News, reviews and more
And we’re back! Told you we would be. We currently find ourselves inundated with fine Canadian music on a scale that is - wait for it - unprecedented. I assure you, however, we are fully equipped to manage the current surge. Honestly, we are. So, without further facetiousness, here are five more Things You Must Hear from our cousins across the water.
Read MoreBob Harris the veteran broadcaster is celebrating 50 years in the business and to coincide his latest project is a charity single in aid of Help Musicians. Bob’s favourite song is ‘Stand By Me’ which coincidentally turns 60 on October 27th, the release date of this new version of the classic track. Bob has seen and done it all in his long career (briefly being employed as John Martyn’s guitar tech is one highlight that springs to mind) and has a pretty envious address book to be able to call on a host of stars to help out with ‘Stand By Me’ including Darius Rucker, Mark Knopfler, Rosanne Cash, Rick Wakeman, Paul Rodgers, Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson, John Oates, Leo Sayer, The Shires, Ward Thomas and many more. Full details about the single, the Help Musicians charity, the artists and links to pre-order/buy the single follow:
Read MoreCanada has produced a mind-melting amount of must-hear music so far this year and, as we reluctantly tiptoe into the autumn months, she shows no sign of slowing down. The leaves outside may be turning, curling and falling but the RGM Maple Leaf roundup is, as ever, bursting with life and promise. The recent harvest has been so rich and abundant that it won’t be long before we come knocking with more, but let us not get ahead of ourselves. For now, just see if these perfectly ripe beauties can’t banish your September blues.
Read MoreIn the latest inbox feature, we’ve got a range of international talent for your perusal. From Canada, Terra Lightfoot returns with a new single and an album on the way while closer to home UK pedal steel legend BJ Cole is sharing his love of Hawaiian music. Speaking of sunnier climates (although High Wycombe would give Hawaii a run for its money in the heat stakes this week) we’ve got a London based Aussie in Nick Kingswell with a terrific single and also from Australia The Buckleys a sibling trio breaking out of their homeland with a nice line in pop-country.
Read MoreCanada is overflowing with music. The best songs, having risen to the top, float over the ocean and bubble through the waterways of the UK where we are poised, net in hand, to scoop them up from the little stream that runs behind RGM HQ. We’ve caught some lovely things for our latest Maple Leaf roundup and now we invite you to sit with us in the sunshine and admire each one before we gently lower them back in again to continue their journey downriver.
Read MoreIt’s always a thrill to discover new tunes from our brothers and sisters in Canada and, as the Maple Leaf Roundup turns two years old, I feel particularly warm and fuzzy to think of the sixty or seventy artists we’ve met along the road so far. If you’re only just joining us on the journey, the good news is that the nation’s musical gifts never seem to stop giving, so climb on board and allow us to introduce your newest (and soon to be bestest) Canadian friends.
Read MoreWhile life for all of us is pretty weird, here at RGM we’ve been taking comfort in the things that never change. Spring keeps springing; socks still inexplicably disappear in the laundry and singers - in their thousands - keep singing songs. That remains as true as ever for the musicians of Canada, the very best of whose recent releases are gathered here for you in this, the thirteenth instalment of the Maple Leaf Roundup.
Read MoreWelcome to the latest, long overdue, delve into the RGM Inbox. As usual, we’ve been inundated with a host of musical pleasures and with many of us following the rules on self-isolation this seems like an ideal time to check out some great new music. So please join us on this latest voyage of musical discovery.
Read MoreBack in 1980, The Vapors burst onto the scene with their ‘Turning Japanese’ single a classic slab of spiky power pop/new wave that still sounds remarkably fresh in 2020. I’m pleased to report the band are celebrating the forty years since that landmark release with a new album fittingly entitled ‘Together’ due May 15th via Absolute. The first single from the album ‘Crazy’ shows that despite the passing of time The Vapors are staying true to their roots. The band hope to tour later this year with a show set to include tracks from the new album and their ‘New Clear Days debut record performed in full. Please read on for much more about The Vapors and music from ‘Together’:
Read MoreGuaranteed to brighten your day in these tough times The Bacon Brothers are back with a new single. The recording of music via file sharing is the norm and has been for quite a few years now but who thought it’d become our main avenue for musical expression? The video for ‘She-Zee-Zee (Easy On My Eyes)’ should strike a chord for many folks and raise a smile if you’re stuck in the house. Loads more about The Bacon Brothers including a link to the video follows:
Read MoreIt’s time once again to delve into the murky depths of the RGM inbox. The first edition of this new feature was surprisingly well received so we’re back with part two. Please join us as we share a quartet of impressive releases that reinforce the theory that there’s plenty of great music if you know where to look.
