‘Live at the Minack’ DVD out 30 Nov 2009
November 3, 2009
Back in May this year, Seth played an amazing sell-out show at the Minack Theatre in Porthcurno, Cornwall. Set on the cliff edge, the Minack Theatre is a beautiful and unique outdoor amphitheatre – a truly fitting venue for Seth’s story telling lyrics and foot stomping performances.
The magical show was captured for Seth’s first live DVD – released on 30th November. ‘Live at the Minack’ features songs from his three hit albums Kitty Jay, Freedom Fields and Poor Man’s Heaven, and perfectly captures this amazing venue in all its glory. The DVD will be available from 30th November.
Keep an eye on the Twitter feed for pre-order links.
Seth Lakeman talks album.next with John Williamson
January 24, 2009
Catching up on some bits on pieces from December which I didn’t get round to posting at the time, here’s a really good, original interview which talks in some depth about the EMI experience, musical control and, most intriguingly, Seth’s thoughts on the direction for the next album.
Well worth a read, regardless of your obSethion level.
On Kitty Jay
“In many ways the style and sound had a lot to do with my own naivety at the time, but when I came upon something that was very rhythmic and riff driven, I knew that it was the sound I had been looking for.”
On signing for EMI, musical control and going mainstream (or not)
“EMI bought into the business and that took away a lot of the administrative and organisational burdens that we had … Of course, it is hard to let go of something that you feel is your baby – but once you reach a certain level it becomes too big to physically retain control every aspect of what you do. So the compromise, if there was any, that I made was to make sure I retained complete control over the music while in most other areas I am kind of flowing as I go.”
…
“What I do is quite unique, which makes it quite difficult for people to interfere … the music is always going to have a rhythmic, quirky element which is always a bit alien to being massively popular.”
And finally, teasing hints about the direction for the next album:
Listening to him describe his music and its direction highlights the crossroads at which his career stands. On the one hand he has successfully defined a sound that he is happy to continue to work within, on the other, he talks of expanding the scope of it by engaging a third party producer…
There are contradictions too: at various points he suggests both that he would like to go back to the naïve approach of ‘Kitty Jay,’ at others he suggests that album number five may be the time to engage a producer of some reputation.
“I’d love to work with someone like Tchad Blake or Brad Jones, maybe even someone like John Leckie, who would probably strip everything right back. It would be great to work with a real guru like that at some stage. I think so far the records have moved from a very naïve sound to one that is much closer to the live sound, maybe there is another step to take.”
Other interviews, however, have suggested the most likely next release will be a live album.
“We are definitely going to do a live record next year,” says Lakeman. “People have been calling out for one for a number of years.” – Interview with Brighton Argus, 14 Nov 2008
So don’t go holding your breadth for a new studio release just yet!
Full Interview: ‘Seth Lakeman’, interview for The Herald by John Williamson, 8 Dec 2008 »
Seth Lakeman duet on Cara Dillon’s Hill of Thieves
January 10, 2009
‘Spencer the Rover‘, from Cara Dillon’s forthcoming album Hill of Thieves, is a duet with brother-in-law Seth Lakeman. It’s available to listen to now on Cara’s MySpace page and is also included on the free covermount CD on this month’s WORD magazine.
Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s Seth’s tenor guitar (and fiddle) you can hear too.
Cara is married to middle Lakeman brother, Sam Lakeman. Sam is producer, musical director and pianist on Cara’s work. She was a member of Equation with Seth, Sean and Sam before the couple left in 1996 to pursue their own projects. Seth toured with Sam and Cara for a while after he too left Equation in 2001.
Discussing the track in a recent interview, Cara explained:
Sam and I were asked to do a version of the song back in 2001 for a charity album released in Ireland and we worked out the version with Seth who was on tour with us at the time. It became a firm favourite in our live repertoire but failed to make it to record as it never seemed to fit with the other material selected (until now). I’ve always loved the story and I think our version breathes a lot of life into a song that has been almost done to death.
Salut! Live ‘The Big Interview’, Jan 2009
As well as the duet with Seth, Hill of Thieves includes contributions from Sean Lakeman, and Seth Lakeman band fixture Ben Nicholls on double-bass.
Hill of Thieves is released on 26 January 2009.
Buy Hill of Thieves
CD from Amazon
Download from: Amazon | iTunes | 7Digital
Buy Spencer the Rover
Download from Amazon | iTunes | 7Digital
Cara Dillon links
Official website | MySpace
Video
Cara performing ‘Jimmy Mo Mhile Stor’ and ‘The Verdant Braes of Skreen’ from Hill of Thieves at this year’s Celtic Connections festival
Solomon Browne single release
October 13, 2008
Solomon Browne is out now as a special download EP, alongside four live tracks recorded at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2008: Lady of the Sea, I’ll Haunt You, Race to be King and Solomon Browne itself. The EP is available exclusively on iTunes for one week, and on wider release from Monday 20 October. A percentage of profits will be donated to the RNLI (The Lifeboats).
