| Here is the Spring'09 news update, direct from RAY DORSET who passed on his answers before leaving for the Salmon Days Festival in Seattle. |
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ARE WE CLOSER TO A ‘COOL JESUS’ RELEASE? Well I hope so, as you know, Bruce has done a brilliant job of the graphics, the deals have been agreed for worldwide distribution but I’m waiting for the paperwork.
We will then have to find a good time to have a launch party and arrange some press and promotion.
FANS KEEP ASKING ME HOW ‘THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES’ ALBUM IS COMING ALONG? I have had to have a re-think again about the material after losing Chris, the multi-instrumentalist, the UK band will be on the album and it is planned to record it at PHIL SWAN’s new studio which is in New Milton, Hampshire, part of the New Forest. He has 16 track analogue linked up to a digital system recording at 96 Kbts. HOW DID NAMM JAM GO? NAMM was brilliant, a great week in fact. HAVE ANY POSSIBLE PROJECTS COME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF YOUR APPEARANCE THERE? I’m doing the Salmon Days Festival in Seattle, USA, October.
The event is organised by DAVID HARRIS who is responsible for the NAMM Jam.
I have also been contacted by PAT HORGAN, manager of JIMY SOHMS, singer of the band, THE SHADOWS OF NIGHT, I played guitar with him at this years NAMM, the band feature on a few tracks of the NUGGETS series, 'GLORIA', etc, to do some gigs in the States, also, more work with Dean guitars, Indie & Burns guitars, Carlos Juan pick ups.
AN APPEARANCE AT THIS YEAR’S ‘ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF GREAT BRITAIN’ HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT GIG? Should be interesting, I’m headlining on Sunday. I have to think about a plan for the set. It will not be all jug band/skiffle stuff, probably some of the album songs and some hits. AND YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PERFORM AT THE PROCESSED PEA FOLK CLUB AGAIN? This is for the 40th anniversary of the club, I will have MICK FRAMPTON on percussion, etc. There will not be a set list, I’ll take it as it comes, should be fun as usual, no bullshit. AL INFORMED ME THAT MUNGO JERRY ARE DOWN TO APPEAR AT WEYFEST? We will be performing after JETHRO TULL, I did a gig with them in Germany not long ago, I always like the band, ever since I saw them steal the show at the Kempton Park Jazz & Blues Festival in the late sixties. The same festival that got moved to Reading, it originally started out in Richmond, it also went to Windsor Race Course, I was there when the SMALL FACES, ERIC BURDON, THE MOVE played there. KEITH WEST & TOMORROW were also on the bill, STEVE HOWE was the guitarist in the band, the next night, it must have been a Saturday, we supported them at Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London. GUILFEST IS ON THE AGENDA, HAS IT BEEN CONFIRMED? Guilfest is planned for next year. IS THAT ONE THAT COULD FEATURE THE DORSET/KING/EARL/COLE LINE-UP OR IS THAT VERY MUCH ON THE BACK-BURNER? No chance at the moment, my UK band is set to do all of the shows, but when we do the theatre dates, MIKE COLE & BRUCE BRAND will be joining us.
IF NOT, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH PAUL KING AT SOME POINT? I’m hoping to have a jam with Paul ASAP, I would also like to jam with Mike & Colin too to see if the magic of the groove & vibe is still there. HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH TIM REEVES, IT WAS GREAT FUN TO DO – HE’S QUITE A CHARACTER? I had some good talks with Tim on the phone, I enjoyed the interview, I have also been speaking to Bob & JOHNNY COOK, it would be good to have a jam with them too, plus DICK MIDDLETON and PAUL HANCOX. IS THERE ANY NEW PRODUCT LINED UP FOR THE SHOP THAT WE DON’T KNOW OF? I’m working on new material right now, plus, I now have a few hundred old reel to reel demos and masters to sort out, stuff from the past fifty years or so! HAS THERE BEEN ANY DEVELOPMENTS ON YOUR ‘IN THE SUMMERTIME’, THE MUSICAL IDEA? BARRY UPTON is going to take care of the music and BARRY MURRAY will oversee the storyline & presentation, I have written the story and all of the dialogue. The legal battle is still going on and tends to slow things down, it has been going on for over three and a half years now, very expensive!
WHAT ELSE IS LINED-UP THAT I DON’T KNOW ABOUT? There are other projects in the pipeline but I will wait until they are underway before I go into any detail.
The Indie Guitar Fest is on but I do not know which bands/artists are on the bill, it is not all on their website. There was talk that PAUL WELLER, THE WOMBATS and NEWTON FAULKNER will be there, I think that STARSAILOR are booked.
The gigs that I did with MICKE FINNEL’s band in Sweden were great, as were the gigs that I did with SIGGI SCHWARZ’s band and the stuff that I did with CHRISTOPH STEINBACH.
I will be doing more with Christoph this year, one with PETE YORK on drums, it was also good to meet up and jam with TONY SHERIDAN, this was at the Boogie Nights shows in Baden Baden, Christoph has given me the dates for next years shows and also next years shows at Kitzbhul in Austria, this will be with ERIC BURDON as well.
A new album with Mike and Bruce is planned and the 'EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES' album is underway but in a very early stage. |
To view RAY DORSET's Autumn'08 news update - click here 'RAY'S AUTUMN'08 NEWS'
