September 2023 – Page 3 – 1st 3 MAGAZINE

Home Free – All Fired Up!

13th September 2023

All-vocal Country entertainers, Home Free, who have made their mark on the music scene, racking up nearly 600,000 album equivalents globally; embarking on major international tours; amassing 600+ million views and over 1.67 million Subscribers on YouTube, will be returning to the UK to play 3 headline shows this month.

The group most recently released the video for ‘Remember My Name‘ from their 2022 full-length record, So Long Dixie. The latest project follows the acclaimed group’s Dive Bar Saints album, which arrived at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart. Home Free’s extensive catalogue spotlights six Top 10 albums, including Timeless, Full Of (Even More) Cheer, Full Of Cheer, Country Evolution, and their breakout debut Crazy Life (2014).

The long-awaited return to life on the road after time away from live performing inspired band members Tim Foust and Austin Brown to write new music, and the group found the perfect opportunity to do something different while still holding true to their unique style on So Long Dixie. The album is their first in which all of the original songs were crafted by members of the group, and which incorporates the use of some instruments of a couple of the songs.

Home Free’s Sea Shanty Medley continues to prove hugely popular with fans worldwide, amassing over 40m streams, with 35m views on YouTube and almost 2m Shazams to date.

Home Free took to the stage in July at the Ubisoft Forward 2023 conference in Los Angeles to perform their new original song, ‘Skull and Bones’, out now and due to feature in the forthcoming video game of the same name. Against a backdrop of cinematic clips previewing the swashbuckling game for an invited audience, and the hundreds of thousands of fans tuned in via the live stream, the band performed the song for the first time – available to view here – while simultaneously sharing a lyric video on their YouTube and making the track available to stream/download worldwide.

They have also recently shared a new collaboration with Brooke Eden, their version of the Larry Collins & Alex Harvey classic ‘Delta Dawn’, originally made famous by Tanya Tucker.

With praise rolling in from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone, FOX & Friends and American Songwriter, the extraordinary showmen have continued to build a loyal fanbase with their harmony-laden versions of hits by John Mayer, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Maren Morris, the Oak Ridge Boys, and more.

Full 2023 UK & European dates below – tickets on sale now:

September 13th – Berlin, Columbia Theater
September 15th – Copenhagen, DR Koncerhuset
September 16th – Gothenburg, Concerthouse
September 17th – Oslo, Oslo Spektrum
September 18th – Stockholm, Cirkus Arena
September 19th – Malmö, Slagthusets Teater
September 20th – Hamburg, Fabrik
September 22nd – Vienna, Arena
September 23rd – Munich, Muffathalle
September 24th – Zurich, Volkhaus
September 26th – Cologne, Kantine
September 27th – Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg – Ronda
September 29th – Birmingham, O2 Academy
September 30th – Manchester, RNCM Theatre
October 1st – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town

The Coral – A Rare Road Trip

12th September 2023

Music News

**The Coral announce December tour dates as Gaz Coombes remix surfaces on Sea Of Mirrors deluxe edition**.

Saddling up one more time to hit the road, The Coral announce a limited, four-date UK Tour this December as the simultaneous release of new albums, Sea Of Mirrors and the physical formats-only LP, Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show begins the legendary meisters of genre-melding latest dawn raid on the British album charts.

The Coral’s rare road trip begins at Glasgow’s legendary Barrowland ballroom on Fri 1 December and ends at Manchester’s New Century a week later on Sat 9 December. Tickets go on general sale on Fri 15 Sep 2023 at 9:30am. Support duties are shared across the dates between Gruff Rhys (Glasgow and Liverpool) and Iraina Mancini (Manchester).

At the same time as detailing their first indoor headline shows since spring 2022, a deluxe edition of Sea Of Mirrors, including an exclusive to iTunes and CD remix of recent single, Faraway Worlds, by Gaz Coombes has been surprise released. Having toured on more than one occasion with Supergrass, including as main tour support for their early-2020 reunion dates, The Coral reached out to their friend to give the dusky, late-night piano ballad a few new, expansive and airy twists.

