Dear all,

A rather belated Happy New Year. Here at King Towers time either moves too fast or too slow but either way, it is now a full 12 months since we recorded the My Darling Clementine album, and, as yet, we are still pursuing that illusive deal that will bring this lovely album to the ears of the masses.  We will continue to pursue until the right partner for the album is found. Rest assured.

Curiously, the album, albeit unreleased, did make it into one 'Top Ten albums of the year' poll on the NetRhythms Web Site.

6. My Darling Clementine - My Darling Clementine (no label)
OK, this is a cheat. The album’s not been released, has no label or distributor and the mixes aren’t finalised, but this spent several months on my player and still hovers close by for repeated spins. A joint project by Michael Weston King and wife Lou Dalgleish, its self penned songs pay faultless homage to the hurtin’ n cheatin’ duet albums of George and Tammy, Dolly and Porter. It’s overflowing with classics from the Patsy Cline-like The Other Half and the honky tonking Nothing Left To Say to the twangy Mavericks style 100,000 Words and Dalgleish showcase Put Your Hair Back. Easily one of the best old school country albums of this or any year, what on earth is Nashville waiting for?

Naturally, we will keep you informed as to what happens with it.It will see the light of day in 2010.

Meanwhile, my troubadour life goes on.  I have just made a new solo album, called I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier, it is a little different from my previous albums,  as it is made up entirely of protest songs.   Some news ones, written specially for the project,  along with my interpretation and re-working of some old ones, not just from the 1960's but some dating back as far as the 1900's.   Many of those old songs are as relevant now, as when they were first written, which is a sad indication of the times, but fascinating all the same.

The track list is as follows:

It will also form the basis for a lot of my live shows this year. A number of these songs will be in the set, starting next week in Biddulph, and there will even be a workshop on protest songs during my appearance in Belfast later in the month as well as a special concert celebrating the songs of Townes Van Zandt (See tour dates and links for more info).

You can also hear  some of the new songs in their rawest (ie, un-rehearsed) form, on a recent live session that myself and Al recorded in Holland in November. It was recently broadcast but is still available at;  (www.radiowinschoten.nl)

You can listen (on demand) to this show at: www.rootsparadise.nl

Ok, I think that is all for now. Hope to see you at a show in the very near future.

Many thanks, as ever,

Michael

Dear friends

Please excuse the lack of news on the site for the past few months. Have been doing a lot of travelling, and a lot of "other stuff" and consequently found little time to keep on top of any blogs / news etc.

And this missive is pretty short. Just a quick note to let you all know I will be on tour in Norway, Germany and Holland as part of my Autumn European tour this month (full schedule below, and on the gigs page)

I am delighted to say that these shows WON"T be solo.  I will be joined by my right-hand man for the past few years, the brilliant Alan Cook. A stunning musician who, as many of you know,  who have seen Alan with me before, plays pedal steel guitar, mandolin, banjo and dobro.

For more information about Alan go to www.myspace.com/alancookpedalsteel or you can see him performing with me at;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev_VIjUiJHo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhEe4D1Q

And, for 4 shows only, Alan and I will be joined by the equally talented, yet even slightly more handsome, Rob Van Duren.  Rob will be present and correct, with bass and guitar in hand, at Horst,  Hengelo, St. Joosland, and Muenster

There are currently 2 new albums in the pipeline. The country duets album, My Darling Clementine,  recorded with the 'golden voiced' Lou Dalgleish, and a solo album of Protest Songs (some old, some new), but I am afraid neither of these albums will be out in time for this tour. However, songs from both of these new projects will be show-cased during the tour, and we fully expect both to released by January.

Meanwhile, those of you yet to buy a copy of the current live album Crawling Through The USA, what are you waiting for.......?  The press have been very kind about it (see below), so please check it out. You can order it via the web site, or,  get a signed copy at one of the upcoming shows. Check out the video too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj3k-D4bQn

OK, see you all soon, and, if you have not done so already, please join the Facebook and MySpace pages.

Stay decent.
Michael

Dear all,

Welcome to the news...

