tag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:/blogs/august-2018?p=1August 20182021-08-24T12:49:50+01:00Alan Garmonswayfalsetag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/67254292021-08-24T12:49:50+01:002023-10-16T15:52:51+01:00Q2 (and a bit beyond), 2021<p>Summer's been somewhat hectic and I'm proud to have announced (in my News Column) the release of a new cd capturing some of my single releases plus a few more new tracks on the album 'Onward Journeys'. I've had an interesting response to creating a physical cd - some love it and others have dumped their cd players and listen to everything on stream now. No worries either way, but every now and again I feel the urge to create something that you can pick up and play, so I'm happy! If you'd like a copy, I'm selling them at £10 plus postage - just drop me a message through this website and we can sort it out.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/de60e7dbf09e5ddfd964baa7c1cdc6c55c29cd43/original/front-back.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />If any artists out there are interested in creating a cd of their songs, I've located a really good copying company at reasonable prices and who will do short runs but with property pressed cds (not duplicated) - far more reliable. In the past, sometimes I found the stipulation to be 500 copies for pressed cds. However, nowadays you seem to be able to order much less and more often, which really helps stock control. The guys I use are <a contents="Diskzone" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://cd-duplications.co.uk/">Diskzone</a> and they've never let me down. Coincidentally, they are based in the town where I was brought up - Houghton-le-Spring in the North East of England.</p>
<p>I've just released one of the tracks, This Will Always Be Our Song, on Spotify. Talking of my home town, one of my early band members is now bass guitarist with a band, the <a contents="Cherry Pinks" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://m.facebook.com/thecherrypinks/">Cherry Pinks</a>, in Scotland. Their drummer <a contents="Neil Paterson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/thumpy.drums">Neil Paterson</a> is a graphic designer and he very kindly designed the cover for me - a wonderful job, don't you think. The song is a classic getting together/breaking up theme. We've all done this and our relationships are often each associated with a special song in our lives, one that brings back all the memories. That's the theme and hence the title.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/d44ae29be5d79c2230742bd1af4bde4285bb42f9/original/this-will-always-be-our-song-cover.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Great eh?! I'm very lucky to know such people who I can collaborate with. Anyway, I'm looking forward to promoting both the album and single over the next weeks. In the meantime, stay safe everyone, and thanks again for all your support and messages, they mean a lot.</p>
<p>Alan</p>
<p> </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/66009362021-04-11T17:20:20+01:002021-04-11T17:20:20+01:00Q1, 21.... and a new release, Behind Closed Doors<p>Three months and three releases this year is a bit of a record for me! It started with a very acoustic 'Getting Over You', which allowed me to ease gently into my new recording software. I wanted to create a 'live gig in a hall' effect to recognise that many of us have probably not seen a live gig for the best part of a year. Having set the scene, I then combined the rather stylistic album cover with me playing it 'live' at home. This seemed to go down well to the extent that I've just received a certificate from World Songwriting Association as a Top Finalist in the Best Video Production category - a total, but welcome surprise!</p>
<p>Next came 'All the Way Back' which is an older song about an old school romance rekindling, and was released around Valentine's Day. It seemed to pull a few heart-strings along the way for some! I've now followed this up this week with a brand new song written and recorded in March - Behind Closed Doors. I'm in a songwriting circle (virtual at present) and each month we suggest a topic for us each to write a new song. Last month was 'doors', so I wrote it originally about physical doors with people behind them in lockdown. As the lyrics evolved, it became more about mental doors, and the legacy of potential mental health issues we have as a result of the pandemic, from young to old. It's only been out a couple of days and I've already had two radio stations wanting to play it, one in the UK and one in the US.</p>
<p>Hopefully there's more to report on this next time, but in the meantime stay safe and you can hear the new track on Spotify etc. Maybe I'll be able to play it live one day! Click the cover picture if you'd like a listen on Spotify.</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2srf15wghrm0sD2Tuwabqc"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/6e1f6289005bc53fa8ae0b0aa36c7b58e56649b0/original/behind-closed-doors-final.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/65139252021-01-05T15:37:56+00:002021-01-05T15:37:56+00:00Goodbye 2020.....<p>We've all had to adapt to new ways of doing things in 2020, and making music, like everything else, has changed significantly. Still, it has been busy for me with six single releases and an instrumental ep! The collaborations that produced three of the single releases were recorded in the periods where we could intermingle and move around the country, and thank you to all of those who contributed - performing, recording, production and promotion.</p>
<p>The other three releases and instrumental ep were the product of doing everything myself at home during periods of lockdown, and has taken me more in an Indie Folk direction with more acoustic guitar featuring in the singles. For 2021 I'll be happily continuing down this road, and a new single release will be out soon. It takes account of lockdown but in a bit of a different way, so more news as it develops.</p>
