2012 lists!

So......2012 then......music list....

you know....before the Zombie Apocalypse on the 21st ;-)


Music of 2012:

The Milk: Tales from the Thames Delta
Soul, rock and roll, hip hop and a bit of working class aggression make this band my favorite new band of 2012. When I heard "All I wanted was the danger" i was hooked instantly and the first time i saw them live at the Isle Of Wight Festival this year was an incredible high energy show that was linked throughout. A real refreshing approach to the live experience. Working class lads with grace and style.

Moon Duo: Circles
Psycadealic noodlings from this years late entry to my list of influences and good fings! I first heard the track "I can see" on a late BBC6 broadcast on the radio round my girlfriends house. We were both spellbound by it so I Shazaam'd it and brought the album in the Brighton Lanes that weekend. Repetitive, spacey, drones made for late night listening.

Mansions on the Moon: Lightyears EP
A Spotify find by accident when i was going through an electronic music phase. Beautiful melodies with an overtone of meloncollie. A great EP and I cant wait to hear more from the band. Id love to do something like this one day.......

Charlene Soraia:
A gigging pal of mine and not a track from this year but "Daffodils" is a track i just cant stop listening to. Theres a purity in it and a beauty that cant be faked, its a genius song. When she sings "I think of how i could get used to this" it makes my heart melt every time. Shes barking mental but a musical genius.

Tame Impala: Lonerism
I am a massive fan of Psychedelic Pop, that's no secret as its in my artwork, some of my songs and outlook. So when this band finally broke through this year i was very happy!
Its the album I keep threatening to make but my ear for a concise melody and nice production pulls me away from it. This is essentially pop music produced in a mental fashion! Bloody good though!!

Richard Hawley: Standing at the sky's edge
Ive always adored Richard Hawley right from the beginning all those years ago. So when he decided to go all Psychedelic with textures, kaleidoscopic sonics, distortion, solos and drones I was like a pig in shit! Its a masterpiece from start to finish and one of the best records i've heard in many years. A mood record though, one for the late nights and deep conversations.

Hot Chip: In Our Heads
I heard Motion Sickness on the radio i forget when and where but musically its so well put together. The samples and the melodies intertwine and mesh in a mesmerizing way. The album is great, the sonic's are intelligent and the melodies are pure sugar pop. I fell in love with it.

Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto

Yes the music fans that still read the NME and the thousands of fanboys who now have grown a moustache and wear tweed cos "Mumford once wore em innit" hate them. For me and the millions of everyday people that want to be entertained and see something spectacular, this album dominated this year. It's massive grand technicolor optimism colored my the last 14 months, inspired the song "Heartbeats" and made me smile. I love it and I know amongst the people I know I'll be alone on that one. I went to see them live this year and it was the most breathtaking gig I've ever been to.

Kassassin Street: Moloko Vellocet EP

Im going to keep on about them until they make proper money from it......its genius. There also good friends too. Listen to the whole thing here, then listen to my cover on my website www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Brian Cox, Robin Ince
Science Podcast that has been in my brain all year. Its taught me a lot about science through an approachable medium with added comedy thrown in. Its like a hug for me now, i often listen to it even though i know it word for word.

Desert Island Discs:
Same thing.... a comfort blanket..... im fascinated with the way people spend their time and the journey they make which is why Desert Island Discs is so fascinating to me. I adore it....heres an extra special episode with Morrisey. I can identify with a lot of what hes saying in this....

Ova Fings!!!

Stewert Lee (Comedian)

Shappi Khorsandi (Comedian)

Batman Dark Knight Rises

Apple Products :-)

Dr Who

Tea

I do hope you have a fantastic Xmas....dont miss Dr Who you know you will watch it at least at xmas even if not all year ;-) and dont argue on the day please.....just one day of nice'ness aye!

"Nothing no man has produced, can match families bound at the roots, poetry in the mis-understood"

Stay Safe

Andy

21st........dont die.....cos that would just be ironic as its not going to be the end of the world.....

x ;-)

Its the end of the world as we know it....and I feel fine

Ello! Cold isnt it! The earth is in a different place so its not so hot....Brian Cox told me....