Four additional tracks, marked as part of the band’s Skiffle Sessions – Wild Bird, That’s Where She Belongs, North Winds and a cover of The Doors’ 1967 classic, People Are Strange – bring The Coral back to their essentials, equally stripped-back and effortlessly complex, carefully constructed and loaded with vocal harmonies.

All of the newly announced UK Tour dates for The Coral are as follows:

Fri 1 December – Glasgow, Barrowland

Sat 2 December – Liverpool, Olympia

Thu 7 December – London, Electric Ballroom

Sat 9 December – Manchester, New Century

All ticket links and information on upcoming live dates are available via www.thecoral.co.uk

Whilst the last time that The Coral performed on a complete run of UK shows was March 2022, to play their self-titled debut album in its entirety on its 20^thanniversary, singer and songwriter, James Skelly and keyboardist, poet and co-songwriter, Nick Power have continued to tour into theatres with their The Making Of The Debut Album spoken word and acoustic tour. With more dates planned an onsale throughout 2024, the duo take to the stage to take fans through the wild ride of recording The Coral’s first album, illustrated with lo-fi renditions and excerpts from the record that gave the world Skeleton Key and Dreaming Of You.

Sea Of Mirrors was last week on multiple, limited-edition and standard vinyl formats as well as CD, cassette and digital, while Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show was only available to fans and collectors on single-pressing physical vinyl, CD and cassette. The deluxe edition of Sea Of Mirrors is available now via iTunes and the band’s official store.

https://www.facebook.com/TheCoral/?locale=en_GB

Ché Aimee Dorval – Reaching New Heights

12th September 2023

Music News

Canadian musician Ché Aimee Dorval was raised in Vancouver by her mother, a plethora of hippie aunts, punk rock uncles and a colourful extended family.

Think Little House on the Prairie meets The Lost Boys. Her childhood was full of constant creativity and adventure, instilling in her a strong sense of individualism that she has subsequently taken out into the world.

Living the troubadour life, she has been embroiled in the indie scenes in both Vancouver and Toronto before venturing further afield, both as a solo artist and as Casualties of Cool, her joint venture with compatriot and prog icon Devin Townsend. She has also been a featured performer on his most recent studio albums (‘Empath’ and ‘Lightwork’) ahead of unveiling ‘The Crowned’, her stunning third solo album.

Ché has always blended genres, but ‘The Crowned’ sees her reach new heights in fusing folktronica, alternative rock, dream pop and trip hop to create a staggering backdrop for a set that is also stacked with dynamic and soulful vocal performances. A confident and determined thread runs through the entire record that has signalled the birth of a new stage in her career. With half of its contents produced by Bob Rock pre-pandemic and the remainder subsequently self-produced, it also serves as a diary of her artistic evolution and growth.

Still possessing the same spirit and sensibility instilled in her youth, she now has the drive and vision that make her an artist in the truest sense of the word; a product of passion rather than curation.

2023 has seen Ché make a number of festival appearances in North America and perform shows with acts as diverse as Run the Jewels, Chromeo, Bif Naked and fellow Townsend collaborator Anneke van Giersbergen. She has today announced an autumn UK and mainland European tour to promote ‘The Crowned’, stating that “I’ve been dreaming of performing its songs ever since their inception. They just feel so lush and layered and easy to lose myself in. To me, this album is more of a soundtrack than a collection of songs, taking me through a time in my life that was as chaotic as it was beautiful.”

As for the complexity of her new songs, she reveals that “performing them live reminds me of how far I’ve come. They are the most challenging vocally of anything I’ve written and it has kept me present and in the moment on stage, which has sometimes been difficult for me. I’m usually very aware that I’m being watched, distracted by how I’m being perceived. However, it has been beautiful to step out on stage recently and lose myself to the music and that night’s interpretation of it. I’m so excited to bring this more confident version of myself over to the UK and Europe.”

