BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL
Hank Wangford and Brad Breath (Andy) will play the 600 seat Speigeltent at this year's Brighton Fringe Festival. The duo play Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May and will have BJ Cole and Jerry Rulf accompanying. MORE ON THE UPCOMING GIGS PAGE HERE. [18 April 2013]

BUBS WHITE - BONZO GUITARIST - another significant player passes
I heard on Saturday that Bubs White had died in hospital, in Coventry. We were introduced by Viv Stanshall – Bubs had been playing in bands with various of the Bonzos for over a year by then.  He and I toured together in Bonzo Dog Freaks in early 1971 – the band had a variable line-up, but Bubs and I had major roles to play alongside Viv..... READ MORE HERE. [22 January 2013]

ADRIAN HENRI - Poetry in Art Prize
The closing date for the very first 'Adrian Henri Poetry in Art' award is fast approaching. The competition, to be held every two years, is open to British artists, makers and poets working in the visual arts including: two-dimensional, three-dimensional work and contemporary craft. Wenlock Poetry Festival ‘Adrian Henri Prize for Poetry in Art’ will be held from 6th to 20th April at the Twenty Twenty Gallery in Much Wenlock. The closing dates for entries is 28th February. You can find out more about the competition on the 'Adrian Henri Poetry in Art' website HERE. [18 January 2013]

BOB RONGA - a reminiscence
The news that Bobby died on 12 November 2012 only reached us a week ago.  Before I found it on Google I had only heard rumours that all was not well – we had heard he had been in hospital back in September when we were making our final shows in the UK, but I had no idea things were to end like this... READ MORE HERE. [16 January 2013]

GLEN SHERLEY
We documented Andy's affection for Glen Sherley's music on this website some years ago and have a page (link below) dedicated to the Glen Sherley story. Johnny Cash spotted Glen Sherley at Folsom Prison as a talented musician and songwriter and performed a song written by Sherley on the Folsom live album and subsequently fought to have him released. BBC Radio4 ran a programme recently highlighting Johnny Cash's work within the prison system in the States and in particular his work to try to get Sherley released. You can hear this programme on the BBC's iPlayer. HERE. [13 January 2013]

BOB RONGA - passes
Andy has just found out the very sad news that Bob (Robert) Ronga, one of the original members of Plainsong, passed away in November. Bob was a session musician, a member of American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) and was currently working on a screenplay. As well as Plainsong and several of Andy Roberts solo albums, Bob also played with The Sutherland Brothers (Lifeboat), Marc Ellington and on Allan Taylor's album The Lady. Bob lived in New York with his wife and family. We will have a more comprehensive tribute here shortly. [05 January 2013]

ANDY ROBERTS - plays in a famous shed!
Andy is sitting in with Hank Wangford's band, The Lost Cowboys, for the next few gigs. You can see the full list on the Upcoming Gigs page, and they include Hank's famous traditional gigs at The Shed, in Hovingham, on the 7th & 8th December. Andy will be re-united with BJ Cole, pedal steel guitar player, who is featured on Andy's solo albums Urban Cowboy and The Great Stampede. [28 November 2012]

PLAINSONG - Off to Japan
Net Rhythms ran a lovely review of Plainsong's final CD, Fat Lady Singing, in their recent edition. You can read the full review on the album page [ here ]. The band will depart for Japan shortly to fulfill their final performances in Toyko. See Upcoming Gigs page for details. [14 October 2012]

PLAINSONG - back in the UK
After a brilliant Bob Harris Show session on Sunday morning and a successful European tour, Plainsong are back in the UK for their final few dates which end with the Union Chapel gig in London on Sunday (16th). Andy reports back that the "Europe gigs have been spectacular, with sell out shows and standing ovations" and that "the band are in remarkably good shape." See the Upcoming Gigs page for more information about the remaining gigs...[ here ] and don't forget to listen to Plainsong's session on BBC iPlayer on the BBC radio2 website [ here ]. [13 September 2012]

