Spotlight 114: Friday 25th July 2014 – David Hirst

LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC LIVE

FRIDAY 25th July 2014

David Hirst, Melody Says (Paris), Jonathan Coley, Hannah Kewn

Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight 114

To play click the player above or right click Spotlight 114 to download for free.

If you’re an acoustic musician from the Greater Merseyside area, or from further afield but play on the Liverpool scene, then feel free to send us your music for future shows. We can’t promise we’ll be able to play everything that’s sent to us, but we will listen to every track. Find out all about the show, how to submit your music, and the Terms of Use, at liverpoolacoustic.co.uk/spotlight/about

1. David Hirst – Mary Of The Wild Moor
davidhirstmusic.com

2. Melody Says – Hiver en été
facebook.com/melodysayspage
Buy Melody’s music from melodysays.bandcamp.com

3. Jonathan Coley – Jetsam
jonathancoleymusic.com
soundcloud.com/jonathan-coley

4. Hannah Kewn – Myself
hannahkewn.tumblr.com

5. David Hirst – The Wolf

 

ARTIST INFORMATION

DAVID HIRST
davidhirstmusic.com

David Hirst is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and singer of English traditional songs. Captivating from the moment you first experience his ethereal mix of exquisite acoustic guitar playing, sensitive vocals and smart sense of lyric. Hailing form Oldham, Lancashire and now based in the seaside town of Southport, David’s songs have a strong narrative with powerful storylines woven into his addictive melodies.

Active on the folk scene of the north-west, David is a resident singer at the Bothy Folk Song Club, Southport as well as a founder member of The Corduroy Folk Club based at The Atkinson (formerly Arts Centre), Southport. The past 12 months has seen him make guest appearances at many of the regions other Folk Clubs.

David is known to many from his former position as the frontman of Misery Guts, a Liverpool-based outfit whose three single releases “Trying to Be the Sun” (2009), “Spiders (2009) and “More Human Than Human (2010) have received considerable critical acclaim. The group toured in support of Cherry Ghost in 2010.

The trademark sound is of haunting vocals accompanied by classical guitar but in a typical performance you will also find autoharp, English concertina, Appalacian dulcimer, cigar-box guitar and electric and steel acoustic guitars.

A write-up in The Manc Review likened him to Chris Isaak, Roddy Frame, and Gotye, though Hirst counts folk revivalists Martin Carthy, Steeleye Span, Dave Burland, Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins; British songwriters John Martyn, Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Donovan, Laura Marling; and American songwriters Neil Young, Paul Simon, Bonny Prince Billy, Nina Nastasia and Bill Callaghan among his influences.

“A real treat” – Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music

“Fabulous” – Jade Wright, Liverpool Echo

“Effortless emotional connections” – Dave Monks, BBC Radio Merseyside

“Whereas other artists self-indulge with their emotional warfare, Hirst maintains a dignified reserve, whose sentiments are crystallised in his rich and heartfelt vocals.” – The Manc Review

VIDEO PREVIEW youtu.be/zoGOuMmzM_8 – Here’s David Hirst performing Send Me To Hell recorded live for the Addistock Sessions.

MELODY SAYS
facebook.com/melodysayspage

At 22, Parisien Alix Lachiver, AKA Melody Says, already has much experience behind her. Since an early age she has been perfecting her guitar playing and song writing skills inspired by such predecessors and inspiration from the likes of John Lennon, The Kinks, Love and Sixto Rodriguez. She pursues this journey enjoying her freedom, life and performing her enchanting melodies. This journey has associations to other free spirits including Soko and Peter Doherty who has been inviting her to perform on stage on numerous occasions and collaborated on the writing of “Penguins” from Babyshambles’ last album.

Her unique guitar playing and bewitching voice will warm your heart and relax your mind. Melody just finished her debut album in an intimate vintage London studio with the producer Kenny Paterson.

VIDEO PREVIEW youtu.be/Ty9plbH_XpY – See just why we booked Melody Says by watching the official video for her song Bang Bang.

JONATHAN COLEY
jonathancoleymusic.com

Jonathan Coley has had music in his life as long as he can remember, but is a relative newcomer to the performing and song-writing world. Although an instrumentalist since childhood, the guitar is a new-found love and means of expression. Developing a unique finger-style playing, which, although he himself will ardently deny such in conversation, surpasses many long time players, and is always warrant to surprise and impress with its dexterity and melody. It is not uncommon for Jonathan to be asked to prove that he is such a recent convert to the instrument.

Comparisons to the playing styles of Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Nick Drake and Nic Jones, are frequent and gratefully received as the most extraordinary form of flattery.

The “City Songs: Live in London EP” is a recording of a straight live concert that October (Available now on Soundcloud). The first full album “Hamster’s Can’t Climb” came out January 31st 2014. A new album is presently being written along with numerous radio sessions and some brilliant new films courtesy of Stage:Life coming soon.

VIDEO PREVIEW youtu.be/UPSb1Mr7Ypc – Great guitar playing, great voice, and a great original song Jetsam from Jonathan Coley.

HANNAH KEWN
hannahkewn.tumblr.com

Hannah Kewn is a talented young singer-songwriter from Liverpool who can be seen gigging around the city. She is featured on the K’s Choice the City of Music Volume II.

VIDEO PREVIEW youtu.be/mLTrtmYvm_w – Here’s the wonderful Hannah Kewn performing Be The Birds for Alibi Productions.

 

 

If you get the chance, please support your local artists by joining their mailing lists, liking their facebook pages, following them on twitter, leaving them comments, going to their gigs, and buying their music direct from them where possible. The Liverpool Acoustic Spotlight is produced and presented by Graham Holland on behalf of the Liverpool Acoustic website, and is a proud member of the Association of Music Podcasting. The theme music is King of the Faeries by Andrew Ellis from his CD Midnight On The Water.

 

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Spotlight 114: Friday 25th July 2014 – David Hirst