CHÉ AIMEE DORVAL
THE CROWNED TOUR
UK & EUROPE 2023

27.10.23 LONDON St. Pancras Old Church
28.10.23 BIRMINGHAM The Sunflower Lounge ^
29.10.23 BRISTOL The Louisiana
30.10.23 CAMBRIDGE Portland Arms
31.10.23 BARNOLDSWICK Music And Arts Centre
02.11.23 DEN HAAG (NL) Paard *
04.11.23 HAARLEM (NL) Patronaat *
05.11.23 WEERT (NL) De Bosuil *
07.11.23 HAMBURG (DE) Prinzenbar
08.11.23 COLOGNE (DE) Jaki
09.11.23 ZWOLLE (NL) Hedon *
10.11.23 AMERSFOOT (NL) Fluor *
11.11.23 ENSCHEDE (NL) Metropool *
14.11.23 BRADFORD NIghtrain
15.11.23 GLASGOW Nice N’ Sleazy

^ supporting Amy Montgomery
* supporting Anneke van Giesbergen

tickets

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Prophecy Fest 2024 – Into The Cave

11th September 2023

Mainly Metal

Presale for Prophecy Fest 2024 has officially begun today at 12:00 noon CEST. The 2024 edition in the Cave of Balve will take place on September 5 to 7, 2024. The 2024 ticket price has been set to 139 €.

First bands announced are: EMPYRIUM will perform the live world premiere of “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays”. Dutch dark rockers DOOL will return to Balve as well as legendary English rock pioneer ARTHUR BROWN. For the first time playing in cave will be Norwegian pagan metal stalwarts IN THE WOODS… and Austrian Alpine black metal witch PERCHTA!

Prophecy Fest 2024 tickets are available through this link:
https://tickets.prophecy.de/ticket/prophecy-fest-2024

Please find further details about location, travel, and ticket options below.

Prophecy Fest pictures and graphic materials are available at this link:

(click here for Dropbox)

Festival link: www.facebook.com/events/647346533842482

Prophecy Fest was founded in 2015 and already sold out at the first edition. This singular event for dark and innovative music takes place in the Balver Kulturhöhle (“Balve culture cave”) in the Hönnetal (“Valley of Hönne”) near the town of Balve in the Sauerland region of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The naturally formed karst cave has been used by humans since the early stone age (palaeolithic). This important archaeological site has yielded remains from many periods through the ages until medieval times. According to Germanic legend transmitted through the old Icelandic Thidreksaga, the mythical blacksmith Wayland came to this cave to learn his magical craft from the dwarven masters that were dwelling there.

The gravity of its history and the special acoustics of the Balver Cave provide a unique atmosphere that perfectly echoes the musical spirit of Prophecy Fest.

For detailed information on accommodation, travel, and parking please consult the Prophecy Festival page: https://fest.prophecy.de

Stone Foundation – A Smooth Celebration

11th September 2023

Music News

The seeds of British modern soul band Stone Foundation were sown in the early ’90s when Neil Sheasby and Neil Jones met.

Over the years they’ve collaborated with Paul Weller, Peter Capaldi, Bettye Lavette, William Bell, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Mick Talbot, Kathryn Williams, Laville, Melba Moore, Hamish Stuart, Dr. Robert from the Blow Monkeys and many more.

Stone Foundation mark their silver jubilee year in 2023 and they are celebrating with a tour featuring numerous special guests and playing songs from across their 25-year career.

GET YOUR TICKETS RIGHT HERE

DUSTIN LYNCH – Be Happy In Your Skin

11th September 2023

Country News

There’s a high noon showdown going on inside MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch.

At 38 and single, he’s admittedly at a crossroads: Does he settle down, start a family, and lean into domesticity, or continue to carve out a life of extraordinary experiences that most people only dream of?

Announcing his statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, today, the charismatic man in the Resistol hat bravely tries to figure that out. Celebrating the September 29, 2023 release, Lynch is now featured across Paramount’s billboards in New York City’s Times Square in partnership with CMT. Pre-save/pre-add Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records) here.

