Way down in the hole.....(& note from Wurdamouth)

05 Aug 2010. 0 comments

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Well?

Do you feel neglected?

I swear that was never my intention... maybe we can make this work...just give me one more chance... I can change... I promise!

OK, so maybe 'promise' is a strong word....

Do you remember at primary school when loads of people signed up for pen pals?

Some of the kids in my class built very strong relationships with their pen pals. Some are still in touch as far as I know!

I was one of those kids that signed up for it, sent one letter, got one in return and then got distracted in an array or BMXs, sweets, girls and roller boots... never to write again.

Much like blogging then eh......

Thankfully (or should I say hopefully) our relationship is maintained largely through the music!  At least that's how I see it.  Let's face it, if it was based on my blogging ability, our relationship would have died out long ago.

I haven't been blogging much as I've been focusing on writing for my new records (yes, that's a plural on purpose). When I'm in a writing head space I find it hard to articulate anything else.  For me, talking about IT in the midst of doing IT is counter intuitive, and I couldn't talk about anything other that IT, so I didn't talk at all. I went to black: Way down in the hole....... Blogging during a period like this reminds me that there are people waiting on the new stuff, so it's important for me to just focus on the music and nothing else.

Does that make sense, or do you just think "what a self centred wee prick"?

I often feel the latter, and yet that's the only way I can make music...... by being selfish! 

I abandon all responsibilities at time like this..... so please don't think I don't appreciate you... if you feel like that, you should speak to my Mum; she'll put you right!

The key to any good song - or performance for that matter - is, in my opinion, complete and utter abandonment!

So... with my jargon rant over let me tell you a bit about what happened before 'the hole' and what's coming up on the other side.

I have a gig in London on September 18th (dates on tour page) at the Communion night.



I'm also doing a couple of sets at the Greenbelt Festival this year (very excited about seeing Gil Scott Heron)

GREENBELT INFO

Joanne Vance has been working on a limited edition, hand made EP of the gig in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra...here's some pics of the prototype...








I did the music for a filmed questionnaire by a group who are out there trying to eradicate 3rd world poverty: I charged them a FORTUNE needless to say!!

WHAT'S YOUR PROMISE FILM

I did the music for an Irish feature film called Cup Cake, which went on to win the Audience award at the Belfast Film Festival.

CUP CAKE FILM


I did a gig at Hop Farm...(Van Morrison was stunning... and Bob Dylan was there too)  ...link to a couple of songs here:

HOP FARM

I also did a piece for Channel 4 about the Hymn Amazing Grace.  It's gotta be one of the most beautiful Hymns ever written!

CHANNEL4 PIECE


Been developing a new website which should be up and running very soon....(no sneak preview, although you can see some recent shots to be used on it)

MICHAEL LECKIE (scroll to the far right)


I'm set to go on a Spanish tour in October, playing bass with Mike Farris (NOT A SINGER ::BUT:: A FORCE OF NATURE),  and doing support too...dates to follow.

Aside from this and a few other things, I've mainly been writing songs.... I'll get a few preview videos up soon as I get a minute.

OK, I need to get going here and get to work on my moon rocket, it's nearly ready and space awaits.....f

Have you voted?

06 May 2010. 10 comments

Well, I haven't been blogging much of late, but I sure have been busy in other ways!

I've been in deep negotiations with the Obama Administration; they're very eager for me to look after things when Barrack goes on his holidays.  Them boys is never off the phone so they're not!.... "Foy, when can you sort out our finances? Foy When can you draw up our exit strategy for Afghanistan? Foy, when can you do this, Foy when can you do that?"

You know what I say to them?  I say "Would you's boys pipe down for a second, I'm trying to write a blog here!!!!"

See how important you are to me?

Having said that, I don't have long to stop, I just wanted to say hello and see if you've all voted!?  For those of you in the UK that is.... don't vote today if you live outside the UK... for a start they probably won't even having polling stations at your local school, so it'd be a wasted journey more than anything else......and we wouldn't want that.

It's Politi-mania here at the minute...