Download
Buy Solomon Browne EP on iTunes »
Buy Solomon Browne EP on 7Digital (320K MP3) »
About Solomon Browne
‘Solomon Browne’ tells the story of the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster in 1981, in which the entire crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne lost their lives, along with the crew and passengers of the Union Star they had set out to save.
Launching the RNLI’s SOS Day on 24 September, Seth said:
‘When I was working on my album in December 2006 it was the 25th anniversary of the Penlee lifeboat disaster, which inspired Solomon Browne. I was only young at the time of the disaster, but my father (journalist, Geoff) covered the story. The song is about the bravery and courage of those eight volunteer lifeboatmen who went to sea and lost their lives. I hope we are able to raise some funds for this fantastic charity.’
Make your own donation to the Lifeboats:
https://www.rnlipdd.org.uk/donations
New October release date for Solomon Browne
September 11, 2008
The Solomon Browne single release has been put back to either 6th or 13th October, depending on your source. More news once there is more news — though my bet’s on the 13th.
Elsewhere the “special exclusive top secret” gig promised on www.sethlakeman.co.uk back in August remains so top secret no one know when it is, let alone how to get tickets.
Just do not get me started …
Update 12 September 2008
Details of the “exclusive… very special” gig are up and are that … er … you can win a pair of tickets to one of the dates on the autumn tour.
?
Around here that’s what we like to refer to as “cancelled”.
Solomon Browne Single Release
August 21, 2008
Solomon Browne has been officially announced as the next single, and will be released as a download on 29 September 13 October.
Telling the story of the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster in 1981, in which the entire crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne lost their lives, along with the crew and passengers of the Union Star they had set out to save, appropriately a percentage of profits will be donated to the RNLI, a charity of which Seth has been a long-time supporter.
Launching the RNLI’s SOS Day on 24 September, Seth said:
‘When I was working on my album in December 2006 it was the 25th anniversary of the Penlee lifeboat disaster, which inspired Solomon Browne. I was only young at the time of the disaster, but my father (journalist, Geoff) covered the story. The song is about the bravery and courage of those eight volunteer lifeboatmen who went to sea and lost their lives. I hope we are able to raise some funds for this fantastic charity.’
The single will be bundled with live versions of three tracks from Seth’s performance at this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival. The single and live tracks will only be available in download format with no physical CD or vinyl release planned at this time.
Blog Post: Solomon Browne to be Next Single »
Make your own donation to the Lifeboats:
https://www.rnlipdd.org.uk/donations
Seth Lakeman iTunes Live Festival EP out now
August 7, 2008
Five tracks from Seth’s performance at the iTunes Live Festival 2008 are available to buy on iTunes.
- Poor Man’s Heaven
- The Hurlers
- Blood Red Sky
- Kitty Jay
- Greed and Gold
Individual tracks are the usual 79p, or you can get all five for £1.99.
Pre-Heb Celt interview with Highland News
July 17, 2008
A short interview with Highland News in advance of Seth’s appearance at the Heb Celt festival in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, on Saturday discusses chart success, the influence of playing live on the new album, and the possibilities for making it big in the Carribean.
Chart success “not down to radio”
Poor Man’s Heaven’s chart success “wasn’t expected”, he says, and is “definitely not down to that marketing machine, radio”. Largely shunned my mainstream playlists, although Crimson Dawn has popped up on Radio 2 a bit, he credits instead the hard work the band has put in over the last couple of years, playing an estimated 250 gigs a year according to other interviews.
“we’ve done so many gigs. And I think that’s why people have gone out to buy it, they’ve either seen us play or have been told about it.”
…
“The pressure’s on now for the next album! we will probably release a live recording first because we have never done that before.”
More tidbits in the full interview.
Full interview: ‘Charting top 10 is number one for Seth’, Margaret Chrystall, Highland News, 17 Jul 2008 »
Interview in The Sun, 11 July 2008
July 12, 2008
“No. 8? I’m speechless… I’m just behind Amy Winehouse”
The Sun interviews Seth on Poor Man’s Heaven hitting the album charts, and gives the album 4½ out of 5 stars:
Sandwiched between two of the world’s best-selling pop divas — Rihanna and Amy Winehouse — is the West Country’s own Seth Lakeman.
It marks an incredible rise for a singer/fiddle player on a mission to bring folk music to the masses without compromising his style.
…
Were you aware of sounding a bit like Led Zep’s acoustic stuff?
“People have said it but we weren’t conscious of it in any way. I think it’s just the way I write as a musician and a songwriter. I’m rhythm-led and the inspirations come from traditional music as well as stuff like house music. ”
…
“I was slightly concerned about how people might react to it because it’s quite different from the last record. It was a brave move but I think it worked and the live audience is really enjoying it.”
…
What’s it like working with your brother Sean who produces and plays?