First up thanks to everyone who came to the recent Wedgewood Rooms shows.... the Martin Rossiter show was fantastic and the best show ive done in a while, also the Jack Savoretti/Karima night was a cracker. Its always a pleasure playing The Wedgewood Rooms and I think all at the wedge for their professionalism and hospitality. 

I got approached by an author named Michael Linford at the Martin Rossiter gig and this is what he said in the email to me the next day:.....

 

Hi

 

I have just finished writing my debut novel which had the working title of Twenty Twelve and is now called 'Music for the end of the world' and it will be available to buy on the 20th December 2012.

 

The whole book is musical themed, set in London and involves having the time to listen to 20 songs before the worlds ends. With this in mind, I am currently contacting musicians and other interesting people to see if they would be prepared to send me their own personal list of the 20 songs that they would choose. 

 

I have lists from various musicians so far, including

Kristin Hersh

Dubstar
The Wombats
Nerina Pallot
Kate Miller-Heidke
Rumer
Dodgy
Echobelly
I also have a 1 list from a dj,
Shaun Keaveny at BBC Radio 6 music

The websites for more information are as follows

www.michaellinford.co.uk and the book page can be found at www.facebook.com/TwentyTwelveBook

I think its a fantastic idea and its a pleasure to be involved

Soooooo...here is my list.....

I tried to think of what I couldn't stand not to hear again before doomsday... through memories involved, moments of my life these songs encapsulate, and the sounds that I love.....

1. Am I Wry? No - Mew

2. In It For the Money - Supergrass

3. In The Meantime - Spacehog

4. Lets Dance - David Bowie 

5. Daffodils - Charlene Soraia

6. Spooky - Classics IV

7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite - The Beatles

8. Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye 

9. Neon - Amplifier

10. Stars - Dubstars

11. Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode

12. Voodoo People - The Prodigy

13. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall - Coldplay

14. London Symphony Orchestra - Ravels Bolaero (full 15min version) 

15. Riverman - Nick Drake

16. Brothers In Arms (On The Night Live version) - Dire Straights

17. BBC Symphonic - Doctor Who Theme

18. When I Fall In Love - Nat King Cole

19. D'Ya Know What I Mean - Oasis

20. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young

What would your list be....please send me them I'd be intrigued!.

I have a gig with good friends HEAD FULL OF YOKO at the cellars in Eastney this Sunday 9th December. Tickets are £5 from me...please message me for them. Also on the bill is good friend Chris Perrin from Race Car Hearts. Hes always fascinating to watch too....dont miss it

A full 2012 list run down blog will be here next week......like High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.....I love a good list ;-)

Stay Safe....and buy that guitar/pair of shoes/big marrow..........cos its the end of the world ;-)

Andy x

Ive mostly been listing to

MOON DUO: CIRCLES

We're limited on Starburst

Ello!!!

Thanks again to everyone that came to the Wedgewood Rooms show with Jack Savoretti and Karima Francis. It seemed to go down well and the new material especially :-) which is always good.
Karima really liked "Heartbeats" which was sweet as we've played with each other a few times and I respect her as a musician.

New Criterion EP is available now from this link
I-tunes http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/new-criterion-ep/id557583746

http://www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/andrewfostermusic
http://www.youtube.com/andrewfostermusic
http://www.twitter.com/andyfostermusic

Please check the website for gig updates and more info....more are going up soon.....


Nov 14th The Square Brewery, Petersfield,

Nov 21th The Fishbowl, Brighton,

Dec 9th Head Full Of Yoko, Eastney Cellars, Portsmouth

Dec 29th Mark Morris (The Bluetones) Eastney Cellars, Portsmouth, 

Thought I'd bring to your attention this new magazine that's going to be out in Portsmouth from January. It needs the musicians, DJ's and fans to engage now for content as it wants to be shaped your yourselves.

sendit@extendedplaymag.co.uk

I'll be contributing features and things to it and it will be nice to engage with something for Portsmouth music. For example one of the first features ill be doing is Alternate tunings. Contact them if you want to contribute, it will all help and it would be a cool thing to have a little monthly mag dedicated purely to the music that comes from Portsmouth. There wont be politics involved or favouritism it has no motivation only other to document Portsmouth music and will be funded by ads in its pages...so its relying on you to contact them so get on it and be in it! :-) whatever genre.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO EXTENDED PLAY FACEBOOK PAGE

Video for "Heartbeats" off the New Criterion EP

Cold innit!!!!!.......