I've cast my vote today, on a day that has seen many non voters returning to the polling stations.  The Political debates here, whether I/you agree with them or not, have certainly captured peoples attention.  Let's see how that all unfolds.  I'm guessing the worry is that folk that never used to vote - but will now having watched the TV debates- might be inclined to simply vote for the guy with the best TV presence....but then again, who knows.....

Anyway, enough political chin wag, but I would like to say this:  If David Cameron becomes Prime Minister I think I might rerecord my Hope Album as a Punk record in remembrance of what the Tory's created in the 70s...

In fact, that's not a bad idea..... however, I'd give it all up to not have Cameron as PM!

Tomorrow could be a very different world.....and for the first time in a long time, I'm actually excited.....

Speak sooner than soon comrades
f

Switzerland Cancelled (?)

15 Apr 2010. 5 comments

Well, when I say 'Switzerland Cancelled' I am of course not referring to the country itself. As far as I am aware it will continue to exist. Just not with me in it tomorrow I'm afraid.

Unless something miraculous happens overnight, my flight will not be in flight at all come tomorrow afternoon. I was looking at getting over via train but all the trains were full due to so many people being in the same 'volcanic ash' boat. 

Maybe if you all pray/chant/meditate on my teleportation from London to Brugg we could make some magic happen but failing that it looks as though I will have to reschedule the gig.

Either way I'll let you know tomorrow (i.e. whether or not I've been teleported).

I'm beginning to realise that my blog entries are like life itself.  You get a 'Nashville Part I' entry with the promise of a Part II.  You wait for, and expect just that............... then nothing happens for a while, until  a volcano errupts under the ice of Iceland.

How fragile is the world we inhabit!

It's funny how we've become so accustomed to air travel, then something like this comes along and all such travel comes to a ferocious halt and we're all left bewildered.  I don't really know what it means, or even what I mean, I just always find it interesting when something like this happens and people from all over various nations are humbled in syncronized powerlessness. There's nothing you can do....

But my daughter's getting married and I have to....... There's nothing you can do!

But I have a very important meeting with........ There's nothing you can do!

But it's my Mum's 60 birthday and we're all..... There's nothing you can do!

You don't understand, my father just died and I have to...... There's nothing you can do!

It can be hugely frustrating and yet strangely comforting.  Something else has a say in how we go about doing things.

The earth doesn't say too much, but when she does she likes to make herself clear eh!

Like a sister who's been quiet for years, then explodes at the dinner table with all the things that have kept her quiet, leaving everyone around the table in shock - and annoyance at some of the accusations - then all the plans to leave after dinner are cancelled in lieu of being there to deal with the issue at hand.

did any of that make sense?

Does it matter?

I agree!

Maybe one day there'll be a world wide power cut and we'll all swim to South America and see if we can't flesh this whole unity thing out a bit more over a week long candle lit street party.... least that's what I'm hoping for.

f





Well... it's now the morning after the night before and I'm still in London and it would appear that teleportation wasn't, isn't and never will be a valid option for travelling to gigs.

We're looking at rescheduling a date for August or October.  As soon as I have the official date I'll let you know.

For those of you that had tickets to the gig, it sounds like it will be a good night anyway so you should still go along.  Hendrix Ackle is still playing and now Gus McGregor has been booked to fill my slot.

Sorry to have to have cancelled on you but alas even Artists have no veto when it comes to Volcanoes. Damien Rice hit the nail on the head "volcanoes melt you down".....

Speak soon...f

Nashville Part I

28 Feb 2010. 8 comments

So what are you doing right now?

Something good I hope.

Me, I'm just relaxing after a huge feed at a friend's house. David is his name, and oh boy is cooking his game! It was a trout affair with a glorious dressing, all cooked on a bed of potatoes. Then a salad with beetroot and pomegranates and some sort of home made hummus-ish type thing.

You'd think I was running some sort of foodie blog here.... it's not relevant at all to the music but it was so good I just had to tell somebody.

