Gigs

2007

Monty, Tim, John Young

The Peel...

...it was rather dark!

House of Progression at The Peel, Kingston-Upon-Thames, London, supporting The Watch, Saturday 27th October
Second gig as a duo with Monty and another good night in front of a small crowd. Thanks to Mick again.

Sanctuary Cafe, Hove, supporting John Young, Sunday 30th September
First gig as a duo with Monty. A good time with the excellent John Young and a handful of people watching.

Bodhi Garden Buddhist Festival, Brighton, Saturday 22nd September
A simple, laid back and enjoyable ambient solo spot.

House of Progression at The Peel, Kingston-Upon-Thames, London, supporting Strangefish, Saturday 16th June
Completely solo again, played quite well, a great night all round.

Deep Joy, Windsor Arts Centre, Saturday 27th January
Working under the name of Deep Joy (previously used for a short-lived nineties ambient project), long-term musical associate and close friend Martin Franklin and I put together a 30 minute set, based around some of my tried and tested guitar loops. Martin added various exotic sounds and rhythms from his laptop and an old SH101 synthesizer to create something much more interesting than my soundscapes by themselves. Sections of the live recording are likely to find their way onto the next Tim Burness album. Very enjoyable indeed. Thanks to Graham Steel and Dave Gilbrook.

Windsor Arts Centre (RIP)

Martin Franklin

2006

Strawberry Social Event, Hove, Sunday 17th September
Due to a few "logistical problems" on the day I didn't actually play. You win some, you lose some!

Bodhi Garden Buddhist Festival, Patcham, Brighton, Sunday 11th June
An extended ambient soundcapes set, in the afternoon sunshine. I provided a background atmosphere while people browsed Nepalese paintings, Tibetan singing bowls or attended an Alexander Technique demonstration in the main building. I have been asked to come back next year and play for longer.

Private Garden Party and Alzheimers Society Benefit (two sets), Duxford near Cambridge, Sunday 28th May
A semi-improvised guitar soundscapes set again in the afternoon sunshine, slightly rockier than usual. A short set of songs in the evening featuring 'Love Is In Control', 'Love Is For Giving', 'I Don't Know What's Good For Me' and 'Be What You Want To Be'. The songs went down well, particularly with the chickens. Thanks to Tim, Kate and the Hooper clan, Martin and all the other performers throughout the day for such a nice atmosphere. A healthy sum of money was raised.

Electric guitar soundscapes in an English country garden

Giving it some vocal

"Just put your beak on this fret here..."

Windsor Arts Centre, Windsor, Monday 17th April
Nice to visit this venue again, where I first played in 1983 if I remember correctly. I appeared this time as part of a guitar festival over the Bank Holiday, and played a full solo set of old and new Burness songs. I enjoyed it once I'd warmed up a bit, but not one of my best performances to be honest. I may be returning there later in the year.

November 2004 To December 2005

In November I played a lengthy electric ambient set for a local branch of the mental health organization MIND at their AGM, thank you to my good buddy Paddi Mobbs. In December I played a similar shorter set at Southlands Hospital (home of my dayjob) at their Christmas party, thank you Phil Morris esquire. One of the other acts at the hospital was some very accomplished belly dancers!

MIND, November 2004

Southlands Hospital, December 2004

Paul Baker kindly asked me on to do a live spot for his show on ARFM on 13th February 2005 and a good time was had by all. About half of "Finding New Ways To Love" was aired and Mr. Baker asked me some probing questions in between tracks. I played three live songs which went well, apart from dropping my plectrum in the middle of "Be What You Want To Be", which together with other technical hitches was proof that this was very much LIVE radio! I may be putting some of this up here for downloading soon. Paul is a splendid fellow and does a great show on Sunday, go to arfm.co.uk for details.

I played at a successful Buddhist festival in Brighton on 11th June and a private party at the end of July, both will be repeated next year.

In October 2005 I appeared at The Muse in Portobello Road (London) for a very successful ambient set in the art gallery. I've always loved this part of London and it was a great night. This was a completely appropriate environment for the guitar soundscapes I have been developing over the last few years, and everyone there seemed to enjoy one of my best performances. Great vibe! Thanks to ambient maestro Martin A. Smith.

Following our recent successful recording sessions, I now feel that full band gigs must be on the cards in the next year or two, but probably not until the next album is released.

Paul Baker interview February 2005

The Muse, Portobello Road, London