Tom Kerswill

Really excited to announce a new open mic every Tuesday at the Bay Horse, Northern Qt, Manchester.

The night will begin at 8.30pm… Three slots each. Just turn up and sign your name up to play. It’s in the area downstairs.

The Bay Horse is an excellent venue for gigs and open mics, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how this night turns out. Hopefully see you there later on this evening!

Really enjoyed doing the radio show on All FM last night with Danny. We managed to fit a lot of tracks in, and we had Manchester legends I Am Kloot playing live in the studio. We chatted to them about touring, their forthcoming album, and, well, lots of other random stuff.

For anybody who’s in the Bristol area tomorrow night, go down to the Prom on Wednesday. NYC-based Lisa Redford has returned to the UK and is doing a mini-tour. She’s on around 9.30pm.

I enjoyed playing at Art Rumble earlier today. It’s a really nice event at Contact Theatre, Manchester, on the last Saturday of every month – and is worth checking out for Manchester Art and Craft, and live music performances.

Talking of live music — tonight, also at Contact, is the launch of Kirsty McGee & the Hobopop Collective’s new album “Number 5″. The event is completely sold out, but we’ve got tickets and I’ll do a blog post about it after the event.

And another album launch for you this weekend. This time it’s the fantastic Anna Kashfi, launching their album Survival. It’s a free gig (donations welcome), and will take place at Fuel Cafe Bar in Withington tomorrow (Sunday). I’ll be there helping to run things and doing the sound engineering. Come down if you can.

Martin Joiner’s been in touch via the blog, to promote a new open mic finder that he’s put together, using info from more regional blogs like mine. It looks pretty good, and allows you to track down open mics in a range of cities. You can also add / suggest new open mics.

Currently it includes open mics in Bristol, Bath, Newquay, Taunton, Leeds, Manchester and loads of others — there’s a bias towards South West towns at the moment but I think it’ll expand more nationally. Useful for bands who are on tour and have a few evenings free!

You can check out his open mic finder here.

Hi everyone

I’m running the Trof Northern Quarter open mic night tonight… sign up is from 8pm, and the whole thing kicks off at 8.30….

Tom

Just heard from Ian and Phil of the Huers, about an open mic that is happening on Sunday 31st January, from 8.30pm, near Up Holland, the other side of Wigan from Manchester. It’s a little bit far from Manchester, but could be a good night out from the city. Here’s the address and contact details:

The Fox Inn
24 Roby Mill
Skelmersdale, WN8 0QF
01695 622 449

You can also vist the Fox Inn website for more info.

Hope everyone’s enjoying the show!

I helped present Danny McTague’s show on All Fm last night. It was great fun (though not qute so fun cycling there in the snow!)… Here’s the playlist. I’m back on air 11pm-1am next Monday (allfm.org):

# April Maybe May – An open book
# Jesca Hoop – Hunting my dress
# Charlotte Martin – Stromata
# Nancy Elizabeth – Corriander
# Robin Mukherjee – Morning Chorus
# Diamond Knights – Destination Diamonds (Once we were diamonds EP)
# Explosions in the Sky – The Birth and Death of the Day
# Nic Chapman – Vasal Song
# Emma Burgess – Massachusetts
# Explosions in the Sky – Jesu Mix (14)
# The Huers – In My Dream
# Neko Case – Star Witness
# Jesca Hoop – Murder of Birds
# Alexis McClean – Ride On (Christie Moore)
# Alexis McClean – Make it Snow
# Alexis McClean – Summer rain
# Alexis McClean – Only You (Yazu)
# Delta Wade – Any way I want to
# Denis Jones – Paper
# Delta Maid – Any way I want to

Really enjoyed beinig a guest on Vicky Richardson’s Night Moves show last Tuesday. It was great fun playing on the show, and also hearing all the other tracks she played.

