Dear friends,
Welcome to the Autumn newsletter.
We hope this finds you in good health.
As many of you will know, this is a hard newsletter to write. We have been hit by a terrible family tragedy this summer which has very much turned our world upside down and made us questions many things.
We have sought solace where we can find it, mostly in the fellowship of family, but also, as we always have, in music. Both the listening, and the writing. Performing is another story.
ON STAGE
We didn’t expect to be back on stage quite so soon after such a momentous incident but we were booked to play The Long Road Festival at the end of August, and we decided to go ahead with it. We’d like to thank everyone who was there to see us that Sunday, who lifted us up on a wave of love. It was a tough gig, but we were buoyed by your support.
“They would draw a rightfully deserved standing ovation – they didn’t need to play this show but hopefully in some small way there was some small crumb of comfort to be gained by knowing that there was a lot of love and support out there from their extended country family.”
We haven’t played live since then but we are looking forward to getting back out on the road again soon.
Tickets are on sale now for the UK shows in December; https://mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk/shows
We will be showcasing songs from the forthcoming, albeit delayed, new album, as well as many fan favourites from the back catalogue.
Being December expect something seasonal too, as well as two brand new songs, written in the past few weeks, of very special consequence.
Come and be with us. We need you. Please book now:
Biddulph – St Lawrence’s Church
TICKETSThu Dec 5th
London – West Hampstead Arts Club
TICKETS
Fri Dec 6th
Liverpool – St Michael’s In The Hamlet
TICKETS
Sun Dec 8th
Birmingham – Kitchen Garden Cafe
TICKETS
JAPAN
We are excited to be heading out Japan later this month, for our first tour over there
Our collaboration with Steve Nieve, 2021’s Country Darkness, has been re-issued out there on the Hayabusa Landings label, with three newly added, unreleased bonus tracks.
One of those tracks is this live version of April 5th, recorded live in Liverpool, which you can watch here.
April 5th is a song co-written by Elvis Costello, Roseanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
We were so very sad to hear about Kris’s passing. He was an inspiration to both of us, long before we met. For MWK’s tribute to KK go here.
Below is the Japan tour poster, an interview we conducted with Japanese Record Collector, and also a photo from Tower Records in Tokyo of the album on display, where we will be doing an in-store on Oct 26th.
For full info on My Darling Clementine in Japan, click here.
NEW COLLABORATION
Available now is a remarkable album called Tremulant, released on the Sub Exotic label.
The artist is Ghostwriter, and MWK is one of 3 guests vocalists singing on the album, along with Andrew Rumsey and Suzy Mangion.
It is a fascinating and unique project recreating and re-inventing hymns and spirituals of the past two centuries.
We strongly recommend you check it out. It is something different but one we are sure all MDC fans will enjoy and appreciate. Below are a few quotes, with link to the full reviews.
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“9/10 – Moving and uplifting music that defies genre or predictable structure.. A quite astonishing feat”
Americana UK review
“even my cynical soul was moved to pray for more”
Bluesbunny review
“The beauty of the album is that it is reverent yet modern, with wide-open spaces.. it brings church music outside the church, while challenging staid conceptions”
A Closer Listen review
“A curious cult recommendation”
Monolith Cocktail review
“A beguiling masterstroke”
FREQ review
“Hypnotically beautiful”
Folking review
“A beautiful, very moody tone poem.. I loved the various tracks”
Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster
RECORDS FOR CHRISTMAS
Christmas is just round the corner and who doesn’t love getting a nice slab of vinyl in their stocking. We are down to the very last few vinyl copies of assorted MDC albums, and we mean the LAST FEW. so please ORDER NOW if you wish to have any of these added to your MDC vinyl collection. Once they are gone they are gone.
OUR PLACE OR YOURS
We have received a number of enquires recently, asking if we would play a private concert, either as part of a celebration event, private party etc, or an intimate concert for you and invited guests.
This is something we have done on occasion and are always happy to discuss it. In the first instance, just send a message via the ‘contact’ page on the website, or an email to info@mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk, or send a message over social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and we can get the ball rolling to try and make it happen.
TO END
So as we start to heal and try to look forward, another final thank you to all who have sent messages of support. They are greatly appreciated and have encouraged us to push on.
Friends in the UK, we look forward seeing you at the December shows, and friends in Japan, we will see you all in October. For everyone else, we will be coming to see you in 2025, so please keep checking the concert pages for all upcoming shows in your part of the world.
Meanwhile we will leave you with a song that has been something of a ‘go to’ for us in the past few weeks, Sadness As A Gift, by Adrianne Lenker.
Yours in music / Ongaku no naka no anata no mono,
Lou & Michael
