The Exiles: Wor Flags Waving
The release of this fresh batch of songs by The Exiles coincides with the resurgence of Newcastle United as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League. As the album title suggests, pride has returned to the club and its massive legion of supporters worldwide, and The Exiles are here to bear witness in song. The title track sums up the exhilaration of qualifying for a Wembley Final after a 24-year interlude, which particularly demanded acknowledgement. Other songs, such as Back on Track and The Toast of Newcastle Now, also reflect the return of optimism and belief under the stewardship of Eddie Howe.
As on our previous releases, we also explore names and games from the past. The focus throughout is the supporters’ perspective: from the club mascot of the 1950s, to a young fan attending his first match with his dad; from the fun of French Day at St. James’ Park in 2013, to travelling the length and breadth of England to cheer on the team. This is music by fans, for fans and about fans, linking the past, present and future of our beloved Newcastle United.
Tim Readman and Andy Cooke – The 12 Hits of Christmas
The 12 Hits of Christmas features folk, pop, rock and EDM tracks. There’s a shanty, a carol, some classic soul, electro-pop, glam rock and a world music track. We’ve been hard at work, rather in the manner of Santa’s elves, in our sonic workshop in a land far away. Emerging from our labours, blinking in the daylight, clutching twelve new Christmas songs, we saw that it was done. All that remains is for you dear reader to accept this gift.
The Eventually Brothers: Love Songs Dark and Bright
Love Songs Dark and Bright is the fourth release from The Eventually Brothers – a double-length album featuring 25 songs. It is a musical and lyrical potpourri designed to pluck at heartstrings in a variety of ways. From joyful delight to bitter despair, this batch of songs examines just about every aspect of love imaginable. Sunny pop tunes rub shoulders with country-flavoured excursions, while folk ballads that hark back several centuries in mood and structure take their place alongside flat-out rock and roll stormers and story-songs reminiscent of the European cabaret scene. To say it is eclectic would be to understate the variety of musical styles on offer here!
TIME, SPACE AND OTHER DIMENSIONS
Chronolord is a collaboration between a nephew and an uncle – Baltimore MD’s Andy Cooke (Dataloaf) and Vancouver BC’s Tim Readman (Fear of Drinking), two English born musicians living in North America. The concept for Time, Space and other Dimensions emerged from conversations between Andy and Tim about family occasions where stories are told and reminiscences shared.
Themes such as the past turning into stories we tell, the present feeling like a waking dream and the future extending beyond our own lives, are all explored in the lyrics, along with concerns about the future of the planet Earth itself.
The music is eclectic, covering everything from folky acoustic stylings to all out rock. At its core is a pop sensibility and catchiness that makes it stick in your head.
Also available at: Bandcamp, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk
The Eventually Brothers: The Ancient Art of Weaving
A meandering musical journey, arcing from Halloween in the year 1010 to the appearance of the Corona virus early in 2020. Diverse characters appear and disappear as the weaving proceeds. While the songs are thematically independent, they are linked as individual moments-in-time.
Ladies and gentlemen, the fruit of our musical loom: The Ancient Art of Weaving.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
THE CUCKOO GENE
WHO?
Chronolord is a collaboration between Baltimore MD’s Andy Cooke (Dataloaf) and Vancouver BC’s Tim
Readman (Fear of Drinking), both Englishmen exiled in North America.
Tim wrote the words, made up the vocal melodies and harmonies and sang the vocal parts. Andy
wrote the music, played all the instruments, did all the programming and sequencing and took care of
recording, engineering and editing duties.
WHAT?
The Cuckoo Gene delivers a speculative fiction narrative concerning an attempt to save the human
species from extinction following the collapse of Planet Earth as a viable ecosystem for human survival.
This 11-song album of guitar and synth driven Space Rock with a Prog Rock flavour takes the listener
on a journey from Earth’s end through to the search for and location of a suitable exo-planet on which
surviving humans, and their artificial intelligence-driven technology, can settle. What could possibly go
wrong? You’ll find out soon enough!
HOW?
The album was conceived as a result of what could be described as a musical pen-pal relationship and
eventually delivered at Tres Gatos studios in Towson, MD in the late summer and early fall of 2019.