Time for the DR Who scarf and the long coat i think ;-)

I've been nominated for the GUIDE AWARDS for The NEWS for i think it may be the 6th year running!!!!

Please do still vote though I would actually like to win it since ive been in the category for so long hehe...

"and the most nominated award goes to!!....Andrew Foster!!!".....

Heres the link in order to vote http://www2.portsmouth.co.uk/snap/Guide12v1/guide12v1.htm

now .....to buy a kaossilator 2 or not....what you guys reckon?..... I could even use it live couldn't I.... for drones and beats....hmmmmmm.....advice! hit me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmQeP3y1F2w

Stay Safe

Andy 

x

Ill be going to RACE CAR HEARTS on Friday night at the wedge....http://www.racecarhearts.com

This week Ive mostly been listening to Syd Arthur

Syd Arthur click here fro Spotify

TUESDAY 30th support for JACK SAVORETTI @ The Wedgewood Rooms

I have the pleasure of supporting Jack Savoretti on his Portsmouth tour date with Karima Francis and myself

Tuesday 30th October 2012: The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Tickets are available through me at £9, please message me at andrewfostermusic@googlemail.com

Ive supported Karima before and those who know already shes a fascinating performer, Its going to be a strong line-up. Physical copies of the EP will be available on the night.

and please visit the website for more info on the new EP and up-coming gigs and interviews 

http://www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk

Heres some cool things to look at with your eyes and process them with your brain

New Criterion EP review from New Reviews
NEW REVIEWS REVIEW

Interview in Portsmouth newspaper The News
INTERVIEW IN THE NEWS

New Video for Heartbeats
HEARTBEATS VIDEO

Hope to see some of you at the gig

Stay Safe x
Andy

NEW CRITERION EP RELEASED!

So here it is!

The New Criterion EP available to buy on I-Tunes, Spotify, Amazon and physical copies on the website shop.

Click here for I-Tunes link

Heres the video that we have so lovingly crafted :-)

Hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you think of it. Your interaction is important to me so dont be shy!

"HEARTBEATS" taken from the new EP NEW CRITERION Out now

www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk
www.facebook.com/andrewfostermusic
www.youtube.com/andrewfostermusic
www.twitter.com/andyfostermusic

Video Production by Aaron Bennett
www.aaronbennettphotography.com

Track Produced by Guy Gyngell
www.ggmusicandaudio.com

Copyright greenfish records 2012

Thanks to:
Pjs Guitar Centre:
Steve Wright
Ed Hogston
Rick Slimm
George Allen

Face Face Clothing:
Mark Warren
Amy Bennett

Hampshire Astronomical Group
Graham Byrant

Stay Safe
Andy x

Centre Straight Atom

Its no secret that one of my favorite bands at present is Kassassin Street from Portsmouth.
High energy, psychedelic, and great songwriting, with an underlying tone of opening your eyes to whats around you. When I first heard Centre Straight Atom (their new track from the up-coming EP) with the sound it deserved, it was at the New Theatre Royal when they were supporting myself & The Watchmen.
I instantly loved it and so after the first EP Russells Teapot this year I sat down and worked an alternate acoustic version that I thought I may do something with at some point. Rowan Bastable (lead singer Kassassin) is a producer himself so I thought it would be good alchemy to let the him produce the cover.
Heres what we did......

New EP will be out very soon, I have finished copies in my hand now. Finishing the last scenes on the video for "Heartbeats".

If anyone wishes to PRE-ORDER heres the link to the shop and you will see "New Criterion" in there
http://www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk/#!shop/c8nj

Stay Safe
Andy x

Who is this bloke, and is he made of moon dust?

WHO?

