NEWS
March 1st, 2009
HOT CAKES
'Hi, I'm looking for Marc Smith. Is he about?'
'You do mean Marc Smith, don't you? Not Mark Smith.'
'Ummm...'
Saturday 10th January, a particularly cold Saturday, and I'm standing at the counter of
Rough Trade East, in search of my contact at the shop, the one who has agreed to stock my
book. I should have asked; 'how often do you hear that on a daily basis?' And does it wear
thin, like the words 'hello, me old cocker!', often uttered as a greeting to me. But I didn't.
Saturdays are busy. It was a quick hello, and thanks for agreeing to take the thing on.
We've spoken since though, via email, and I've discovered a few things about Marc.
Good recommendation, that BBC Radiophonic Workshop album one. A compilation of the weird
and wonderful sounds the BBC has produced since 1958; the Dr Who theme tune is naturally
included. But then so is the sound the Tardis makes when appearing. This isn't a cd to play
at home. It's something that should be listened to on the go. Standing in the underground
as the Tardis track kicks in, I challenge you not to look over your shoulder. And,
according to his blog, Marc quite likes old soul and funk. I wonder if he feels the same way
about Trojan as he does about Ace Records?
But, most importantly, it would seem that Marc knows a good book when he sees
one.
So thanks Marc, thanks for the kind words.
Oh, and when's that new Fall album out?
February 15th, 2009
PARK LIFE II
It would seem that as Tony, Steve and Stuart made such a good job of Park Life,
there's going to be a sequel. This time featuring the band Celest, entrance is 7 Euros
as before. Same club - Babalu - Saturday 28th February.
The day after Oasis play Munich, it should be a top weekend.
February 12th, 2009
DARREN BLACK
Back to the present day. If you like the track on 'The Project' page you may be interested
to know that Darren has a new album out. Entitled 'Thinkers & Fools', his second album
takes a slight change in direction. The tales set to melody are still apparent, although
they're no longer solo. Darren is accompanied by the likes of Dave Swarbrick
(Fairport Convention) and Joe Broughton, amongst others, which brings a new layer
to his music. Available from Amazon and HMV, check out
Darren's website
to hear tracks from both albums.
February 10th, 2009
EL PAÍS - BOOK REVIEW
And thus we have reached the beginning of December, as far back as we need to go,
and my first book review in the on-line version of
El País, Spain's most popular newspaper. At least I think it's a review.
February 9th, 2009
TUNNOCK'S SURPRISE
And so we'll continue to travel back towards the end of 2008. December 10th and
I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. I shouldn't be, as I only have another three days
until Christmas holidays start, but I have a cold. A man cold, to be precise, and thus
I'm at home, moping about. It's approaching half past five in the afternoon, time for
Dougal's walk, and I realise that I haven't yet checked today's post. I thus open the
front door in order to shuffle the few metres to our postbox, mounted outside the front gate.
And, in doing so, I nearly trip over an object placed on the topmost step leading up to the
house. It's a parcel.
Read more
February 8th, 2009
EUROSONIC
I've already mentioned the festival Eurosonic. As you know, a festival which took place
in the Dutch city of Groningen, in January. I'd been fortunate enough to be invited,
as one of two panel members in a discussion relating to sponsorship at festivals.
Perhaps not the most inspired of festival names - a friend recently asked me how I'd
got on at Technowotsit - the festival itself was very enjoyable. Mainly a music industry
festival - this I didn't find too difficult to recognise - it's an event similar in style
to SXSW, the Reeperbahn Festival and Iceland Airwaves, as it's made up of gigs taking place
in the city's clubs, pubs and concert venues.
Read more
February 5th, 2009
1LIVE PART II
Did you get to listen to Plan B the other night?
I did, but if you didn't, here's what was said.
January 27th, 2009
1LIVE
Now where were we? What's happened over the Christmas period?
I've been to my first music festival of 2009; Eurosonic in Groningen, Holland.
And, rather nicely, I was invited. I took part in a discussion relating to sponsorship
at festivals.
But that's a separate story. What I wanted to mention here was that the German radio station
1LIVE contacted me before I travelled to Eurosonic, to arrange an interview whilst there.
And that's exactly what happened; a short chat about A Year of Festivals,
before they rushed off to talk to The Rakes. With a copy of my book also in their possession,
it will be presented and parts of the interview broadcast on the 1LIVE evening show Plan B
on Thursday. If you'd like to listen in, tune into the 1LIVE web radio between 8pm
and 11pm German time (7pm - 10pm GMT).
January 26th, 2009
THANK YOU, ROUGH TRADE AND CLAPHAM BOOKS
Looking at the date above, it would seem as though it's been a while
since there's been any news. That's not the case at all though.
There has been, it's just that there's also been a computer dilemma,
namely relating to the one used to update this website.
Karen's computer went into post-Christmas depression pre-Christmas
and tried to end it all on the 17th December. Hard drive has since been replaced though,
festive season forgotten, and all is well once more.
Thus I can start 2009 with a thank you. Thank you to those of you
who had me constantly running back and forth to the post office throughout December!
In the first four weeks of the book being available, almost half the first print run went.
Completely unexpected, but greatly appreciated, especially as it's not possible
to flick through the book before ordering; that trust hasn't escaped me.
And for those of you who would, understandably, like to turn the book
over in your hands before making that decision to buy or not, you can;
A Year of Festivals is also now available at the Rough Trade Shops
and Clapham Books.
A big thank you to those responsible at the two shops as well!
November 30th, 2008
BOOK LAUNCH
The website has had a little nip and tuck, and donned its Sunday best, as the official launch of the book
is just around the corner; tomorrow, the 1st December! The first edition has been limited to five hundred copies and
will be exclusively available via the website at first (orders can be placed from today). From the New Year onwards,
it will hopefully also appear in a few small and independent bookshops.
Not much more to be said here apart from thank you again to all those who helped make it happen.
Navigate your way to the 'Book' page and click on the book cover if you'd like to read the first chapter.
Or just throw caution to the wind and order a copy. Christmas is, after all, just around the same corner.
Enjoy!
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November 30th, 2008 PARKLIFE 
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If you'd like to flick through 'A Year of Festivals' before buying and / or don't fancy paying postage and packing, you could come along to Parklife, an evening put on by a few friends here at Babalu in Munich, this coming Saturday. Local band 'Pardon Ms. Arden' will be on at 10pm, with Stuart and Tonksy spinning vinyl before and afterwards. If you don't know what I look like, ask the DJs to point you in the direction of that annoying bloke who keeps asking for Marion. |
| © 2008 Jarvis Hammond / Karen Lühning | |