Firstly, something visual to reflect our troubled times. Click on this link to see a new video for my version of the wonderful Townes Van Zandt  song, Marie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj3k-D4bQnQ 
My footage was shot by the British photographer Richard Battye,  the "Depression era" footage was sourced by Jeff Grant, who also edited the whole thing.

The song is taken from the current album CRAWLING THROUGH THE USA, recorded live on tour in the US last year, out now on Valve Records. Those of you who don't have a copy yet, what are you waiting for?  You can order it from my site, the label's site and all the usual on-line places. You can even go and buy it in a record shop, if you can find one! In fact, it would be lovely if you did, the independent shops need all the help they can get. It is so sad to see many shutting down. The album is distributed by Proper Distribution in the UK , and by NMD across Europe.

Also out soon is a this fabulous new compilation from Righteous Records, to which I was happy to contribute my version of the poignant old Carter Family tune, I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore.  Those of you who watched the Marie video before reading on,  will think there is some sort of miserablist theme taking place. Maybe there is!

While we are still waiting to announce a release date for the My Darling Clementine album (we are hoping it wont be long, but trust me, it will be worth the wait), I will be going back into the studio over the summer to start work on 2 new albums, more to follow about that in the next missive, but at least one of them will be out in time for the European tour in October / November.

In the last newsletter I mentioned a lengthy interview I gave recently to www.lonesomehighway.com   At that time it was not on-line, but it is now. Go check out my ramblings. Lots of other good stuff on that fine web site too.

Hello to everyone we met in March during the UK tour with America.  I look forward to seeing some of you again during my own tour which starts this week. 

It will be a rolling line-up each night, sometimes solo, some shows with Alan on pedal steel, the supremely gifted Mike Cosgrave will be present for some of the shows, we will have a 'drummer' on a few of them, and my "other half", Lou Dalgleish will distinguish us with her presence, beauty and harmony one 1 or 2 of the shows also.

Looking forward it, I have had enough of staying in.

Dear all,

Welcome to the Spring newsletter, despite the snow and the frost.

Firstly some record news, yes, I still call them that....

The My Darling Clementine duets album is now recorded. A huge thank you once again to all of you who helped out with the funding. It has turned out wonderfully, and we are hoping it will be out by the summer (if the good Lords, willin', the creek don't rise, and we find a record label who can recognise a good thing when they hear it!)

In the meantime the live album, Crawling Through The USA, has been picking up nice reviews. Originally intended as just a "mail order only" release it will soon be available (April) in stores across the UK, but dont feel you have to wait until then, come and buy one at a gig, or just order it online right now.

I recently heard that a couple of my songs will appear on albums by other artists in the next few months;

• The fine German singer, and songwriter Markus Rill is releasing a covers album called "Bag Of Tricks", and he has included his great version of Fade Away. The album will be available soon, through markusrill. net, and from Glitterhouse & Blue Rose.
• Another great artist, the British composer and singer, John Howard, will soon release an album called "Collectables ", which will include his wonderful interpretation of my song Beautiful Lies. To hear it , and for more on John, go to www.kidinabigworld.co.uk/

A big, yet humble, 'thank you', to both of them.

Thanks to those of you who made it to Lichfeld to see the play They Call Her Natasha in Lichfield last month. It went very well, despite my attempts at acting, and we are hoping the play will tour later in the year. A web site will be in place soon, in the meantime, those who did not make it can see what you missed at: www.lichfieldgarrick.com/Shows/They-Call-Her-Natasha/index.asp

Back with my day job, we are currently in the process of booking a lengthy solo tour of the UK running from May into August. If any one wishes to book a show or has places to recommend you think I should play, please contact my agent Julian Lewry on julianlewry@aol.com

Prior to that I will be opening for the legendary West Coast band, America, this month around the UK.

Full tour dates listed on the gigs page.

Next, a couple of magazine articles / interviews to mention:

• The German magazine, Dynamite has run a nice feature on yours truly, which will be out at the end of January. If you can't get hold of a copy, just go to - www.dynamite-magazine.de or download the latest issue here
• Also try and check out the marvelous, on-line magazine, Lonesome Highway. There is always something good to read in it and Steve and Ronnie who run it seem to have a direct line to some of the finest Americana / Country / singers and songwriters around. They also did an interview with me for it as well!