1) Andrew Foster grew up in the small town of Havant in Hampshire in England....on the world....thats in the Solar System....thats in the Universe....then its God, Allah or Brian Cox's house or something....or where they make Jaffa Cakes

2) He used to record the chart show on his tape recorder every Sunday night.

3) Andrew owns various Dance compilations from the early 90's but prefers not to mention them in interviews.

4) Andrew says the following things were just a few of his big musical milestones

* Finding his Sisters old guitar in his Mums cupboard

* The tape of Ravels Bolaro his Dad had in the car
* His brother giving him a copy of Micheal Jackson's "Bad"
* "Definitely Maybe" by Oasis
* His friend Chris Walls (who is now a mystical beast that lives in a cottage) giving him a copy of Jeff Buckley "Grace" and Nick Drake "Five Leaves Left"
* Neil Youngs "Decade"
* The Dr Who theme tune that he had on vinyl that had a hologram of Davros on the front
* Pencil Case Keyboards
* Learning the chord sequence to "Polly" by Nirvana
* Queens Greatest Hits
* Motown music his Mum used to listen to
* Playing guitar at an ex-girlfriends party in his teens
* His friend Chris Jackson who he grew up with, was the coolest Mod that ever graced the earth
* Watching the night sky from a his Dads car window as there was a meteor shower whilst on the way to a shopping trip. "Somewhere in my heart" by Aztec Camera was playing on the stereo.
* www.aaronbennettphotography.com got him into bands like Placebo, Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, and recording silly tracks on his Tascam 414
* The Classical music that used to play in as he walked into assembly at first school
* The Acoustic guitar

* Playing The Wedgewood Rooms with his first band he was in years ago "Paradime"



5) Andrew likes Earl Grey Tea and one day hopes to sponsor either Tetley or Twinnings and has no shame in admitting that. Other things he likes are Monster Munch, the colour green, girls that do that pointy eye make-up thing that makes them look like Cats, freshly cut grass, new guitars, old guitars, guitars, and magazines about anything...he will buy them.

6) Andrew studied Music Technology at Thames Valley uni in London where he did work experience on Top Of The Pops, Later...with Jools Holland, Jonathan Ross and various audio post production houses. He also worked at Goldcrest Post Production as a runner/trainee for a while where he met lots of celebrities and brought them coffee and juice.  He says  "When you see Kevin Spacey come out of the toilet everyone becomes the same". In this time he developed a skill for making good noises out of cheap equipment, a fear of Onions and a love for Gameboys.



6) Andrew once fell out of a tree on the first day of the 6 weeks school Holiday and broke his arm and his rib. The cast was taken off a day before he went back to school.



7) Andrew writes quicker than he can release and has already released 7 records with some on I-tunes, and written over 200 songs most of which no-one has ever heard. There are possible rock albums, pychadelic meanderings, Dance wierdness, and string arrangements but prefers to keep things simple with walking out with an acoustic guitar because thats normally where it starts. If he stopped making music he would die...its a bit like that film Speed with Sandra Bollock.



8) At middle school Andrew was good at Drama and used to get picked to play lead roles which he found pretty girls liked. Unfortunetly shouting loud and playing a cockney scamp doesnt work later on in life.



9) Andrew has supported Mumford & Sons, Hard Fi on the day of thier number 1 album, and walked in on Rumer when she was getting changed but says that Stephen Fretwell dedicating a song to him was..."special that".....

10) Andrew once played a mini Festival with McFly and didnt realise he had his own dressing room so sat in the rain.

11) Andrew has seen both series of the Office 12,456 times ...and by the time you read this that figure will be bigger.

12) Andrew likes Dr Who and sometimes actually believes he came from Galifray

13) Andrew is an Indie Folk Rocker with pychadealic leanings in a bubblegum pop Orchestra conducted by Tim burton with Jazz guitars and poetry readings......and he likes trees

Creating the front cover of the New Criterion EP

The idea behind the cover was brought to life by Aaron Bennett whom I have talked a lot about of late.
Nicky Robinson Is the girl in the photo, a model friend of ours and make-up artist.

Im not going to talk too much of the concept for this one as yet. 

