lobelia.net

Hi there lovelies! I have to say it’s been a long time since I’ve played an open mic night…but I haven’t played out at all in Birmingham yet and this one was suggested by my good bass playing friend Kev (Reg) Cooke. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was certainly one of the best open mics I’ve ever played. The bar for music seems to be high here in Brum…which is fantastic. There was gorgeous uke and mandolin playing, a fantastic beatboxer, even some fab jazzy hip-hop at the end. One of the stand-outs of the night for me was Louise Petit. Wow, so so lovely. You just need to see her for yourselves! She’s playing a free gig at the Yardbird Jazz Club in Birmingham on December 7th, so go have a listen so you can agree with me wholeheartedly! Plus I believe that my lovely friend Kevin Cooke might be playing bass at that gig as well. He played with me last night on two songs and I am so looking forward to more! Perhaps we’ll work out that jazz set I’ve always wanted to do.

I’ve also heard about a music night that happens on Sundays called The Free Love Club at The Island Bar so I’m looking forward to checking that out as well. So yes, YAY. Till next time! x

this original photo I’ve used in the above post is by photosteve101 and licensed through creative commons. Thanks Steve!

 

So though I’ve been involved in much new music in the last few years, I haven’t really made physical copies of anything. In my head I had decided that I would like to go totally to downloads, no realising all the people who were not interested in that scenario. (smile) Rather than leave you all out…I’ve decided to put out Limited Editions of both my new covers record, Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I’d Written) and also the Live So Far album with Steve Lawson (and some cool special guests!) I didn’t realise how excited I’d be to hold this music in my hand…so I guess I’ll have to agree that giving up CDs is perhaps not the right thing to do just yet. What’s so special about these “Special Editions”? Well, they are designed by Steve and I and also the Live So Far disc looks like a mini record. They’re also all numbered and after they’re gone, they’re gone! We’ll probably press more of these in future, but never with the same design so your numbered disc is unique.

If by some giant oversight you’ve yet to hear either album, here they both are. Click through to buy the CDs or the digital version!

Hi there lovelies! Let me start by saying that I am determined to post more on this here lovely little blog…and that to celebrate I think you should have a free track from my new record….

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…and I just did a nice interview on KRUU radio with the lovely Lyrical Venus (@LyricalVenus) and you can hear the archived version here! We have a great time talking for 30 mins and then there’s 30 mins of fabulous female artists! Also Greenbelt is getting nearer and I’m very excited to be playing on Sunday afternoon! I hope everyone who is coming can make it over to the performance cafe! x More soon!

So I’ve finally made some time to get all the liner notes written up and the little extras for my new covers album! I’m so proud of this record…it’s exactly what you’d hear if I was playing in your living room, but with some little extras thrown in with lots of stacked vocal harmonies and a fantastic bas/voice duo with Steve Lawson. I’m so pleased to get to put my own spin on these tunes and to reinvent such fantastic songs…songs that are all near and dear to my heart. My only regret is that I didn’t get to have any guest musicians on the record (with the exception of Steve on one track) but I’m planning on doing a second covers album in the future though…chock full of my favourite musicians! I might even post a list of songs and let everyone vote on the ones that I cover. Still thinking about that one. Anyway, hit play, and you can hear Volume 1, and download it if you wish!

For some of you, you may not know quite a few of the songs on this record. I decided that this time around I was going to do songs that mean something to me personally….and I hope that if you don’t know the song it will prompt you to go and investigate the original. There are links to youtube videos of all the songs in the liner notes on bandcamp. In a way this might make it seem more like an album of new material from me. Either way, I get to record and perform the songs I love, and hopefully you will grow to love them as much as I do! I’ve had to set a minimum on this album just to cover the cost of licensing all the songs. Whilst Limelight has made licensing so much easier…it’s still pricey so the minimum is just to help cover these costs. The initial release will be digital, but I am printing up some copies for Greenbelt…so if you’re a die-hard shiny coaster fan…there will be a 200 physical copy release in August.