Finally, look out for the new book by my old friend, the Independent journalist, and writer, Brian Viner. His new book, to which I was delighted to contribute, is called Nice to See it, to See it, Nice: The 1970s in Front of the Telly, and it will be published by Simon & Schuster Feb 2nd.

OK, that is all for now, try and keep warm and solvent in these cold and troubled times

See you at a gig soon I hope,

Michael
www.myspace.com/michaelwestonking
www.michaelwestonking.com

To see MWK performing the song She Is Still My Weakness, live on a balcony overlooking the Reeperbahn (yes, really), go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev_VIjUiJHo

This was filmed in September, during the recent German tour. Also, check out the same web site in a couple weeks time to see Michael's son Oliver (with his band The Reveres) also on the same show, and the same balcony.

Today, Nov 4th, as well as being a huge day for our planet (good luck Mr Obama), is also the start of Michael's UK tour with Peter Bruntnell and Jeb Loy Nichols. These shows are going to be wonderful nights of song and stories, do try and catch one.

TOUR NEWS
In September and October Michael will be on tour in Scandinavia, Germany, Holland, and England, before joining forces for with fellow songwriters Peter Bruntnell and Jeb Loy Nichols for what will be an amazing series of shows around the UK and Ireland.

For all the latest details on all Michael's tour dates, please go to the gig page, and also check out MWK at these web sites; www.myspace.com/michaelwestonking www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Weston-King/9288559958

It is going to be a busy Autumn.

During the recent tour of Germany and Holland, MWK recorded a number of live radio session. Go check them out!

Michael will be live in session, and in conversation with Paul Harvey, on Dutch Radio 6
The show (Studio 6) will go out at  6.15 pm Friday 17th October. More info at www.radio6.nl

Also go to www.byte.fm/index.php?cont=sendungen_detail&sendung=15 to hear 5 songs recorded live in Hamburg

Also, due for broadcast any day now, filmed on a Balcony overlooking The Reeperbahn, check out www.balconytv.de

Dear all,
Well, what an awful summer that was. Here at King Towers we are happy to forget about it, and turn our attention to the Autumn, always the nicest of seasons.

Firstly, some news on new releases;

The German label, Valve Records (www.valve-records.com), will release Michael's next album, the live album, 'Crawling Through The USA', in October. Recorded in N.America and Canada over the past 18 months, it features 13 songs recorded live at shows and on the radio, these include 3 previously unreleased tracks (2 brand new songs and a cover of the Townes Van Zandt classic 'Marie')

The long awaited duets album 'My Darling Clementine', is to be recorded in mid October at Gold Top studios in London with Neil Brockbank (Nick Lowe, Tres Chicas, Geraint Watkins), co-producing.

The album will feature 11 brand new MWK songs, and 2 from the pen of Lou Dalgleish, that focus on the classic country themes of betrayal, infidelity, and heartbreak.

The band line-up includes Martin Belmont (guitar), Gerraint Watkins (piano), Kevin Foster (bass), Jim Russell (drums), Alan Cook (pedal steel guitar) .... with some very special guests TBA.

Intended release date for the album is Jan/Feb 2009, with live dates to follow in the Spring and Summer

Work on the next MWK studio album, provisionally entitled 'Watch Me Vanish', begins in December, with the initial sessions taking place in New York, and mixing to be done in N Wales in January. A tougher, harder, more raw sound is promised for this one, and MWK will be showcasing some of the new songs on his upcoming shows this Autumn

Just announced!
Michael will be appearing at The Roundhouse in London tonight (Thursday 3rd July) with Ron Sexsmith.

Doors 7.30, MWK on stage at 8pm

Hello, Hello, Hello
Excuse the lack of news and info. on the site recently but here, at last, is the latest update;

- Apologies for the delay with the new live album, Crawling Through The USA. We had hoped to have it ready by March but decided to wait until after the recent US trip, so as to include some performances from that tour. Michael is editing the album now and it should be available, via the web site, and at live shows, by the end of June. The album will feature live performances recorded solely in N. America over the past 18 months and well also feature a selection of demo's , and songs recorded for other projects. This will be the 3rd and final album in the live "trilogy", to go along side Live...In Dinky Town, and Absent Friends.

