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It's always a pleasure to see people in the audience singing along to your songs but now we've had our first cover. Seems like The Worship of Trees has become something of a favourite amongst modern day Druids, as you can see from this recent video, performed by Damh the Bard and friends to a very appreciative crowd. Enjoy!
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Saturday, 14 May 2011
New line-up
Well, it's all change in this activated city (as the mighty Hawkwind used to say), and more changes are afoot here in the hive. We're delighted to announce that not only have we been joined by Mr Barney Morse Brown on cello (see previous post), but just this week Jim Penny (currently playing with Andy and Jane in sister-project, Wod) has stepped in to fill the hitherto unnoticed hexagonal-shaped, and indeed concertina-sized hole, in the Bees' sound.
We've only had one rehearsal as a five-piece, but the magic is there and we're all most excited. So, here, as an appetite-whetter, are two recordings made at that rehearsal. They were done with two mics placed in the centre of the room, so you get to hear everything from foot-taps, to string-slaps, to the occasional cheeky remark. The sonically-curious might like to know that the reason why my voice occasionally lurches from left to right is that the mics were arranged in a classic X-Y formation, and are consequently respond rather oddly to my usual bodily gyrations. Good. I'm glad we sorted that out.
Beautiful-rehearsal-demo by andyletcher
Wood-rehearsal-demo by andyletcher
We've only had one rehearsal as a five-piece, but the magic is there and we're all most excited. So, here, as an appetite-whetter, are two recordings made at that rehearsal. They were done with two mics placed in the centre of the room, so you get to hear everything from foot-taps, to string-slaps, to the occasional cheeky remark. The sonically-curious might like to know that the reason why my voice occasionally lurches from left to right is that the mics were arranged in a classic X-Y formation, and are consequently respond rather oddly to my usual bodily gyrations. Good. I'm glad we sorted that out.
Beautiful-rehearsal-demo by andyletcher
Wood-rehearsal-demo by andyletcher
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
News, gigs and ting
Things have been a bit quiet, here at Telling the Bees HQ, but the warm spring sunshine is waking us up from our winter torpor and we're ready to take flight again.
So the big and wonderful news is that in the wee hours of yesterday morning, Josie gave birth to Rueben, her second son. Mother and baby are doing well and I'm sure you'll join us in wishing them both well.
This means, of course, that Jos won't be playing with us for some time to come, but we're delighted to announce that Mr Barney Morse-Brown, he of Duotone and Imagined Village fame, has stepped into the breach and will be playing with us this summer. It's gonna be tasty.
Our first gig of the season is tomorrow, at Lougborough University (tickets still available). Then we will be playing friday night, May 20th, at Wood festival and on Sunday August 14th at the Bell, Bath, as part of the Bath Folk Festival.
Not many gigs, I know, but in this alien world of promoters and publicity and managers, getting gigs as an independent band can be a thankless task, especially if what you do is slightly different and can't easily be slotted into tidy categories. So if you'd like us to play at an event near you or think that there's a festival where we'd be welcomed, then do please let us know, or even better, badger the organisers. It makes all the difference, believe me.
Meanwhile, do check out mine and Jane's side project, Wod, a trio for Brythonic dance, on pipes, concertina and fiddle.
It's truly heartening to see that people are checking in here from countries across the world, are sharing our music and getting where we are coming from. Thank you for all your support. We'll keep posting news and stuff here when we have it, but for more up to date info on what's happening in the Bee-related universe, do check out Andy's blog.
Cheerio for now xxx
So the big and wonderful news is that in the wee hours of yesterday morning, Josie gave birth to Rueben, her second son. Mother and baby are doing well and I'm sure you'll join us in wishing them both well.
This means, of course, that Jos won't be playing with us for some time to come, but we're delighted to announce that Mr Barney Morse-Brown, he of Duotone and Imagined Village fame, has stepped into the breach and will be playing with us this summer. It's gonna be tasty.
Our first gig of the season is tomorrow, at Lougborough University (tickets still available). Then we will be playing friday night, May 20th, at Wood festival and on Sunday August 14th at the Bell, Bath, as part of the Bath Folk Festival.
Not many gigs, I know, but in this alien world of promoters and publicity and managers, getting gigs as an independent band can be a thankless task, especially if what you do is slightly different and can't easily be slotted into tidy categories. So if you'd like us to play at an event near you or think that there's a festival where we'd be welcomed, then do please let us know, or even better, badger the organisers. It makes all the difference, believe me.
Meanwhile, do check out mine and Jane's side project, Wod, a trio for Brythonic dance, on pipes, concertina and fiddle.
It's truly heartening to see that people are checking in here from countries across the world, are sharing our music and getting where we are coming from. Thank you for all your support. We'll keep posting news and stuff here when we have it, but for more up to date info on what's happening in the Bee-related universe, do check out Andy's blog.
Cheerio for now xxx
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Andy's blog
Andy has just given his blog a facelift - do check it out for musings on music, bagpipes, tune-writing, paganism, shamanism, psychedelics and more.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
English & Welsh Diaspora
We've just been booked to play at what looks like is going to be a fascinating conference in April 2011. The English Welsh Diaspora conference, held in Loughborough, will be of interest to folkies, pagans and anyone interested in the perennial themes of Englishness, Welshness, landscape and memory. The ever wonderful Ronald Hutton is one of the key speakers, and other performers include Ceri Matthews, Chris Wood and Hugh Lupton. Miss it if you dare!
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Not Playing
Alas we won't now be playing at Cabaret Clandestino this saturday as Andy is ill with shingles. Sorry to disappoint! xxx
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Wedding
One reason why things have been a bit quiet of late, here at the Hive, is that I've been busy getting married. It was a gorgeous day, all heart, or, as one friend put it, a 'candlepowered wedding.' I wasn't expecting to play but the Bees insisted and so here we are, playing Uncle Tom and Aunt Sally as part of the mini-Catweazle we held in the evening.
With so many musicians present there were spontaneous sessions happening through the day (the observant acid-folk fan will spot old friend, Sharron Kraus).
And gor blimey, if that isn't Rima Staines bashing out a tune on the old squeeze box, with Huff and Puff, and Jackie Singer from Jabberwocky days.
A quick An Dro in the corridor with Jane, Chris, also from Jabberwocky, and Jim of Red Dog Green Dog fame.
And here I am with the misses, the wonderful Nomi, cats that got the cream - a gorgeous happy day.
All photos by Kate Raworth and her team.
Andy xxx
With so many musicians present there were spontaneous sessions happening through the day (the observant acid-folk fan will spot old friend, Sharron Kraus).
And gor blimey, if that isn't Rima Staines bashing out a tune on the old squeeze box, with Huff and Puff, and Jackie Singer from Jabberwocky days.
A quick An Dro in the corridor with Jane, Chris, also from Jabberwocky, and Jim of Red Dog Green Dog fame.
And here I am with the misses, the wonderful Nomi, cats that got the cream - a gorgeous happy day.
All photos by Kate Raworth and her team.
Andy xxx
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