DAVID ROTHERAY
Chalkwell Hall
Sunday 21st November
7pm to 10pm
As part of his ‘Life of Birds’ March 2011 tour, consummate songwriter and performer David Rotheray, will be appearing at Edge Hill on Sunday March 27th for an evening of acoustic music. Following his enchanting performance at Metal’s Chalkwell Hall last November, David will again be presenting his acclaimed 2010 ‘Life of Birds’ album. The evening will feature young folk stars Bella Hardy and Jim Causley on vocals and a guest appearance by Irish singer/songstress Eleanor McEvoy. In an evening of accoustic music, Hull-based songwriter David Rotheray performed his highly acclaimed 2010 album, 'The Life of Birds' at Chalkwell Hall on November 21st. This performance also featured guest vocalists Bella Hardy and Jim Causley.
Edge Hill Station
Sunday 27th March
7pm to 10pm
As part of his ‘Life of Birds’ March 2011 tour, consummate songwriter and performer David Rotheray, appeared at Edge Hill for an evening of acoustic music. Following his enchanting performance at Metal’s Chalkwell Hall in November 2010, David presented his acclaimed 2010 ‘Life of Birds’ album. The evening also featured young folk stars Bella Hardy and Jim Causley on vocals and a guest appearance by Irish singer/songstress Eleanor McEvoy.
BIOGRAPHY
Highly aclaimed, and considerably successful, songwriter David Rotheray, released his first eponymous album in July 2010, through Proper Records. Entitled "The Life Of Birds", (with only the tiniest nod in the direction of the David Attenborough TV series), the album is apparently intended as a 'modern folk concept album'. Although a 'solo' effort, the record in fact features collaborations with ten different singer/songwriters drawn from the contemporary scene: Kathryn Williams, Alasdair Roberts, Jim Causley, Eliza Carthy, Camille O'Sullivan, Bella Hardy, Julie Murphy, Nat Johnson, Eleanor McEvoy and Jack L.
Despite the array of talents on show, this is no sense a compilation album: David Rotheray has arranged and produced all the tracks, and written all the lyrics, which follow a vaguely ornithological theme.
The resulting record is an intriguing collision between Nashville and Whitby, with Rotheray's country instincts blending quite naturally with the generally more folky leanings of his collaborators.
Several of the new songs follow the putative feathery theme, with "The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale (Parts I and II)" - a comically acid sideswipe at the music industry sung by Jim Causley - forming a conceptual centrepiece. But the lyrical content is varied, strangely including two songs on the subject of Alzheimer's disease - one from a positive point of view ("Sweet Forgetfulness", sung by Camille O'Sullivan) and one from a negative ("Almost Beautiful", sung by Eleanor McEvoy). A particular highlight is "The Road To The North", a heartfelt, homesick lament for Rotheray's home town of Hull, sung by fellow north-easterner Eliza Carthy.
A brief history
Born 9/2/1963, Aquarius (Year Of The Rabbit), in Hull, East Yorkshire, the fifth of five children. Before becoming a recording artist and songwriter, David worked at Needler’s sweet factory (as fitter’s mate), Sorrento Chip Shop (later ‘Double Happiness Chinese/English Takeaway’) as potato technician, Willis Ludlow’s Dept Store (floor coverings section, warehouse duties). He also attended Sir Henry Cooper High School (1976-1981) then studied psychology at Hull University (1981-1988) , working for 4 years as part of the Educational Technology Research Group. Played in various local bands from the age of 13. In 1988 formed crypto-vegetarian pop group ‘The Beautiful South’ with songwriting partner Paul Heaton, and signed to Go! Discs records. Over the next 19 years the band released ten albums plus various compilations, most famously ‘Carry On Up The Charts’ (1995). The Beautiful South finally split up in 2007. Also formed the acoustic folk band 'Homespun' as a side project in 2003, and released 3 albums on his own ‘Homespun Recordings’ label. Homespun split in 2008.
Quotes from the critics for Homespun:
“. . . a dozen clever, country-tinged tunes that have their heart in Texas and their soul in a bed-sit in Hull.” The Times 2005
“If it must be branded folk music, then it’s folk without the corduroy connotations and shot through with deadpan humour and melancholy that leaves tiny bruises in its wake.” Q 2003
“The subtle British humour of the Beautiful South is ever present in Rotheray’s lyrics, turning the everyday into objects of musical poetry . . .” Maverick 2005
THE ALBUM, TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. “The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale”. Sung by Jim Causley this was the first song written for the album, and the one that kicked off the notional bird theme. A cynical- but light-hearted - allegory concerning music and greed.