- Work on the "as yet untitled brand new album", will begin in the summer. Provisional tiles are The Trocadero Flowers, The Sunburst Kid vs The Twighlight Crowd and, In Spain The Dogs Are Too Tired To Bite You. And not only is MWK working on this album BUT also a second album, and a brand new project, called My Darling Clementine, which will be recorded in September:

George & Tammy, Dolly & Porter, Johnny & June
......My Darling Clementine.....
"a modern duets album / songs of betrayal, infidelity and heartbreak."

Rehearsals begin in June for the recording of a duets album featuring Michael Weston King & Lou Dalgleish under the name of ....My Darling Clementine.

Featuring 12 brand new MWK songs that focus on betrayal, infidelity, and heartbreak, this will be an out and out Country record (NOT an Alt Country record, NOT Americana record), but an album that harks back to the classic country duets of George and Tammy, and Dolly and Porter.

The band line-up includes Martin Belmont (guitar), Gerraint Watkins (piano), Kevin Foster (bass), JIm Russell (drums) & Alan Cook (pedal steel guitar)...with some very special guests TBA.

- Michael's song I Fall Behind was recently used in the Hit US TV Show Army Wives, which is currently being shown in the UK (on Living TV)

- The play Happy Infidels, written by Irish play write Brian Richmond, and based around 12 of Michael's songs will go into production early in the new year and be staged at The Lichfield Garrick Theatre in the Spring. Before that, Michael will appear in They Call her Natasha, also at Lichfield Garrick, in February. This is a musical play based around the songs of Elvis Costello, written by Michael and his wife Lou, and features Lou as the female "Costello obsessed" lead. This was first staged at The Edinburgh Festival in 20001 and is being revived, and re -written for 2009. More info to follow on this soon but in the meantime check out www.myspace.com/loudalgleish

- Upon hearing MWK's cover of his song, Alone Again Naturally, Gilbert O Sullivan faxed Michael personally to say thank you for covering the song and that he liked the interpretation, and also how much enjoyed the album. Needless to say, we were all thrilled here at King Towers.

- As well as selected festival appearances, we also are pleased to announce that Michael will be doing a series of house concerts this summer and into the autumn;
THE MICHAEL WESTON KING HOUSE CONCERT SERIES IS NOW BEING BOOKED FOR SUMMER/AUTUMN 2008 TO BOOK MICHAEL IN YOUR OWN LIVING ROOM, UP CLOSE AND LIVE CONTACT BEN ON: mwk1@blueyonder.co.uk

- More live news: MWK will be on tour in Holland, Belgium and Germany from Sept 19th - Oct 6th, this will be followed be some solo UK shows in October, and then a triple bill tour in November with Jeb Loy Nichols and Peter Bruntnell. More news on this tour will be announced soon but in the meantime time check out these two fanstastic songwriters at www.myspace.com/jebloynichols and www.myspace.com/peterbruntnell

OK, as Phil ,Ochs said, that is all the new that is fit to print. We will see you soon.

Cancelled Portsmouth show
Apologies to those of you who went to the show in Portsmouth (at The Cellars at Eastney) only to find it had been cancelled. Michael took a fall on Sunday morning and sprained his wrist, the same one he broke 2 years ago, and he was simply not able to pick up a guitar, let alone play one. We hope to be able to re-schedule the Cellars show for sometime in May. He will also be playing another in the Hampshire area at that time, when he appears at the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton. The latest medical news is that he is on the mend, and should be fine for the show in Biddulph on Wednesday night.

The Blackstaff Sessions - BBC iPlayer
Michael's appearance on BBC Northern Ireland's "The Blackstaff Sessions" will be shown on Tuesday 26th on BBC 2 NI at 10pm. UK viewers with Sky can go to channel 992 to see it live, and it will also be available on the new BBC I Player for seven days after broadcast.