Read MoreSpanish act Morgan will release a UK single ‘Another Road’ on February 21st 2020 to coincide with a London show at Colours in Hoxton on the 25th. Morgan might be a new name to many in the UK but the band have two albums and plenty of road miles on the clock with shows as far afield as Brazil. More about Morgan and their Colours showcase follows:
Read MoreIf you’re feeling the November chill, there are few better ways to warm your winter-wary bones than to cosy up with a hot cup of Canadiana. The best new bands and balladeers of Canada continue to throw out little sonic gems and, once more, we find ourselves spoilt for choice as we bring you the latest cluster of musical magic that is the Maple Leaf Roundup.
Read MoreSwiss singer-songwriter Veronica Fusaro released her ‘Sunkissed’ EP today October 4th 2019. ‘Sunkissed’ is the third EP from the 22-year old and is proving the perfect antidote to the cold and miserable weather that has enveloped RGM towers. If you’re looking for a selection of uplifting material that harks back to balmier times then Veronica has you covered. You can catch Veronica live at London’s Paper Dress Vintage on 15th October. More about Veronica, the show and the EP follows:
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The release of ‘White Ladder’ twenty years ago would catapult singer-songwriter David Gray from relative obscurity to an almost omnipresent status on TV and radio. Looking back, every home seemed to have a copy of the album at the time making it the fifth best selling album of the 2000s in the UK. To mark the anniversary of the album release David has raided the vaults and put together a bonus disc of b-sides and demos from the period and will be embarking on a run of dates, with his original band, to play the album in full. The album was actually originally self-released in late 1998 but the road to chart success would be long and winding as it took over two years to reach number one in the UK charts. An object lesson to all of us that perseverance can pay off in the end. Full details of the reissue and the tour follow:
Multi-platinum, multi-Brit and Grammy-nominated, British singer-songwriter David Gray is today announcing a 12-date UK and European arena tour; White Ladder: The 20th Anniversary Tour, to celebrate the trailblazing album’s 20-year anniversary. The 7 million record selling and one of the greatest and most heart-warming word-of-mouth successes in music, White Ladder will be performed by Gray with all the original band members and with all the original equipment to recreate the record in its entirety, plus a set of the greatest hits.
Commencing at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on March 20th 2020, the tour will include London’s The 02 on March 26th and Dublin’s 3 Arena on April 2nd. Tickets for the tour will go on sale at 9am on Friday October 11th. Fans can have access to presale tickets on Wednesday October 9th by pre-ordering products from the remastered collection here: www.DavidGray.com
An expanded 20th anniversary edition of White Ladder will be released on 2xCD, 4xLP, and digital formats. This will include a special remastered edition of the iconic album plus White Ladder era previously unreleased rarities, B-sides and demos. Physical versions will be accompanied by an extensive booklet with writings by Gray about the whole White Ladder experience - from the people involved, to the stories behind the songs and memorable shows.
The newly-remastered original album will also be released on 2LP white-coloured vinyl, CD and digital, available here: https://davidgray.lnk.to/wl20th This is the first time White Ladder has ever been pressed on vinyl. www.DavidGray.com will feature music and White Ladder merchandise. Exclusive collaboration with Vinyl Me Please coming soon.
Listen to rare track “Over My Head” live now: https://DavidGray.lnk.to/overmyhead. This haunting track originally featured as a B-side on various single releases of Babylon and This Year’s Love, as well as being the bonus track on the Japanese White Ladder release.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of White Ladder, a unique record with its own remarkable history. Jammed full with big, open hearted songs and flooded with a raw emotional energy. It’s an album that came from nowhere to steal the hearts of millions all over the world, completely transforming my life in the process. Twenty years on and it feels like White Ladder is just as alive for people now as it was back then - so to celebrate this milestone, I will be releasing a special anniversary version of the album and assembling all the original band members with all the original equipment, in order to take White Ladder out on the road and recreate the record in its entirety”
White Ladder was born of difficult circumstances. Gray had been struggling on the margins for a decade, a lonely figure with an acoustic guitar swimming against the tide of Britpop, grunge, hip hop and electro. With three albums to his name, he found himself advertised at a gig third on the bill to beer and a barbecue. “Futility was so thick on the ground it was utterly soul destroying.” He came close to quitting. But instead, he asked himself some difficult questions: “Can you make a better record? Can you write a better song? The decision was to open up and give it everything I’ve got.”
Written and recorded on minimal budget by Gray in the bedroom of a tiny terraced house in Stoke Newington, David experimented with drum machines and electronic elements, creating a blend of folktronica that has since become a familiar part of the musical landscape, aided by drummer Craig McClune and engineer Iestyn Polson. Self-released at first on his own kitchen sink label, White Ladder slowly (very, very slowly) found an audience. It took a year to creep into the lower reaches of the British charts, then worked its way all the way up to number one. White Ladder eventually spent 3 years (from May 2000 to March 2003) in the UK top 100, spawning classic hit singles ‘Babylon’, ‘Please Forgive Me’ and ‘Sail Away’. It remains in the top 30 best-selling British albums of all time and the best-selling album ever in Ireland (a nation who know a good song when they hear it).
