Delighted to see that The Popes have been picking up rave reviews for their latest release, 'Outlaw Heaven.' The album was written by frontman Paul (Maddog) McGuinness whilst he was a guest of Her Majesties Pleasure in pentonville. I think the writing reflects a certain sense of introspection and unleashed creative energy/rage one doesn't usually encounter in today's overly saturated market of ........low barrier to entry/ record in a box/computer makes the decisions really/limitless amount of tracks/decisions.....do we have to make decisions (ouch) in recording/producing/writing....... albums. Outlaw Heaven is an album of real songs with real lyrics......I love it.

I played fiddle and did string arrangements on the album. Well done lads.

"They are best known as Shane MacGowan's other band (now fronted by the equally gravel-voiced Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness), and this strings-led cut from The Popes' excellent Outlaw Heaven album is what The Waterboys would have sounded like had Mike Scott sipped from the streams of whiskey. A true rough diamond."  Dave Simpson - The Guardian

"You’d imagine that surely Shane MacGowan’s brains have melted by now - but no! Stick the mad bastard in The Popes and watch the fireworks start flying again. McGowan is ready to meet his maker on ‘Outlaw Heaven’, a lusty barnstormer that toasts the great dead rebel-poets. Elsewhere, he lustily advises us “Don’t let the bastards grind you down!” on ‘Bastards’. When Shane’s not about, the LP is guided by the cozy and wise burr of Paul McGuinness. This isn’t just an Irish party album with fire in its belly, it’s also the most warm, celebratory and downright mortal LP you’re likely to hear in 2009. 8/10".... Rick Rawlins - Clash Magazine.

I'm producing their next single. Yesterday's session was on a track called "Nottamun Town."  A dark, dark song which saw us bowing cymbals, abusing hammered dulcimers, beheading bass drums and throttling a harmonium.

'The Straw Bear Band' have a magpie nature.

Lyrically mixing folklore, myth, history and fiction.

Musically they're just as eclectic. Ranging from

delicate acoustic song to scratchy electronica,

ending up like a Joe Meek production of Tim Buckley.

Recently their sound has taken another turn,

and live they create a kind of 'medieval Krautrock'

or 'garage-folk'

Truer words were never spoken.

Harmonium take below. 

Played some live music and some tracks from my forthcoming 'Speech Project' album.  Many thanks to Carole and the helpful staff at Resonance:)

Here's the audio of the interview.

at the resonance studio

If you haven't yet heard resonance FM then I strongly urge you to check them out.  They are like no other and their eclectic, sponsorship free programming is very, very fresh and ...vital! One of my favorite stations in the universe!!!

The station broadcasts on air in London only but can be heard globally on the web.

Kev Boyle ****

Palestine Grove 
BLUE SKY MUSIC BSMCD 002

His gruff voice can make Tom Waits sound like a choirboy and his maverick songs dart erratically between the anger of the title track, moving narratives, charged anthems, adapted traditional tunes and a knockabout return to one of his best-loved songs Bon Cabbage, but this London Irish stalwart could be the British Isles' answer to Tom Russell. Outstanding multi-instrumentalist Gerry Diver helps smooth the edges on an album brimming with character. Colin Irwin

The concert was held in Shoreditch Town Hall to an invite only TV audience and dress code was strictly Dickensian.  I found out about the dress code 10 minutes prior to going on stage when someone asked me where was my costume. With some well aimed creativity (and a rummage through an unattended costume bag) and help from LIsa, the transformation was complete and I became .......(drum roll) ...a little bit more Dickensian:).  So complete was the makeover that someone asked me at the aftershow party if I was The Artful Dodger.  At this point...the angels all sang in chorus and I felt like I had succeeded.  Mission completed I headed off into the cobbled London streets to find a safe carriage home.

The show will be aired on BBC 4, 17th December @ 9.00pm