Nicky Robinson 

Nicky brought sweets...this happened

Nicky also gets bored if shes waiting too long

Aaron Bennett the photo genius http://www.aaronbennettphotography.com

Miss Deadly Red http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottchalmers/7192038604/

Stay Safe x

New Criterion EP is coming....

More info this week.....new website going live soon

Stay Safe x

Art concepts & Aaron Bennet Photography

This is a dedication to the work of Aaron Bennett

A close friend of mine who I have known for many years whom I've watched become an incredibly respected photographer locally, nationally and within the media. He does most of my concept work and has helped me create a visual style for every release. We have a huge archive of photos of me for the releases over the years but heres a few as one day I'm going to compile them to show them off properly.

Click on them to make them large

The Media Ghost session in the dis-used chalk factory is possibly my favorite shoot. The colours.. the premise behind the artwork and the finished article were perfect for the tone of the album. Aaron drove past this location one day by accident and clocked it as a great place for a shoot. When i described to him what i wanted, the two married perfectly. I could go into the concept behind the image all day, but for now just look at his work ;-)

The Butterflymind EP concept was something which Aaron devised and ran with. Shot in a field near to Buds Farm and the Immunity Tip in Havant (where we used to prowl the industrial state at night whilst it was being built), It was the perfect setting for the desolate isolated piece of work that was the EP itself. He wanted me to wear the Tee-shirt and to keep the hat on, and the strange effect he put over the final piece made it look as though it was slightly not of this world. Venerability and isolation where the themes but what i like about the pics is that however clever the effects or coloring, they still capture disconnection.

One of Aarons faves this one....I needed some promo shots done for my new sponsorship deal at the time with Adam Black guitar company to show off the S8 Dreadnought acoustic id just received. Aaron led the way again and led me to the old garages where i used to live growing up in Havant...Juniper Square. The whole concept was his idea. This was in one of the old garages next to where i used to live.

Adam Black loved it and used it in there sales catalog which I believe its still in.

The main promo shot i used for The Garden as it reflected the music on the album perfectly.. dark, slightly Tim Burton. The dark jagged trees reference the track "Evil Tree" but it is in fact the wall outside the flat in Southsea where i was at the time! Although quite psychedelic in places we wanted shots that lept between fantasy and realism, like the lyric Old Traditions...New Fabrications that was in one of the tracks. Around this time his shots of me were always a little strange like he was shooting The Gardens lyrical content from his lens!

Panic Moon and the Watchmen gig that came at the end of the year were an opportunity to get some Dr Who references in there and to have a little fun. The shoots were portraying less darkness and more optimism... apart from the watchmen photo which I got lots of messages about saying how creepy it was! I like these photos because he directed them throughout yet managed to get the style i was after. A visual aspect for the music is really important to me, always has been so its important to work with someone who is complimentary and understands the vision of the artist...no-matter how pretentious we can be as songwriters/bands etc he understands that its important to have a look.

Russells Teapot was a new start and outlook but keeping with older ideas. In fact...it reminds me of the Media Ghost shoot as nothing was a mistake, everything in the picture had its place and a meaning behind why it was there. Again I loosely gabbled a concept at him he brought it to life, and the picture perfectly encapsulated the music, lyrics and feel of the EP. This was actually an old friends of ours Dad's shed at the bottom of his garden. He was a little bit of a mad scientist himself....a hippy scientist ;-).

Perfect shot, perfect location...another win for Bennett :-)

I love this shot ;-)

This is the back of the new EP.....

The front is Aarons best shot of me and that will be up soon

 info of the new EP including release date and tracks will be up soon

currently devising a video....

Andyx

Stay Safe

please go to www.aaronbennettphotography.com

check out his wide range of work it really is exceptional

Peterborough Blues

So off we go to another festival....

Peterborough Festival was put on by their council to showcase art and crafts with entertainment from the main stage and the acoustic stage. It looked great with all kinds of visual treats for kids and a professional setup with a great main stage audio rig. I was looking forward to seeing Hard Fi later on.