You can catch Vicky’s show every Tuesay night (Wednesday morning) 1am-3am. Here is the playlist:

STEVE FORBERT
Romeos Tune(1979)
JUKEBOX EXPLOSION LP
RONCO 1979

INXS
Elegantly Wasted(1997)
NUMBER 1 DRIVE ALBUM CD
POLYGRAM 1997

THE KINKS
I Wish I Could Fly Like Superman
JUKEBOX EXPLOSION LP
RONCO 1979

TOM KERSWILL LIVE IN SESSION
Wash Away
LIVE SESSION TRACK
ALL FM 2009

TOM KERSWILL LIVE IN SESSION
Flowers Fevers And Dreams
LIVE SESSION TRACK
ALL FM 2009

TOM KERSWILL LIVE IN SESSION
Sometimes These Words
LIVE SESSION TRACK
ALL FM 2009

BEN FOLDS
Landed
YOUTUBE TRACK
YOUTUBE 2007

SERGIO MENDES AND BRASIL 66
*(HERES 1 I MADE EARLIER)
Scarborough Fair(1969)
NAUGHTY BUT NICE CD
FAMILY 2005

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL (HERES ! I MADE EARLIER)
Scarborough Fair/Canticle(1966)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL COLLECTION
CBS 1980

LEDDRA CHAPMAN(MYSPACE SPOTLIGHT)
Story
TELLING TALES CD
MYSPACE 2009

WALTER EGAN
Magnet And Steel(1979)
STARTIME LP
RONCO 1979

TOM PETTY
Free Falling(1989)
THROUGH THE YEARS – ANTHOLOGY CD
MCA 2000

THE LEVELLERS
Pour
GREEN BLADE RISING CD
HAG 2002

TOM KERSWILL LIVE IN SESSION
Gravity
LIVE STUDIO TRACK
ALL FM 2009

NANCY ELIZABETH
Coriander
BATTLE AND VICTORY CD
THE LEAF LABEL 2007

TOM KERSWILL LIVE IN SESSION
My Minds Eye
LIVE SESSION TRACK
ALL FM 2009

GIGOLO AUNTS
Where I Find My Heaven(1995)
NUMBER 1 DRIVE ALBUM CD
POLYGRAM 1997

GIN BLOSSOMS
Hey Jealousy(1993)
NUMBER 1 DRIVE ALBUM CD
POLYGRAM 1997

AMERICA
Ventura Highway(1972)
NAUGHTY BUT NICE CD
FAMILY 2005

PETER SKELLERN
You’re A Lady(1972)
NUMBER 1 DRIVE ALBUM CD
POLYGRAM 1997

I’m on Vicki Richardson’s Night Moves show from 1am-3am this morning. I’ll be playing a few of my tracks, chatting, and hopefully playing live, although I managed to drop a PA system on my finger the other day, so not 100% sure about that.

So, yup – on air in 10 minutes’ time. You can listen online at allfm.org…. or on 96.9 FM near Manchester, UK!

Tom

Hi everyone

We’ve got Facebook groups for both the Bar one open mic on Sundays, and Trof NQ on Mondays. Here they are…

Bar One open mic: Facebook Group

Note (20th Jan 2010) Bar One has now closed down, sadly — check elsewhere on the site for other Manchester open mic nights.

Trof Northern Quarter open mic: Facebook Group

Cheers!

Tom

I’m just on the train back from a really good trip – first to Oslo for a couple of days, and then to Edinburgh. Will hopefully have time to write about both in the next few days.

Back in Manchester, there are some excellent gigs happening over the next few days. Tonight (Sunday), Jo Rose, Dan Melrose, Pablo’s Finest Hour, Noon and Jack Frazer are all playing at Oddest – the night’s called “With a Little Help” and it’s in support of a music therapy charity.

There’s also the open mic night at Bar One, Withington – being run by Josh tonight.

Tomorrow, The Miserable Rich are playing at Fuel (Red Deer Club). Plus there’s the newly-moved Monday open mic at Trof Northern Quarter, from 8pm till late – hosted by Ollie. Finally, I’ll be presenting some of the Unsigned Show on All Fm, with Danny (I’ll be standing in for Rob). The show’s from 11pm-1am, and I’ll be there in the studio from 11.45pm (after packing up the equipment from the Miserable Rich gig). I’ll be back on the show the following week, when we’ll have Ricky Damiani doing a live session.