This critically acclaimed 2020 debut album prompted reviewers to say nice things, like:
“Chronolord offers us beautiful compositions with a melodic background which ventures from time to time towards a sound redolent of Pink Floyd.” Gabriel Badelier , Progcritique
“Built upon traditional progressive rock music… but with a freshness that is a pleasure to listen to.” Xavier Boscher, Musique dans la Plume
“The rhythm of The Cuckoo Gene is unusual for progressive rock and is more reminiscent of Bob Dylan, David Bowie and John Lennon than of Neal Morse.” Jean-Christophe Le Brun, Neoprog
“This adventurous duo pleasantly surprised me, with its unique way of reinventing rock music from various periods, its well-crafted melodies, and by the way it did not sell out to fit in with other genres.” Marek Deveaux, PROFIL Prog
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
The Eventually Brothers: Hither and Yon
As the album title suggests, each of the songs involves a journey, either figurative or literal. Some draw inspiration from historic events; others find their source in the turbulence of everyday life. All of the lyrics are by Alan Millen, with melodies created by Brian Bouthillier, Iain Duncan, Raymond Kerr and Tim Readman. Together with co-producer Bill Buckingham, Tim has shaped these songs into a cohesive whole that links them in musical kinship with those on All Over The Map, the Eventually Brothers debut CD released a decade ago. The listener is invited to become a fellow traveller on a tour that includes a contemplative walk along a beach at low tide; an escape from a troubled past; a rainy day in Paris; an afternoon at the local fishing hole and a stroll along the towpath of an English canal. Among the historic locations on the itinerary are a First World War trench; the city of Halifax in the aftermath of the most devastating explosion prior to Hiroshima; and the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War. Beyond our own planet, the rings of Saturn enter the picture in all their ethereal beauty. Once again Eventually Brother and multi-instrumentalist Craig McKerron is along for the ride. We would love to have you come along on the voyage too. No passport, visa or ticket required.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Rockaroladoo
This batch of sparkling tunes is sure to have kids, parents and grandparents singing along, tapping their toes and movin’ and groovin’ – with a Canada-wide smile on their faces. The fun starts with the dawn screech of the rock-and-roll rooster, whose hearty “rockaroladoo” sparks the entire farmyard into action. From there we take in the “howdy-pardner” merriment of the Calgary Stampede and enjoy the exhilaration of speeding across a frozen pond on a pair of new skates. The collection also celebrates the pleasure of maple syrup on pancakes, the refreshing tingle of a popsicle on a hot summer’s day, and ice cream at any time of year, plus the unique flavour of scrumptious blue string pudding. Beyond all that feasting “All in the Family” presents some highly amusing members of the extended clan; “Sad Sock” relates the eternal mystery of the lost sock; “In My Pocket” explores the treasures that kids gather as they go about their daily adventures; “I’m Not Scared” challenges the monsters that dwell in the nooks and crannies; and “The Kite Song” lifts spirits skyward. Of course, there’s more, cloaked in light-hearted mystery. If you were ever a kid yourself, prepare for a magical tour through childhood.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Fear of Drinking: Live in Zurich
Tim Readman is a musician, songwriter, producer and music journalist originally from County Durham, England. Songwriter and guitarist, Gerard Kerr, is from Southland, New Zealand. They met in Vancouver BC and formed Canadian Celtic/folk favourites Fear of Drinking, whose energetic live act became very popular in the 1990s as they played folk clubs, night spots and folk festivals across Canada and the USA and beyond. They recorded three albums, which garnered considerable airplay and built their reputation for humour and harmony with their folk songs about coal, sheep and love gone bad. Although they officially came off the road in 2000, they have since reformed to play the odd show when the fancy takes them. This recording was made during their 1999 European tour.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Go Blue
The songs on Go Blue are a mix of old and new, but all are previously unrecorded. They’d been biding their time in a large pile of demos in varying degrees of roughness. We’ll leave it to you and the critics to describe the musical style but the official description here at Big City is ‘extremely varied’.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Out of the Green
A collection of six traditional and four contemporary folk songs from England, Ireland and Scotland featuring acoustic guitar, vocals, fiddle, accordion, bodhran, mandola,’cello, bass, harmonium and hammered dulcimer. There’s everything here from rousing drinking songs, to murder ballads; from sad laments to wickedly amusing folk tales. “Out of the Green came out of the blue really. After ten years of thinking about songs to record, it took ten minutes to make up my mind, ten days to record it all and ten weeks to get the record out!”
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Into The Red
This recording features Geoffrey Kelly (Spirit of the West, Paperboys), Shona Le Mottee (Lord of the Dance, Paperboys, Fear of Drinking), Amy Stephen (Mad Pudding, Jou Tou), Tom Neville (Fear of Drinking, James Keelaghan), Jennie Bice (Prydwen, Fear of Drinking) and James Ong (Spygirl).
“His strong personal voice, with commitments to themes of importance, speaks in the same vein as James Keelaghan, Eileen McGann and David Francey, while Tim’s sense of humour stands comparison with that of The Arrogant Worms.”
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
In Black & White
“Recorded live, it captures the energy, cheeky wit, musicality, fun and devil-may-care attitude which is typical of a Readman performance…it’s a party!” Scene Magazine, London
by Tim Readman and Fear Of Drinking. This recording features Allison Russell formerly of Po’ Girl / Birds of Chicago and now a Grammy nominated solo artist.
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
One Morning When I Went To Work…
Fear of Drinking was formed with Gerard Kerr in Vancouver around 1989. We played for fun at a few parties and discovered we both had songs from our respective homelands (North East of England and New Zealand’s South Island) that we enjoyed playing together…mainly folk songs about coal, sheep and love gone bad. The duo expanded with the addition of Jane Gowan on accordion and vocals, to round out our acoustic guitars and vocals.
by Fear Of Drinking
It Could Happen To You
“7 days are in the week, except when love goes bad like when you’re away hunting deer and your loved one leaves you and the station but love blossoms in the Irish sunshine until the black future without coal looms; you emigrate only to die in a lonely desert and here comes those drunken hordes but you escape the storm and discover that after all it is our faithful fans that keep coming back.”
by Fear Of Drinking.
