Sweeney Astray: Catch the Buzz: News from Sweeney (gigs, recordings, photos)

WE released a double A sided single upstairs at the Adelphi pub in Preston at the end of December last year - The Rooks of Kathmandu/Sunshine & Swimming, a night which also saw performances from blues artist Mog Stanley and George Harris and the Memory Makers.

We've been selling cds since then, beavering, it's now available for download on itunes and bandcamp and on it's way onto other online site. Click the links below to find it.

https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-rooks-of-kathmandu-single/id964082312?l=de&v0=9988&ign-mpt=uo%3D1

http://sweeneyastray.bandcamp.com/

and on sale at Action Records on Church Street in Preston. All you have to do is ask for it at the counter! So please let them know if you're interested, it's a very cool shop.https://www.facebook.com/ActionRecordsUK

The cover was designed by Sweeney Astray drummer Anna Ashworth, who also happens to be an artist and art teacher. She based the design in on her colour ink drawing...I based the song not only on experiences of Nepal in South East Asia but also a farm cottage where I lived in Northumberland for a year or so. It's the resulting musical mix of songwriting in isolation, nature, delirium and meditation, all a bit mystical really...

The next track being worked on from the Sweeney camp is called "History" which will be mixed by the end of this week (thanks to bass player and sound engineer Elliott Dryden). It features Marta Canellas on cello and Elliott on bass, and is more of a solo acoustic effort. Sadly Marta has gone back to living in Catolonia but I will be flying to Barcelona this weekend. More music may happen yet.

She played her last gig with myself, Elliott and Anna at the New Conti as support for Mike Heron previously of The Incredible String Band -a Scottish psychedelic folk act from the 60s) with Trembling Bells. The gig was a sell out and a bunch of my cousins turned up. Nice to play to a full house and see relatives I hadn't met up with for years on the same night.


Incredible gig Feb 2015...a crowded stage beforehand

Thank you very much to Marta. It's been brilliant having such a top musician and nice person to play with. Coming round my Preston flat for practices and working out arrangements. I wish we could've done more.

Cellist, Marta Canellas

Sweeney Astray will be playing their next gig when myself, double bassist Hannah Dacey and Anna Ashworth will be playing at The Albert in Brighton on Saturday the 21st March...

In the meantime I'm playing a solo set and running a night of music at Korova Arts Cafe & Bar on Saturday February the 14th, Valentine's Night. I'll kick off at 9pm. Followed by floorspots from our special and talented friends and headlined at 11pm by a set from David Jaggs of the Ragamuffins.

David Jaggs of the Ragamuffins

For all our friends in the Ribble Valley, we'll be playing at the Grand in Clitheroe with Nyima Murry and the Remedy on April 25th as support for Marc O'Reilly...myself, Elliott and Anna. I may also be playing at the Atrium on March the 20th.

And finally I bought some new shoes and gave up drinking this month...

Mike