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ALAN WEST

From “The David Allan Page”, Country Music People June 2009

Purchase the CD Here.......

New CD available now

Alan’s Blog Thurs June 25^th

Loving the sunshine, as is my veggie patch, in fact we had the first feed of broad beans just yesterday, long may it continue,

Kindest Regards,

Alan’s Blog Wed 3^rd June

Well, that was the best musical week of my life, thus far!!

I have just spent the week with Blacky, Sarah, Dean, Hannah & Pete working towards our first performances as a unit on Fri & Sat of last week at our little weekender in Beer. It was simply awesome. The commitment, passion, pride, togetherness and emotion that I witnessed over that time was, for me, unprecedented. They are ALL exceptional musicians and human beings. Thanks Guys.

Things are really moving along nicely now, although the focus has changed slightly, and I am off to the studio on Saturday to continue with the new album. The first of fifteen sessions is on Sunday when none other than Albert Lee will be adding his magic to the project!

Watch this space................................

Kindest Regards,

Alan’s Blog Sat 2^nd May

Well how time flies when you’re having fun! Tons on this week, and the good news is that it’s all going to plan, which makes life even more exciting!!

That week will culminate in two performances at The Dolphin in Beer at our first weekender. The rooms have long gone but we do have a few “Evening tickets” for Fri & Sat. Mail me if you would like one.

Finally for now, I was talking to a promoter today regarding a Songwriter called Richard Dobson and he was asking if I new anywhere in this area that he might be able to perform. To be honest, I knew the name, but not much else, so I did a bit of research at www.richard-j-dobson.ch . I liked what I learned and hopefully he will be coming here soon. But here’s the thing, at the end of his biog I found this piece that I wanted to share with you because it is exactly the way it is for me .......

“Occasionally people ask me if I've been able to make a living at this business, and I've always answered that while you couldn't call it a living, I wouldn't trade the life. Music has enriched my existence immeasurably and brought so much joy, I would be a fool to complain about the hard times. A privileged and ancient profession, music can open doors and take you to places where the rewards are not counted in money. It is a window on the world like no other. Looking back I can truthfully say I have few regrets. only sometimes I wish I had kept up with those piano lessons.”  - Richard Dobson

Take Care,

Alan’s Blog Fri 24^th April

Well so far this month, 19 gigs, visits from Sarah Jory, Tim Weckler, Dean Barnes and four days in the studio working on the next album!!

The new album is flying off the shelves, as I said the next one is started and I have the full support of a brand new Independent Record Company, Rido Records. I am attempting to talk some very talented individuals to guest on it..................time will tell!!

The other little nugget I have for you is that the record company is planning a very exciting new venture not far from here, a state of the art studio, theatre, cafe, rehearsal rooms, tuition rooms, retail CD outlet kinda place. The people involved are of the finest calibre and everything is pointing towards it opening late this year. I have to keep pinching myself, just to make sure I’m not dreaming...............................watch THIS space.

Kindest Regards,

Alan’s Blog Mon 30^th March

Hey, hey, the album is done!!

Here are a couple of snippets for your perusal, one is me and one is Blacky. Click on the album picture above for details on how to purchase.

St Olavs Gate

One More Last Chance  

Take Care

Alan’s Blog Sun 22nd March 2009

Wow!! Sorry  I haven’t updated for a while but right now life resembles a whirlwind. So very briefly, the album with Blacky is being mixed Mon, Tues at John Taylors, actually I’m leaving for there in a short while. My new solo project is sounding very exciting, things just keep slotting into place beautifully at the mo, long may it continue!

Hopefully next week I should be able to upload some sound bytes of the new recording but it will be available at Easter. Lots of visitors coming up, Tims visit is imminent and Sarah J is with us for a week in early April.

Dean has just gone back to London, he was impeccable, as was his recommendation of Pete Headley as a drummer. Pete travelled down from Milton Keynes on Saturday and did The Nags Head with us. A young, English clone of Pat McInerney, PERFECT!!!!!!

Alan’s Blog Mon 16th Feb 2009

Busy, busy, busy, that pretty much sums it up! Six songs done, six to go and so far so good. The album is coming along just fine and this Friday we will back up to the studio for a week to “Get her done” as Bill Vorndick so beautifully put it! With a bit of luck we will be taking the evening off on Tuesday and taking a trip to The Riverside Stadium, Middlesborough to see their FA Cup Replay with West Ham, can’t wait!!

Gig wise, it never ceases to amaze the constant stream of folk showing up in what is supposed to be a recession, particularly at The Ax Inn (Every week!) and The Dolphin at Beer so a huge thank you to all of you. Did the first of hopefully many gigs with Dean Barnes on Friday evening in Gloucester, most enjoyable. Dean with be doing a few gigs with us in March and will be an integral member of the band that we are busy rehearsing for our weekenders this year.

Talking of weekenders, we still have a few rooms available for the May event at The Dolphin, but the response has been fantastic and I can’t wait for it to come around! I have also confirmed arrangements with my friend Hugh Moffatt, and he will be our very special guest at The Dolphin in November.

I can also confirm that Tim Weckler will be paying us a visit in April, and will be working with Blacky & I for a week. Tim is from New York, and is a fine human being as well as an accomplished fiddle and mandolin player, and singer! We always have lots of fun when he is over and I’m sure this time will be no exception.

Off to Blackys now to write the next column for Maverick Magazine, it comes around so quickly.................

Take good care,

Alan’s Blog Sun 1^st Feb 2009  

Just back from Teesside today having popped up for a couple of days with Blacky to make a start on the new recording project. I love everything about recording across the pond, but since working with John Taylor putting the finishing touches to the last album and subsequently working with John on the Hal Ketchum Tour, I am quietly confident that between the three of us we can produce something to be proud of that will be “Made in England” and more importantly, right now, will be affordable! The plan is that this album will be finished by the end of Feb....... watch this space!