See you soon,

Tom

I’ve been working on the videos of the Trof Northern Quarter open mic, which Ollie and Krazy Horse filmed a few months ago. By the end of tomorrow they should all be up on the site. There are some great performances there, including Krystina Miles, Glass Ankle, Matt Hutson, Robin Mukherjee and loads more…

Don’t forget also – there’s a choice of two open mics tonight. Over in the Northern Quarter there is the Trof NQ open mic (which will be moving to Mondays in November). Then in Withington, I’ll be running the new Bar One open mic…. both are free, and there is space to play three songs.

I’m playing at the Pulse Cafe Bar on Sunday, 2nd August from 2pm. It’s a free gig and is going to be nice and relaxed….

Tom Kerswill at Pulse Cafe, Todmorden

We’re back on the airwaves this Monday, 11pm-1am, on AllFm.org, and on 96.9FM across Manchester. Ursula and I are presenting the Unsigned Show — so we’ll be featuring loads of tracks by new unsigned artists from Manchester, the UK and worldwide. We’ve also got two live sessions taking place during the show. More details on those shortly! You can tune in on allfm.org, from 11pm-1am tomorrow!

Tom

Just got an email from Ben, who’s looking for a band or solo act to play at the Sir Ralph Abercromby (Bootle St, Manchester) this Sunday, 14th June). Can anyone make it? Let me know in the comments!

T

Just got back from doing sound at the “Hi, How are You?” Night at Fuel, promoted by Phil from Mushaboom. It was a really lovely night, despite headliner Jose Vanders cancelling. Mia Vigar, Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ear and Thom Stone all did excelent performances, and it was a great atmosphere, as always with Fuel. The chocolate brownies and coconut cake were especially good!

Hi, How Are You? Night at Fuel, WIthington

Hi

Two really good events happening tonight (I’ll be going to the one at Fuel):

For Folk’s Sake is at Cup, from 6pm-9pm, Featuring Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley.

Hi, How Are You?, from the people behind Mushaboom Folk, is happening at Fuel tonight. Featuring Mia Vigar, and Deaf to Van Gogh’s Ear

Tom

Currently at Ruby Lounge for the Handsome Family gig. Liz Green, support, was great. Her stuff is growing on me with every performance. It was a really lovely set. It’s probably over a year since I last saw her play (as I remember, that was at the End of the Road festival in Dorset).

I’m enjoying the Handsome Family, who’ve just come on stage. It’s a great atmosphere here at the Ruby Lounge – it’s become one of the best sub-academy 2 places to catch gigs… it’s overtaken the Night and Day cafe in that respect.

I’ll be back with a full review after the show – and we’ll be discussing it on the next All FM radio show on 1st June. 11pm-1am, where we’ll also have two live guests – Lorelei Loveridge and Glyn Bailey.

Tom

Hey – today, throughout Manchester, there will be musicians busking at various locations… Starting from midday. Here’s the official press release. I’m busking inside (strangely!) at the Castle Hotel, Oldham St, Manchester, from 1.30pm today.. Then I’ll be joining everyone else, watching other buskers playing during the afternoon. Here’s the official press release:

This Friday 15th May sees over 20 Manchester musicians hit the city centre streets, playing an eclectic series of impromptu gigs in a variety of secret, unauthorised locations, from the very public to the very hidden. Organised by local music collective Single Cell, and taking place as part of the Futuresonic 2009 festival, the gigs, running from midday until 8pm, will feature a diverse range of artists such as John Robb, John Fairhurst and poet Mike Garry, representing everything from african drumming to heavy metal and acoustic folk.

Although secret, locations and times will be revealed on the day via the Single Cell website, Twitter and a mobile phone number. Supported by Refugee Action the gigs will raise money and awareness on the issue of destitute refugees.

“Asylum seekers appealing decisions made by refugee courts are left without benefits or the ability to earn a living. These busking performances are taking place without permission in marginalised locations or hidden in very public places, mirroring the status of these destitute refugees.”

All proceeds from the gigs will go to destitute refugee campaigns and all acts are playing free of charge.

More information:

http://www.singlecell.co.uk

http://twitter.com/single_cell

It’s always interesting to see people using this site, and the posts they find on Google. For example, somebody has just found my post on swapping gig tickets… which actually just mentions another gig swapping site… but people are using the blog to look for people to swap tickets with. (In this case, the excellent Gomez…) and the Manchester open mics guide is still getting a load of traffic from people wanting to play in Manchester UK!