31st August 2010

A really big thank you to everyone who came to support me at my Greenbelt shows this weekend. It was fab that you were all there - it was the best time ever! Thanks to all the brilliant people at Greenbelt - to Matt Stone for inviting me to play, to the lovely people in the G-music tent and the fantastic sound engineers in the Underground. Thank you also to Tim, John, Dave, Christine and Jonathan of Modern Church for inviting me to perform as part of your roadshow in the G-Source tent. You made quite an impact on a number of my friends! I hope to see you all again soon. If you haven't been to Greenbelt before try it out next year (August bank holiday weekend) - it's a Christian festival but it's not weird! Become my friend on Facebook to check out some pics and videos.

19th August 2010

My new 'Greatest Non-Hits' record A Taste Of Blake is to be released on Friday 27th August to coincide with the start of Greenbelt. It will be available to buy from the G-Music store on site and on iTunes. Remember, I'm playing the Underground stage on Sunday at 1.30pm. I'm also performing an acoustic version of my song 'I Believe In Jesus (Not You)' in the G-Source tent as part of the Modern Church (MCU) roadshow on Monday at 2.30pm .

29th July 2010

Thanks to everybody who came to the launch gig in London on Tuesday, it was much appreciated. Pics on my Facebook page. Cheers Amanda! Below are the links to my new single and album on iTunes:

A Better Way

The Parousia 

Hope you like 'em!

18th July 2010

Come to The Parousia launch gig at the Dublin Castle on the 27th July, sign up to the mailing list and receive your free copy of my new double album! Also released on that date my new single, a re-recorded version of 'A Better Way', which will be available to download from iTunes.

2nd July 2010

New album 'The Parousia' to be released on 27th July, the date of my gig at Camden's Dublin Castle (ticket info below). Probably my most eclectic set of songs yet (infused with a strong Christian mysticism vibe - as you do). Help yourself to a free download of one of the tracks from it, Vinyl Junkie. 

23rd June 2010

Just added a live recording of My T Rex to the mp3s page - free download!

21st June 2010

Been quite busy recording this month. Will be releasing a new album in July comprising tracks from my previous two EPs 'When The Angels Fall From The Sky' and 'Will The Real Blake Please Stand Up?' and five new tracks I had originally planned to release as a third EP. It seemed easier just to release the lot on an LP. It will include a new re-recorded version of 'A Better Way'. Further details to follow soon.

I will be performing at the Dublin Castle, Camden, London on Tuesday 27th July with my band. Come along! http://www.facebook.com/thedublincastle

Tickets: www.ents24.com/web/event/2020301/Blake_2.html

I can confirm my appearance at Greenbelt Festival will be at 2.30pm on the Underground stage Sunday 29th August. Tickets: http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/festival/tickets

24th May 2010

Latest Pop Sounds is now available to buy from CD Baby in the USA. Buy the disc or download. 

30th April 2010

Delighted to report that I've been offered a gig at this year's fantastic Greenbelt Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday 29th August. The full line-up has yet to be announced but last year's headliner's included Royksopp and Athlete. Click here for currently announced acts and tickets.

24th April 2010

My new EP is now available to buy exclusively from 7 Digital's indiestore.  I replaced 'See The Light' with a new track called 'Where We Can Be Free'. However, you can download the former for free from the mp3s page. A 'Best Of' compilation album is coming out in the summer. Exciting news of a festival gig in August will follow shortly....

