Dear friends,
Welcome to the Autumn newsletter.
It has been a quiet summer for us in terms of live work. A couple of festivals, but after such a busy winter and spring it has been good to stay in one place for a few weeks.
But time at home is over, and next week we will be back out on the road, starting with a tour of Spain and Portugal.
We are greatly looking forward to returning to Girona, San Sebastian, Zaragoza, Madrid and Bilbao, but also playing some new places too, such as Lisbon and Saojo in Portugal, and Valencia and Santander in Spain.
For the Spanish speakers out there here is an interview Michael gave to Spain’s leading music magazine Ruta66.
And here are the tour dates.
The Spain & Portugal dates are followed by a run of shows in the UK, including one on our own doorstep. On Friday, Sept 25th we will be teaming up with our old friend Jeb Loy Nichols. This will be an in-the-round show, with the three of us trading songs and stories, and it will take place at Montgomery Town Hall.
The brilliant multi-instrumentalist Clovis Phillips will be joining us too. Clovis has been a major part of all our recent releases, not just as a musician, but also as a recording engineer and arranger.
It’s going to be a unique night, a real one-off. Do book early.
Into October, and we are also really looking forward to playing shows for the first time in Hertford, near St Albans, and the beautiful Welsh town of Llanidloes, near Newtown as well as a long overdue return to the fine city of Bristol.
Tickets for the show at The Hen & Chicken Theatre on October 1st are available here.
Into November and we return again to The Netherlands and Germany, for our third visit this year:
FULL BAND SHOWS
And to end the year we are excited to announce two FULL BAND SHOWS in Liverpool and London.
These are going to be very special nights. Lou will play a solo set with the band showcasing songs from her new album, which is also being launched at these shows.
Then MWK will do the same, playing songs from “Nothing Can Hurt Me Anymore” before coming together at the end for a set of My Darling Clementine songs.
The band will comprise of Shez Sheridan, Colin Elliot, Dean Beresford and Bryan Day (who also make up the Richard Hawley band).
Both of the solo albums have been co-produced and mixed by the brilliant Colin Elliot.
For a flavour of what to expect, here is a clip of MWK and the band in action performing The Golden Hour from the new album.
LOU ALBUM – CROWDFUNDER APPEAL
There are just a couple of weeks left on the crowdfunder. Lou is still a little way off hitting the target so if you are able to help, we would be so grateful.
This album is going to be very special. The songs are simply stunning and the musicianship sublime. We guarantee you’ll be delighted to have been a part of it, so if you feel able to contribute, we’d be delighted to have you on board.
There are also some new, exciting rewards that have been added.
Head to the page and check them out.
Meanwhile, here is a first look at one of the promo shots from her recent photo shoot with Bob Machin © for “The Leaving & The Left Behind”
WHILE STOCKS LAST – THREE CDs & POSTER BUNDLE
‘How Do You Plead?’ (2011)
‘The Reconciliation’ (2013)
‘Still Testifying’ (2017)
All copies will be signed, and personalised as requested.
And to complete the package, all orders will come with a signed poster, randomly selected from the last 15 years of MDC.
We have a treasure trove of posters, promoting albums, tours and concerts from all over the world. One of these will be added to your order.
Buy now here. Less than 30 available, and again, all monies from these sales will go towards Lou’s album.
NOTHING CAN HURT ME ANYMORE
Its highest position to date is no. 2, and currently it sits at no. 13 having gone back up from no. 20 last month.
Thanks to all of you – the buyers, the listeners, the voters, and the “word-spreaders”.
As well as large parts of the media, the album has been praised by fellow writers, artists, and songwriters too, which is most rewarding and means a great deal, especially coming from those we have admired ourselves for so long (see below)
The press continues to be supportive too. The new issue of Record Collector magazine carries an article and interview with MWK. You can read via the web site or by buying a hard copy.
If you are yet to hear the album, or better still buy it on CD or stunning yellow vinyl, here are the ways you can:
GOODBYE DOLLY
And finally, like the rest of the world, we are mourning the loss of a truly great artist and arguably even better human being. The imperious Dolly Parton left us last week. A force for good who left behind a remarkable musical and philanthropic legacy.
Her partnership with Porter Wagoner was one of the inspirations in the forming of My Darling Clementine, and as many of you who have seen us on stage over the years will know, we have two songs that were inspired by Dolly and Porter respectively. Lou’s song “Jolene’s Story” tells the tale of Dolly’s Jolene from the other woman’s perspective, while “I No Longer Take Pride” was inspired by the songs Porter wrote after Dolly had left him, and while performing under his alter ego of Skid Row Joe.
Dolly – we salute you, and we thank you. There may well be a special tribute to her at the upcoming shows.
To find out what, you’ll have to come along.
Thanks all.
That’s everything for now. Enjoy the Autumn and the cooler weather, and we look forward to seeing you all at a show very soon, and sharing new songs with you in the coming months.
Yours in music,
Michael & Lou
