A Big Thanking You!

Dear All,

Just a quick message from The Little Unsaid camp to say a huge thank you to everyone who has bought a copy of the debut album 'Someone Else's Lullabies,' either through our website, at any other musical pit stop in the wide world net web, or at one of my recent gigs. Your kind support for my music-making habit is very much appreciated and it's because of you that I'll eventually be able to go on and make another record sometime in the near future, so many thanks!

Also, it's always great to hear people's responses to the album. If you have a copy and have listened to it and are inclined to opine on these sorts of matters, please do get in touch and let us know what you think. Even if you liked it so much you gave it to your cat to play with. It's all worthwhile feedback. Why not write a wee review and we could post it on the site?

If you haven't already got a copy and would like one, you can grab one here for A PRICE OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING!!! Bloomin' heck that's an exciting concept if I ever heard one.

Also, the album I recorded with the Rough Island Band out in the Isles of Scilly earlier this year is now available to order here. I had a great manic weekend of gigs with them across three of the islands last week. Providing we can ship Piers, the band member who lives out on one of the islands, over here for a few days, there's talk of a gig or two on the mainland in the coming months.

That's all for now, do check out the upcoming gigs box (cunningly titled 'unplayed') to see if any of them coincide with an evening you were hoping to fill with a bit of live music.

Take care and enjoy the tail end of Summer,


John x

in limbo

As I type this I am eating a cheese sandwich, but, more interestingly, I am also about a quarter of the way through a twelve-hour journey from Malvern to Penzance, ready to sail over to the Isles of Scilly tomorrow to prepare for the Rough Island Band album launch. Why the fudge should it take twelve hours? I had to make a detour through London to stop off and pick up some important items, including a camping stove and a guitar case, and now I am twiddling my thumbs awaiting my next train from Paddington to Penzance. It's a wonderfully scenic part of the journey through Devon and Cornwall, but I've already had three hours of train mania and it is quite likely that I will have lost my mind by the time I arrive. I may well not even remember what I'm doing there and just wade into the sea with all my luggage. Whatever happens, I'll continue to chronicle my descent - both through the Southwest and through the deepest caverns of my solitary mind - on Facebook. I've got Mark Twain and some mini cheddars with me so who knows, I might just arrive with my sanity intact.

Once I arrive in the Isles of Scilly we'll be rehearsing for a weekend of gigs across the islands to celebrate and ruthlessly promote the release of our second album, 'Where To?' which will very shortly be available through the Rough Island Band website.

After this there's plenty going on when I return to London, including the following shows:

14th September - Proud Camden, London

16th September - Hoxton Underbelly, London

18th September - The Comedy Store, Manchester

25th September - B Festival, Ware


Hope to see some of you folks there, contorting with overwhelming musical ecstasy of some sort. But for now, the journey continues...


John.

PUBLICITY!!!

...from the Mirfield Reporter, back in my home town in the Shire...

wednesday's gig cancelled

Unfortunately due to unforseen circumstances I won't be playing the gig at the Good Ship in Kilburn this Wednesday. Hopefully there will be another date booked there in the coming months. I hope this doesn't ruin anyone's evening and that no one has booked expensive flights or cancelled weddings etc to be there. No one? Nope? Not even one person...? Oh. I can't say I'm not disappointed.

P.S. News about a film I did some music for coming soon! Wahoozio!

John.

Sidmouth Folk Week

I'm just recovering from a folk overdose having just got back from the brilliant Sidmouth Folk Week in Devon. Live sessions in every pub, live music in the streets, on the beach, in the sea, street performers, handmade instruments, more Morris dancers than you can shake a stick at; a wonderful atmosphere to play in and I can't wait to go back next year.