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, it’s interesting to consider the extraordinary aftermath of White Ladder. Its success spawned a new wave of singer-songwriters in an acoustic boom that resonates to this day, a soul-baring lineage that can be directly traced from David Gray to the all-conquering Ed Sheeran. Indeed, Ed is a fan, known to cover ‘This Year’s Love’ live. Fellow world beating British superstar Adele is also an admirer, citing ‘This Year’s Love’ as one of her all-time favourite break-up songs.
White Ladder remains an album of great depth and startling beauty, a superlative collection of emotional songs capturing a very special moment in time, as raw and immediate as when it was recorded. It’s one of 11 complex, ambitious and heartfelt albums Gray has recorded in a career than spans 25 years. Some, like White Ladder, have been big commercial successes (2002’s A New Day At Midnight and 2005’s Life In Slow Motion were UK chart toppers), others have been more intimate and experimental. All feature music that is both intimate and broad, intensely personal yet capable of speaking to the masses.
“What happened with White Ladder involved more than music. It was a sort of heart and soul moment of total surrender for everybody involved, for me and the audience. That was it. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
WHITE LADDER: 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION – AVAILABLE ON:
2CD
4LP (2x white vinyl, 2x black vinyl)
Digital
Expanded edition track listing:
CD1 / LP1&2 – White Ladder 2020 remaster:CD2 / LP3&4 – Unreleased rarities & B-sides:
1. Please Forgive Me 1. Lights Of London
2. Babylon 2. Over My Head
3. My Oh My 3. Monday Morning
4. We’re Not Right 4. Tired Of Me
5. Nightblindness 5. Roots Of Love
6. Silver Lining 6. Walking In Circles
7. White Ladder 7. Through To Myself
8. This Year’s Love 8. Over My Head (demo)
9. Sail Away 9. What On Earth (demo)
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 10. Silver Lining (demo)
11. This Year’s Love (demo)
12. Please Forgive Me (demo)
WHITE LADDER: 2020 REMASTER – AVAILABLE ON:
CD
2LP (Gatefold, white vinyl)
Digital
CD1 / LP1&2 – White Ladder 2020 remaster track listing:
1. Please Forgive Me
2. Babylon
3. My Oh My
4. We’re Not Right
5. Nightblindness
6. Silver Lining
7. White Ladder
8. This Year’s Love
9. Sail Away
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
www.davidgray.com
https://www.facebook.com/davidgray
www.instagram.com/davidgray
https://twitter.com/DavidGray
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealDavidGray
The summer may have been hot and hazy, long and lazy but that hasn’t stopped the songsmiths of Canada. They’ve been beavering away over there, cooking up more musical missives and sending them eastward. At usual here at RGM, we’ve gathered them all up and sifted through hours of tunes to bring you the very best of the bunch. So, to ease you into the autumn months we humbly offer to you the tenth instalment of the Maple Leaf Roundup.
Read MoreNow, didn’t I tell you we’d be back in flash? The Canadian goodness continues to arrive, an exotic salve for all our little-islander woes, so here we are again with our regular column devoted to the best new music from Canada. Aaron Goldstein’s awesome Espanola record managed to fast-track straight to a full review, hence its omission here but his countrymen and women have provided plenty more to satisfy our Maple Leaf cravings, so, read on and feast your ears on the musical crème de la crème …Canadienne.
Read MoreIt’s been a little while since we brought you news from Canada but that hasn’t stopped it piling up on our digital doormat. So, we’re going to tidy up a few loose ends here and then hit you with another Maple Leaf column very, very soon. The volume and quality of music coming to us from Canada never fails to impress, so - unsurprisingly - we’ve been spoilt for choice as we share our pick of releases from the past couple of months.
Read MoreOh, Canada! How we are overwhelmed by all your musical offerings! Yes, our cousins over yonder have been working harder than ever since our last Maple Leaf column and here at RGM we have been hand-selecting the very best of the bunch so that you, dear reader, can sample (probably) the very finest in new Canadian music.
Read MoreWelcome to Red Guitar Music in 2019 and a Happy New Year to all our readers. 2018 was a banner year for RGM as we increased our readership by a little over 50% so we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to read, share or comment and to all the PR companies, labels and artists who’ve been in touch since we launched in 2014. RGM was established to shine a light on the music we liked and to, in some small way, help to promote both established artists and new acts looking to break through. A quick look at an RGM inbox overflowing with great music tells us this will continue, but who are the artists to look out for in the early months of 2019?
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