When we got there after battling through the intermittent rain downpours on the motorway we were told that the acoustic stage had a 65db sound restriction on it....now anyone that knows sound understands that ambient noise can get louder than that! After fiddling for levels in the soundcheck, I started playing to no one but half way through the set a few people took refuge from the rain in the acoustic tent, so i was playing to a extremely small crowd (obviously being careful not to annoy the surrounding residents as coughing or sneezing may just break the 65db sound limit, the sound from the main stage across the field was louder than us!) ...anyways....as you can imagine I'd put this gig down as a loss and you just get on with it....until fellow Portsmouth acoustic troubadour Luke Ferre did his thing....

Luke's set was okay, he had the same problem as me.. his sound was pretty bad and a small amount of people were listening, so it was what it was, not really the right environment for our songs to thrive.... Then we get the message from Mr Hi Viz that the whole festival is now cancelled because someone fell  over.....yes......someone fell over so the whole festival got cancelled. So Luke decided to announce he was going to carry on his set on a bench nearby completely unplugged! 

Guerrilla gig stylee!

Now i don't know what it is about the British spirit but as soon as they think they are part of something naughty they engage with it so much more! People followed Luke round the field like the Pied Piper and he performed songs standing on a bench with grace and style. This is where it all got a bit weird.....after he got me up to play a blues (in G) with some guy who was carrying a Harmonica!....we then got told we should stop playing by Mr Hi Viz again... but if we wanted to we could play in the nearby cafe as the owner was in the crowd!....so off we went Luke leading the way again!....and played at the cafe.

As luke was playing unplugged outside the cafe, a PA was being set-up around him and bewildered looking people (not knowing what to do after the festival cancellation) were congregating around us now excited by this apparent disregard for the rules..."the show must go on!". Luke broke a string so i got up to do a version of Amy Watches The Stars.... and then we got shut down again!! They quite literally pulled the plug!

This prompted the crowd to shout for us to carry on, the Police turning up, BBC introducing to get our numbers and a comedic scene developing out of two blokes from Portsmouth with acoustic guitars....!!

Funny thing was the Police were telling us we were allowed to play and that the festival organiser has no right to pull the plug!!!

It was strange, and wet, and weird

Gigs are being booked for September - October so keep checking back and the last EP recording session is next week. Im planning a video too.......it may even be a funny video..

Stay Safe
Andy

The Legend Stevie Pitt!

Festival chocolate teapot russell boots

Isle Of Wight Festival - The Kashmir Tent 

Terry Reid & Myself after the Jazz Cafe gig: night 2 

Peterborough Festival

Hard Fi

Saturday 7th - 8th July 2012

Acoustic Tent

Southsea Food Festival

Portsmouth

Sunday 15th July 2012

Nick Drake Gathering

Tanworth-In-Arden

Friday 20th July 2012

Terry Reid

Half Moon Putney London

1st August 2012

Mychoon Festival

Derbyshire

26th August 2012

Sunday 2pm Acoustic Tent

Southseafest Line-up

................................................

The New EP is looking for an Early September release keep checking back for some related goodies here soon....

Stay Safe
Andy


This week I've been listening to
"The Infinite Monkey Cage" with Brian Cox & Robin Ince

Born to Pun

So who's going to the Isle Of Wight festival this year?

If you are, ill be playing in the Kashmir Tent this year this Friday at 4.30pm. Come and say hi and chill out before the evenings heavy weights

CLICK HERE FOR LINE-UP

Then we gotta go and see Elbow...it would be rude not to. The next day at the festival you may see me onstage with Terry Reid setting up amps...hes on the acoustic stage.
Talking of Terry ill be supporting him at the Brighton Komedia this thursday night. Last weeks gigs at the Jazz Cafe in London were a pleasure to play and on the second night especially I met some great new people. Rumer guested with Terry on Brave Awakening as she has covered it on her LP currently number 3 in the albums charts, she was lovely as well...like a metropolitan hippy!

