I'm
not going to update this site anymore. For any current info go to
MySpace sites Chas Ambler and C C Ambler (for music) where there are
ten new songs (as of Oct 09)
Greg Morgan
has got an album deal with Slam Records and we're in the studio this
week to record (at the wonderful OrangeWest Studio with Alan Gregson)
I've got to do a sound picture of a nervous breakdown or something, which is a piece of piss for me.
Made a flying visit to BeatHerder Festival in Gisburn
(thanks to Vicky for the silver wristband), which is a charming event
with a festival organisation that got the best press from all and
sundry - traders, performers, punters - that I've ever experienced.
Didn't see any of them - I think they work.
Glastonbury was fun as usual:
my car broke down on Gate 2 as I arrived and had to be towed on site by
the AA - and then relayed (in 4 hops) after the festival (for which
many thanks to Jonathon Cainer for the use of his card.
Your Dad weren't playing (Ian was being as actor somewhere else) and
the job I was doing finished on Friday so in theory I should have been
able to see loads of stuff - but managed 2 numbers from Bruce
Springsteen, Ray Davies' encores, part of a really good band called
Doublestuff or something and Lunaloops who were charming. The only
thing I saw all the way through was Georgie Fame who was as groovy as
ever ( and such a relief to see him without having to endure that
appalling creep Van Morrison).
I had my usual idyllic time riding round and seeing my mates. One year
I suppose I'll have to watch the music, but at present I only see
people who have got a chance of dying before i see them again - James
Brown, Johnny Cash, Skatallites, Leonard Cohen etc.
The
Guns of Navarone emerged from a fallow period and was sounding good at
the Stonewell the other night. Now being led by Pete Moser, which is a
great relief to me.
Latest Music - I'm currently writing short songs (under 2 minutes)
and I like them, check them out on www.myspace.com/ccambler
Gaza benefit made £300 and went
down pretty well. Unfortunately it was on the same night as Rednose day
which probably reduced the audience (although few would own up that
that's the reason they weren't there). Thanks to all involved.
South Africans
I must say the white South Africans I met were less racist than the
average English person. One thing, of course, that the apratheid regime
never did was create a separate road system for the inferior race -
unlike that beacon of democracy, Isreal.
Interesting trip to South Africa at the
beginning of January. Met a few family members I had never met before
and at least one that I didn't know existed. When I complained to her
that the only black people I had spoken to were taxi drivers she said I
should take her shop assistant, Zandi, to tea at the cafe at the end of
the row. I did and we were half way through ordering when Zandi stold
me that this was the first time she had ever been in a cafe to have tea
- she had never been able to afford it. It puts it all in perspective
really.
Also interesting was the autobiography of my great-uncle Edgar Adeler
that my 87 year-old cousin, his daughter, gave me. More of that later.
Frantic September
Another frantic month in September. Your Dad at
the gregson went down well. Unfortunately we couldn't get Biggles 'cos
we just didn't sell enough tickets. Next time, maybe. Guns of
Navarone at the Stonewell was a gas, as was Archie and Bohannon. I've
been playing at the Midland Hotel which is a strange experience. Urban
Splash have spent 7 million on the gaff but forgotten to buy any
furniture for the foyer (other than a couple of very strange seats with
wings on them). I've started recording my own stuff at OrangeWest
Studios in Preston (hear some of the results at MySpace.com/ccambler).
My mother is singing great at the Seagull at the Hothouse on thursdays
this month (she's 91).
August
Has been extremely busy and a bit exhausting - not that I'm
complaining. Four well paid gigs with Stuff like That, four festivals,
gigs with Archie & Bohannon, More Music, Bill Lloyd, Tony Allen,
Sir Gideon Vein, Greg Morgan etc etc.
Kendal Calling
Was the least interesting festival - a mud bath full of what my son
calls 'chavs'. However the Guns of Navarone sounded great (despite the
absence of our (ex)guitarist) and went down a storm. Thanks to Robin
May (www.robinmay.co.uk) for depping on guitar at five minutes
notice.
