Tuesday 31 May 2011

Chris Thompson European Tour dates



Chris Thompson along with the Mads Eriksen band are currently touring Europe and have announced a full schedule of dates. Along the way Chris Thompson will also be playing solo dates.
Chris will be performing songs both old and new including material from his time with Manfred Mann's Earthband and also songs he has been associated with including "You're The Voice" a song he wrote which was hugely successful for John Farnham.
In addition to touring Chris Thompson also releases a live in the studio acoustic album featuring himself and Mads Eriksen.The album will be released through Gonzo Multimedia hopefully during the summer. More news on track listing nd release details nearer the release date.

Please check with the venues before leaving and for regular updates check Chris Thompson's official website







04.06. - Berlin - Kulturlustgarten

17.06. - Dexheim - Kultur auf dem Hof
18.06. - Osnabrück - Alando Palais
19.06. - Kiel - Kieler Woche / Mach3 Bühne

24.06. - Hamburg - Harley Days
25.06. - Terje Rypdal (Norway)

02.07. - Zeitz - CT solo
08.07. - Holland - CT solo with rock symphonie
09.07. - Holland - CT solo with rock symphonie

16.07. - Bergheim - Summer in the City
23.07. - Schleswig - Baltic open air ( support J. Cocker )

01.08 - 07.08. Chris Thompson and Management on vacation

12.08. - Festival, Hemnes - Norway (travel the 11.08)
20.08. - Festival, Hamar( Norway )

26.08. - Lillestrøm Retro Festival
27.08. - Premnitz - Dachsbergfest

Sunday 29 May 2011

Tony Palmer Gives Talk at Westminster Library 23rd May 2011


On Mon 23rd May Tony Palmer raced into Westminster library, Leicester Square after a painful journey in.

"Trouble at South Kensington," he said, putting two bags with boxes of DVDs on the floor. "Shall I hold them off?" I asked, pointing to the packed room of 50 attendees eagerly awaiting the arrival of the hallowed director. "No," he replied, taking off his coat. "I'm ready."

I had no need of introducing Tony. The gathered throng knew who he was. After a brief introduction, priming the crowd for buying all of Tony's Voiceprint DVDs, away he went. For over two and a half hours he explained the genesis of move from Cambridge University rag journalist, to the BBC and directing films about the subjects he wanted. David Attenborough, Michael Palin and Terry Jones, John Lennon all crept into conversation; mentioned rather than name dropped.

However,Tony's main agenda was in discussing his love of classical music and theories on the composers. His Wagner off tape tale a revelation in itself. Rock fans will have to come back in September when Tony has promised to explain his role as chosen director for the counter culture.

A superb night was had by all, with young and old asking questions and Tony always delivering.

Jon 'Mojo' Mills,
Shindig! Magazine,
Editor-In-Chief

http://www.shindig-magazine.com/

Friday 27 May 2011

Rob Ayling and Roger Hodgson Do Breakfast in Newcastle!



Rob Ayling Gonzo "Grande Frommage", caught up with his old mate Roger Hodgson in Newcastle earlier today. As well as playing The Sage tonight Roger has some remaining UK dates in

Glasgow May 28th at the Pavillion
Liverpool May 29th at the Philharmonic Hall


Rob wishes Roger all the best for the rest of the tour and it was a real blast to catch up with

Wednesday 25 May 2011

An Evening With Bill Bruford


An Evening With Bill Bruford
Friday 17 June 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Drummer and percussionist Bill Bruford will read from his autobiography and answer audience questions.

In the 1970s Bill Bruford played drums and percussion in some of Britain’s most successful bands – Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and UK, as well as such cult groups as Gong and National Health before forming his own band Bruford. From 1985 he played in the jazz group Earthworks until his retirement from public performance in 2009.

Copies of Bill Bruford: The Autobiography: Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks and More will be on sale during the evening.
For more details on tickets etc. Please go here.

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/libraries/news/wrfevents/

Rob and Snowy


Gonzo Multimedia mainman Rob Ayling recetly caught up with the current Roger Waters presentation of The Wall in Dublin. He was the guest fo Roger's guitarists Snowy White. You can see Rob with Snowy White backstage in Dublin in the photograph above

Rob said

"Having seen Pink Floyd and even Roger Waters a number of times over the years I was really looking forward to seeng The Wall as I wasn't old enough the first time Pink Floyd performed the show back in the early eighties. I was completely blown away by the experience and the performance and am still buzzing about the show now."