The highlight for me was being joined on stage by Tobias Jacob, Hannah Martin and Philip Henry from The Roots Union for an impromptu rendition of Bruce Springsteen's 'Youngstown.' Thanks to Helena for capturing it in this video:



Just before I left for Devon I played at an amazing Secret London venue, 10 Gales, in Bethnal Green. It's an art gallery, cafe, hairdressers and performance space, and I recommend you hunt this place down if you're in the area and fancy stumbling across a hidden gem of a venue (don't be put off if you have to climb over stacks of dried fish to get to the place - the treacherous journey makes it all the more worth it!). Also on the bill was Pevin Kinel, who you should check out here: www.pevinkinel.com. He makes music up on the spot with gadgets, loops, guitar and beatboxing, and hats off to him for joining me for a bit of a jam with only 0.3 seconds notice:



No more news for now, back to recording for a few days, nothing to report yet other than that I haven't trapped my fingers in the grand piano lid YET.


John.

10 Gales and Sidmouth folk week

Admittedly, I have become a Bad Blogger recently. Not because I've been blogging offensive material or posting poor spelling and grammar, but becos I simply haven't wrote a blog much for a wile. I'm not slacking, honest. As well as earning a living I've been doing odd bits of recording (including the forthcoming Tobias Jacob EP, watch out for that belter coming at ya like Margaret Thatcher very soon), and getting together a bunch of new material that has sat around neglected for far too long.

But let's not forget that album that you've literally just released! Surely you're not going to ditch that and do a new one already!? You absolute plum!

Well, as a matter of fact there's a handful of gigs coming up at which I'll be playing promoting selling and whoring the album, starting this Friday 30th July at 10 Gales in Bethnal Green, London. I'll be doing a 45 minute set in a venue I've heard being described as 'Bethnal Green's best kept secret.' Who knows how many secrets Bethnal Green has, and how poorly some of them are kept? Either way it promises to be a fun evening - doors are at 8pm and it's a fiver in.

After that I'll be heading to Devon for the Sidmouth Folk Week, a week long festival where folk music temporarily conquers the whole of Sidmouth town. I'd better start work on my beard now.

That's all for now, I'll leave you with this picture of the Isles of Scilly that I found on this computer that isn't mine:




John.

youngstown

gigs and eels

a folk band that I'm in, based on the Isles of Scilly 28 miles off the Cornish coast, are releasing an album this August. it's called 'Where To?' and it's the second one we've done - here is a short documentary by Alex Horsfall about how the band started and the recording of the second album:



John.

hard times in old london city

I was a lucky boy this week and was asked to go into the studio with Tobias Jacob and lend a hand recording his solo EP. It was bloody great despite arriving home very late to find I'd lost my keys. Homeless for the night, but I've found them again now you'll be pleased to hear. What a moron.

But enough about me. Tobias writes fantastic songs and I'm really excited about being involved in these recordings, which will hopefully be surfacing in August. There are some photographs of us in Livingston Studios right here.

Also check out Tobias' music here.


















To revert back to all things Little Unsaid for a moment, there's a pending festival date next week, toes crossed. I'll post it up here when it's confirmed so we don't all wet ourselves prematurely. Also, a massive thank you to everyone that has supported our album release by buying a copy of 'Someone Else's Lullabies.' Since its release I've been personally mailing out copies every day, and its great to know people all over the country (and in some others, too) have had them popping through their letterboxes. It's also very nice to hear that people so far don't hate it - if you've bought a copy, do let us know what you think.

Remember to keep hydrated in this insane heat. Did somebody say climate change?


John.

until next year...

To sum up our time at Glastonbury in a word: WOO! Simply amazing. We had four great shows (despite a badly timed infected chest) at Small World, Bimble Inn and the Mandala stages. You can see a bit of video someone kindly took of our 2am show at Small World below, and also a few photoshnaps from the whole weekend (plenty more where they came from over on the Flickr page).

After a slight hiccup - well, more of a gurgly burp where a bit of sick comes up really - in getting the hard copies of the debut album delivered on time, I can now declare with glass of Cava in hand and tear in mine eye that 'Someone Else's Lullabies' is now officially unleashed upon the whole wide world. Or, at least, on those of you out there who are kind/curious enough to buy it or lucky enough to have one thrust violently in your face. Click the 'Donate' button above if you're one of those people and would like to order a copy now, and thank you to all those who have already pre-ordered copies - they should be popping through your doors in the next couple of days. I really can't wait for it to be in your ears!