Northern Green
Gathering was again soggy but fun. Very quiet and full of northerners
(which was a treat after all the southern festivals I've been doing).
Bill Lloyd was running the session tent, but it turned into a dance
tent with dozens of sweating youngsters dancing to banjo, harmonium and
fiddle - strange.
Croissant Neuf
Summer Party
Was held on a good site at Usk, Monmouthshire. As I was
driving there I was thinkng 'it's going to be eleven before I get
there. I bet they won't let me drive on site. Where am i going to camp
etc etc. As I arrived at the gate and saw Bobby I realised the gate
crew was the one I've worked in myself at Glastonbury. I parked up with
them and didn't actually get into site until 4 o/c the following day -
I was enjoying the company too much. The security boys - Spanner
and Budge - were particularly interesting. At last we're starting to
get security personnel with a true love of, and understanding of
festivals. We had a report back from Big Green Gathering directors
during the event, and it would appear things are going alright in that
department, with Stuart Galbraith's power (Stuart is the 'angel' from
the commercial festival market who came in offering £150K - but
can now only deliver £50) diminished but his usefulness intact.
Unfortunately it absolutely bucketed down throughout Saturday and I'm
afraid I saw no bands. Met the marvellous Biggles though, and they've
agreed to support Your Dad in their upcoming return to Lancaster gig on
September 12th at the Gregson. Also appearing is rising star Steff Pope
- well worth seeing.
Your Dad
were
supposed to be appearing at CNSP, but Sally forgot to book a slot for
us ( I don't think she likes the act , really). Also cancelled was the
Dads appearence at the final festival of the season, for me, in
Ireland. Ian couldn't afford to get there - nor could I once I'd
factored in £45 for parking at Liverpol Airport, but I was
already on my way. Flat Lake is a literary festival in County Monaghan.
Seamus Heaney and Edna O'Brian were top of the bill and I went to play
with the cabaret organised by my old mate Tony Allen (founder of the
Alternative Cabaret) and including Sir Gideon Vein (Tony Green) and the
impressive WhatsHerName (Monika). Talking of old mates called Allen,
Keith Allen was there. First time I've seen him since Glastonbury in
the eighties. Such a courteous man when he's not showing off on the
telly. His brother Kevin is the festival organiser, having married into
a posh Irish family and got the use of the exquisite Hylton Park site.
However it again pissed down throughout Saturday. I had to leave on
Sunday to catch my plane on Monday morning, and wound up sticking a
pallet on some tyres in a cow yard near the airport and kipping in my
sleeping bag for the night.
25/7/8
- You Tube of Guns of Navarone at Glasson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ZwrDZW0UE
And one of me on the
harmonium in the church at Glasson
Band From Uncle
23/7/8 - Entertaining outing of the revived Band From Uncle, with new bass player Matt Black particularly impressive.
Slick Serenaders
20/7/8
- What seems to be an annual outing of the Slick Serenaders (my
vibraphone outfit with Paul Guppy and Barrie Marshall) for the degree
shindigs at Lancaster University. Always nice to play a bit of
mainstream jazz.
Your Dad Had A
Great Glastonbury
13/7/8 - Your Dad had a
great Glastonbury, finishing with the entire audience on stage chanting
"Your Dad, Your Dad". Then a week later we did Workhouse Festival,
which was a charming little event. On the same weekend there was my
local festival Glasson Music Festival, which I had to rush back for for
a Guns of Navarone gig at the Victoria, Glasson Dock. On the Saturday
evening I had a Stuff Like That gig in the Holiday Inn, Bolton - an
extraordinary building converted from a very large church. They hated
us. On Sunday afternoon I did a gig supporting Paul Guppy's
marvellous choir, Gladly Solemn Sound, on my harmonium. (There's a
number from this gig on MySpace/ccambler), and then, to finish off a
truly exhausting weekend, on Sunday night we had a session in Bill
Lloyd's beautiful yurt on Glasson green (finishing at 7am on Monday).
