​What’s All This About, Then?

Thanks for taking the time to  find my campaign.  I am a singer songwriter originally from County Durham, abd now living in lovely Hebden Bridge.  In my musical career I have recorded 4 albums and  opened for the likes of Ralph McTell, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Chloe Hall, Steve Tilston, and Emily Barker/Marry Waterson. I have played at many folk nights and festivals in the North of England. My primary instrument is acoustic guitar, but I also play electric and lap steel guitar, banjo, bouzouki, and mandolin - and I’m getting my head around bass, accordion, whistle and keys.

Performing with Steve Tilston and Hugh Bradley - 30th November (campaign launch night)

With Ralph McTell and Katie Spencer

The songs on this album  are heavily influenced by traditional folk music from the UK and America, and could be seen to follow in the spirit of many other ‘folk’  songwriters from the 1960s to the present (in fact, one of my songs pays  tribute to my hero, Leonard Cohen as well as his muse Marriane Ihlen). Topics cover traditional trades such as sailing and farming, while one song  links directly to the tradition with a reworking of a n American folk song (‘Jordon’). Two songs reflect my own heritage of coming from a steel town (Consett, Co. Durham), while other pieces explore love, political turmoil, fears, and hopes: the whole package for today’s Britain!

 In late 2016 I started working on  4 songs at Nick Rogers’ studio in Kendal. It was so enjoyable that we ( I?)  decided to record an album...and this slowly turned into two albums worth: 18 tracks!

The album has songs and tunes that stretch back nearly 10 years, while some pieces are  still a matter of months old. It features some of the musical  friends I formed in Kendal

Nick Rogers - guitar, bass, accordion, psaltery, flute, keyboards

Steve and Sandra Harrison - backing vocals

Phil Simpson - fiddle and backing Vocals

Dawn Foster - Fiddle and backing Vocals

Richard Bennett- Clarinet

Andy Brown - Accordion

I hope people hear this album as I wish to  have a musical career to be taken  seriously. I could not afford any of this process without the generosity of Nick and the support of others. I am asking that people pledge money to preorder the album and this ensure that it comes to fruition. I’m sure that this is  the best thing I have ever played  a part in making and I hope you will agree!  It has been  years in the making and I just want to see it get over the finish line now...which is where you come in!

I am hopeful that this album will allow me to play more dates in the future and perhaps form the  basis of a tour. Music is something to which I am dedicated and if I could do it as a full-time job I certainly would!

What do I need and what do you receive?

I am looking for £1,300 to mix and manufacture my album. I have been quoted £800 for the manufacturing of the double album by an eco-friendly manufacturing company. The  remainder will be spent on getting the tracks to sound as good as possible with professional help (I have been  told me before I should seek it...!)

There are perks available for people who wish to back the album’s creation including:

Signed and personalised CDs

2 different limited edition lino  prints made by my own fair hand, made for the album’s covers.

Songwriting commissions

Private or house gigs

£1,300 will allow me to do everything I intend to do (have an attractive, well manufactured and well mixed recording). If I do not reach the total I will still ensure that all pledges are fulfilled so there is no risk for my backers. I am not asking for a vast amount so I am very confident it will be fulfilled!

If you can, please at least share this campaign with people you think might be interested - help me get the word out - even if you don’t want the album yourself! 

Thank you for your support!

Pete