<p>In the meantime, very best wishes for 2021 and thank you for all the listens and messages - as you'll see from the picture, things are progressing nicely and I hope I can improve on these successes this year. Stay safe!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/e6ade2b9b8104bc31289c4ad65a0b475acd2c4bd/original/2020-review.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/63874332020-07-19T14:51:08+01:002020-07-19T14:51:08+01:00.....JUNE & JULY<p>Hi all - I haven’t been inclined to travel too much, even with relaxation of lockdown rules, so my acoustic recording approach has continued over the past couple of months. After the ‘Carry the Torch’ release mentioned last time, I went even more into the acoustic world and recorded/released <a contents="‘Macky the Pit Pony’" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2srf15wghrm0sD2Tuwabqc">‘Macky the Pit Pony’</a>. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/a868381f2dbd4de3bccf5380015bf12ed7cbf34b/original/cover-1-sq-2000.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />This is also a newly-written song and was a nod to my Grandfather and that generation who spent many years working at the local colliery. I was lucky enough to have the story published in a great online magazine <a contents="The Songwriters Journal " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://medium.com/songwriters-journal/a-songwriters-journey-is-full-of-surprises-faecd7a6f1eb">The Songwriters Journal </a>with thanks to <a contents="Jacqueline Jax" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/JacquelineJax">Jacqueline Jax</a> . I really appreciated such a great write-up about how I wrote the song and its inspiration. Macky also found a keen audience with about 7k Spotify hits and another 4k reached on Facebook. The latter was much helped by the support of the <a contents="National Coal Mining Museum of England" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/NCMME/">National Coal Mining Museum of England</a>, launching the Macky video on their website and who are also interested in using the <a contents="video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/BestRoomSongs/videos/574445439922868/UzpfSTM1MTQ1MTc2NzU5OjEwMTU4MzEzMDI0NTY2NzYw/">video</a> as part of their visitor resource centre show at their museum - many thanks to NCMME. The song and video were also very much inspired by the original paintings of <a contents="Ali Davis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.alidavisart.com/">Ali Davis</a> , and I used a wide selection of these in the vid, plus some family photographs. Thanks Ali, it’s great to be able to put together original songs and art in this way, and long may it continue! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/ce3902ab9544de91b2750962971ef3cd8616c9b9/original/cover-final.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_right border_none" alt="" />Following Macky, I revisited and released another acoustic song, <a contents="High Pressure" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2srf15wghrm0sD2Tuwabqc">High Pressure</a>, that I wrote earlier in the year. It’s about global warming and is also doing well, thank you <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/">AVA Live Radio</a> – also appearing on radio shows at <a contents="Invisible Folk Club" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://invisiblefolkclub.com/">Invisible Folk Club</a> and <a contents="Witney Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.witneyradio.co.uk/">Witney Radio</a> so thank you also to John Bickley and Mr G at those respective stations!</p>
<p>Speaking of radio, <a contents="Lilijan Rose" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/lilijan_rose/">Lilijan Rose</a> and I also had a great one-hour live discussion with Martin Adams at <a contents="Riverside Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.riversideradio.com/">Riverside Radio</a> in SW London last week. We reviewed our releases to date, Saturday Morning and Vapour Trails and how we work together remotely, as well as one of Lilijan’s other releases, Faces, where I played keyboard. And speaking of<a contents=" Saturday Morning" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2srf15wghrm0sD2Tuwabqc"> Saturday Morning</a>, we were also delighted and honoured to receive a 'Finalists' certificate from the World Songwriting Awards in their most recent listings for 'Best Song Duo'! That was a really nice surprise and makes all the effort very much worthwhile.</p>
<p>We’re looking forward to releasing a new track ‘See the Light’ in due course, and I have also a Garmonsway, Gibbon & Harrington song ready called ‘A Love Like This’. They are both looking like Autumn releases – I need a bit of an August breather to take stock of things! Thank you for all of your support and nice messages.</p>
<p>Alan</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/9ad79c7496f826030dc1bff49c2e664e2972bd5f/original/wsa-1-2020-sq.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/63188072020-05-16T13:07:57+01:002020-05-16T13:07:57+01:00March, April and a bit of May<p>Hello Everyone</p>
<p>It's hard to know where to start on this entry. Having been in France when the first major news of Covid19 hit the press regarding Italy, we kind of carried on as normal over there until the middle of March, when their lockdown was initiated. By that time I'd just finished recording a track called Western Winds, only to find out that our return ferry in April to the UK was cancelled indefinitely and the trains through the Channel Tunnel were rapidly being cancelled also. So we came back to the UK early, driving 500 miles across a deserted France and not-so-deserted UK. That evening the UK lockdown started and here we still are, so this is officially my 61st day.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/93c9dc4f4b1e5287b0fd9ed1d1047b2d61a5756c/original/singles-final.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />Regarding music, it's left me with the challenge of improvising a 'studio' here out of a laptop and a few bits and pieces of equipment, although I'm ok for instruments. An early Facebook livestream by Richard Thompson inspired me to detune my 12 String and write 'We'll Carry the Torch for Each Other', an acoustic tribute to everyone, but especially musicians, feeling the effects of isolation. Although a simple guitar + voice recording (ok, with a couple of subtle overdubs!), I decided to release it and it's now nearing 25,000 streams on <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3SXM5jNEGGQdftQXKFiofH?highlight=spotify:track:0BNY3ZgMERKmoFquQ3dIWv">Spotify</a> ,ably assisted by promotion from <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/alan-garmonsway-well-carry-the-torch-for-each-other">AVA Live Radio</a> , which is very gratifying. Closely running along with that is <a contents="Saturday Morning" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3EV3p4ilMZOcXFMmXpjW89">Saturday Morning</a> with <a contents="Lilijan Rose" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/alan-garmonsway-and-lilijan-rose">Lilijan Rose</a> starring on vocals, which is at nearly 20,000 hits. So all in all, it's been a really pleasing couple of months from that perspective.</p>