While we're on it, Joanne made the desert, which was also great; Strawberries, Raspberries, broken up meringue, Greek Yoghurt and grated chocolate.  Can you imagine having this sort of thing in our parents generation?  Summer fruits in Winter... what's that all about? how times have changed.  I like eating seasonally, but if I want Strawberries in winter and couldn't get them, I'd be pissed off...what's happening to us?

In a couple of generations from now I reckon all food will be puréed cardboard with all the appropriate flavours so you can just have your daily meals in some sort of milkshake.  Or like that three course meal chewing gum from Charlie and the Chocolate factory (the original one, just for the record).

Right, enough food nonsense, let's just get into the general nonsense.

I was in Nashville a couple of weeks back for a week of writing.  It all came about when I met Mike and Julie Farris on a cruise in January. Mike and I were both invited to play on this cruise set up by Delbert McClinton (just a bout the coolest man alive).  Anyway, everyone I talked to said "have you seen Mike Farris yet?" and when I said I hadn't, they smiled from ear to ear, clearly feeling privy to an experience that everyone gets when the see him live. "You have to see him" they would say. My word, were they right! They guy (and his band) tore strips off me, by the end of his set I was in ribbons. Not only does he sing like one of the old soul greats but he creates a vibe like some sort of shaman of the shivers. I'm gonna try and get him over here at some point if I can find a way to swing it.

The point here, is that we met and were instantly friends. It's like Jonny Cash said in his autobiography, that there's a sort of brotherhood with musicians.  Sometimes you can meet someone for the first time and it fell like you've always known each other; I can't figure it out myself, but I know it happens.

So, team Farris gave an open invitation for us to come and stay with them anytime we were out that way and before the last syllable hung in the air I'd decided I would go to Nashville a week or so after the cruise, and I'm glad I did.

I was given the run the of the studio just outside the house, so I'd go down there everyday and just sit writing and thinking and often scratching my arse waiting for something to happen.  At around 10pm there'd come a knock at the door, and it would be Mike.... "how y'all gettin' on brother? ...wanna play me something?"..... the next four hours would then be spent just handing the guitar to one another playing songs.  It was really beautiful and good for the soul.

We went to the Station Inn one night to see Jim Lauderdale.  I'd never heard him before but knew he'd written some well known songs.  so I'm standing there, at the end of a table and Mike leans over and tells me to have a closer look.  Turns out, Jim had a cameo in a movie and some of the people involved were there to see him play.  Chris Martin, Faith hill, Gwyneth Paltrow, and a guy from the Kings of Leon where all sat there in this dingy little club.  There was nothing odd about the music folk being there but there was something about seeing Gwyneth there that looked a bit surreal. 

This post is getting too long.... I'll bring you part II soon...

In the meantime, here's something I saw in Hillsborough Tennessee.  Just good marketing!!??

Belated Happy New Year

25 Jan 2010. 10 comments

A very completely awfully frightfully horrendously stupendously belated Happy New Year to you all...

I know we're nearing the end of the first month, but like all things in life, I never see moments from anywhere but behind.  Which reminds me, got this new album the other day by an up and coming band called Blur, have you heard of them?  Jolly good what what...

Too much has happened to put in this post, and too much ensues for my fingers to type it, so here's a brief run down of past, present and future.

Past
The last gig of my tour last year was 20th Dec in Manchester, leaving me 3 days to get everything sorted for Christmas.  All I really wanted to do was shimmy around the house in a worn out dressing gown eating cheese and mumbling to myself until I regained my equilibrium.  Between Sept and Dec 09 I must have driven over 20,000 miles what with the Tori tour then my own tour and Joanne's show in Aberfeldy and weddings in Ireland etc etc.... by the 21st Dec I was in a bag!  I didn't want to think about traveling for at least a month, but alas I had a mere 4 days...

We hopped a plane headed for the green green grass of home on Boxing Day, followed by a blur of Guinness, open fires, turkey dinners, hellos - farwells, more Guinness, another wedding, games of pool, even more Guinness and some Bushmills.