The songs performed on the show are Here's The Plan, Let The Waves Break and It Will End In Tears

The Blackstaff Sessions
The Blackstaff Sessions, for which Michael recorded 3 songs, will start to be broadcast  on 29th of January at 10pm on BBC 2 Northern Ireland.   For those of you not living in Ireland, you can still see the show by tuning into  channel 992 on Sky in the UK

You can also find out more info on the show, broaddcast dates, and which shows MWK will appear on, by checking:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/ralphmclean/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/mcleans_country/

Another year older, and what have we done??
Well, for MWK 2007 has seen the release of A New Kind of Loneliness, the album many feel to be his best so far, as well as the DVD, The Crowning Story , finally out and in the shops. Live, Michael has been all over the place, as usual, playing over 120 shows across Europe and N America, as well as some interesting collaborations, not least the summer concerts with Jackie Leven and Robert Fisher, under the title of Fisher King Leven. There may well be more to follow next year

Michael is looking at Spring 2008 for starting work on the new studio album, with most of the new songs written, and a one or 2 having been performed live over the past few months. However, in the meantime there will be a new live album, recorded solely in N. America over the past 18 months. This will be the 3rd and final album in the live "trilogy" to go along side Live...In DInky Town, and Absent Friends, and we hope to have it ready in time for the tour in February and MArch.

Talking of which, the majority of the live shows next year will take on a different look , and sound, and will feature a new "collective" of musicians, known as The Lonely. This will not be a fixed line-up but will, at different times, feature:
Mike Cosgrave - Piano / Keys / Accordion / Brass / Vocals
Alan Cook - Pedal Steel / Mandolin / Dobro
Paul Hesketh - Guitar / Vocals
Busto Virile - Snare drum / Percussion
Lou Dalgleish - Voclas / Percussion

Some times it will be just 2 of them joining MWK on stage, sometimes all 5. Going to a gig next year will involve an even greater element of surprise.

Finally, by way of a little Christmas give away, if you go to Michael's Myspace site you will find 2 suitably miserable songs to get you the festive spirit. They are just demos, and have been added to the site for the festive season only. However, unlike the other songs already up on the site, these 2 songs can be downloaded!. But hurry, as they will only be up here for the next few weeks.

Here is what Michael has to say about the songs:
"She Is Still My Weakness" is a song that numerous folks have asked about , and wanted to buy , at recent gigs. We did allow the demo version of the song to added to the American edition of A New Kind of Loneliness, but apart from that, it is not available anywhere else, until now. A very simple sparse version, I don't imagine it will sound like this when it appears on the new album, but this is how it sounds for now.
"The Dancing Around" was recorded in a short 4 hour session in Connecticut earlier in the year. Many thanks Eddie Seville for use of his great place, and also his fine playing. I wrote this with the singer Madelaine Peyroux in mind (hoping she will record it), and also someone else, who I know a little better.

Happy Christmas, happy listening
MWK

Interviews
Michael has given a series of press interviews over the past few weeks. Check out the current issue of 'Rock n Reel' magazine, out now and also the upcoming issue of 'Maverick' magazine, out mid-July.
Michael also gave lengthy interviews to www.americana-uk.com (which will be posted at the end of June) and also the German online magazine www.musicheadquarter.de
Check out these fine sites or go to the Reviews page here to read these interviews in full and also, to read Michael's song-by-song analysis of the new album.

Also check out the new issue of Rock n Reel magazine, the song It Will End in Tears, taken from ANKOL, appears on the cover mount cd. A interview with MWk will also appear in the following issue.

