A new album of ten traditional ballads and one tune is coming out on Drag City in the USA in June, Navigator in the UK/Europe in July, and possibly on other labels in other territories across the known world. There will be touring in support of it.
Recently Alastair Caplin and Alasdair Roberts did a duo tour of France, Spain and Portugal. Despite some logistical problems, the gigs were, for the most part, enjoyable. They found the time to enjoy a concert of mediaeval music on bagpipes and harp at the mediaeval museum in Paris.
Like myriad other people across Europe, the two Alis were stranded (in Lisbon) for three days because of the aberrant volcanic activity in Iceland. The time was used wisely in researching the work of Michael Giacometti, Corsican ethnomusicologist who recorded a lot of traditional Portuguese music, and in eating great seafood. Thanks to Isla Angus for working on the tour, and to all the people – promoters, hosts, other musicians, music lovers and haters – we met along the way.
Mr Roberts just got back from a four-date solo tour of Australia. During this time he watched ‘Dr Zhivago’ and ‘Samson and Delilah’, read ‘La Bete Humaine’ by Emile Zola, met many friendly, welcoming, kind people, shared bills with many tremendous fellow musicians, ate well, only bought one book, saw kangaroos, glowworms and the southern constellations and, mostly, had a good time. Special thanks to Lawrence English of Room40 in Brisbane for facilitating the tour, and all the other kind folks who were met there. Particularly Voss and Steph Hughes who let Alasdair borrow their beautiful guitars.
Mr Roberts is currently touring in Europe (Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland) opening for his Drag City label mate Joanna Newsom. He is playing solo – a mixture of old songs, songs from the new record ‘Too Long In This Condition’, new song material, new auld sangs and the occasional Keltic folk tale.
After the Newsom support tour, Alasdair is going to Iceland to collaborate with Benni Hemm Hemm. Benedikt has written a suite of songs in Icelandic, scored for an ensemble and translated them into English – Alasdair will sing the English parts and Benni the Icelandic. There will be two concerts of this programme. Roberts will also do one or two solo gigs in Iceland.
Then in the summer there are a few festival appearances. Please see the ‘Live’ section of this site for more information.
Alasdair is currently listening to: Ryan Francesconi ‘Parables’ (Sweet Dreams, 2010).