<p>I also took a look at all the individual tracks that had been recorded in the past year, and it made up a nice collection. So I've released that under the collective (and imaginative!) title of 'Singles'. They are all available individually on the usual streaming/download platforms, can be accessed as individual songs and are being aired on <a contents="Lonely Oak Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lonelyoakradio.com/Artists/Alan-Garmonsway.html">Lonely Oak Radio</a> . There are some previously unreleased tracks as well as a couple of re-edited versions of some earlier songs to compliment the newer ones. These, such as South Chicago Line, sound a lot tighter for being made a bit shorter.</p>
<p>In between time, I'm tuning in to as many webinars as I can on different aspects of songwriting, mixing, mastering etc, which are good at informing me of how much I don't know! Also, we have a village project going on to virtually record 'The Streets of London', so my next job today is to add 15 independent vocal tracks (all done on phones) to the instrumental contributions to bring the whole thing together for the full music track. Then it's the video guy's turn!</p>
<p>Hopefully by the next blog, we might be approaching something closer to normality, but who knows. In the meantime, stay safe and well. If you'd like to keep up to speed with all my latest ideas and posts, planned and impromptu, then the best place for this is on my Instagram site - just click <a contents="here!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/alan_garmonsway/" style="">here!</a></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/62394702020-03-06T16:33:59+00:002020-03-06T16:33:59+00:00JAN/FEB 2020<p>The first part of the year has just zipped by! In the past couple of months, I think I can only remember around three days of sunshine and many days of dull, wet and windy weather, so it's been a time for hunkering down and preparing songs and ideas.</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3EV3p4ilMZOcXFMmXpjW89"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/9bfa016352eabff9f15d52723185a3f79aeb97f1/original/saturday-morning.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></a>Despite this, I am delighted to let you know that Liljan Rose and I are today releasing our second single, Saturday Morning! I wrote this a while back and Lilijan has brought a new and fresh approach to the vocals (both lead and harmonies), so we're really happy to have it out there for you. We've had a great write up in this week's <a contents="AVA Live Radio review" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/alan-garmonsway-and-lilijan-rose">AVA Live Radio review</a> which also explains how the song was recorded and produced, which is really interesting. So, watch out for trailers coming later today & beyond, and you can hear the full track on all the major platforms; streaming, such as <a contents="Soptify - Saturday Morning" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3EV3p4ilMZOcXFMmXpjW89" style="">Spotify - Saturday Morning</a> or download, such as <a contents="Amazon - Saturday Morning" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.fr/Saturday-Morning-feat-Lilijan-Rose/dp/B085DNQMTQ/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=Alan+Garmonsway&qid=1583493649&sr=8-1">Amazon - Saturday Morning</a> , iTunes etc. The more observant of you will see that the Amazon link above is amazon.fr, as I am writing this from France right now (and it's still wet)! </p>
<p>It hadn't occurred to me until this week what a powerful marketing tool a title like 'Saturday Morning' is; before then it was just the name of my song. But the temptation to use phrases such as 'Are you ready for Saturday Morning' and 'Worked all week? Bring on Saturday Morning' etc are just too good to resist, especially as we think we've captured that easy and relaxed Saturday morning feeling! What's in a song title, eh?</p>
<p>Other than this, I'm also working on other new material for release later in the year - more of that later but there's some really nice music with my close and much-respected musical friends and colleagues. In the meantime, Saturday Morning gets its first UK radio airing on <a contents="Witney Radio - Mr G's New Music Show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.witneyradio.co.uk/">Witney Radio - Mr G's New Music Show</a> on Sunday 8 March about half way through the show (5.25pm ish, UK GMT time) and I'm regularly getting a wide variety of my tracks played on <a contents="Lonely Oak Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lonelyoakradio.com/">Lonely Oak Radio</a> from California.</p>