To find out what the press have been saying about the album click on these links and see quotes below:

http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews/review.asp?id=4638

http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/

Listen to A New Kind of Loneliness and you¹ll hear a musician who's risen above pigeonholing genres to produce an album categorised only by its sheer class.
Net Rhythms

'It Will End In Tears' could be one of the songs of the year so far, and the album that
spawned it no less dignified or impressive.
Scotland On Sunday **** 4/5

'A New Kind Of Loneliness' is quite probably King's very best album to date and one which (again) re-inforces his credentials as one of the UK's very best singer/ songwriters.
Whisperinandhollerin 10/10 **************

'It Will End In Tears' , which - with its' stung and bitten-off guitar and tormented lyrics ("And there was nothing I wouldn't do/ I was totally consumed by you/ it will end in tears") may well come to be viewed as Michael's very own 'I Want You' in years to come.
Whisperinandhollerin 10/10 **************

A superb album, and yet another album of the year contender from MWK.
Americana-uk ********8/10

A New Kind of Loneliness may prove to be King's breakthrough in America. Amply stocked with instantly embracing originals and it garners additional credibility in cameos from Chris Hillman and fellow songsmith Ron Sexsmith.
USA Entertainment News & Views ****4/5

Given King was playing Alt Country in the UK before anyone new what it was, it makes sense he'd be sharp enough to leave a sinking ship. With ANKOL he delivers classic orch/pop, singer-songwriter and soul inspired songs of the highest order
Now Toronton ****4/5

'A New Kind Of Loneliness' is perhaps the most consistently impressive addition to an already terrific catalogue that many of the supposed 'Americana' contenders would secretly give their right arms for. If you continue to deny him, you really are a fool to yourself.
Whisperinandhollerin 10 / 10 **************

The official release date for ANKOL is April 16th, and it will be available in all good stores from that date. Before then , available from MWK shows and via the web site".

You can also download the album or tracks from it from the following web sites:

I-Tunes , Arvato , BuyMusic , MP3-Extension , MusicNow , Napster , Puretracks

Michael Weston King enters the charts!

Freeform American Roots (FAR) report #90 announces that Michael¹s new CD, A New Kind Of Loneliness, has just entered the FAR charts at #13!

John Conquest, the editor of 3rd Coast Music in Texas, an essential paper for American Roots music, has just voted Michael Weston King the #1 Male Artist and the #3 in the Songwriter of 2006! Visit www.3rdcoastmusic.com for more info.

Critic Paul Emile Comeau has entered Michael Weston King as one of his top 3 discoveries of the year in the Penguin Eggs Critic Poll!

In New London, CT Twisted Roots Radio Show (WCNI, 90.9FM) DJ Brian Bourgoin has chosen A New Kind of Loneliness as his "top pick" in the Feb 2007 FAR chart and has also selected Michael Weston King as his FAR Songwriter of the year!

Chat Room
Head over to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michaelwestonking to check out the newly opened MWK Chat Room / Yahoo Group

The DVD, The Crowning Story, will be out at the end of the month on BORDERDREAMS. Keep on eye on the site for the price and the exact date when it will be available. Also check out www.borderdreams.com.


Release date for the brand new album, A New Kind of Loneliness, is now fully confirmed as Nov 27th and will be released by Floating World Records in Europe, and Poptown Records in America. Much more news to follow very soon about this. Everyone hear at MurderedWithKindness is very excited about it's release, and all feel it is the best album of Michaels' career so far.

There will be a lot of shows to follow, with MWK on tour in the UK and across Europe between now and March, then on to America in Spring 2007. Please check the gig page for up to date news on all shows booked so far

A provisional date has been set of Nov 27th for the release of MWK's new album, 'A New Kind Of Loneliness'

We have had a number of requests recently from people wanting to buy copies of The Good Sons first 2 albums, Singing The Glory Down and The King's Highway, both of which have been deleted. However, the wonderful folks at Glitterhouse Records have found the last 10 remaining copies of both of these albums, hidden in some dark cupboard, and they are now available for purchase via the MWK web site. Just go to the store and buy as normal, using either PayPal or send a cheque to the usual address.

Michael apologizes for the lack of blog activity recently, on both this site and his MySpace site. His mother died earlier in the summer and consequently he has not felt the urge to talk or write lately. However, spending a lot of time in the pub with a newspaper, or wandering alone in the Lake District, or listening to Elvis, Simon & Garfunkel, Buddy Holly and Glen Campbell (his mums favourite artists) have been how he has spent recent weeks, aswell as writing a batch of new songs. A very rough demo of one of the brand new songs will be on-line via the site very soon.