23rd March 2010

It's been a while since my last update as I haven't had any internet access for about a month as my computer died - a frustrating experience in more ways than one! I haven't been slack in the interim, however; I have a new four track EP coming out on April 23rd: Will The Real Blake Please Stand Up? It contains three tracks from the early days of Karmatruffle when we were still a 3-piece (me on guitar and vocals, Magda McCaffrey on bass and vocals and Amanda Ranson on Mo Tucker-style drums): 'Panic Attack', 'When He Comes' and 'Never Get To Heaven'. The other track, 'See The Light', is from 2002, pre-dating the others by about a year, and I suppose owes a debt to George Harrison's Eastern period and Kula Shaker - a band I am not embarrassed to say that I love with a passion. I caught them on tour last year at Bristol University actually and they were still amazing, although the crowd were a bunch of wankers. I've never seen so many fights at a gig. A lot of people seemed to miss the point that Crispian was singing about the oneness of all things and love being the basic reality of the universe. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

15th February 2010

My podcast series The World of Blake is available to download from iTunes now. On it I preview tracks from my albums and talk nonsense with my mate Dean, as well as interviewing a host of famous celebrities! It's free! Click here. 

14th February 2010

When The Angels Fall From The Sky is released today on iTunes. Click here to buy. Happy Valentine's Day! 

4th February 2010

Just published the second podcast in the World of Blake series. In this episode, Dean and I discuss apple crumble with celebrity guests including Roger Moore, Leonard Rossiter, John Lennon and Mick Jagger, and introduce tracks from When The Angels Fall From The Sky. Click here for link to download page. 

29th January 2010

EmuBands will be distributing my new EP 'When The Angels Fall From The Sky' -out in early March. It contains four tracks that I couldn't find room for on 'Latest Pop Sounds'. All mailing list members will be receiving the title track mp3 free so if you're not on the list visit the Contact & links page now and sign up!

Thanks to everyone who downloaded 'Ordinary Person', especially those of you who were just feeling sorry for me! Unfortunately, I didn't manage to become one of the few truly independent artists to crack the charts. However, I was contacted by a chap who was listening to the song in a cafe in a small town in northern Spain who liked it so much he made the effort to ask the waitress who it was, google me and email me to tell me so! So thank you Richard, you have made me feel like the whole project was worthwhile.

Also, help yourself to two previously unreleased tracks on the free mp3s page! 'Sink Or Swim' and 'She's My Baby' are both outtakes from the By The Banks Of The A350 sessions. They will only be available for download for a short while though.

12th January 2010

Happy New Year! Have you downloaded the single yet? Here's the links:

Amazon

iTunes

Thanks to everyone who came to the album launch party on Saturday. Special thanks to Razored Cone for the excellent sound engineering, to Chris, Paul and Joe for being Blake's 7 and taking the time to learn my songs, to Chief for the door, to Pete for helping with the cash tin and to She-Notes for being brilliant! An excerpt from the performance of 'Now You're Gone' is up on YouTube.

29th December 2009

A review of 'Latest Pop Sounds' has just been published on the Overplay website. Click here to check it out!

24th December

The wife and I were in a festive mood last night and decided to record a version of O Come O Come Emmanuel. You can download it for free on the MP3 page. Happy Christmas everybody! Rejoice!

22nd December 2009

Check out my new podcast series, 'The World of Blake'. In volume one I preview tracks from Latest Pop Sounds and, unbelievably, interview Ronnie Corbett! It's free!

17th December 2009

Those smashing people at Overplay have kindly reviewed my track 'You've Got To Give It Up, Baby': "A thwacking drum intro gives way to a cool Kinksy vocal and relentlessly perky Monkees arrangements as Cheltenham groovologist Blake adds some smart ‘60s textures to this catchy indie popper. Ramshackle, but really rather cool with it." All spot-on of course, apart from I don't live in Cheltenham!

12th December 2009

You can now order exclusive Blake T shirts from my newly launched merchandise store - free entry to the launch party for anyone wearing one!

9th December 2009

'Latest pop Sounds' album launch party at the St James Wine Vaults in Bath on Saturday 9th January at 8pm. I'll be performing a full band set with with Paul, George and Ringo from All You Need Is The Beatles. My favourite band 'She-Notes' (formerly Bottlebag) are special guests. £3 on the door. Rare sixties sounds from DJ Aftermath.