<p>So thanks to them all, and to yourselves, for all the support and good vibes. It's really appreaciated as I pick my way through the maze of being an independent artist! </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/60273452019-12-17T20:38:41+00:002019-12-17T20:43:04+00:00Nov/Dec 2019 - My Year - Songs, Collaborations and Releases!<p>A big 'thank you' to everyone contributing to my musical year - musical collaborators and colleagues, artists, graphic designers, photographers, producers, marketing gurus, radio presenters, friends, viewers, listeners, followers, 'commenters', 'likers', 'retweeters' and anyone else that I've missed! I thought I'd finish off my blogging year with a look back at some of my musical highlights over 2019, so here they are, and as close to chronological order as I can remember:-</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/e09d18588c1bbf2bc47b3df1edc413ac53674665/original/2019-picture-composite.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>- Seven Facebook livestreams to play and introduce fifty (yes, 50!) of my original songs. I played these live on piano and 12 String to nothing but an iPhone, which was an experience in itself! It was really nice to see the positive comments as they arrived on the phone as I was playing, although this led to quite a bit of eye squinting, leading to a few dodgey notes! They're still on Facebook somewhere - I've found one of them <a contents="here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/alan.garmonsway/videos/10211362751578437/?lst=1650694518%3A1650694518%3A1576610054" style="">here.</a></p>
<p>- Releasing the 'Norheast' ep with my friends Franky Gibbon and Al Harrington, with five of my original tracks, plus releasing some of them as singles as well. Thank you so much <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/garmonsway-gibbon-harrington?fbclid=IwAR2Ruwo7D8DpVNmH-N6XB90eQO0G5MJjP5CZSDo0bCGuKTPaCjyXujie2JY">AVA Live Radio</a> for the great publicity for the album and singles!</p>
<p>- Many thanks to my longstanding musical team-mate Anne Cunningham on releasing <a contents="Severn's Hidden Mysteries" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/BestRoomSongs/videos/674797049673578/?epa=SEARCH_BOX">Severn's Hidden Mysteries</a> , our first single release since the Ridgeway album in 2017. Such and emotive song, and enhanced (as was the Northeast album) by my longstanding friend, <a contents="Ali Davis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.alidavisart.com/">Ali Davis</a> and her wonderful watercolour paintings.</p>
<p>- The Atlantic Ocean is no problem when it comes to collaborating musically. I was lucky enough to be asked by Randy Wayne Belt in the US to contribute piano and synth to his new Barley Station album <a contents="Passing Through Time" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utdTslrS0tc&fbclid=IwAR02Viw_uO2wabEdZmvVFlZd2yhaZ_q3rnA9RwqziFe1HZxzHEGssGo0bIY">Passing Through Time</a> on a track 'Fallin' (third one in on the promo vid). Thanks Randy - an honour to be involved! Also, my marketing mentor <a contents="Jacqueline Jax" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineJaxTV/videos/2515150518547779/UzpfSTE2NTA2OTQ1MTg6MTAyMTIxNDMxMDU4MDY4MDU/">Jacqueline Jax</a> has been using some piano track covers I played and recorded for her - I appreciate you using these Jacqueline. In both cases, the piano was recorded in Europe to add to the tracks in the US - just shut your eyes while you're playing and imagine you're all in the studio together!</p>
<p>- The Midlands in the UK is no distance from where I live compared to the US, so it was a delight to start a new collaboration later in the year with vocalist Lilijan Rose on one of my songs, <a contents="Vapour Trails" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/BestRoomSongs/videos/2230105883955810/">Vapour Trails</a> . We started the collaboration via Instagram, and Lilijan brings a very different recording perspective to the mix. This is sounding really positive and is a great opportunity - we are already lining up some more songs for 2020. Thank you Lilijan.</p>
<p>- In November, I travelled back to my native Northeast England to attend a Remembrance service at <a contents="Houghton-le-Spring Parish Church" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelshls/">Houghton-le-Spring Parish Church</a> , where the choir and organist played a hymn I wrote a few years back 'Remember Them Forever' as part of a co-written musical play called 'Of Heroic Hearts'. To add to the atmosphere, I used to be part of the choir there as a schoolboy and also my Grandfather was organist and choirmaster there for many years, so it was quite emotional being there.</p>
<p>Phew, well that's almost it! My days are taken up not only on the recording, but with marketing and the numerous social media posts - I really like the <a contents="impromptu Instagram posts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5d4GQRnPYl/">impromptu Instagram posts</a> which forces me to think about 50-second soundbites! Also, I'd like to add my appreciation to <a contents="Lonely Oak Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lonelyoakradio.com/">Lonely Oak Radio</a> , which regularly plays my songs on their shows. And finally.....Anne Cunningham and I have just re-released <a contents="City Park Christmas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2srf15wghrm0sD2Tuwabqc">City Park Christmas</a> for the festive season, so watch this space. We played it live on Chiltern Voice Radio a couple of weeks back, so it seemed a good move to get the single back out there!</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your support and I hope you all have a very enjoyable Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you in 2020! </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/59588602019-11-13T12:16:37+00:002019-11-13T21:00:26+00:00OCTOBER (ish)<p>Hi All</p>
<p>I've left my October blog a few days into November as a few noteable things happened this week.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/87cec06bb0845ed9b6fb80286c3256e621952990/original/publication3.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>First and foremost, let me introduce <a contents="Lilijan Rose" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/lilijan_rose/">Lilijan Rose</a> via her Instagram page. Lilijan and I have started a new collaboration, with her contributing both lead and backing vocals to my songs (I play the instrumental parts). Lilijan is a very versatile and distinctive vocalist and our first single is called Vapour Trails, released this week - here's a <a contents="sneak preview" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/gu1bey0eo1scjtb/Vapour%20Trails%2050s%20vid.mp4?dl=0">sneak preview</a> of a promo vid going out later. Thanks Lilijan, it's great to be working with you and look forward to more releases in 2020! Our collaboration started through making comments and offering support on our respective Instagram posts - a positive power of social media!</p>
