I WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO THIS KIND OF THING

In the normal course of events, I don't usually go in for plugging stuff. But I'll make an exception today.

First of all, I'm going to mention a temporary exhibition at a Museum & Art Gallery. No wait, come back and hear me out, cos I'm not going to thrust some second-rate opinions about paintings and sculpture on you....this is an exhibition devoted to football.

Some of you might know that I'm a fan of Raith Rovers FC....I suspect most of you don't care one bit. But the club is 125 years old now, and to celebrate the anniversary, some fans have put together an exhibition of material including strips, programmes and photographs from their own collections. One of the driving forces behind the exhibition is a good mate of mine called John Greer (he's also someone who is contributing to the upcoming series of guest posts), and I was lucky enough to be asked along by John to the official opening. All I'll say is that he has done a stunning job....so if in the unlikely event you find yourself in the vicinity of the town of Kirkcaldy in the Kingdom of Fife between now and Sunday 24th May, get yourself along to the local Museum & Art Gallery. Full details are here.

This song goes out to the aforementioned Mr Greer:-

mp3 : Soft Cell - Memorabilia

The second thing to get a mention is a forthcoming bio of the great Martin Stephenson that is being published on 1st June. Here's what the advance publicity is saying:-

The Song Of The Soul is the story of a unique musical troubadour.

Born in Washington, Tyne & Wear on 27th July 1961, Martin Stephenson has devoted his life to developing his craft as a singer, songwriter and guitarist incorporating his love for an eclectic range of musical styles from pop and folk through to bluegrass and punk.

In the early 80s he formed The Daintees, a collaboration with like-minded souls, who produced several critically acclaimed albums. However, Stephenson’s purist tendencies sat uncomfortably with the mainstream record industry leading him to shun the populist route and plough an increasingly humble, low-key furrow. Many lesser souls would have bowed out after a series of strong solo albums fell on so many deaf ears – and live performances began to turn into battles; against ignorant audiences and, most pointedly, the bottle.

Such a determined talent could not be suppressed and after recharging his batteries in the Highlands of Scotland, Martin Stephenson returned to stunning and prolific form. By harnessing the power of the internet, Martin brought together a hardcore of fans to create a unique two-way communication; rediscovering the traditions of American bluegrass playing and reforming his beloved Daintees for a glorious series of gigs that have now become an annual event.

This burst of creative energy has continued with The Daintees recently returning to the studio for the first time in 16 years. The resulting album, Western Eagle, was released in March 2008 to glowing reviews in the major music publications.

The Song Of The Soul captures the restless, musical spirit of a man who has proved that talent and independence can not only survive but thrive in the music scene of the new millennium.

It's an authorised biography that has been written by Richard Cundill and Mark Bradley and it is being published by Ardra Press. It costs £11.99 including P&P, and is available by clicking here. *

I've already ordered my own copy.

mp3 : Martin Stephenson & The Daintees - In The Heal Of The Night

Happy Listening.

* link provided before 3.30pm was wrong!! Sorry for any confusion caused.