For the curious, here’s who did the songs originally:

Beautifully Undone: Lindy
Junk: Paul McCartney
It’s a Shame About Ray: The Lemonheads
Moon River: Henri Mancini
Consider Me Gone: Sting
Toledo: The Blue Nile
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) : Dead or Alive
Beautiful: Rob Szabo
God Loves Everyone: Ron Sexsmith

There’s lots of extra info about each song on bandcamp along with links back to the original artists so go and have a look! As always, thanks for listening! xoxoxo Lo.

Hi there Lovelies! It’s been a while and I am trying desperately to get back on track with blogging as there is tonnes and tonnes of amazing stuff going on of late! Firstly with the help of my lovely friends Emma and Donna..we were able to get the Song for Donna compilation up and running and what an AMAZING bunch of songs to be had, all for $5CAD (on a pay what you think it’s worth) scale. Please download a copy, you audiophiles can get everything up to FLAC for cheaps and you’re doing something good for someone exceedingly lovely and brave. This is a case of helping someone out who helps themselves. She’s already taken the initiative to travel to Costa Rica and then America to have treatment for her MS, and now she’s struggling under the weight of the costs. Your money will help her stay out of a care facility as long as possible and have time to rest and heal. She can do that much better at home than in a facility away from her beloved kitties Pita and Pepper. You can find the comp here….Songs for Donna on Bandcamp

Next in line is my new covers album!!! Finally! I am almost finished with it and it’s turning out to be a humdinger let me me tell you!!! I’m covering songs by Ron Sexsmith, Rob Szabo, Paul McCartney, The Lemonheads, Sixpence None the Richer, Henri Mancini, and many more!!! I am very pleased with the sound of this record…it’s stark and lovely and just like something you’d hear at one of my shows. I hope you love it too! I’ll let you all know when it’s ready for downloading. We’re also doing a deal on memory sticks…Steve and my entire back catalog along with video, Steve’s book, and both of our new albums for £25. Here’s a detailed list and the link where you can purchase one for your very own!

Lobelia albums:
040515 [2004]
Solitary World [1999]
(as yet untitled) brand new covers album [2011]

Steve Lawson and Lobelia albums:
Live In Nebraska [2008]
Live So Far [2010]

Steve Lawson albums:
And Nothing But The Bass [2000]
Not Dancing For Chicken [2002]
Grace And Gratitude [2004]
Behind Every Word [2006]
Ten Years On – Live In London [2010]
new solo album (title TBA) [2011]
assorted rarities [various years]
Other albums:
Steve Lawson and Trip Wamsley – Slow Food [2010]
Steve Lawson and Trip Wamsley – Infrablab [2010]
Lawson/Dodds/Wood – Numbers [2008]
Steve Lawson and Jez Carr – Conversations [2002]
Steve Lawson and Theo Travis – For The Love Of Open Spaces [2003]
Steve Lawson and Theo Travis – Live at CB2 (unreleased double live album) [2005]
Steve Lawson and Mike Outram – as-yet-untitled album [2011]

Video:
Steve Lawson live in Antwerp (45 mins) [2010]

PDF/ePub:
“Rock And Roll Is Dead” (novel) [2009]
Here’s Steve’s blog on the subject and scroll to the bottom for the pay pal button!

http://Steve’s Blog on Kickstarting without Kickstarted and the Paypal Link for our EVERYTHING Memory Stick

The time has come for us to go off into the wilds of America and play for the masses one house at a time! We’re so excited about seeing everyone again and of course meeting and playing for new lovelies along the way! We’re starting in NY and will be in NJ, PA, OH, WI, NE, TX, LA, TN, NC, VA, WV, GA and who knows where else we’ll end up! Email me if you need deets on dates.

Lastly, I have been offered a gig at Greenbelt this year, I’m playing on the Sun. August 28th at the Performance Cafe in the afternoon. Hope to see you there..I’ll have more details as the time draws near. I’m pretty excited to be able to give you a date in advance as the last couple times I’ve played Greenbelt have been rather impromptu and I’ve not been able to give anyone much notice. Check out the amazing lineup at Greenbelt 2011 So see you out there somewhere in the world soon! xoxLo.