<p>The vapour trails song I wrote in June this year, sitting in the back garden, looking up at the sky and wondering where all those people in the planes above were heading off to, who were they meeting, what were their stories.... A couple of years ago I also took a photo of a triangle of vapour trails around the moon (it's in the vid) and it did remind me a bit of a well known 70s album about the moon! So the whole idea came together in the song. No doubt you'll see bits of the promo on social media, and we're also being featured soon on <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.avaliveradio.com" style="">AVA Live Radio</a> </p>
<p>Also this week, I attended <a contents="St Michael's Church, Houghton-le-Spring" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelshls/" style="">St Michael's Church, Houghton-le-Spring</a> , my original home town about 300 miles North of where I now live, for their Remembrance service. My Grandfather was organist and choirmaster there for over 50 years, I was also a choirboy there and the current organist and one of the choir members were the head choirboys when I joined as a nine-year-old, so plenty of connections. They played and sung my hymn 'Remember Them Forever' from a musical play called <a contents="Of Heroic Hearts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMrqdnAEXLdNEy-wYrmoHlw">Of Heroic Hearts</a> which I co-wrote in 2016 for the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. It was very moving being back there and it evoked a lot of memories of music, family, friends and school, some happy, some sad.</p>
<p>Whilst I was up there I also met up with Franky Gibbon to discuss a new ep, having released the Northeast album earlier this year. We're still at the song-choosing stage, but one new song, A Love Like This, has charged through the ranks and looks to be our first single of 2020. More on that later. </p>
<p>Last, but not least, our friends at <a contents="Barley Station" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/barleystation/">Barley Station</a> in the US have just released a new album, Passing Through Time. I was very happy and honoured to be asked to play piano and synth for one of their songs, <a contents="Fallin" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/0359XHq2ijhonRvsupbklp" style="">Fallin</a> Enjoy!</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/59192222019-10-08T12:17:31+01:002019-10-08T12:17:31+01:00SEPTEMBER<p>Hi Everyone</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/e2b31d44178130e672e3f3a2c9ecb7c758f7cdf5/original/big-sky-3-original.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />September's had quite a bit going on! Earlier in the month we launched our single 'Severn's Hidden Mysteries' collaboration with Anne Cunningham. It was promoted by AVA Live Radio and we hit over 3,000 plays on Spotify, which was very pleasing. We also used the usual Social Media promotion routes - you can see our Facebook promo vid <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/alan.garmonsway/videos/10212323136667464/UzpfSTE4NDY4MjIwMTU2MDczNjU6MjQyNzA2NzY0NzU4Mjc5Ng/?epa=SEARCH_BOX">here</a> and if you want to add to our Spotify tally, just click on this <a contents="Spotify Link" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2QKGvh6BteNqKnVBKLlR8K">Spotify Link</a> .</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your support with this - it's great to get back into some acoustic folk music. The song is about the River Severn, and started life as a photograph taken by Anne and put on Facebook with the heading 'Big sky over Gloucestershire'. I mentioned that it was a good line for a song, and that's how it started, and here's the picture (thanks Anne!).</p>
<p>The rest of the month has been about preparation - I've been pulling together six new and previously unrecorded songs for the next project with Messers Gibbon and Harrington, so that is starting to take shape. Here's a little bit of instrumental from one of the songs, Don't Bother Me, on my <a contents="Instagram link" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FVdP8HWr8/">Instagram link</a> .</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also I'm in the later phases of recording a new single as another collaboration (to be reveled shortly!) and we're hoping for a late November release. It's looking and sounding really promising! In the meantime, enjoy your October!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/58816022019-09-05T16:19:00+01:002019-09-05T16:19:00+01:00AUGUST<p>Hope you have all had a good Summer. I've been reflecting in August on my collaborations with other artists. It's amazing how many like-minded independent artists there are around the World, and I'm lucky enough to be working with some of them.</p>
<p>First up is US based <a contents="Randy Wayne Belt of Barley Station" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/barleystationofficial">Randy Wayne Belt of Barley Station</a> - I recently played piano on one of the tracks for the forthcoming Barley Station new album, and a clip of this can be heard on <a contents="his Facebook page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/barleystation1/videos/2768838426465371/">his Facebook page</a> , thus proving that a 3000 mile distance in recording studios is no object! </p>
<p>In a similar vein, a little while back, I recorded some piano tracks for Toronto based <a contents="Jacqueline Jax at AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineJaxTV/">Jacqueline Jax at AVA Live Radio</a> , and she is currently working on one of these tracks, Randy Newman's classic 'Feels Like Home to Me' , so here's a short clip of <a contents="her video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineJaxTV/videos/2515150518547779/">her video</a> .</p>
<p>Many thanks, Randy & Jacqueline, for inviting me to add piano to your work, albeit at a distance! It's really great to be involved with your recordings.</p>