We arrived back in London on the 4th Jan 2010 (do you say 2000 and 10 or twenty ten? ...I think the latter is far superior, don't you!) and again I was reaching for my dressing gown and again, to no avail....4 days till blast off.  We went stateside for a music cruise, organised by Delbert Mcclinton.

Tired or not, nothing was keeping away from this!

I used to be in a soul band in Belfast and we would cover Delbert tunes.  One time his Austin city limits gig was shown on a late night TV slot, or else someone had the video, I can't remember, either way we all were knocked sideways by it at the time.  He'd start singing like it was 9 in the morning after a heavy night of whiskey and marlboro, and we'd be thinking 'how on earth is he gonna hit that high note before the chorus...and then...whooop....out she'd pop clear as a bell and full of force. 

He still has that effect on me. 

Undoubtedly one of the coolest men I've ever met.  Not only that, but he'd call our room to see if we had everything we needed... "anythang ah can getch y'all?"
"Bit low on towels Delbert" says I
"Am onna get'em faw ya... y'all sit tight..."

That last bit didn't happen...but it could have....

I also hung out with some other really great people and musicians (there's a distinct difference), but those stories will have to wait for another post...

Present
Well... I'm writing this ampta-nat*

*Norn Iron-epedia Definition

Amptanat -double negative

/Original form - Aren't I not/

1 to assure someone that this is the case
2 a superlative bolt on to the end of any sentence

See Also:
Won't I not - don't I not and didn't I not

Origin
Fudsey 1903



Future

I'm playing in Glasgow on Wednesday.  I'm sorry you're only hearing about it now, details are up on the site...there...look...just there...can you see it? You should be able to, for I'm only after putting up there amptanat....

I'm also playing a gig in London on Friday at the IndigO2 at the O2 arena for Tony Moore from the Bedford.  It's a fund raiser to help him with a musical showcase at SXSW in Austin Texas (South by South West) this March.  There are a load of artists on the bill, all there to support a guy who endlessly supports us and anyone trying to make music.  He's got a real knack for putting on great events so it'll be a very worthwhile night for those of you that can come along.

Get your tickets here...roll up roll up...

I'm gonna be in the studio (which is where I am now) solidly working on songs for my upcoming records.

I'm taking a break from my own studio in a few weeks to head out to the states again. This time it's solely to write.  I want to find an old shack somewhere in Nashville or Austin, lock myself away and just write.  There's something about changing your surroundings that opens doors you didn't know where closed.  The air feels different and smells different, people talk different, drive, cook, eat, curse different.... it may not help some people but it sure helps me.

Maybe it's an Irish thing with me.  Over the centuries it seems that all the best songs and poetry regarding Ireland were writing by Irishmen that had long left Irish shores. It's easier to write about the things you love when they're not sat there in front of you...well it is for me anyway. So, I think getting away and getting lonely for a week will do me the world of good.

Well, from a song point of view at least.

Right, I reckon that's enough for now don't you?  Good... now brush your teeth, say your prayers and get into bed, tomorrow's gonna be a long and eventful day....good night John Boy!

Happy New Year!!!

07 Jan 2010. 6 comments

Hope you all had a good Christmas and new year!?

Mine was bliss!!!

The last gig was in Manchester on the 20th, which was the end of what seemed like an endless run on the road.  how these big bands go on the road for a year plus is quite beyond me!  Where do they wash their socks? Or do they just throw them out and buy new ones? I just wear the same ones for the whole tour period myself.  It's not that I'm dirty, it just keeps me grounded.  You see when you perform in front of people you always get praise. Even if you're not that good at least one person will tell you that you're the best thing they've ever heard, don't ask why; it just is.... so I wear the same socks so that whilst I'm being smothered in compliments I'm kicking off a right pong!!

aaah, if only that were true... think I might adapt that approach.

I'm off to the US tomorrow for a 'bus man's holiday' on a cruise.  It's set up by Delbert McClinton, a great singer and songwriter from Nashville (I used to cover his songs in my old Soul Band in Belfast).  I met him at a friends house early last year and he invited me on the cruise on the condition that I played a set... seemed like a win win scenario to me.