2. “Living Before The war”. Co-written with Eleanor McEvoy, sung by Bella Hardy. A musing on the mixed blessings brought by puberty and sexual awareness
3. “The Road To The South”. A song about all my schoolfriends who migrated to London in search of work, dedicated to all those who are homesick for Hull. Sung beautifully by fellow north-easterner Eliza Carthy.
4. “Crows, Ravens & Rooks”. Sung and co-written by the still-young Kathryn Williams, this is a middle-aged reflection on the virtues of monogamy.
5. “Draughty Old Fortress”. A lyric written about people, from Monty Burns to Citizen Kane, who buy slightly too-big houses (and then feel compelled to protect them with hounds). A suitably Gothic melody is provided, and sung, by Alasdair Roberts.
6. “Sweet Forgetfulness” - a look at Alzheimer’s disease from the positive point of view of someone with no good memories to lose. Sung with commitment by Camille O’Sullivan.
7.”The Hummingbird On Your Calendar” - a cosmic musing on the effable nature of time, sung as a duet by Bella Hardy and Jim Causley.
8. “Taller Than Me’ - sung by Julie Murphy from the piano, using a lyric I slightly ripped off from a German poet who is no position to object
9. “Almost Beautiful”. A second song about Alzheimer’s disease, this time from a negative viewpoint. Eleanor McEvoy provides the tune and vocals.
10. “Flying Lessons”. Not actually anything to with birds at all, this was a song inspired by Andrew Smith’s book ‘Moondust’ - featuring interviews with all the astronauts to have stood on the moon. Tune and vocal provided by Sheffield’s finest - Nat Johnson.
11. “The Best Excuse In The World (Is The Truth)”. Based on a gay man who kept the truth from his wife until late middle age. But it could apply to the hoarding of any secret. Sung with wonderful conviction by Jack L.
12. “The Digital Cuckoo”. A technophobe rails against alarm clocks. Sung by Bella Hardy, who also co-wrote the tune.
13. “Cover Your Garden Over’. An indictment of short-term thinking and instant gratification, written after watching “X-Factor”, then going outside to see my neighbour concreting over his grass verge. A strangely beautiful melody written by Eliza Carthy, who also sings and plays her miniature red guitar.
14. “The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale Part II”. All the bile left over from Part I is poured out in jolly fashion by Jim Causley. This also satisfies a long-standing ambition to write an album with ‘bookends’ (ever since hearing the album ‘Bookends’, by the way).
Tickets are priced at £5 and are available from http://davidrotherayliverpool.eventbrite.com
DAVID ROTHERAY
Chalkwell Hall - Sunday 21st November 2010
As part of his ‘Life of Birds’ March 2011 tour, consummate songwriter and performer David Rotheray, will be appearing at Edge Hill on Sunday March 27th for an evening of acoustic music. Following his enchanting performance at Metal’s Chalkwell Hall last November, David will again be presenting his acclaimed 2010 ‘Life of Birds’ album. The evening will feature young folk stars Bella Hardy and Jim Causley on vocals and a guest appearance by Irish singer/songstress Eleanor McEvoy. In an evening of accoustic music, Hull-based songwriter David Rotheray performed his highly acclaimed 2010 album, 'The Life of Birds' at Chalkwell Hall on November 21st. This performance also featured guest vocalists Bella Hardy and Jim Causley.
Edge Hill Station - Sunday 27th March 2011
As part of his ‘Life of Birds’ March 2011 tour, consummate songwriter and performer David Rotheray, appeared at Edge Hill for an evening of acoustic music. Following his enchanting performance at Metal’s Chalkwell Hall in November 2010, David presented his acclaimed 2010 ‘Life of Birds’ album. The evening also featured young folk stars Bella Hardy and Jim Causley on vocals and a guest appearance by Irish singer/songstress Eleanor McEvoy.
BIOGRAPHY
Highly aclaimed, and considerably successful, songwriter David Rotheray, released his first eponymous album in July 2010, through Proper Records. Entitled "The Life Of Birds", (with only the tiniest nod in the direction of the David Attenborough TV series), the album is apparently intended as a 'modern folk concept album'. Although a 'solo' effort, the record in fact features collaborations with ten different singer/songwriters drawn from the contemporary scene: Kathryn Williams, Alasdair Roberts, Jim Causley, Eliza Carthy, Camille O'Sullivan, Bella Hardy, Julie Murphy, Nat Johnson, Eleanor McEvoy and Jack L.
Despite the array of talents on show, this is no sense a compilation album: David Rotheray has arranged and produced all the tracks, and written all the lyrics, which follow a vaguely ornithological theme.
The resulting record is an intriguing collision between Nashville and Whitby, with Rotheray's country instincts blending quite naturally with the generally more folky leanings of his collaborators.