<p>Closer to home we continue to promote the 'Northeast' album, my face-to-face collaboration with my old friends from Northeast England, Franky Gibbon and Al Harrington. I'm writing new material guys, so looking forward to our next venture. In the meantime, I had the opportunity to play a couple of the Northeast songs live at an open-air gig in August as well - see <a contents="this link here!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/BestRoomSongs/videos/504416790371090/">this link here!</a> It was at a dog rescue centre annual event, hence the yapping - I've never seen so many dogs together in one place!</p>
<p>Last, but by no means least, I've teamed up again with Anne Cunningham (we released the Ridgeway album together less than two short years ago) to release a new single 'Severn's Hidden Mysteries'. I wrote it after Anne posted some glorious pictures of her walks by the River Severn, one of which was titled 'Big sky over Gloucestershire'. I joked at the time it would make a good song, and shortly afterwards the song was born! It's in our classic folk/ballad style and there's a <a contents="short clip" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/BestRoomSongs/videos/471196923720939/?epa=SEARCH_BOX">short clip</a> from the lyrics video. The song is about the two faces of the River Severn, its beauty but also it's danger from tidal currents.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/dccbe2cab13f534fa90ae77aa57c72d2686b8958/original/a-a-2a.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>It's due for some release publicity in the next few days, and thanks also to Tom Wildy, who played flute, and <a contents="Ali Davis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.alidavisart.com">Ali Davis</a> who, once again, provided a great painting for the cover art. Thank you so much, guys!</p>
<p>So, all in all, a much more varied August than I anticipated, but thanks for all your support and following! I'm looking forward to more news and updates in the Autumn. </p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/58527152019-08-09T15:52:49+01:002019-08-09T15:52:49+01:00JULY<p>Hi Everyone</p>
<p>July has been busy marketing and releasing individual tracks from our 'Northeast' album! We've had tracks played on <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://avaliveradio.com">AVA Live Radio</a> based in Torronto, <a contents="Lonely Oak Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lonelyoakradio.com">Lonely Oak Radio</a> based in LA, and <a contents="Invisible Folk Club" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://invisiblefolkclub.com">Invisible Folk Club</a> , based in Buckinghamshire and broadcasting on four different UK stations. In addition, Lonely Oak Radio keeps playing earlier tracks I've submitted, so I'm having an ever-growing presence on there with different tracks from different albums. Also, AVA Live Radio has featured our songs a number of times, and if you pop over to the news section of this website, you'll see a link to a feature they did for a US magazine called British Invasion!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/3b71bee9ee6c03bfd939d621971e75818208a363/original/composite-ggh-covers.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />As we've been releasing some of the Northeast tracks as singles, I thought I would give a big shoutout to <a contents="Ali Davis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://alidavisart.com">Ali Davis</a> who is a good school friend from our progressive rock days and now, as an artist, very kindly offered to paint a picture not only for the album cover, but also for each track! That's been really useful as we've been able to use them on the single releases and also expand our collaboration into the sphere of art as well as music. Thank you so much Ali, and we feature your great work on this month's picture! Be sure to visit Ali's art site by clicking on her name above, and the link will take you straight there.</p>
<p>Looking to the future, it's a great time to take stock and decide what to do next. So, I've been looking at more tracks for Garmonsway, Gibbon and Harrington to record, but also in September, I'll be releasing a single with Anne Cunningham called Severn's Hidden Mysteries. It's about the two sides of the River Severn, beautiful and dangerous, and was inspired by some photos Anne took on her walks around that area. More of that in September, and again, Ali is involved in some stunning artwork.</p>
<p>Also, I'm hoping for another collaboration with another lady vocalist over the Autumn too, but more of that later. In the meantime I'm just getting on with writing a few more songs and enjoying the Summer - hope you are all doing so too!</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/57965802019-06-19T11:06:03+01:002019-06-19T11:11:57+01:00June - Introducing Garmonsway, Gibbon & Harrington <p>This month is dedicated to launching a new ep, Northeast, which has been made with three good and longstanding friends, all of whom live in the Northeast of England (which is where I was originally from as well). Franky Gibbon and Al Harrington are my musical collaborators. We are also joined by Ali Davis, who has contributed some stunning watercolour paintings, one for each of the five tracks and an album cover painting as well. I'm busy setting up publicity and recently had an interview on <a contents="AVA Live Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/2019/6/8/garmonsway-gibbon-harrington">AVA Live Radio</a></p>
<p>The tracks are also being played each day for the next month or so on <a contents="Lonely Oak Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lonelyoakradio.com">Lonely Oak Radio</a></p>
<p>We're really pleased with the album, I wrote all of the songs, but Franky's arrangements and musicianship plus Al's distinctive vocals and Ali's distictive art make it a pleaure to have brought it all together. Needless to say, we are planning a follow-up and some new songs have also been written, together with some interesting older ones that would work well with this approach!</p>
