Michael Weston King


The First MDC Newsletter of 2024

05 Mar, 2024

Hi everyone

We hope you are all well, and that you have had a great start to 2024

It has been a relatively quiet one for us – just a few shows but all the same, hugely enjoyable ones. Maybe some of you came to see us play the great cities of Great Easton, Retford, Calstock, Chidham and Thornton Hough, or attended the MWK solo show in the village of London? If you did, we are sure you will agree that a great time was had by all.

And we are now looking forward to really getting going properly when touring starts more fully this month, kicking off on Wednesday in Germany and then onto Holland, followed by a run of UK shows in March and April, before heading to Ireland and Scandinavia in May, and onto to Scotland and Newcastle (hurrah, it has been too long) in July.


GERMANY / THE NETHERLANDS

We are excited to be playing some new venues in Germany on the March tour, but also looking forward to making a welcome return to Celle and Berlin, and also Leiden and Grootschermer in The Netherlands..

Here are all the live ticket links for the German and Dutch shows, and the tour poster below:

Wed 6th Mar
Celle (D) – Kunst & Buhne
GET TICKETS

Thu 7th Mar
Erlenbach a. Main (D) – Beavers
GET TICKETS

Fri 8th Mar
Ilmenau (D) – Kleinkunstbühne Ilmenau-Roda
GET TICKETS

Sat 9th Mar
Benthe, Hannover (D) – Benthe.Mitte
GET TICKETS

Sun 10th Mar
Berlin (D) – The Fahrradkell
Tickets via Alexander, email heller.elspass@googlemail.com

Tue 12th Mar
Maria Lacche, Mendig (D) – Klostergastsatte
GET TICKETS

Thu 14th Mar
Leiden (NL) – QBus
GET TICKETS 

Fri 15th Mar
Magdeburg (D) – Volksbad Buckau c/o Frauenzentrum Courage
GET TICKETS

Sat 16th Mar
Grootschermer (NL) – Museum Nic Jonk
GET TICKETS


UK & IRELAND
Late March and early April continues with assorted one-nighters in diverse venues and widespread locations:

While the Irish tour includes return visits to two of our favourite festivals, Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and the Kilkenny Roots Festival – always an amazing weekend, even if it does take a few days to recover.

Below are a few posters for the upcoming shows:

ALL SHOWS HERE!


SCANDINAVIA

After Ireland we head north for 5 shows in Scandinavia. We have been visiting the stunning country of Norway for many years, and  are thrilled to be back in Oslo, Harestua and Halden in May, but we are also delighted to be playing again in Sweden and Denmark, and especially our first MDC show in Copenhagen.

Dates confirmed so far. More will be announced in the coming weeks

Thur May 23
Oslo –  Abelone Kjøkken
MORE INFO

Fri May 24
Harestua – Kulturbruket Gamleskolen
MORE INFO

Sat May 25
Halden – Kulturhuset
MORE INFO

Sun May 26
Copenhagen – Råhuset
MORE INFO

Tue May 28
Malmo – Medley
MORE INFO


SUMMER – JULY

We are also excited to announce some new summer shows, which have just gone on sale, along with festivals too;

Friends in the North East and in Scotland, we are delighted to be heading your way in July. It has certainly been far too long since we played Newcastle. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows;

Thu 25th July
Broughty Ferry – St Mary’s Church
GET TICKETS

Fri 26th July
Kirriemuir – The Wee Bear
GET TICKETS

Sat 27th July
Belladrum Festival
GET TICKETS

Sun 28th July
Newcastle – The Cumberland Arms (afternoon show)
GET TICKETS


SUMMER – AUGUST

And then in August we will be playing The Long Road Festival. Exact stage time still TBC but it will be on the Sunday and may include a gospel element to the live set, specially for the occasion. So, Long Road attendees, we will see you in church.

Sun 25th August
Northampton – The Long Road Festival
https://www.thelongroad.com/


NEW MUSIC

Writing songs for a new album has been a slow process of late.  We had hoped that we’d have the new album finished by now but for whatever reason the songs have not been flowing.  Life has kind of got in the way but things are changing and new material is starting to come.

We will be road testing some the new songs in the coming weeks. So, if you want to hear what we have been cooking up, get along to a live show.