PLAINSONG - Sell-out gigs
The news from Europe is that Plainsong have kicked off the 'Fat Lady Singing' tour really well and are playing to sell-out houses every night and with enthusiastic audiences demanding standing ovations. Andy, Iain, Julian and Griff squeezed in a recording session for the Bob Harris Show before they left UK, and the recording will go out on Bob's Radio2 Sunday morning show (00.00hrs!) on the 9th September - that's next Sunday.  See the Upcoming Gigs page for more information [ here ]. [29 August 2012]

PLAINSONG - Photos added
We've added a few photographs of Plainsong at the opening night (Goldmark Gallery - Uppingham) of their final tour. The band are currently touring Europe and reach these shores for their remaining UK dates on the 13th September at Gateshead. The other dates include South Petherton, Rye Festival and Union Chapel in London. Tickets are selling fast so hurry if you'd like to see this outstanding band on their final tour. See the Upcoming Gigs page for more information and the Music page for photos [ here ]. [29 August 2012]

PLAINSONG - On THE BOB HARRIS SHOW
Plainsong will do a session for the Bob Harris Show on BBC's Radio2. The session is due for airing on Bob's show on the 9th September. See the Upcoming Gigs page for more information
[ here ]. [23 August 2012]

A sample track from the new CD 'Fat Lady Singing' - Old Man At The Mill. Catch the UK and European tour dates on the Upcoming Gigs page [ here ]

A long time in the making, we are pleased to announce a new website dedicated to the memory of Adrian Henri, Painter, Poet and frontman for the poetry & rock band The Liverpool Scene. John Peel called Adrian “one of the great non-singers of our time. ” The live performances of The Liverpool Scene were legendary and they were one of the hardest working bands playing the college circuit, and in 1969 supported Led Zeppelin on a UK tour. Find out more about Adrian at <www.adrianhenri.com>

The dates for this year's Plainsong tour are firming up and we've added known venues to the Upcoming Gigs page [ here ]. The tour will take in several UK and European Festivals and visit venues across the UK between August and September. 2012 is the 40th anniversary of Andy Roberts and Iain Matthews forming Plainsong and the release of the legendary ‘Amelia Earhart’ album. 

2012 will be the 40th anniversary of Andy Roberts and Iain Matthews forming Plainsong with Dave Richards and Bob Ronga and also the release of the legendary ‘Amelia Earhart’ album. 

To celebrate, the band will be releasing a live studio album, ‘Fat Lady Singing’ (on the Blue Rose label) and touring Europe in August and September.  The sad news is that this will be a farewell tour for Plainsong, as it has become harder to pin down the four current members in one place, let alone schedule dates for touring.   For those fans who have loved Plainsong’s unique sound for forty years and those who have never seen Iain, Andy, Griff and Julian perform together, next year’s tour represents a final chance to say goodbye to what Melody Maker described as “quite simply and without hype: a supergroup”.

HANK'S BIRTHDAY
This November Hank will turn 70 before his time so the rest of the world can feel twenty years younger.  He will celebrate his 70th birthday weekend with two very special gigs.  In West London on Sunday 14th November he will be at the Half Moon Putney for his Birthday Prequel and on Monday 15th November Hank will celebrate his Actual Birthday in his homeland North London at the O2 Academy in Islington.  On both nights he will have a clutch of special guests including the legendary Brad Breath – Andy Roberts – who will be yodelling into your hearts and offering you a Glimpse of Gloom on both nights.

SHINDIG music magazine
Andy is featured in the latest edition of SHINDIG talking about his early solo career and "groundbreaking fusion of jazz, rock, R&B, poetry and performance, The Liverpool Scene (who) were one of the truly unique bands to emerge from the incredible creative melting pot of the late '60s." Andy chats with Colin Hall and Jeff Penczak.

ANDY AND HANK

Hank Wangford & Brad Breath (aka Andy Roberts) kick off their nationwide (actually Dorset county to begin with!) NO HALL 2 SMALL tour this weekend with gigs in Puddletown (Friday), Ibberton (Saturday), and Wootton Fitzpaine (Sunday). Catch them both at a gig near you. MORE GIG INFO HERE

“In the week that sees the start of the more regular outings for Hank Wangford and Brad Breath (we’ve done a few one-offs over the summer, nothing more) I thought I’d set down a few musings that might be of interest, and slightly relevant!   Now bear with me...
READ MORE HERE