<p>We've done a limited run of cds as well, so if you want to purchase a copy, please send me a message via the site. They're £6 (UK postage included or postage additional if outsde the UK).</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/e5ef6aae43d25cc9a725d6e6ea11d38bbefeba00/original/publication1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/57469252019-05-08T15:43:46+01:002019-05-08T15:43:46+01:00EARLY MAY (& THE 50th SONG)<p>I did it! My 50 Original songs livestreams were completed with a 6-string Martin acoustic and my mother's trusty Chappell upright piano last week. The 50th song was 'Lady Mary' and there's a clip of that on my Instagram page as well as the whole livestream on Facebook. I'll be putting together a compilation video for Youtube as well over the next couple of weeks, and here's the full setlist.....</p>
<p>Heads up in May/June for our new collaboration ep called 'Northeast' which is in the very final throes of mixing. 'Our' is myself, Franky Gibbon and Al Harrington, both top musical guys from the Northeast of England. All visuals are designed and will be with you shortly - I've also asked one of my Northeast friends Ali Davis to provide original paintings as visuals for all of the songs. Thank you to all who have been working so hard on the project - the whole package looks and sounds great!</p>
<p>What else? Ah, also, I'm working on a new song about the River Severn and have just persuaded a whistle and flute player to join in the recording session in France. The single Lighthouse is doing well and had a play on the Invisible Folk Club show which broadcasts across a number of radio stations in the UK.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/36cb0eae13e229f6e3b60cdfca608170cce2e738/original/setlist.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/57265252019-04-20T13:30:08+01:002019-04-20T13:32:17+01:00APRIL (Interim - New Single Alert)<p>Hi All - Pleased to say that my single 'Lighthouse' was released yesterday (19th) and thanks for all of the nice feedback so far - truely appreciated. You can have a listen here, <a contents="Lighthouse - New Single" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1Qc8AsJXXOJITI6TApHyWS">Lighthouse - New Single</a> , and I look forward to updating you on other things as usual at the end of the month. Have a nice Easter. Alan</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/68ae3636f16a06650f5b80107f8fbf623ea75aa2/original/lighthouse-1-sq.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/57040242019-04-02T17:43:19+01:002019-04-02T17:44:15+01:00MARCH<p>Hi Everyone.</p>
<p>March has been busy and focused on two specific projects. The first is the continuing livestreams to bring you 50 of my original songs, either on piano or 12-string. I started these at the end of January in France and over the month, came back over to England. Last Saturday saw the sixth livestream and I've now clocked up 44 of my originals. The last in the series (to get me to 50) will be in a couple of weeks, and I still have songs competing to get into the final set! The most recent session featured songs written on my 12-String and can be found <a contents="here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/alan.garmonsway/videos/10211362751578437/UzpfSTE4NDY4MjIwMTU2MDczNjU6MjMwNDExNTgyNjU0NDY0Ng/">here.</a> </p>
<p>I've also been back to Durham, UK to continue recording an ep with a couple of good friends, Franky Gibbon and Al Harrington - both super-experienced and talented! Our ep is due to be called 'Northeast', with five of my songs. It's amazing how the songs developed in the studio, with everyone involved in adding ideas and suggestions, and we're milking every last emotion and nuance out of them. I've been particularly pleased with how the lyrics have worked with a different vocalist. Also, I've recruited on of my friends of many years standing (all the way back to school!), Alison Davis, to provide artwork as she now spends her time painting great pictures, many of the Northeast of England. But more of that in April and beyond....</p>
<p>There's also a single lurking in the works called 'Lighthouse', so that will find its way to release at some time, depending on how the ep develop<span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/2f34cc701127c4350bd4b10da9f5475a8fdee42d/original/img-4177.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_right border_" /></span>s. In the meantime, stay well and I look forward to updating you again at the end of the month.</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/56618582019-02-27T18:45:18+00:002019-02-27T18:51:37+00:00FEBRUARY<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/348b4f71e7e667b6c62a8becfbc3695a536a9153/original/live-show-ad-50.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>It's been a busy month! I've been focusing on playing Facebook and Instagram livestreams, with all my own original songs played on piano or 12-string. There's been a nice response to this, so the project has grown somewhat and now developed into performing 50 (yes, fifty!) of my originals. So far, I've played 23 in three sessions, so I'm looking forward to four more live sets of about 30 minutes each through March and April to reach my target.</p>
<p>I've trying to find a theme for each set - first was an introduction to my music, second songs about places and most recent, songs about emotions. Next up is 'songs with stories' to be performed early March - look out for details on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The posts stay on Facebook a while, so if you want to catch up, here's the link to the most recent <a contents="Livestream" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/alan.garmonsway/videos/10211144784489396/UzpfSTE4NDY4MjIwMTU2MDczNjU6MjI4MDAwNDA5NTYyMjQ4Ng/?eid=ARCqFhtG7rUrIrSl3wyshU6uy5TKVwvGBgr86ARThSfKsqRTOJnsKYiSpel5e0nDdjB3wzut_2vMKvc2">Livestream</a> </p>
<p>There have been other benefits to the sessions as well. They've helped to re-present and arrange some of the songs, even those written a while ago. Also, one of the new songs I played on the first session, Lighthouse, has emerged as a natural single, so I'll be releasing this as soon as it's ready.</p>
