Hey peeps,

I guess I should have mentioned this earlier, but in December Foxie from Bleeding Hearts got in touch with me regarding depping for the band.

I accepted, and am already on the road with the guys. Having a great time. Great songs, good musicianship and a cool bunch of people. Who knows where it will lead, but you can at least add their myspace page to your 'portfolio' ;)

www.myspace.com/bleedingheartsonline

m

28/09/08 K-Passa - more than a one off gig?
Just got back from the K-Passa gig in Bristol - and totally loved it. Whilst I'm enjoying playing the ceilidh stuff with MoonDance, it's not exactly what 'madfiddler' has been about, and I'm on a complete high from being a "rock god" again - it's been 4 years since Blue Horses.

Anyway, having chatted with Simon Edwards it seems that there will be a few K-Passa gigs throughout the year, he's after quality not quantity, and I'm happy to oblige, so it looks like I'll be doing a few more gigs with them. I'm really pleased about this. It's been seven years, what happened happened - move on. There's certainly some chemistry on stage between Simon and I, and that sort of thing is rare - and shouldn't be lost.... More when it comes on that one.

So, I get a PM about this guy on myspace called Jeremy Sharp

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=97810588

It pointed out that, that Jeremy has included one of my electric violin tunes on his Myspace profile claiming that it is his.

The track in question he calls "Effects on Strings" and is in fact a track I wrote in 2005, simply called Rock Improv - which you can download the mp3 from http://www.madfiddler.co.uk/audio/madfiddler_rock_improv_01.mp3

If copyright comes into question, I can supply the Cubase SX3 project file, and details of the synthesizers used to create this track, and concise details on the effects used to create the violin sound.

Knowing what I know, in that Jeremy neither composed nor performed on this track, I would also question which other tracks on his Myspace profile are actually his.

Rather than confront Jeremy directly, I have chosen to embarrass him as much as I can through the internet. I own the Fiddle and Alternative Strings Forum which is the largest online community for electric violinists, and am also well known on the manufacturer's sites that Jeremy claims to play instruments of.

I would ask of you that you pass this message around to any music professionals that you know, if just to prove that with the internet what you see isn't necessarily what you get.

Thanks for your time,

Mark Knight / www.madfiddler.co.uk

Well, I've had an enjoyable 15 months with Silver Dogs, but unfortunately I need to be in a position to earn more cash playing the violin. Since I was made redundant I have had to rely on earning cash via means than video games. Namely, playing the violin, and it's got to a point where I simply need to be earning more cash in the evenings. I will be honouring the gigs already booked with the band, until they find a new fiddle player who is confident enough to take over, and you will still find me teaching at the Community Centre in Chorley on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

I guess I also haven't mentioned that a mini-madfiddler is on the way, due at the end of January and since I'm going to become a Dad for the first time, the need to earn money is more important than ever.

Hey ho peeps, I've been a tad lax updating things, and so much has happened since the last update, which was almost a year ago I'm sorry to say.

Well, was made redunant AGAIN! EA shut down the studio. Was offered relocation to Guildford but frankly I'm sick of moving now. Need to call somewhere home. Hasn't been good on the job front. I'm "too experienced" to get a full time job - haha, we all know what that means! Anyway, decided to go freelance again. But this time not only concentrating on music composition and sound design, but also on session work, gigs and teaching. I guess it's early days still, but I feel it's the right way to go even if the financial implications are harsh at the moment.

Things are going swimingly with the Silver Dogs - really enjoying playing with them, and hopefully we're starting to get a small, but good, reputation now. Also playing for a few other peeps around the area, so keep an eye out, you never know.

Perhaps most importantly, I've got my first ever solo gig. I'm supporting an electric violinist called Sarah Tuke on the 4th May near Birmingham. Check out the gig page for details. Would be good to get some support there from people I know, if you're not doing anything. I may try to get a small EP done by then to sell on the day, who knows.

That's it for now, m

2 1/2 weeks ago I agreed to start playing with a band based in Chorley called Silver Dogs and last night (well tonight cos I haven't gone to bed yet) I did my first gig with them - a rather lovely festival in Biddulph called 'Folk in the Park'. We were the 2nd to last band one, and I really think we rocked. It took its toll though, having not done a proper 'madfiddler' gig for over 3 years the 1 hour set has left me totally knackered. All that jumping around etc. etc. Anyway, it was fab fun.

Nesli and I are off on holiday now visiting her family, but when we get back then it will be time to learn the rest of the set and start writing some new numbers... where I'm sure there will be a definate 'madfiddler' influence... Looking forward to it. As well as being excellent musicians, the nice thing about this band is that the musicians are also really nice people. I'm looking forward to building the same sort of relationship that I experienced with TUT. Speaking of TUT, I have a meet when I get back with a drummer, bassist and guitarist with regards to getting that back on the road. I don't expect either band to get in the way of each other, since both bands are (or will be) only interested in quality gigs, which may well not happen every week.

Tell you what's amazing. I changed the word Dundee to Manchester (ok, Warrington haha) on this website, and the phone started ringing.. I had three bands, a solo artists, and a dance music label get in touch within the 1st three months.. Can't be bad...

Was testing out a new piece of effects software on the PC today, and decided to turn it into a quick track for all to here - the website is in serious need of some more up to date recordings anyway.

njoi!

http://www.madfiddler.co.uk/audio/madfiddler_rock_improv_01.mp3

If you're a violinist, violist, cellist, bassist etc... then you need to join my Fiddle and Alternative Strings forum.

Doesn't matter if you play acoustic or electric instruments, there's something there for everyone.

http://www.fiddleforum.com

tt4n,

Mark.