The Invisible Few at the Hall of Sound

Pangbourne’s monthly acoustic night, Hall of Sound, have kindly invited The Invisible Few (in one of its more acoustic configurations!) to perform a set, alongside some other great acts for the evening.

As well as trying my luck at singing whilst playing double bass, I’ll be accompanying Gordon Buss as part of Ugly Dog Poetry.

The event itself takes place in Pangbourne Village Hall at 8pm on Friday 29th July.

Hundred Acre Wood at Cornerstone

To entertain visitors to the beer festival at Didcot’s Cornerstone this July, Hundred Acre Wood will be performing an afternoon set.

“The trees have ears. At the centre of Hundred Acre Wood is a clearing, where Rags’ smooth, soulful voice soars into the evening air, through an understated canopy of strings, bows and hammers. Seasoned but unvarnished musicians, with a childlike curiosity for new sounds and surprises, tug gently at the fragile cords of our lives until the melody flows out.”

See us on Saturday July 23rd at 1pm.

8Strummer Launched in App Store

Screen shot of 8StrummerIn association with guitarist Simon Nelson, a new guitar rhythm trainer app, 8Strummer, has been launched on the iPhone App Store.

Based on the principle of having many configurations of strum and rest strokes in an eighth-note pattern, 8Strummer allows a guitarist to practice rhythm patterns alongside a guide track of variable tempo. It also functions as a great songwriting tool, since random patterns can be generated. Your favourite patterns can be stored to a list of favourites.

Click here to find the app on the App Store.

(Non-iPhone users fear not: an Android version will follow in due course!)

Band of Hope at Wood

I am very pleased that I’ll be playing bass with Band of Hope at Wood Festival this year, on Saturday May 21st at 1pm. Wood is a great festival with strong green credentials – running as it does entirely from renewable energy. In addition to all the great music there are workshops, discussions and places to eat and drink. Day tickets are available, as well as weekend tickets allowing camping in the lovely surroundings of Braziers Park.

According to Wood Festival’s own news blog: “Festival regulars Band of Hope open up the Wood stage on Saturday with beautiful pastoral folk-rock…”. So there…!

The Invisible Few appear in Wallingford

On 29th April (Royal Wedding day) the Portcullis club in Wallingford rocked into the night, to the sound of five local bands, including the newly-formed “The Invisible Few”. Headlining was Wallingford’s own Band of Hope, with other support acts We Aeronauts from Oxford, Holton’s Opulent Oog and Hundred Acre Wood. The event was organised and promoted under the “Acoustic Ballroom” banner.

Performing with me in The Invisible Few were Maff Potts (keyboards), Tom Crook (guitar) and Mark McKee (drums). See below for a video of one of our tunes, “Two”.

Click here for more videos

Mark and myself also appeared as a two-piece incarnation of The Invisible Few the following afternoon, for Thrive’s Trunkwell Gardens, near Reading, open for the NGS.

The Invisible Few on ReverbNation

The Invisible Few, playing some of my original songs, now have their own profile on ReverbNation. From here you can sign up as a fan, hear our songs, find out details of the latest news and upcoming gigs, and watch our videos.

See also the ReverbNation link on the right hand side of every page here! >>

Phone Cameras

20110421-174904.jpgYes, phone cameras are generally rubbish, in terms of quality. But, since we seem to carry them wherever we go, there is always an opportunity to snap. I spotted this picture and had only seconds to act before my cat, Mitten, resumed his cleaning duties, or the sunshine faded.