Our latest “Way of the World” offering from Maverick Magazine can be viewed from the link at the bottom of this page. I find myself spending more and more time with Blacky at the moment, we seem to have so much to do, but I particularly enjoy our sessions writing this column. As a writer I still consider myself a neophyte, and to have someone like Steve Black as a teacher is invaluable.

And finally for today, the tough bit. At “The Seaton Party” in 1998 I booked Joe Brown to headline the Friday night show, and that he did. The show that he put on was spectacular and each member of his band played a pivotal role in that performance. One in particular blew me away, his name was Neil Gauntlett. His voice, playing, passion for music and clear understanding of what it meant to be a part of a team together with the fact that he was clearly a wonderful human being made him very unique. The jam session after the show was awesome and Neil came down to Devon shortly afterwards and we spent a day with Mark Tucker at Presshouse Studios recording a Julian Dawson song that I had just heard........................

I have always treasured that track and the memories of my short yet incredibly enjoyable relationship with him and was stunned when I heard that Neil sadly passed away on 16^th December 2008.

So if you click here,      you can download Me and Neil performing Julian Dawsons “I don’t feel like dancing tonight” and if you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it, you’ll have a great big grin on your face for a week!! And if you enjoy it that much perhaps you could send a couple of quid to a trust fund that has been set up for Neils two young children that is being run by Sandra Watson, 39 Alexandra Road, Hampton, Evesham. WR11 2QQ.

Take good care,

Alan’s Blog Sat 24 Jan 2009

It has been a couple of years since the last “Seaton Party” and how things have changed! I popped into Lyme Bay Holiday Village on 2^nd Jan to catch up with Jimmy Cricket who was working there that evening and it hadn’t changed a bit. Then I realised that by 4^th Jan it would be closed forever, and now it is! I did 16 weekends there and will cherish the multitude of wonderful memories forever.

But life goes on, and as much as it has for me, I am sure it has for you. I find myself in 2009 having more fun than I care to admit musically and have been working for a good while now with Steve Black, both writing songs and making music. 99% of our gigs are very local to us and that is just the way we like it!! One of our regular gigs is at The Dolphin Hotel in the beautiful fishing village of Beer. Amongst its many attributes are its location, its very comfortable rooms, a fantastic reputation for food and a wonderfully intimate function room. A very interesting venue for a weekender.  

Since the last Seaton Party, I have constantly been asked “Are you going to do something else?”  Well now the answer is categorically “Yes” and the first event will be at The Dolphin Hotel, Beer, Devon on Fri, Sat, Sun 29th -31st May 2009.

I guess it will be “Mini Seaton Party” and the plan is that it will be the first of many. The format will be much the same except that for the most part it will be “in concert”, predominantly because of the intimacy of the room which holds 80 people max.

The line up for the first one kind of took care of itself. Nicky James, Kenny Johnson, Myself & Steve Black with our Band, The Bogtrotters and a very rare appearance of Keith “The mad yank” Nelson.

The cost will be £149 and will include two nights dinner, bed & breakfast and Sunday Carvery and Shows Fri eve, Sat aft & eve and Sunday Morning.

The Hotel only has 22 Rooms and they will be sold on a first come first served basis as Double OR Twin rooms. We can accommodate any single room requirements and/or additional Doubles/Twins up to a Maximum of 80 people in a number of quality Guest Houses all of which are within a five minute walk of the venue.

And that as they say is pretty much that!

Except to also let you know that another weekender is planned for Nov 13,14 ,15 and I am incredibly proud to be able to announce that my friend Hugh Moffatt will be coming to the UK for the first time in 10 years (at least) to be our special guest.

If you have any questions feel free to call me and I will do my best to answer them. 01297 23517 or 07773 768110.

If you would like to book, you can do so by calling The Dolphin Hotel on 01297 20068 and securing your place with a deposit of £50 per person.

Hoping this finds you well,

Alan

Alans Blog Tues 6 Jan 2009

Wow, what a journey that was! 2008 I mean, life-changing is an understatement.

Firstly, sorry for the delay in updating this page, but since our visit from Sarah Jory at the beginning of December, life has been hectic! We did six nights with Sarah (and Nick & Phil) and every one was a blast. It was a real pleasure to see someone who genuinely hadn’t changed a bit despite her undoubted rise up the musical ladder and I can’t wait for her next visit which hopefully won’t be too long.

Then it was of course the Christmas season. Actually we did the final “Christmas 2008” show at The Dolphin in Beer on Sunday last. It did seem this year that despite the doom & gloom that apparently surrounds us, the Festive season brought out the best in people and I can’t remember a gig that wasn’t thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I can’t remember ANY gigs recently that weren’t thoroughly enjoyable................................

At this point my writing was interrupted by the telephone and I had to nip to Blackys to make our “plan” for the year. 

Now it is Wednesday 7th at about 10am. Lots happened yesterday and it’s all getting very exciting from where I’m sitting. “Songs from a Neophyte” is still scheduled to get a release on CMRNashville Records in early summer and our new weekly radio show SHOULD be on air mid Feb. We are working on an intimate weekender that will feature my long time friend Hugh Moffatt in the Autumn and some interesting recording projects with Me, Blacky and John Taylor are on the horizon!

Thanks to David Allan for making “Songs from a neophyte” his “Album of the Year” in this months “Country Music People”.

So here we are in 2009, I CAN’T WAIT!!!

Feel free to mail me at alan@alanwest.co.uk anytime,

Look forward to hearing from you,

Take Care