The photo-shoot for the new EP is done and its the most striking cover I've ever had, i hope you like it as much as i do...its very different! The EP is about 70% done now and I'm looking forward to pulling it together to put it out. This will be Number 2 EP in the 3 i'm going to release this year, and its pulled slightly away from my original idea for it. Its quite varied this time round with a few surprises. Russell's Teapot continues to get lovely messages from you guys. In fact it seems to have a personal effect lyrically on people with messages about the lyrics which i haven't had since The Alchemist in such a personal manner.

More info coming soon... as will more gigs..... and indefinitely ....more rain :-)

Click for Terry Reid & Rumer fan vid at the Jazz Cafe Camden

See you at the Isle Of Wight If you're not kissing you're girlfriend/boyfriend during "Born to run" then you can come and join me with my hands in the air chanting at the sky!

Stay Safe
Andy x

this week ive mostly been listeing to "Standing at the skys edge" by Richard Hawley

Silver Moon Ladders

For those who are up... heres a track from an artist called "MERZ"...I supported him a few years back and I still get a shiver from this track, its utterly beautiful.

See you soon.....the EP is starting to take shape..

Stay Safe...

x

VICTORIOUS!

So then! The sun came out at last.....that was a drab period wasnt it!.....constant grey.....NORMSVILLE!....but its here lets hope it lasts for two great things Im doing next month in June.

First up is The Victorious Vintage Festival in Portsmouth Dockyard on the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd. Its a free event with some of the best local talent, loads of stalls of vintage clothing and attractions all housed in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard setting. Im really looking forward to this and I urge everyone to get involved  and back the event. Its FREE...and if you want Portsmouth to have these great events then they have to be supported. I have no doubt that this will be a great weekend....Oh yeah....lets not forget the Titans of Indie pop Dodgy, The Lightning Seeds and Mark Morris some of my childhood faves right there...

Im on the Acoustic Stage on the Sunday at 7.30pm

WEBSITE

http://www.victoriousvintage.co.uk/

Then Ill be playing the mighty Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in the acoustic KASHMIR tent. I'll be on twice over the weekend ill let you know when...as I know some people that follow what I do go every year, as I have gone for pretty much all of them bar two....and the original of course! Some great bands at the Festival this year too....go on Brucie!!!

Im lucky enough to be doing some dates around the country with the legend that is Terry Reid again this year listed below. Its always an honor, a great crowd to play to and time spent with Terry is always eventful! He may be getting on a bit but trust me....that man can out rock & roll anyone reading this I guarantee! Cant wait to catch up with him.

In other news two tracks are already recorded for the next EP due out in the summer.....Im excited.....thats all im saying sooooo

Stay Safe, Wear Shades, Have Fun, Be Cool To Each Other & Laugh

Andy x

Terry Reid (support)

Robin 2

Wolverhampton

Thursday 30th May 2012

Victorious Vintage Festival

Portsmouth

Friday 2-3 June 2012

click here

Terry Reid (support)

Coxes Yard

Sratford Upon Avon

Thursday 12th June 2012

Terry Reid (support)

Komedia

Brighton

Thursday 21st June 2012

Isle Of Wight Festival

Kashmir Acoustic Tent

Friday 22nd - 24th June 2012

Currently listening to the SPACE AGENCY - GALACTIC GUITARS 60s influenced space/surf guitar instrumentals

Tea?.....Go on then......

The last two weeks have been great for the Russell's teapot ep. The hometown show was a great success, Phil Jackson from BBC Southern Counties has been showing his support on the radio and Charlene Soraia at the wedgewood rooms was a cracker. I'd like to thank all the people that have bought the EP and interacted with me online it means a lot and it's fundamentally why I do it. It's nice to meet people who quote lyrics and say the music has affected them in some way. Last Saturday I played at the new Pie &Vinyl shop that's opened in Southsea completely unplugged. Phil Jupitus came in moments after and the store was busy all day. Congrats to them guys for bringing something that was greatly needed to the city. Here's some pics from the last two weeks. More dates and news soon. A new track called "Lucky" is being recorded this week....x
Stay safe
Andy

Charlene Soraia @ The Wedge 

 Pie & Vinyl

Charlene Soraia @ The Wedge 

Charlene Soraia @ The Wedge 

@ Havant Arts Centre

Fings & other fings make more fings....