I get back on the 22nd at which point I start work in earnest on the new album which should be ready by the end of June(ish).... I'll be coupled up in my studio here for the first couple of weeks, just getting things in order, before booking into a studio somewhere else in the world and chipping away at the marble till it reveals something worth sharing.  I'm also working on this album with David Holmes so I'll be in his studio in February getting that in shape for release later on in the year.  We're only a few days in but already this year is shaping up to be a busy one.  Twenty Ten has a lot of work to do to live up to 2009 though.... I saw Poland for the first time, met the original Pearl Jam Drummer Played with Snow Patrol and broke Duke Special's thumb.... I look forward to seeing what unfolds... who know's, maybe I'll get to hospitilise David Bowie?  That's be great, cause then I'd have an excuse to visit him every day and pick (or pickle) his brains....

Well, enough of this mumbo jumbo... I just wanted to come on here and wish you all a happy new year and let you know I haven't forgotten you... if fact why don't you all come round for some poached eggs, soda bread and taddy farls on the 22nd Jan around 11am... be good to see you!!!

!!!Happy New Year!!!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Meanings (just in case)

auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two

Union Chapel !!SOLD OUT!!

08 Dec 2009. 4 comments

Well there you have it..tonight is sold out... however, they've recently opened the balcony area too so they could be releasing a few more tickets on the door (for those of you that were gonna do it that way), if that' the case I'll stick it up on twitter so as to save you a potentially wasted journey. my twitter address is: http://www.twitter.com/foyvance

Better go now and get myself up there for sound check...see you later.

PS I've arranged a DJ for the public bar after the show for those of you that fancy a post show pint.....whoop, there it is....

Derby tonight - Postponed!!!!

28 Nov 2009. 5 comments

Sorry to announce it but tonight's show in Derby has had to be canceled.

It seems that I need to give myself a bit more space to recover, instead of trying to go out and brave gigs when I'm not quite right.  I thought I was OK in Nottingham and then the next day in Portsmouth I feel asleep in the dressing room floor and woke up cold and stuffy with a few minutes to spare before stage time... not good.

We don't have a date for the rescheduled Derby gig but the second we do, I'll let you know.

Really sorry to do this to you guys that have bought tickets and made all the arrangements for a night out.  I promise I'll make it up to you when I'm feeling better.

Also, I'm thinking tomorrow night is looking unlikely to happen but I (or some one else) will let you know as soon as the decision is made.  I HATE canceling gigs... It makes me feel awful!

Speak soon... till then I'll be here on the couch in a sleeping bag, very rock and roll eh.....

Feeling better(ish)

25 Nov 2009. 4 comments

hey all... sorry to those of you in Cardiff and Oxford!

The shows have been rescheduled for 15th Cardiff and 17th Oxford (at least I'm pretty sure that's the case...I'll confirm later).

I've done nothing for the last few days aside from lie on the sofa watching films, reading books and taking a concoction of pills and hot drinks.  I find being ill the single most frustrating thing.  My issue is trying to allow the time to recover.  The second I feel slightly better I want to get up and do something, anything, I just hate sitting on my rear end doing nothing.  I've had to resist the temptation though.  And I'm glad I did.  After three days of nothing I still don't feel 100% but it's hard to know if that's a lingering illness or just the results of three days lying flat.  I'm hoping that as soon as I get on the road to Nottingham, this lethargy will leave me and be replaced with va va voom...

Right, I need to go and get my gear together and then hit the road...see you in Nottingham (well, presumably you won't all be there...)...

Speak later...f

Cardiff & Oxford shows postponed!!!

22 Nov 2009. 2 comments

Foy has had to postpone the Cardiff and Oxford shows due to illness! We're very sorry about the late notice but rest assured you'll get a great show when he's back to good health! I think Foy's gonna post here later when he gets home to let you know what's happening. In the meantime we're rescheduling the dates and as soon as we get them in the diary we'll let you know. Thanks for your patience. GET WELL SOON FOY!!