Marvellous.
Eva Figes on Israel
Refreshing
to hear, on Radio 4 the other day, Eva Figes saying what I believe.
That Isreal
is one of the most hate-filled racist cultures in the world (Ashkanazi
hates sephardic hates Temani and that's just the Jews) and that Isreal
acts in very similar ways to the Nazi regime in Germany. It's certainly
engaged in a sustained, and fairly successful attempt at genocide
against the Palestinian people. Why I say 'refreshing' is because one
so seldom hears a coherent criticism of Isreal from our cowed and
partial media.
Good Gigs in London
16/6/8 - Greg
Morgan and myself had a couple of good gigs in London - at Cafe Oto and
Flim Flam Club. On both gigs we were on the bill with trad free jazz
outfits (squeeky sax and incessent drumming). One of the incessent
drummers was Tony Marsh who I knew when i used to drive and sometimes
play with Major Surgery - Don Weller's great band of the seventies.
We neither of us recognised each other. However, the following
day I bumped into Jimmy Roche, also in Major Surgery. We recognised
each other - but had nothing to say to each other. The same can't be
said for Sir Gideon Vein, who had a lot to say as usual - and very
interesting it was too.
Lancaster Kids Kamp
11/6/8 - Just
returned from an idyllic Lancaster Kids Kamp at the exquisite Iver
Great Hill where Andy & Vicky are developing a garden of Eden.
Heard from Jon Cainer re Sunrise whilst at kid's kamp. Big Chill will
honour Sunrise tickets and Jon will not go bankrupt but will pay all in
time. Good man!
Sunrise Festival
4/6/8 - I
have just returned from Sunrise Festival which was actually cancelled 5
hours after opening because the arena was under water. I personally had
a marvellous time but a whole lot of people saw all their effort of the
past few months washed away in a few hours and one at least is totally
financially ruined. I will write in full about this event later, but
watch out next year for THE BIG WET Festival.
"Son Ambler"
has got a good MySpace for his new band - New Potato Scene (see links)
Clip of King Crimson
25/5/8 - I
found an amusing clip of King Crimson circa Lark's Tongue in Aspic
showing my old mate Jamie Muir doing all sorts of odd and amazing
things watched by a bemused but admiring Bill Bruford. Bruford had just
left Yes or some such hideous progressive rock band and was at
that moment generally credited with being one of the technically top
drummers in the country. I went to see Muir just after he'd joined
Crimson and asked him what Bruford was like. "Oh he's a lovely guy -
terrible drummer, but really nice". I've posted the clip on my
MySpace.(http://www.myspace.com/chasambler) under "who i'd like to
meet".
The
Tour De Presteigne Triumph
18/5/8 - The
Tour De Presteigne was a triumph for both Your Dad on the Saturday
evening at the Dome and for the electric bike rally the following day, when
60 competed for the amazing tin cup that some eccentric artist had
knocked together for two pints and a pie given to him by the Bernie
Eccleston of Electric Bike racing, Pete Mustil.
Greg Morgan and Chas Ambler are touring London in June (see gig list)
Santa Ria
The
long promised Santa Ria pages are now on the site. As yet there's no
link but you can get them (minus images) at
www.chasambler.com/santaria_page1 (2,3,4,&5).
'I've got a new
MySpace called C.C.Ambler at www.MySpace.com/ccambler with some
new songs and demos of some of the bands I play in.
Stuff Like That
Had a new singer who started and stopped at the same gig. We've got the
amazing Emma and she can easily manage on her own. Next Public gig at
the Victoria Hotel in Glasson Dock on 26th July.
Your Dad
are recording "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor" in their own quirky version (with Cat's Chorus and orchestra).
Radio Programmes
I'm currently
organising to make a few radio programmes of my mother (who has
recently moved to Morecambe) concerning her earlier life in
show-business.