John.

glastonbury checklist

Wonderful gig at the Gladstone in Borough last night, with the amazing Roots Union who are also coming to Glastonbury later this week. Talking of Glastonburee, as we prepare for our journey to Worthy Farm the all important checklist is as follows...

- Wellies. No matter what any optimist says, it will probably wee it down.

- Tent.

- Gear - guitar, pedals, spoons etc.

- Cellist, preferably Burt Hill.

- Sun cream. No matter what any pessimist says, it will most certainly be gloriously sunny and not wee it down.

- Journey playlist, to soundtrack those restless but jolly few hours as you roll into the West Country:

Going Up the Country - Canned Heat

I've Got A Feeling - The Beatles (not the Black Eyed Peas download chart record breaker. Avoid that fatal error)

Cuttooth - Radiohead

Big in Japan - Tom Waits

Kolniður - Jonsi
Neil Young - Cowgirl in the Sand (Live at Massey Hall)

Erdi - Ali Farka Toure

Black Tambourine - Beck
Woodstock - Joni Mitchell

Born Under Punches - Talking Heads
Joga - Bjork
Seven Steps to Heaven - Miles Davis
For My Lover - Tracy Chapman
De Camino A La Vereda - Buena Vista Social Club

Here it is for the Spotifyers among us (minus the Beatles one, of course)...Journey to Glasto by The Little Unsaid

Woo!

John.

moon

A few pictures from the Camden Rock gig last night, courtesy of Mr Sonny...the last one is not of me, but a wonderful chap called John Arthur who played also. He's got some of the most lyrically offbeat yet honest songs I've heard in a long time, with some of that very English 1960s charm that brings Ray Davies to mind. In my humble opinion, anyway. And he gives out free CDs! Check him out for yourself here: www.john-arthur.co.uk




















John.

Catweazle and Camden Rock

Just a quick note to say I'll be at the famous Catweazle Club at the North London Tavern in Kilburn tonight from 8pm, hopefully playing a few songs and just generally enjoying the evening. There will also be a 'hearing' of the BBC Radio 4 documentary on the Catweazle Club after the music from 11pm - come along to gather 'round the wireless and enjoy a documentary about what the Times newspaper have called 'Britain's most intimate performance space.'

Also, a last minute gig at Camden Rock tomorrow (Wednesday) night, from 8.45pm. Be there if you can as the last one was a blast!

Cheers, enjoy the rest of Tuesday,

John.

Glastonbury 2010

back to the smog...

I return from this weekend's concert in Yeovil with a pink face and a glorious bit of camping stubble that I really can't be bothered to shave off. But it's a bit itchy.

Below are some pictures of my set at the 5th Piers Simon Appeal Concert at Home Farm yesterday. The sun shone, the music was loud, the cider was sweet - what a great weekend. Many thanks to Henry Simon for getting me involved and looking after us so well.

Click here to find out more about the Piers Simon Appeal and the amazing things they've been up to recently with ShelterBox Trust.

Now counting down the days to Glastonbury...along with 200,000 other people I'm guessing...













John.

an emotional reunion

Good evening.

Great news from The Little Unsaid camp - I can confirm with an excited "Woopah!" of glee that the wonderful Burt 'Tenfinger' Hill will be joining me for my Glastonbury shows at the end of June, playing the cello most probably. Burt has played in several lineups and under various names in the band, going right back to the Manchester days when we were calling ourselves 'Me and John' for some ridiculous reason. Here's a video of him in action with us at the 2009 Jeff Buckley tribute concert in Manchester, where we met Jeff's mother who gave us the best two word review we'll probably ever get (Spinal Tap fans - it wasn't 'shit sandwich'). I'll shutup now, here's the vid...



John.

are you the farmer?