Snowy has been guitarist in Roger Waters band for quite some time and when not touring with Roger also performs with his own band. It is hoped that Snowy will once again hit the road with his band once his commitments to Roger Waters are over. In the meantime you can purchase a fantastic doumentary DVD which features Snowy;"Introspective"

You can buy this DVD at the Gonzo website here
http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/14862

Monday 23 May 2011

Jon Anderson Intervew!!


Jon Anderson releases his latest album Survival through Gonzo Multimedia this week and in the June 2011 issue of Record Collector there is a brief interview with Jon. In the interview Jon touches on a new idea concerning the future marketing of his music. he also suggests that a boxed set may be the way forward with all his projects currently underway.

Jon is currently playing dates in North America for more details go to the website below
http://www.jonanderson.com/tour.html

To Buy his latest album Survival please go here

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15285

Jon Anderson To Release Long Awaited New CD 'Survival & Other Stories'


The new CD 'Survival & Other Stories' by legendary Jon Anderson features eleven new songs with themes about love, life, understanding, healing and survival.
5/23/2011 – Asheville, NC - One of the most recognizable voices in music, the legendary Jon Anderson, best known for his work with Yes, Vangelis, Kitaro and other notable music artists, as well as his innovative solo efforts, is preparing to release one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, 'Survival & Other Stories'. Featuring eleven new luminous songs with themes about love, life, understanding, healing and survival, Jon's new CD has an inspirational message for all who will listen!


“About four years ago I just put in an ad on my website: 'Musicians Wanted'... This is the result. Writing the songs for 'Survival & Other Stories' was uplifting for me on many levels, I was working with musicians from around the world Via the Internet, it's a new world, music is a healing energy, I had a tough 2008, through illness, and the Music I've been writing since is a celebration of life on many levels...I hope you get the chance to hear the album..Big Love..Jon." 'Survival & Other Stories' is the first of three albums to be released by Jon Anderson in the next two years.


Jon recently completed a successful east coast tour of the US, “An Acoustic Evening With Jon Anderson”, which featured and exciting mixture of material from Jon Anderson's prolific solo career, collaborations with Vangelis and classic YES songs, along with new compositions from his new CD 'Survival & Other Stories'. Jon will be performing select shows throughout this summer in the US and Canada. For tour dates visit www.jonanderson.com/tour.html
Jon Anderson 'Survival & Other Stories' available through: www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk

www.jonanderson.com,

www.facebook.com/thejonanderson,

www.olias-jewelry.com

Friday 13 May 2011

GPS DVD/CD Package On The Way


GPS the band Featuring John Payne Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen are about to release a Live DVD/CD package. The band who also featured Spock's Beard keyboardist Ryo Okumoto released their acclaimed debut album Window To Your Soul in 2006. There are two concerts featured on the DVD one full band concert and one unplugged concert featuring John payne and Guthrie Govan. The concerts were recorded in Japan in early 2007.

Full details of the contents of the package are still being worked on and will be announced shortly however it is hoped to include both concerts in full alongside audio from the concerts and a booklet featuring notes from John Payne. The working model of the cover is at the top of this article although it is not certain whether this is the finished design.

GPS was formed when Geoff Downes left the line up of Asia featuring John Payne, Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen to reunite with the original line up of Asia. Payne and Schellen are also members of Asia featuring John Payne!

Monday 9 May 2011

Legendary Leonard Cohen Film "Bird On A Wire" Special Screening



CINEMATOGRAPH FILM CLUB

29 May
LEONARD COHEN
Bird on a Wire (1972)
95 mins


This recently restored documentary follows Cohen on his 1972 tour of Europe, a fraught period
for a young artist on the verge of abandoning live performance.

We're very excited to announce that the film will be introduced by legendary music documentary
filmmaker, Tony Palmer. Signed copies of the Bird on a Wire DVD will also be available.

We will be playing songs by and related to Cohen both before and after the screening.

8pm start. Free entry.
The Duke of Wellington Pub, N1 4BL
Find us here... http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=87156064495&v=wall

Cinematograph is a film club screening films at The Duke of Wellington Pub in Dalston. Each week we'll be watching films from our favourite places, genres, directors, and actors; exposing their best works and reflecting on why they're worth watching. Expect double features, live music accompaniments, collections of short films, and other bits in between.

