleine pastries – I was chuffed so I sent them a copy of the album. Their response has left me speechless.
A few weeks later I received a parcel which contained a bottle of French wine and a USB stick full of all their favourite French music. At the bottom of the box was a letter and a small wooden carving – which was actually a pen knife called on Opinel. Apparently its a French institution that French men and some women carry one for cutting bread or cheese (they receive one at a young age). This particular knife though was purchased from a French artist who will carve your likeness into the handle – he usually refuses to work from a photo but chef’s Severine and Charlotte went to visit him with Beef Bourguignon, Chocolate Cake and a bottle of wine to be sure that he would accept.
My daughter now thinks I’m famous. I’m enjoying that while it lasts. Incredible kindness from wonderful people that I’ve never met on the other side of the globe – it really knocked me off my feet. The Opinel also appears in the new clip!
Hey folks – just a quick update to let you know that I have two shows coming up over the next few weeks. First up I’ll be opening for Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses as they launch their new album “Tunnel At The End Of The Light” at Newcastle Lizotte’s on Saturday 18th July. Multi-instrumentalist Adam Lang will be joining me onstage with his trusty banjo and lap slide. Be quick to snap up a ticket – it’s almost sold out. GET TIX HERE.
It’s been a long while since I’ve returned to Sydney with my band in tow – too long – about 9 months in fact. So to rectify that I’ll be playing a one off show at The Vanguard On Wednesday August 5th. My old friend, producer Michael Carpenter has been hosting a regular night of Alt- Country aptly named The Wild Wild Inner West Review – Michael will be closing the night with his band The Cuban Heels and we’ll also be joined by Bree De Rome and Jason Walker. Tickets are already available HERE.