Having got back last night from the Music With A View Festival in the Lake District, I can safely say I can't remember the last time I had a weekend packed so full of great live music, beautiful views, the finest burger van cuisine, Withnail and I quotes, hot-spiced-mulled-boozey treats and just wonderful company. A massive thanks to Joe Keelan, Kate Blundell and everyone at Music With A View for doing such an amazing job and somehow managing to keep the sheep happy all the while.

John.

too much luggage

Tonight my back quivers with fear as I begin to pack a hefty load of cables, pedals, socks, wellies, camping gear, sun cream and rum into a bag in preparation for tomorrow's trip to the Lake District. I'll be there all weekend at the Music with a View festival, where I'll be playing on Sunday, surrounded by the beautiful Coniston landscape and hopefully some sunshine. As a certain someone is coming along, who acts tirelessly as my photographer, filmmaker, lighting designer, caterer, and oracle of good advice be it musical or otherwise, there should be some photos and footage of my set that I can stick up here when I'm back in www world next week.

Stay cool and nicely hydrated,

John.

when camden's a-rockin'

The gig at Camden Rock tonight was great fun - one of those nights that reminds you that live music nights don't have to run like a lifeless conveyor-belt with the 'band after band then we all go home to bed' ethic. A fantastic bill, some lovely people, and minimal cock-ups with the new technology and new material I'm still trying to get my fingers round made it a great night. Thanks to Mouse for the lights, and to all who came out to support, listen, and dance like fiends. You know who you are, and I bloody love you, I do.



John.

waiting for master

sun sun sun

I can officially announce three things on this fine Saturday afternoon:

a). the sun is shining;
b). the weather is sweet;
c). the album we made, 'Someone Else's Lullabies,' will arrive in both cyberspace and physical space in time for this year's Glastonbury Festival.

This means that there won't be chance to do an official album 'launch' - a ceremony where the CD is sellotaped to a Chinese lantern and sent drifting skyward - until after Glastonbury, but the album will still be available from around this time (actual date tbc).



John.

late on.

when my hair is thin and wiry
as the winter woods we played in
as kids,
where we swung on sailor's rope
over a crater,
as is common practice
with children and most adults -
to dangle like a loosened baby tooth
over the abyss
and feel your heart rattle
with each imagined death;

when I am this far gone from
those wild-eyed daydreams,
twiddling twisted thumbs
over a thirteenth mug of steam
with the ancestors playing
kiss chase behind my eyes
and the nonsense songs coming out
thick and fast
at all the wrong moments;

when the evening seasons
ache in my core
and leaving the house
is like a daily birth -
and who wants to be out there
anyway?
ringside, as the fight is thrown
and the crowd goggles for
something to tear
or crack, or take back;

when the language of life
is all too much for my senses
and moving fast is like being drunk
and being drunk is like being dead
and being dead seems like a good option,
something to work towards;

when those days come headlong
to change everything
with the snap of a rope…

I forget my point.

- Duncan Duntin.

bicycle powered music

Just a quick note from the Unsaid warehouse floor to announce a further show at Glastonbury festival this year, at the Mandala Stage (the revolutionary bicycle-powered stage in the Green Fields) on Sunday at 7pm. Do pop along if you're in the mood for some Unsaid before seeing the final festival sunset in, or if you fancy a bit of exercise to fuel the PA system.

In a not entirely unrelated matter, there is practice aplenty going on at present in preparation for the gigs leading up to Glastonbury, and new material seems to be surfacing regularly from the ever bubbling belly of musical question marks. In the typical way that ideas and writings and brainwaves always seem to overlap in the most confusing way possible, as my debut album of age-old songs nears completion I find myself full of a bunch of new tunes to try and squeeze into live shows. The solution: play everything at double speed to a drum 'n' bass beat. Done.


John.

zenith bar

below are some photos of the gig at the zenith bar in islington last night. thanks to alex horsfall for snapping away, and thanks to those who came to watch me road test my new musical toy (not pictured).