<p>I'm looking forward in March to completing my 'NorthEast' project with my friends in the Durham (UK) area. We are recording five songs including a couple specifically inspired by the North East of England, where I was brought up, so more about that next month. In the meantime, stay safe and see you soon.</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/56177502019-01-29T12:40:42+00:002019-01-29T17:33:38+00:00January 2019<p>Happy New Year everyone! January has been spent planning livestreams on Facebook and Instagram playing a selection of my original songs. The first stream kicked off last weekend with nine tracks on piano or 12-string and here's a link <a contents="Livestream January 2019" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/alan.garmonsway/videos/10211022026140514/UzpfSTE4NDY4MjIwMTU2MDczNjU6MjI2NTkxMjYwNzAzMTYzNQ/?eid=ARDteoqHGP588ysNoGjM631rN4u9HB88wKjH-yb4zOM2PiKL84k9LDFxRyTUrRPXuo3LfdlLrI85L0As">Livestream January 2019</a></p>
<p>I used PA for vocals and guitar, mainly just to balance out the volume against the piano, whch can overpower everything if you're not careful! However, I think I prefer singing into a mic as it seems to give me a bit more flexibility of expression - I'm not the loudest singer in the world!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/283683/f30faa1f16064be438d2943aa9bd4583e3ac4e15/original/img-3996.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Livestream preparation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The songs were a mix of established and very new ones; some haven't hit the studio yet and some are midway through production for a Spring release. My plans for February are to keep streaming, but aim for 5-7 originals per set. Also, I'm going to 'theme' the songs so I have themes ready for Places, Emotions and Stories. Watch out for ads on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!</p>
<p>Many thanks for all the feedback on the stream and to those who shared it around. Being part of a bigger community is much appreciated and also, the extra edge of a live stream really helps to focus on getting the best out of the songs, particularly if they are new and eary-stage.</p>
<p>All the best for 2019 and see you in February!</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/54937602018-10-31T14:58:04+00:002018-10-31T21:17:56+00:00October<p>Well, October has raced by and for me musically, it has been very much a month of preparation. I've started work on writing some new songs for a 2019 release, been rehearsing some recent songs ready for a visit to a studio in North East England (where they will receive a very different musical treatment) and also been getting ready for a performance on 26th November at Chesham Folk Club for performing some original songs in a show 'Songs from the Front', which is a commemoration to the centenary of the end of World War 1. This is in conjunction with John Bickley from the Invisible Folk Club, a web radio station that supports independent artists - go to their Facebook page for all the information, and do take a listen. </p>
<p>Also in October, I have been involved in a great new musical collaboration, mainly playing piano and keys and suggesting songs. I'm really excited about it and hope to be able to tell you more in due course, but it's currently in the promotional planning stage. It's taken up quite a bit of studio time to get the right feel and passion, and look forward to telling you much more about it in the future. </p>
<p>I've been focusing quite a bit on my Instagram site of late at Instagram.com/Alan_Garmonsway This is where I often first perform my new song ideas as they are developing and it's great for getting some interactive feedback. Drop by and take a look, you'll be very welcome there.</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/54274492018-09-13T21:02:36+01:002018-09-13T21:02:36+01:00September<p>Things have started apace this September month! Having just spent a week travelling through France, I've hit on some inspiration for a few more songs, inspired by places like Biarritz and Carcassonne. So they are now being worked up on piano and guitar!</p>
<p>AVA Live Radio will soon be featuring 'To the Vendee' from my new ep 'The Bridge' during September, and I've also had 'Chosen Years' from the same album also played on an FM radio station in Gloucestershire, UK as well. In addition, Invisible Folk Club have published two further podcasts of myself and Anne Cunningham playing some of the 'Ridgeway' Album songs live and you can find these through the Invisible Folk Club website.</p>
<p>I'm getting more into collaborations, and as well working on new songs with Anne, I'm also collaborating with some US and UK artists on a range of songs, some self-penned, some original material from other artists and some classic tracks. It's a bit of an adventure trying these new things, but I've found that colleagues' new ideas and approaches can really change the complexion of my songs. All I'm doing really is trying to follow what is in the best interests of each song to make them as memorable as possible!</p>Alan Garmonswaytag:alangarmonsway.com,2005:Post/53805882018-08-09T15:16:29+01:002018-08-09T15:16:29+01:00August 2018<p>Hi, June and July were really busy months as I spent most of them in a recording studio getting my next ep down on digital. There are six songs, mostly written very recently and I played all instruments one-at-a-time, 70 individual tracks in all. The album is called 'the bridge' because the songs all relate in some way to bridges, either physical or (mostly) metaphorical, spanning different times of my, or others', lives. It will be out shortly and I'm really looking forward to sharing it with you.</p>
<p>In addition, I'm putting out a 'single' (2 tracks actually) which are instrumentals I wrote and recorded particularly for friends in France - a marriage tune and one about a small town in Deux Sevres, Western France. It's by way of a 'thank-you' for all the hospitality and friendship I've received there over the years.</p>
<p>August continues to be busy as I gear up for launching the album. Also, I've started rehearsing for a show in November called 'Songs from the Front'. These are original songs from a musical play I co-wrote a while back called 'Of Heroic Hearts', and we are combining some of those original songs with another colleague's songs from an album he is calling 1918. All of these songs commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One.</p>
<p>I've been focusing quite a bit on Instagram recently - take a look at my page on www.instagram.com/alan_garmonsway.</p>Alan Garmonsway