Get On With It!
After much deliberation and experimentation we realized the only way to do this album was to get on with it. Recorded live to DAT in Tim’s living room, in spite of lawnmowers, weedeaters, stop-sign runners, boom cars & Harleys. The legend was born! You can hear it here now for free.
by Fear Of Drinking
Blue Suburban Skies
These eight songs celebrate moments treasured by every Beatles fan. They will strike a chord with Beatlemaniacs everywhere! Splendid time, guaranteed!
by Newcastle Road
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Celebrate The Beatles
Celebrate The Beatles is a 3 song mini CD by Newcastle Road. The songs are all original Tim Readman/Alan Millen compositions performed by Tim and Bill Buckingham in the style of the Fab Four. They have garnered critical praise and airplay especially in the UK. Celebrate The Beatles and Wander Along take the listener on a musical journey to the Beatles’ hometown and also acknowledge Liverpool’s annual Beatle Week Festival.
Christmas with The Beatles is for everyone who ever looked forward to getting a Beatles album from Santa. Also featured are all 3 tracks without any lead vocals, so that you can learn the words and then grab your sister’s hairbrush and sing along in front of your bedroom mirror until your little heart is content! You’ll find, on reflection, that it is a very good way to spend an evening at home. Or even at someone else’s.
by Newcastle Road
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Under The Influence
The third and final incarnation of this project is a true concept album of 14 original songs by, for and about fans of The Beatles.
by Newcastle Road
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
All Over The Map
Brit Pop meets Americana in Canada. Acoustic rock, electric folk, rootsy pop, acoustic and electric guitars, accordions, banjo, mandolins, bass, percussion and tons of vocal harmonies.
by The Eventually Brothers
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
…At St James’ Park
17 tracks spanning a century of Newcastle United history in a wide variety of styles (pop, rock, folk, dance etc.etc.) that commemorate various memorable moments and personalities, all viewed through the eyes of lifelong fans.
The Exiles
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
The First Eleven
North East English Folk Music with a few surprises. Songs by 2 exiled Geordies about heroes…and legendary games. On Tyneside or in the far corners of the globe this will bring good cheer.
“an affectionate and nostalgic tribute…rather than the usual ‘football song’ fare…an excellent piece of work.” TYNE TALK
by The Exiles
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
…And 50,000 In The Stands
Diverse eclectic mix of pop, folk, rock, rap, ska and disco songs for Newcastle United fans. Moments in the history of Newcastle United, ranging from the pre-war days of the legendary Hughie Gallacher to the present.
by The Exiles
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Run, Geordie, Run
Two songs written and recorded especially to support ‘Run Geordie Run’ lad, Mark Allison, as he ran 3100 miles across the USA in 100 days during the Summer of 2011.
All profits made are in aid of St Benedict’s Hospice and The Children’s Foundation.
by The Exiles
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play
Great Stuff – The Songs of Paul “Lolly” Lawton
Listen to his words, feel the music and lose yourself for just a little while.
On July 15, 2005, we learned of the tragic death of our beloved friend Paul “Lolly” Lawton. The loss was unexpected, and although the days and months that followed Lolly’s passing have at times been unbearably sad, there is always a memory of Lolly that comes to mind to lift our hearts and offer us strength.
To have known Lolly was to adore him. He was a genuine, compassionate and spiritual person whose love of life was contagious. He stopped at nothing to make people feel uniquely special and to bring laughter to each day. What was most remarkable about Lolly was his ability to balance his time amongst the things that mattered most to him. He was a loyal supporter of the Everton Football Club (Go Blues!), a committed contributor to a variety of charities and children’s sponsorship programs, an accomplished drummer and percussionist, a devoted member of his faith, a best friend to so many, and a loving son, brother and uncle. It wasn’t until after Lolly passed away that we realised just how much he managed to fit into each day. For this we give thanks to Lolly’s malfunctioning “off-button”.
When we discovered the mini disc containing the songs recorded on this CD, we were once again amazed by our Lolly. We had enthusiastically followed the success of our friend, the drummer, but uncovering his talents as a songwriter has been one of the most poignant gifts he has left us. Through music, Lolly’s greatest passion, he has proven the everlasting nature of love, which lives on and continues to grow even when a body’s journey has ended.
Our fortune is that we will forever have this imprint of Lolly’s powerful soul. His deep connection to God and his guiding energy are embodied in the music he wrote. Our hope is that these songs offer lightness, joy and the courage to pursue any dream imaginable to all that hear
Each of the musicians appearing on this CD were dear friends to Lolly, people he admired, respected and felt privileged to play with. We’ve called it “Great Stuff” in memory of the name Lolly gave to the countless compilations of tunes he would spend hours and days preparing for his friends and family.
As Lolly would have wanted, take the time to listen to his words, feel the music and lose yourself for just a little while.
by the Friends of Paul “Lolly” Lawton
Also available at: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play