Home Farm Concert, 11th - 12th June

<<< I be playing at this! 1pm on the Saturday, if anyone is in the Yeovil area or fancies a weekend camping in Somerset.


John.

Glassstonnberrreeeeeeeee!

well I damn near soiled myself with excitement at the prospect of playing this year's Glastonbury festival of performing arts. and although I was hoping to be asked to premiere my new progressive neo-avant-garde solo dance piece about tv licence fraud there (entitled BBSeeZero and formed in collaboration with visual artist Jobius Wickhard), I was instead asked to play some music. and I said 'yes please!'

so far we're down to play two shows at the Small World Solar Stage at 2am Thursday night/Friday morn, and 5pm Saturday afternoon. Small World is in the Green Futures field and can be eyeballed here: http://www.smallworldsolarstage.org/smallworld/index.html

we'll also be playing anywhere else where there is no noise happening when we pass by, and hopefully at a couple more pre-arranged shows too.

if you're coming along to Glastonbury do stop by. unless you're being head-massaged in the Greenfields, then, and only then, you are excused! here's a picture of how much fun one can have at Glasto:














See you there!
John.

electioneering

some news for anyone who's after some post-debate unsaid info...

a few gigs confirmed in the last couple of days - a solo show in Yeovil, Somerset at the Home Farm Concert, a 2-day fundraising festival organised by the Piers Simon Appeal, a charity that aims to support victims of disasters worldwide. this is on June 12th and details can be found on the following website: http://www.pierssimonappeal.org/5th_concert.html

a couple more London dates also confirmed - Zenith Bar in Islington on May 8th, I'll be on around 8.15. there's another London date at Camden Rock on May 26th, stage time around 8.15 again, so if anyone is in the area and wants to see the products of my latest experiments with a new musical toy, do come along.

then, a nice way to end May with a romp in the Lake District at the Music with a View festival in Coniston on the 30th. this promises to be a lovely affair in beautiful surroundings, with the likes of the Travelling Band, the Random Family and many other fantastic bands making an appearance. Tickets can be found here... http://www.wegottickets.com/event/76442

that's all the news for now, here's wishing you a smashing weekend, and here's a picture of a band I was in at the tender age of fifteen...
















john.

to my lordless sons

this is a new song, I hope you like it. it's on the upcoming album I recorded this Easter with the Rough Island Band (www.roughislandband.com).

in other news, a few new gigs on the way as well as some festival news for the fast approaching summer...

wishing you a nice sunny Tuesday,

john.

This Friday

The Little Unsaid.

Hello Lovely people,

Just a quick reminder about The Little Unsaid gig that will be happening this Friday. Hope to see you all down there for a drink and a little unsingsong.

Friday 23rd April @

The Blag Club

Notting Hill Gate

W11 3HT

Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate

For Directions see here: http://www.blagclub.com/nottinghillgate.htm

Doors Open @ 19:30

Onstage @ 21:30

£5 entry on Guest List: Email us here to get your names and your friends names on the list.

Sonny

The Little Unsaid.

www.thelittleunsaid.com

info@thelittleunsaid.com

07976 265760

If you no longer wish to receive emails from The Little Unsaid or Spare Dougal, you can Unsubscribe by replying to this email with the subject "on your bike nelly". Thanks

I spy with my beady eye, an album beginning with S

it might seem like it's been a hell of a long time coming (it certainly does to us!) but that album that we've been trying to make the past year or so is on the final stretch to completion. *HOOZAH!* everything has been recorded - a final touch of brass having been laid down out in the Isles of Scilly with the help of Mr James Sills and Mr Nick Lishman (see proof below) - so now we're into the last bit of mixing, mastering, then getting the thing on discs that you can hold, throw, and play on stereo systems. to celebrate this, we'll be having an album launch in June at a yet to be confirmed venue, where there'll be music from us and some wonderful guests, artwork on display, theme park rides, and all kinds of fun going on except probably not theme park rides. more details will follow in the coming weeks - keep a beady eye out!

John.