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::: last update :11th Feb 2010 ::: |
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) 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 |
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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. |
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
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. Stay decent,Michael. |
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;
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:
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 |
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 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 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, Firstly, some news on new releases; |
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! Doors 7.30, MWK on stage at 8pm |
Hello, Hello, Hello - 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 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; - 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. |
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Cancelled Portsmouth show |
The Blackstaff Sessions - BBC iPlayer The songs performed on the show are Here's The Plan, Let The Waves Break and It Will End In Tears |
| NEW T-shirt now available in the Store! Go to the Store now and pick up the new MWK tshirt...priced at $30 inc p&p. ![]() |
The Blackstaff Sessions You can also find out more info on the show, broaddcast dates, and which shows MWK will appear on, by checking: |
Another year older, and what have we done?? 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: 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: Happy Christmas, happy listening |
| On Saturday October 27th, Michael will be in Belfast to record 3 songs for the BBC Northern Ireland TV show, The Blackstaff Sessions Should any MWK fans wish to attend the filming, please call: BBC NI Ticket Line on 0870 333 1918 Textphone 08000 153350 or email at: ralph@bbc.co.uk For more info on the show go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/ralphmclean/features128272.shtml |
Britain's finest monthly music publication, WORD, recently gave Michael's new album a justifiably ecstatic review. Our thanks to Mr. Paul du Noyer.![]() Michael's song, I Fall Behind, was recently featured in the new US hit TV show Army Wives. For more info on the show go to www.tv.com/army-wives/show/66943/summary.html but hopefully it will make it over to the UK in the not too distant future. In September Michael will appear at The Darvel Festival in Scotland - The festival organizers have offered MWK fans a discount off ticket prices, from £10 to £8.50 , but this can only be obtained by emailing info@darvelmusicfestival.org as no other outlet will be aware of special discounted rate. Released on the 8th October is an album called "Old Wine/New Skins" which accompanies a book entitled, "The Folk Compendium" , which has already been critically well-received by the 'Independent on Sunday' national newspaper. Michael has contributed to this album by recording a version of the traditonal song "What Is The Life Of A Man" For more info go to www.backbeatbooks.com/index.jsp or contact peter@duskfire.co.uk Thanks to those of you who came along to one, or more, of the Fisher King Leven shows in August. They were stunning shows, and maybe Robert, Michael and Jackie will do it again in the future. MWK fans in Germany can now buy the dvd The Crowning Story, in all good stores, as it is now being distributed over there by Broken Silence www.brokensilence.biz |
| FISHER KING LEVEN In August Michael will join forces with Jackie Leven and Robert Fisher from the Willard Grant Conspiracy for a short UK tour. See gig page for full details |
Interviews |
| A New Kind of Loneliness continues to receive a great response in the press, both in Europe and in N America. Check out the Discography and click on the ANKOL album cover to read more. Also, check out the following web sites for more about ANKOL: http://www.unpeeled.co.uk http://www.home-of-rock.de http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/ http://www.americana-uk.com/ |
| Back to the North West Michael will be back in Manchester in June, as very special guest of Steve Forbert, at the Manchester Uni / Academy 3 show on June 21st |
| Crete in June?? Still time, and room, for anyone seeking a last minute holiday. Michael will play one show, on the stunning Island of Crete,on June 2nd. If you want a holiday and an MWK concert in one, contact http://www.akrotirivillas.com |
| While on tour recently in America, Michael appeared on the New York cable show, 'Name That Painting' hosted by world reknowed artist Mark Kostabi. To see and hear Michaels performance on the show, go to: http://namethatpainting.com/ |
| The new album, A New Kind of Loneliness is officially released this week,
it will be available in all good record stores from April 16th. If you don't
have your copy yet, go and get one. If you need to order it from your local
rcord store, tell them it is released on Floating World/Evangeline, and
distributed by Universal, cat no FW 031. 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. 'It Will End In Tears' could be one of the songs of the year so far,
and the album that '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. '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. A superb album, and yet another album of the year contender from MWK.
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. 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 '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. |
| The diary from the 'Lonely In Scandinavia Tour - Feb 2007' is now online. Go the Tour Diary page to view it |
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| Lots more MWK shows announced in America, Canada and Germany. Check the newly updated gig guide for more details |
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!
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| Anyone looking for a great holiday should check out Akrotiri Villas in Chania, Crete. Michael will be playing a one-off show there on Saturday June 2nd. So why not combine your holiday with seeing an MWK concert. The show will take place in the open air, next to the pool. The Ouzo will be flowing, and as Michael is on holiday too, expect a very long , different set! |
Chat Room |
| Go to the 'blog' page and read the recent interview of Michael by leading German journalist Ullrich Maurer. |
We
are pleased to announce that the DVD, THE CROWNING
STORY is now available (see
store). It is a visual snapshot of the past 12 years of MWK's career.....
a mix of promotional videos, TV appearances, interviews, and live footage
from all over Europe and across America......filmed in small clubs to large
concert halls, from back porches to open air festivals. It contains 25 songs
and performances, and it also features appearances from Townes Van
Zandt, Chris Hillman and Jackie Leven. |
| Michael recently recorded a live session while in Belfast, for the BBC.
The session, and interview, will be broadcast on Friday 12th january. The
show runs from 8 to 10pm and will also be available on demand for seven
days afterwards on the BBC real player. The link to the shows web site is: http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radiofoyle/programmes/ralphmclean/i ndex.shtml |
| A New Kind of Loneliness has now released in North America
and Canada on Poptown Records (www.PoptownRecords.com) For all MWK fans over there, it will be available in all good records stores, distributed by Cargo. Any problems getting hold of a copy, please contact info@poptownrecords.com Fo those who prefer to shop on line, you can buy it from: http://cdbaby.com/cd/michaelwestonking |
ANKOL available now! Although
not actually released and in the shops until January 15th, we are delighted
to announce that copies of the brand new album, "A New Kind of Loneliness",
are now available to be purchased via the web site. (see Store) |
| Due to a slight delay with the art work, the "official" release date for "A New Kind of Loneliness" has now been out back to Jan 15th. That is when it will be available in the shops. However, copies will be available by the end of November to buy via the web site or at Michael's shows. We apologize for another delay, but it will be worth the wait! |
New Releases The
first of THREE, yes THREE, MWK Autumn releases is now available. Love's A Cover, Michael's take on 15 of his favourite songs by other artists, is out now on Glitterhouse Records, and can be bought on line here (see 'store'), and also www.glitterhouse.com The album will also be available in all good UK record stores by the end of the month but, for those who can't wait, and why should you, go ahead and order it today on-line.
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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. |
| MWK in Milan Michael has just been confirmed as appearing at the Townes Van Zandt tribute show taking place on Nov 19th in Milan |