Thursday 5 May 2011

Acclaimed Tony Palmer Film on Holst Released on DVD


Holst In The Bleak Midwinter is the Tony Palmer film about Gustav Holst.

In addition to being the very first film about the British composer Gustav Holst. The film written and directed by Tony Palmer includes previously unseen material with his daughter Imogen, his pupils Michael Tippett, Herbert Howells, Edmund Rubbra and the 102 year-old Elliott Carter, as well as a dozen pupils from St Paul's Girls School in Hammersmith who remember him from the time he was Director of Music at the school.

The film which saw it's premier on the BBC4 Channel over the Eatser weekend also features: Katherine Jenkins, Kiri Te Kanawa, Russell Watson, Barbara Dickson & Troy Donockley, Máiréad Nesbit & Celtic Woman, Gloucester Cathedral Choir, St Paul's Girls' School Orchestra & Yeo Yat-Soon (conductor), National Children's Choir Of Taipei

The Savaria Symphony Orchestra & Tamas Vasary (conductor), The Royal College Of Music Orchestra & Sian Edwards (conductor), BBC Symphony Chorus & Stephen Jackson (conductor), City of London Choir & Hilary Davan Wetton (conductor), Besses O' Th' Barn Band & James Holt (conductor), The Royal Ballet School (choreography by Sean Bates)


No-one makes better films about musicians than Tony Palmer." - David Chater, The Times

“Palmer’s film tells a moving tale, illustrated with swathes of Holst’s startlingly original music. Perhaps it can turn around, at last, the fortunes of British music’s most unlikely hero. If so, it’s not a minute too soon.”- Jessica Duchen, The Independent

Holst: In The Bleak Midwinter can be ordered directly from the Gonzo website

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15281

Annie Haslam Reissues Still Life


Annie Haslam reissued her Classical collaboration with Louis Clark entitled Still Life through Gonzo Multimedia on the 25th of April.

The album which was originally released in the mid eighties has been unavailable for some time and occupies an important place in Annie’s extensive catalogue amongst her large and dedicated fan base.

In addition to the original album there is also a bonus second disc which includes the instrumental versions of the songs which has mixed under the supervision of Louis Clark.

This is the ultimate release of this stand out album from Annie Haslam’s catalogue and one that will be welcomed by the Annie Haslam and Renaissance fan base. The album can be ordered directly from the Gonzo website.

Sunday 1 May 2011

Jon Anderson Survival and Other Stories Official Release


Jon Anderson will release his collaborative album Survival and Other Stories through Gonzo on June 6th. The album was available only at the Merchandise store on the Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman UK tour dates last year.

Due to the huge demand for the abum the decision has now been taken to release the album on a more widespread basis. However the album will be slightly different in that Jon wants to make some changes not least he wants to remix parts of the album.

It is hoped that the album will be available to order directly from the Gonzo website prior to the release date of June 6th. Other plans include a possible podcast and a dedicated website for the album. Check back here for more news and developements or the Official Jon Anderson website which is

http://www.jonanderson.com/

Jon announced the release on his facebook page and also made reference to the proposed Anderson/Wakeman/Rabin project which has had the fan forums buzzing. Jon'sannouncement is below


Hi peeps, at last 'VoicePrint' will be releasing 'Survival and other Stories' with some remixing here and there, it's a special album of songs, so please tell your friends to place an order, lots of fun. Janee and I on the road next week, music and singing coming your way, all is great with Trev, Rick and Myself, writing ideas , and thinking of next year already..All is positive...be good, have fun...Jon”


The track listing for Survival and Other Stories is below!


1. New New World
2. Understanding Truth
3. Unbroken Spirit
4. Love of the Life
5. Big Buddha Song
6. Incoming
7. Effortlessly
8. Love and Understanding
9. Just One Man
10. Sharpening The Sword
11. Cloudz


...BECAUSE SOME OF US THINK THAT THIS STUFF IS IMPORTANT
What happens when you mix what is - arguably - the world's most interesting record company, with an anarchist manic-depressive rock music historian polymath, and a method of dissemination which means that a daily rock-music magazine can be almost instantaneous?

Most of this blog is related in some way to the music, books and films produced by Gonzo Multimedia, but the editor has a grasshopper mind and so also writes about all sorts of cultural issues which interest him, and which he hopes will interest you as well.