Several of the new songs follow the putative feathery theme, with "The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale (Parts I and II)" - a comically acid sideswipe at the music industry sung by Jim Causley - forming a conceptual centrepiece. But the lyrical content is varied, strangely including two songs on the subject of Alzheimer's disease - one from a positive point of view ("Sweet Forgetfulness", sung by Camille O'Sullivan) and one from a negative ("Almost Beautiful", sung by Eleanor McEvoy). A particular highlight is "The Road To The North", a heartfelt, homesick lament for Rotheray's home town of Hull, sung by fellow north-easterner Eliza Carthy.
BRIEF HISTORY
Born 9/2/1963, Aquarius (Year Of The Rabbit), in Hull, East Yorkshire, the fifth of five children. Before becoming a recording artist and songwriter, David worked at Needler’s sweet factory (as fitter’s mate), Sorrento Chip Shop (later ‘Double Happiness Chinese/English Takeaway’) as potato technician, Willis Ludlow’s Dept Store (floor coverings section, warehouse duties). He also attended Sir Henry Cooper High School (1976-1981) then studied psychology at Hull University (1981-1988) , working for 4 years as part of the Educational Technology Research Group. Played in various local bands from the age of 13. In 1988 formed crypto-vegetarian pop group ‘The Beautiful South’ with songwriting partner Paul Heaton, and signed to Go! Discs records. Over the next 19 years the band released ten albums plus various compilations, most famously ‘Carry On Up The Charts’ (1995). The Beautiful South finally split up in 2007. Also formed the acoustic folk band 'Homespun' as a side project in 2003, and released 3 albums on his own ‘Homespun Recordings’ label. Homespun split in 2008.
Quotes from the critics for Homespun:
“. . . a dozen clever, country-tinged tunes that have their heart in Texas and their soul in a bed-sit in Hull.” The Times 2005
“If it must be branded folk music, then it’s folk without the corduroy connotations and shot through with deadpan humour and melancholy that leaves tiny bruises in its wake.” Q 2003
“The subtle British humour of the Beautiful South is ever present in Rotheray’s lyrics, turning the everyday into objects of musical poetry . . .” Maverick 2005
THE ALBUM, TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. “The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale”. Sung by Jim Causley this was the first song written for the album, and the one that kicked off the notional bird theme. A cynical- but light-hearted - allegory concerning music and greed.
2. “Living Before The war”. Co-written with Eleanor McEvoy, sung by Bella Hardy. A musing on the mixed blessings brought by puberty and sexual awareness
3. “The Road To The South”. A song about all my schoolfriends who migrated to London in search of work, dedicated to all those who are homesick for Hull. Sung beautifully by fellow north-easterner Eliza Carthy.
4. “Crows, Ravens & Rooks”. Sung and co-written by the still-young Kathryn Williams, this is a middle-aged reflection on the virtues of monogamy.
5. “Draughty Old Fortress”. A lyric written about people, from Monty Burns to Citizen Kane, who buy slightly too-big houses (and then feel compelled to protect them with hounds). A suitably Gothic melody is provided, and sung, by Alasdair Roberts.
6. “Sweet Forgetfulness” - a look at Alzheimer’s disease from the positive point of view of someone with no good memories to lose. Sung with commitment by Camille O’Sullivan.
7.”The Hummingbird On Your Calendar” - a cosmic musing on the effable nature of time, sung as a duet by Bella Hardy and Jim Causley.
8. “Taller Than Me’ - sung by Julie Murphy from the piano, using a lyric I slightly ripped off from a German poet who is no position to object
9. “Almost Beautiful”. A second song about Alzheimer’s disease, this time from a negative viewpoint. Eleanor McEvoy provides the tune and vocals.
10. “Flying Lessons”. Not actually anything to with birds at all, this was a song inspired by Andrew Smith’s book ‘Moondust’ - featuring interviews with all the astronauts to have stood on the moon. Tune and vocal provided by Sheffield’s finest - Nat Johnson.
11. “The Best Excuse In The World (Is The Truth)”. Based on a gay man who kept the truth from his wife until late middle age. But it could apply to the hoarding of any secret. Sung with wonderful conviction by Jack L.
12. “The Digital Cuckoo”. A technophobe rails against alarm clocks. Sung by Bella Hardy, who also co-wrote the tune.
13. “Cover Your Garden Over’. An indictment of short-term thinking and instant gratification, written after watching “X-Factor”, then going outside to see my neighbour concreting over his grass verge. A strangely beautiful melody written by Eliza Carthy, who also sings and plays her miniature red guitar.
14. “The Sparrow, The Thrush & The Nightingale Part II”. All the bile left over from Part I is poured out in jolly fashion by Jim Causley. This also satisfies a long-standing ambition to write an album with ‘bookends’ (ever since hearing the album ‘Bookends’, by the way).