“You have a certain relationship about how things should sound. When it does work, it’s very exciting. You get a spark out of nowhere. It can also be a problem working with your brother! (laughs). We clash sometimes because we work so closely together. Not surprising, is it? It’s all for the greater good though.”
Full interview:“No. 8? I’m speechless… I’m just behind Amy Winehouse”, Simon Cosyns, The Sun, 11 July 2008 »
Western Approaches available as digital download
July 10, 2008
Seth’s 2004 collaboration with Steve Knightley and Jenna Witts has been quietly re-released by Hands on Music as a download from Tesco Digital.
This is a true collaboration, with each artist singing both their own and each other’s songs. Knightley sings ‘Ballad of Josie’ from Kitty Jay while Jenna takes Punch Bowl’s ‘Image of Love’. Seth returns the favour on Knightley’s ‘The Keeper’. The album also features the rare Seth track ‘Captain’s Court’, otherwise only available as a B-side to the ‘Lady of the Sea’ single release, and a rousing version of ‘Mariners’.
Folk/acoustic specialists Fish Records described the original CD release as “deceptively simple, the overall sound is rich thanks to some wonderful arrangements and excellent production. Highly recommended.” FolkMusic.net gives more background.
Buy Western Approaches from Tesco Digital »- Fish Records review of Western Approaches »
- Review of Western Approaches at FolkMusic.net »
Not just for completists.
(With thanks to Clarros (via the longdogs) for the link, and other related generosities I won’t mention in case I get us both into trouble.)
Update: sorry, Western Approaches no longer seems to be available via Tesco Digital. If it reappears I’ll let you know.
Holy Wow!
July 7, 2008
“Well, what a weekend…Nadal beat Federer, Lewis took the British GP and we stormed into the UK album charts at number 8!!!
This only happened because good people like you made the effort and bought Poor Man’s Heaven.
I cannot thank you all enough and would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere gratitude in what you have all helped me achieve.
All the best
Seth
Poor Man’s Heaven charts at number 8, the highest new entry in this week’s Official UK Album Chart.
(from bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums.shtml)
According to the Plymouth Herald 13,000 copies have been sold since its release last Monday. Seth ‘overjoyed’ as new album clinches top ten chart position, Plymouth Herald, 7 July 2008 »
In-store Performances and Album Signings Roundup
July 3, 2008
Seth has been a busy bunny, with a bunch of in-store performances and album signings starting in Plymouth on Monday, then heading for Bristol and the Capitol on Tuesday before rounding it all off in Cardiff tonight before hopping on a plane for the Rock for People festival in Prague.
Write ups, fan photos, much “yay”ing on the Mire »
Fopp in Bristol, 1 July 2008
Write up of the in-store performance and album signing at Fopp in Bristol-
‘Seth Lakeman’s showdown in the city’, Spiral Earth, 2 July 2008 »
HMV London, 1 July 2008
(Fan footage of Solomon Browne performed live at HMV London, 1 July 2008)
The GetCloser website (registration required) has the full quality video filmed by the cameraman you can see in-shot above, plus a dedicated page for the signings where you can upload your own photos and reviews. Watch his stunning solo performances of Lady of the Sea, Solomon Browne and The Hurlers at HMV London and hear his answers to questions posed by the fans queuing to meet him. Some great stuff that’s well worth the minute it’ll take you to register.
Seth declares himself “absolutely speechless” at the news Poor Man’s Heaven is at number six in the mid-week album charts. Last Wednesday at Perranporth he begged the audience to go buy the album to get it in the top 100 and told The Plymouth Herald that “if it went top twenty, we [would] be getting the champagne out”. So news it’s hit the top 10 and looks likely to stay there has him “completely bowled over”
“It means we’re up there with the Ting Tings and Duffy; this is a folk record for goodness’ sake! … the album should be sure to stay in the top ten, and with all the promo may even stand a chance of going higher.”
Not bought the album yet? What are you waiting for?! Let’s get folk in the top ten this weekend!
‘Chart news is music to Seth’s ears’, This is Plymouth, 2 July 2008 »
Interviews: Plymouth Herald and Western Morning News
July 2, 2008
Quick catch-up on a couple of local interviews, both of which dig out some nice background on the Poor Man’s Heaven album and its musical and lyrical approach.
Plymouth Herald / What’s on South West, 27 June 2008
Some good background on a bunch of the tracks. Audio of the interview is available at the bottom of the page. ‘AUDIO: Seth Lakeman talks Poor Man’s Heaven’. What’s on South West / Plymouth Herald, 27 June 2008 »
Western Morning News, 20 June 2008
“The way I’ve written [Solomon Browne] is just a narrative of what happened, and not necessarily playing on emotions because it’s still in people’s hearts”. ‘Folk Icon Nurtures Hard-Edged Sound’, Western Morning News, 20 June 2008 »
Sssshhh! Don’t jinx it!
July 1, 2008
Number 6 in the midweek album chart according to The Man Himself. Keep it under your hat.
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