BACK IN STOCK

We have a number of items back in stock, including MDC albums on vinyl and even a few copies have surfaced of our two gorgeous Records Store Day 10 inch EP’s.

   

We also have the retro cool MDC bumper stickers back in stock. You can buy them individually, in multiples at a reduced rate, or get one free with any order over £12.


OUR PLACE OR YOURS

We have received a number of enquires recently, asking if we would play a private concert, either as part of a celebration event, private party etc, or an intimate concert for you and invited guests.

This is something we have done on occasion and are always happy to discuss it, and what the circumstances are. In the first instance, just send a message via the ‘contact’ page on the website, or an email to info@mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk, or send a message over social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and we can get the ball rolling to try and make it happen.


DONATE

Thanks to those of you who have recently donated to our ongoing need for funds.

Although we are touring as much as possible,  we are always in need of funding to support special projects and recordings, particularly since COVID-19.

As we start to make a new album, any and all donations towards the recording budget would be gratefully received. Thank you.
Donate Here!


OK, that is all for now. We look forward seeing you all soon at a show in the coming weeks. Any requests, send them over.

Yours in music,
Lou & Michael

Thank you for your support this year (MDC Newsletter)

22 Dec, 2023

Hi everyone

Just a short missive from the two of us to all of you to say a huge ‘thank you’ for your support throughout this year

57 shows in 11 different countries. A lot of miles but a lot of joy too.

Your response and feedback, your appreciation of the songs, and your love and enjoyment of the live shows warms our hearts and it drives us onwards.

Below are a selection of reviews of shows played in the past few weeks. Maybe you were at one of them?

DUBLIN WORKMANS CLUB

(Photo: Declan Culliton)

MANCHESTER STOLLER HALL

(Photo: Nick Barber)

GLASGOW GLAD CAFE

(Photo: Paul Kerr)

BIRMINGHAM KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE

(Photo: Richard Shakespeare)

Thanks to all the journalists for their kind words. And do let us know your favourite show or moment of the year spent with My Darling Clementine.


2024 is already shaping up to be a busy year. Lots of shows in the diary and we are also planning a new album too. Yes, we know. IT HAS BEEN TOO LONGTickets are on sale now for the shows in January and February. The ticket links below are live so one click will take your directly to order.  Tickets make for great Christmas presents so why not buy some now for your nearest and dearest.

My Darling Clementine – Jan/Feb 2024

Fri Jan 19th
Malvern – The Cube
TICKETS

Fri 26th Jan
Great Easton – House Concert
Info and tickets email Mark Howson renkadima@virginmedia.com

Sat 27th Jan
Retford – St Saviours CC
TICKETS

Wed 31st Jan
London – What’s Cookin @ Leytonstone Social Club (MWK solo show)
TICKETS

Sat 3rd Feb
Calstock, Tavistock – Calstock Arts
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/600586

Sun 4th Feb
Chidham, Chichester – The Old Malthouse (AKA Chidham Village Hall)
TICKETS
(NOTE: afternoon show)

Sat Feb 17
Thornton Hough – Village Club
TICKETS

IF YOU CAN,  PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE.

And then into spring, we head back overseas for tours as follows;

March – Germany, Austria, The Netherlands

May – Ireland (including appearances at https://kilkennyroots.com/ and https://cqaf.com/

May / June – Scandinavia

All these shows will be listed in the next 2-3 weeks at both mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk and michaelwestonking.com

There are also some further, one-off UK shows in this time frame too, in the south west and the Midlands:

Thu 28th Mar
Penzance – Acorn Theatre
TICKETS

Friday 19th Apr
Bewdley – St Georges Hall
TICKETS

Sat 20th April
Ulverston – Walter Yeat Village Hall
MORE INFO

Sat 18th May
Oswestry – Hermon Arts
MORE INFO

So, plenty coming up and new music too. We will be showcasing some of the new songs at these shows. We are looking forward to sharing them with you.

Meanwhile, we wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and great dreams for the new year. Or as we say now in our newly adopted home land of Wales, Nadolig Llawen.

Michael & Lou x


“Leaving the show” Upsalla, Sweden, March 2023 – Photo (c) Michael Weston King