23rd November

OK, you can now order 'Ordinary Person' on pre-release from the Ditto Music download store and 7 Digital. It's just 79p!

To order straight from your mobile, text 'Track BLAKE' to 83262 in the UK or 'Music BLAKE' to 57501 for Republic of Ireland (cost £1). To download straight to your phone text 'Track BLAKE M' to 83262 (UK only).

17th November 

'The Latest Pop Sounds from Blake' will be released on Monday 11th January 2009 on Eden Records and available for pre-order download from iTunes & Amazon from December. If 750 people download a copy of lead single 'Ordinary Person' I'm guaranteed a hit in the official UK charts! Go on, be a love. Link will follow to stores as soon as available.

26th October 2009

I've finished recording the album, now titled 'Latest Pop Sounds'. I'm pretty pleased with it and for the first time will be releasing one of my solo albums on a 'proper' label (not my own)! Watch this space for further details.

27th September 2009

New album now called 'John Hooper, Martyr' - you know, after the well-known 16th Century Bishop of Gloucester burned at the stake by Bloody Mary. Yes, that one. Finished four tracks but it's been slow going as I don't have much time to work on it what with the job getting in the way, not to mention the wife and child. Paul, Joe and Chris from the Beatles band are going to be playing on it. That way it will be easier to get out on the road afterwards to promote it. Also, probably sound better! I'll be posting tracks on my Overplay page as and when they're finished. I tend to re-mix a lot, so there will probably be versions on there which will be superseded. I'm revisiting quite a few songs that I wrote when I was with The Dandelions and Karmatruffle. It's going Ok. There's one track in particular that I'm quite excited about. It's an older song that I've messed about with, adding a new bridge and chorus. The dream scenario is selling it to someone big!

8th June 2009

Thanks to everyone who came to the gig and especially to Port Erin, Richard, Joe and Chris. I've just finished mixing the first track from my new album, 'Marjo Fashions'. It's called 'Ordinary Person' and you can listen to it for free on the mp3s page.

11th April 2009

Slight change of plan - the venue for the gig has changed to The Rachel Fowler Centre, Chapel Court, Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6EX. I'll be onstage at 8pm sharp (Joe has to dash off to a gig with his band after!) £3 on the door.

14th March 2009

First gig in almost a year booked for Saturday 18th April at Holt Village Hall, Wilts, supporting the mighty Port Erin at their album launch party. Will be a 3 piece with Joe and Chris from The Bargain Beatles on bass and drums. I'll be playing some songs I've never performed live before including 'Solomon's Tump'. Should be a good night. Tickets on door. 8pm start.

7th January 2009 

Happy new year everyone! I'm still building up investment on slicethepie - the idea is that if you get enough investment you can actually get to 'properly' release and distribute a record. Click here for a link to my page on the site: Blake@slicethepie

I thought I'd publish a nice review I received from those smashing people at Overplay.com for my song 'When You Come My Way'. I'd entered it in their Play & Rate competition. Big thanks to everyone who took the time to vote for it - yes, you will get that drink, I promise! I didn't win, obviously, but I'll take a comparison with The Dave Clark Five any day of the week:

Blake - When You Come My Way
"Get ready to shake that fringe because this is a big punchy pop swagger that suggests the Dave Clark Five have spent the last 40 years in sub-zero rejuvenation tanks, only to emerge as pointy-booted 21st century pop warriors. Very catchy, very good."

Hope you have a good month and don't forget to wrap up warm. Hey, here's an idea. Let's pray for peace in the middle east.

1st November 2008

Welcome to the new look website! Those lovely people at Yahoo have made my naff looking site look incredibly professional! Brilliant. I will endeavour to keep you updated with what's going on - if anything happens, that is.

I started work as a scout on Slicethepie.com today. It's a great site where you earn money by reviewing other artists' songs. If you register, why not thank me for the tip by saying something nice about mine and get paid for the priviledge!

Still rehearsing with Paul and Joe for tour in the new year. Watch this space for gig dates.