Thursday 31 January 2013

Dave Sharp live dates

Some further dates from Dave spanning the end of Feb through till April...

FEBRUARY
21st The Prince Albert STROUD
22nd The Old Nags Head MONMOUTH
23rd The Market Tavern BRECON
24th The Hop LEEDS

MARCH
1st The Oakwood GLOSSOP
3rd TBC NEWCASTLE
4th TBC NEWCASTLE
22nd The New Market Bar THURSO
23rd The Grove Lounge THURSO
29th The Market Bar INVERNESS
30th The Old Ship Inn PERTH

APRIL
6th The Dog House BALLOCH
13th The Miners Arms WHITECROFT
19th The Blackwood Miners Institute BLACKWOOD

For further info please visit http://www.davesharp.org/tourinfo.asp

Mike confirms Natwich Music Festival date.

Official confirmation has come through that Mike is to play an acoustic set at the Nantwich Music Festival on the 31st of March. This is something we posted back in October so please refer to the original post for details http://inthepoppyfields.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/new-mike-peters-festival-date-big.html


Tickets are on sale now priced at £16.50 and are available here http://www.nantwichjazz.com/buy-tickets/

We are one!

In The Poppy Fields turns one today! 

It's been a year since we started this site and what a year it's been!

I would just like to thank everyone who has visited this site (and returned!) in the past year and also to all those that have given up their time to be interviewed. It still amazes me how helpful people have been and the fact that anyone actually agreed to the interviews in the first place!

I still think we are finding our feet and some news slips through the gaps - Marks album with Brian James for instance - so sorry but we try our best! If you think we miss anything drop us an email! inthepoppyfields@gmail.com

This year we will have our work cut out for us with so much to look forward to! Rest assured we will still be bringing you great interviews from all periods of the bands history as well as covering side projects and associated acts.

So thank each and every one of you for making In The Poppy Fields happen - here's to another year and beyond!

FREE ROCK & ROLL!

Wednesday 30 January 2013

James Stevenson - The Shape Of Things To Come EP Review

When James announced he was working on a solo album two thoughts ran through my head, the first was I wonder what that will sound like and the second was I WANT IT!

This EP is a taster (or teaser maybe) of what to expect from the album officially now revealed to be called "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" and is available for a limited time direct from James' site http://www.jamesstevenson.info/news.htm so be quick before you miss out!


So let's tackle my two original questions, what does it sound like? James has a long and varied cv from the days of Chelsea, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Philistines and obviously The Alarm but he has also appeared with Kim Wilde and Jimmy Nail don't forget. This EP demonstrates the variety that the album will have with all three songs being markedly different from each other, it also shows that having such a varied cv allowed James to enlist the help of  friends that he has worked with along the way.

Across the three tracks here we have Glen Matlock and Craig Adams on bass, Mark Taylor on keyboards, Steve Norman on sax with Chris Bell and Igor Marjanovic taking care of the drums. Then we have the "Sexpistilettos" featuring Maggi Ronson, Elizabeth Westwood and Tracie Hunter providing the female vocals which work so well on the opening number "Suzi's Problem" which fades far too soon during a brilliant guitar solo.

"Naturally Wired" is the most out and out rock number on the EP which has a nice chunky riff running through out and would fit in well on a Queens Of The Stone Age or Them Crooked Vultures release, all aided with a great bass line courtesy of Craig. If we do see any live dates in support of the album (yes that is both a hint and a request James!) this will be the one to get everyone moving and singing!

The EP closes with the slowest number "Been A Long Time Now" which Mark adds some great colour to but at it's core is an absolutely blinding guitar solo before the familiar sax of Steve Norman leads the track out.

Now to answer the second question....now that I know what to expect from the album do I still want it? YES!!! If these three tracks do anything they show the range that James has as both a writer and a musician and if the rest of the album delivers like this EP does it will be well worth the wait!


Tuesday 29 January 2013

The Gathering 21 photos - Sunday

The last of the Gathering photos (for now at least!) taken by Joff...this is Sunday including the LHS walkathon!










Ben Nevis Rocks 2 announced.

Photo courtesy of MPO
After the success of last year Love Hope Strength have announced the 2nd Ben Nevis Rocks will take place on Saturday 7th September 2013. The climb will be followed by a gig in the evening with full details to be confirmed later in the year. Check out the LHS site for up to the date info and how to apply.

We will let you know when the other "Rocks" events are announced.

http://www.lovehopestrengthfoundation.co.uk/wp/2013/01/ben-nevis-rocks-2/