Hi there good people....heres some fings.....

I Alone featuring Leonie Tremain TREMAIN has been selected for a play by Phil Jackson on BBC Southern Counties this week as you can listen HERE at about 1hr 42 mins into the show. Many thanks to Phil for that hes always supported what I do and it doesn't go unnoticed and is appreciated.

Im going to be playing this years Nick Drake Gathering In Tanworth-In-Arden again this year more news on that soon. Always a pleasure and an honor...

A big shout out to a new cafe/shop that has just opened in Southsea called Pie & Vinyl HERE a small record shop with good food and its great. Just what Southsea needed I urge you to check it out. They are having a record day this Saturday the 21st April and I will be playing at 2pm to celebrate the opening.

Various exciting things have been added to the gigs page with a lot more dates to be added soon :-)

Two songs are already written for the next EP with a surprise in mind if i can pull it off its going to be quite something....Im aiming for a summer release of that as i want a trilogy of EP's out this year, so get on Russell's Teapot whilst its still fresh! Gotta keep those wheels turning!

And last but not least this weeks CHARLENE SORAIA support at the Wedgewood Rooms on Thursday 19th April (this Thursday!) message me for cheap tickets. Its a sit down acoustic event that should be special.

Stay Safe
Andyx

Charlene Soraia & thank you

Id like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the Spring Arts Centre in Havant on Thursday night. It was a fantastic audience as ever in that venue, and a real joy to play. Its rare as a songwriter you get to play gigs with such an attentive audience and its always a pleasure to play at the Spring.
Hope your enjoying the new EP "Russell's Teapot"

An Introduction to CHARLENE SORAIA 

CHARLENE SORAIA @ The Wedgewood Rooms 19th April( £7 through me)

Im supporting the lovely Charlene Soraia at the Wedgewood Rooms this Thursday. It wasn't in the gig list as its been a late billing but I do have cheaper tickets so please message me for them If you would like to go.

Ive played with Charlene a couple of times and I can honestly say she is astonishing. She recently has been thrust into the public eye with her cover for the Twinnings tea advert, but she is so much more than that. I dont want to be-little the success she has had with the cover but her own material is leagues above it and "Moonchild" her album, is a fantastic piece of work. I urge you to come and see her perform as she is a fantastic player too.

Stay Safe

Andy x

Call upon the review

http://www.callupontheauthor.com/blog/3199/andrew-foster-russells-teapot/

Musicians are a funny bunch....

Musicians are a funny bunch ..... Tonight I played the Bedford at Balham in London... One of my favourite acoustic venues in the capital and I've played there many times but this time I played a different room upstairs. It wasn't the best of gigs to be honest but this isn't a post to analyse my performance for a cathartic exorcism ....

What interested me was how I felt because of a meeting with a young lad who was on the bill with me. We had a chat outside before the gig about where he was at present musically and the fact he was on a small tour, (hes just about to embark on a big promo campaign with some invested money).
He reminded me of myself a good few years ago... So much hunger and hope starry eyed and eager to gather information and experience.... But I felt a little sad. Not for him necessarily but for musicians all over the country desperate to make a difference and to be able to make music with their live's.

It was like looking at a mirror of a version of myself a few years previous and I wanted to tell him all my stories of things I've achieved but also the pitfalls I've endured and continue to do so. The people you will alienate and the terrible disappointment and confusion of feeling dislocated from society ... but more importantly i guess the unfathomable highs he will undoubtedly experience now he's started the journey of creativity will be unrivaled by anything else and believe me there is nothing more thrilling than creating something and other people reacting emotionally to it. For a split second you feel connected in every single level of consciousness and that is worth everything.

I hope he gets plucked out because he was a nice chap and with the friendly demeanor he has, deserves to do well as there's a lot of snobbery in songwriters a lot of them doing it for fame alone.....

But it got me thinking why we do what we do? Is there something were missing? ..... I've got a lot of grassroots stories I'd like to share, some are tragic some are hilarious and some are the basis of who I am.... Maybe I'll write a little book of experiences on this musical journey...

Musicians are a funny bunch....