Music and politics have an uncomfortable arrangement. Creativity lends it's self to social commentary. Some of the best political pundits have been singer/songwriters over the years.

Music is a great place to channel passion, love, anger, anti-this, pro-that, songs can be thought provoking, persuasive, a great way of getting a point across. A speech compressed to three and a half minutes with a backing.

I've got a huge amount of respect for a songwriter that can pick up on something that's happening and turn it into a passionate view of the world. A view that picks up on a stupid idea and turns it on it's head.

Regardless of your views on the wars that we've been involved in, all but the harshest critic can find space in their heart for the soldiers, sailors and airmen that have been deployed to fight them. At the mercy of political failure, potentially laying down their lives for other people's ideals.

Imagine how someone in the frontline would feel to hear that if the Tories get in Cameron wants to take the civil servants at the Ministry of Defence out of suits and put them in uniforms. Great David divert resources from the men at the front so the blokes driving the desks thousands of miles away can look like soldiers. How about putting the money into something important like body armour for those actually being shot at with real bullets rather than brick bats.

Style over substance has been the curse of the naughties, let's hope substance makes a comeback in the next decade.

I wish I was poetic enough to turn my anger into a song, but I'm not, please excuse the rant

Neil

Slightly different today I'm coming out with a request, well a couple actually.

It's coming up to that time of year where we traditionally look back at the current year and towards the next. As part of our end of year piece I'm looking for people's thoughts on 2009 and towards 2010.

If you wouldn't mind jotting something down and mailing it to 2009@fatea.co.uk add a picture if you like, and we'll do our best to include it in our end of year review.

We're also thinking about the end of year awards so if you think there's something, a band, a song, an album that you thing deserves recognition, please let us know.

Finally we're on the look put for more contributors I think we've got one of the best writing teams of any indie web based magazine, especially as we all do it because we enjoy it, but there's only so much we can do and so much area we can cover. If you're up for writing the odd article or review, please get in touch.

Cheers

Neil

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I've been listening to two very different albums, Katharine Blake's "Midnight Flower" and "Pawnshop" from Grant Peeples. In some ways the albums are opposites, delicate English gothic folk, layered and textured and rough edged American country and yet on both albums you could hear the love and passion for the music coming through.

So, at the risk of sounding like Bill Hicks, why do we accept the mediocre, soulless tosh that is fostered upon us by tv and radio everyday. Are we infecting our kids with the message that style really is better than substance, that convenience is a substitute for quality.

It's the same with buying music. It's convenient just to log on to i-tunes, but is it the best thing to do. Apple don't make music, they don't contribute to it's future, they just use it to sell their media players, which may not sound as good as a proper set up, but at least it's convenient.

Is it really too much hassle to go to an artist's site and buy direct? Don't we owe it to ourselves and those around us to actually spend some time thinking about quality rather than easy access.

Music is one of the few artistic mediums where everyone really can have the opportunity to own the best in the world or at least own something the artists have put their spirit into and all it takes is that bit of extra effort

Cheers

Neil

Things are starting to get back to normal now that management have seen sense and decided to talk to the postman in a more honest and open way. It's meant that there's been a short term surge of releases coming through the office. Similarly we'll get out the packages we've been hoarding.

Don't worry we will get around to reviewing everything as soon as we can. We've also had a good batch of interviews arrive from our writers around the country so keep your eyes out for those.

The new download is going well and if you haven't got it already go along to the website and help yourself to a copy, www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk it really is packed full of excellent tracks.

Today has had me thinking about those that have been lost to conflict during my lifetime and the songs that have commemorated those that have been involved in conflict, the effects on those left behind and the people that sent them. Today is about remembering not just the dead, but those that have survived. As people we seem closer to November 11th than we did even a few short years ago.

It's been a busy week, a workshop, two gigs and another gig to go on Sunday if all goes to plan.

I love workshops, the one I did this week had support from the Princes Trust, I was covering media, which wasn't as popular as sound desk and stage craft, but is an important part of the equation for a band. An office slogan is "It's easier than ever to record a cd and harder than ever to get it heard" Can't name everyone, but there are some really good young bands out there waiting to become names.

Already mention the Dave Pegg/Mark Evans Birthday Bash, just finished working on the pics from that. Also just finished doing the pics from Thursday night at Bournemouth Folk Club. Really good night plenty to see and hear. As well as the headliners, Tuppenny Jack, really should mention two of the other performers, Raed Alshaikh wh has only been in the country five weeks, but still has the bottle to play with an unfamiliar instrument whilst singing in Arabic. Also Sara Zouzou, who despite her nerves appears to have that all important commmodity, stage presence. A great night.

Megson tomorrow, so as I say, a busy week.

Quick question. When does an EP become a mini-album ?

Have a great weekend

Neil

As part of my commitment to the new year, I have resolved to pay more attention to the Fatea blog, which was feeling a bit neglected.

Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the Dave Pegg Birthday Bash at Nettlebed. It was my first time at the venue and I was really impressed. Built by the Fleming family of James Bond fame, wooden beams, wood panels, great acoustics and a self contained bar. What more could you want.

Actually it was a double birthday bash as Mark Evans from Red Shoes, who were part of the evening as well, was also celebrating another year. It was run like a giant session with the artists chopping and changing during the evening. That those artists consisted of afore mentioned Dave Pegg, fellow Fairporter, Chris Leslie, Carolyn Evans(also of Red Shoes), PJ Wright, Anna Ryder and Tom Leary. (Ric Sanders was spotted in the audience)

Blistering is the only word that can describe the night, folk, blues and rock 'n' roll all got an outing, everyone had a really good time and there was birthday cake, what more could you want?

A full english this morning was followed by a farewell coffee with a number of last night's musicians, all up surprisingly early.

The drive back was in some of the worst driving weather I've ever encountered, the rain was virtually solid at one point as the M27 slowed to about 15mph.

Bought fireworks on the way home, so that's ready for the weekend, but there's a lot for them to live up to.

Cheers

Neil

Hosted By:
RoseRed

When:
13 November 2009

Where:
Fazz Filmz
33 Woodside Road
Plaistow
E13 8RX

Description:
The day is nigh when i turn 105 years old! and i really wanted to celebrate this day with releasing my album BUT alas there is still many things to do and i wont make it for November 13th and its best at this stage not to rush things. SO instead i invite YOU to the next best thing! Which is a PRE-LAUNCH/PIXIE HORROR BIRTHDAY GATHERING BONANZA! featuring an exclusive PIXIE MUSIC taster.

Click Here To View Event

Hosted By:
Neilfatea

When:
01 November 2009

Where:
Online
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk

Description:
Your first chance to download the latest Fatea Showcase Session. Featuring 17 top tracks, Winter 09:All features a great collection of artists highlighting the talent that is waiting to be heard. Featuring blues, folk, country, singer/songwriter, traditional and contemporary recordings All is the last of the 09 series

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Hosted By:
Neilfatea

When:
30 June 2009

Where:
Bourne Beat Hotel
12 Priory Road
Bournemouth
BH2 5DG

Description:
Sean Taylor comes to the Fatea Showcase Session LIVE on the back of a performance on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury. He's three albums to the good, picking up a brace of 5 star reviews in Maverick for his blues based sound Fearne fuse catchy melodies with driving bass for songs about celebrity culture, love and life. Rising stars of South Coast music

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