"Songs without words" |
|
|
Credits: |
Top picture Tennyson's home at Farringford CD launch (Pete Turner); Bottom pic and pictures of the band from Bush Hall gig Shepherds Bush London, May 12th, 2004 (copyright of Morgan Faulkner) |
|
Links:
|
Listen
in at Ragamuffin Radio
Paul Armfield & Four Good Reasons |
| Paul
Armfield & the Four Good Reasons will be live on the main acoustic stage at Glastonbury Festival 2004 on Friday, June 25th check the Glastonbury Festival Website for details |
|
|
Cast List |
|
 |
Paul
Armfield: Vocals, double bass and guitar. "I'd
played in band with Adam when he was just starting on
guitar, by the time we came to collaborate he was touring
the world as Joan Baez's accompanyist, whenever he had time
off we'd sit down together and write and record our songs.
Outside of a couple of gigs supporting the likes of Kate
Rusby and Stacey Earle we had no ambitions for this project
other than to get together when we could just to make music.
It was these early demos that caught the attention of new
label 'A Town Full of Fonzies' Paul Armfield
|
 |
Jake
Rodriques: Ukelele, accordian, banjo, harmonica, vocals.
Dapper multi-instrumentalist with his own unique solo shows
and albums. Jake and JC immersed themselves in Hawaiin and
Hula music for many moons. They were sidemen to Midge Ure on
tours of England, Europe and Russia. Jake taught the dying
George Harrison how to play the ukelele. A dry wit and a fine
musician.
|
 |
JC Grimshaw:
guitar, dobro, mandolin and vocals. Grew up on the Isle of
Wight and quickly absorbed country blues, folk, jazz, hula and
developed his own personal brand of thrash skiffle in bands
like the Chuff Train Stompers and the Dance Preachers
alongside his sister Angelina. Three solo CDs and a wealth of
experience in blues and folk festivals and gigs all over UK,
Europe, America and Japan.
|
 |
Trevor Smith:
Drums and Percussion. "I found myself playing bass in an
awful holiday camp band, the only thing that kept me sane
was the drummer Trevor. Only sixteen at the time he was
already pretty incredible, but after three years studying
classical percussion he was unsurpassed, and has remained so
in my opinion. Trevor's CV is testament to his versatility
(Miracle Mile, Nick Hayward, Rockingbirds, Mark King) The
most sensitive, intelligent, musical and accomplished
drummer I've had the pleasure to work with." Paul Armfield
|
 |
Barkley
McKay: Hammond Organ, Keyboards and Guitar. Played with
JC in the Chuff Train Stompers and was in Pete Hogman's Island
blues bands. Pete was sideman to Sonny Boy Williamson, John
Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry on UK tours before settling on the
Island enriching its music scene alongside Dick
Taylor,original Rolling Stone and Pretty Things guitarist.
Barkley tours with the Pretty Things and also is working with
Jon Langford's Chicago based projects that includes the Waco
Brothers. Diamond player.
|
| and | |
 |
Adam Kirk:
guitars and recordings. Adam Kirk stepped out on the acoustic
stage at Glastonbury with Tanita Takarim. He's toured as
guitarist with Sinead Lohan and a lengthy spell with Joan
Baez. Between tours he collaborated with Paul Armfield and
performed in Island concert halls and on the mainland. He once
said "A gig is a gig and you play your heart out whether its
in an Island pub or Carnegie Hall." He's played both with all
his heart.
|
| Playlist | |
 |
The programme is
introduced by Walter Otter aka Ragamuffin Mike with soundtrack
of Devil On Your Back (Songs Without Words)
"Is it a blessing or a burden let your conscience be your guide there's a devil on your back but an angel by your side" (Devil On Your Back, Songs Without Words) |
 |
"I fell
asleep surrounded by words, my pillow bursting with birds,
when I awoke they had all taken flight like so many dreams
that turn in the night, they were lost to the light. I knew
a man with a devlish laugh like rolling stock on a railroad
track, that hacking cough was the cancer's bite, like so
many flames that burn too bright he was lost to the light. "
(Lost to the Light, Songs Without Words) |
 |
Paul Armfield
introduces Adam Kirk and speaks of their song collaborations
between Adam's tours as Joan Baez's guitarist. Then they sing
the sparkling Unfound God . . .
(Unfound God, live from Medina Theatre Isle of Wight, filmed / recorded by John Rhodes) |
 |
Paul talks
about Jacques Brel (left) and his songs (live
at Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight, filmed and recorded by
John Rhodes) Then straight into
Paul's version of a rare Jacques Brel song How Can It Be
That A Man Gets Bored which has a rightful place
alongside covers by David Bowie, Scott Walker and Nina
Simone on the Brel tribute album Next.
(Songs Without Words and also Brel Tribute album Next) |
 |
"Welsh? Welch?
We sound like muddy boots . . . this is Annabelle . . .". Paul
Armfield and Adam Kirk perform Gillian Welch's Annabelle
(Annabelle live from Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight, filmed / recorded by John Rhodes) |
|
|
|
 |
Paul Armfield
and Adam Kirk performing a magical version of A Little
Something. When Barclay's Hammond blew the power on the last
number at Bush Hall, the band went acoustic and Paul led them
around the tables singing this awescome song. He ended up at
his wife's table. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
(An unreleased demo that was the source of Songs Without Words) |
 |
"You turn me fifty five degrees from that angle I can plainly see all my crimes and mysogony, Trigonometry . . ."
How Trigonometry became to written (live from Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight, filmed / recorded by John Rhodes) then straight into Trigonometry (Trigonometry, Songs Without Words)
|
 |
"This is
a song I wrote this year Vapour Trails. . .As JC Grimshaw
says another one drawn up from the well of self
righteousness" (live
from Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight, filmed / recorded by
John Rhodes) seques into Vapour
Trails (Vapour Trails, Songs
Without Words) written for the dirty old river that
runs from the middle of the diamond Isle of Wight to the
sea.
" I want to take you down to the river and follow the source to the mouth, we'll steal a boat and follow the vapour trails south." |
| |
We end this
Ragamuffin special with the credits playing out to Song
Without Words.
(Song Without Words, Songs Without Words) |
|
Paul, Jake, JC, Trevor and Barkley have a
grand time at Glastonbury 2004 "Go get 'em Gladiators . . ."
|
|
The amazing Bush Hall gig, Shepherd's Bush, London. |
|