“When I’m off the road and working on my farm, I have a lot of inner dialogue. It’s a boxing match inside of me, between living in the moment and enjoying where I am, versus what’s the best version of me five, 10, or 20 years down the road,” Lynch explains. “What do I want to be? What do I want life to look like? Who do I want to be around? Killed The Cowboy is that back-and-forth. It’s me asking myself, ‘Am I okay? Or am I weird for not having found my person yet? And is she even out there?’ My hope is that this album finds someone who needs to hear it. I want Killed The Cowboy to embrace the single people of the world and lift them up, to let them know that you don’t have to live a ‘normal’ life to still be happy in your own skin.”

It’s a stunningly self-aware series of questions not only for Lynch to ponder, but for single and newly single people everywhere. Through his 12-track journey – with five to his songwriting credit – on Killed The Cowboy, they’ll realise they’re not alone, thanks to highlights like the introspective “If I Stop Drinkin’,” the shadowy ballad “Blue Lights,” and the yearning come-on “Lone Star.” But they’ll also find a friend at the party via his raise-‘em-up anthems, from “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” and “George Strait Jr.,” to “Chevrolet” – a nostalgic dirt road rocker with Lynch’s labelmate Jelly Roll.

Listen to “Killed The Cowboy”

Available today (Sept. 8), the lone cowboy squares off in the brooding title track with a power strong enough to bring even the toughest man to his knees: “A girl like you.” Set to Zach Crowell’s moody production and creating a smoky, midnight-Country sound as muscular as it is wounded, the Jordan Reynolds, Devin Dawson, and Anderson East-penned ode captures a romantic duel where only one will walk away.

“When I first heard ‘Killed The Cowboy,’ I was drawn to its haunting melody, and then I got to thinking about the lyric and realized, ‘Damn, I’m this guy right now in my life,’” adds Lynch. “Relationships can come in hot and heavy and then implode. But that heartbreak, in a weird way, also makes you feel alive, to have another person move you like that. You feel that roller coaster of emotion and passion, and that sparks me creatively as an artist.”

Dustin Lynch’s Killed The Cowboy Track List:

1. “Killed The Cowboy” (Jordan Reynolds, Devin Dawson, Anderson East)*
2. “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Ben Johnson)+
3. “George Strait Jr.” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Reynolds, Andy Albert)*
4. “Chevrolet (feat. Jelly Roll)” (Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, Mentor Williams)^
5. “If I Stop Drinkin’” (John Morgan, Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Jordan Minton)*
6. “Only Girl In This Town” (Devin Dawson, Josh Thompson, Kyle Fishman)#
7. “Breakin’ Up Down” (Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Blake Pendergrass, Brent Anderson)*
8. “Trouble With This Truck” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)*
9. “Blue Lights” (Jameson Rodgers, Jake Mitchell, Brent Anderson, Hunter Phelps)*
10. “Lone Star” (Devin Dawson, Jordan Reynolds, Alysa Vanderheym)*
11. “Listen To The Radio” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Randy Montana, Ben Johnson)*
12. “Long Way Home” (Dustin Lynch, Kyle Fishman, Andy Albert)*

* Produced by Zach Crowell
+ Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson
^ Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips
# Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Kyle Fishman

As the much-anticipated follow-up to Blue In The Sky, Lynch’s 2022 release delivered the history-making “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter),” which became the #1 song on the Mediabase 2022 Year-End Chart Country and #2 on the Billboard 2022 Year-End Country Airplay Songs chart. The PLATINUM, six-week #1 collaboration remains the longest-running Top 10 single in Billboard Country Airplay chart history at 28 weeks and Broken Bow Records’ longest-reigning single at Country radio. The acclaimed fifth studio album also featured hit “Party Mode” – launching an in-demand PARTY MODE TOUR – and Lynch’s latest chart-rising single “Stars Like Confetti,” that’s currently Top 15-and-rising at Country radio.

ALLMAN BROWN – A Slow But Steady Build

10th September 2023

Music News

Singer-songwriter – ALLMAN BROWN – has shared “Breathe In, Breathe Out”, the second single to be taken from a forthcoming EP (due this Winter).

A light-hearted helping of tranquil alt-pop, “Breathe In, Breathe Out” sees balmy beats and blissed-out vocals create a reassuring sense of calm amidst a backdrop of chaos and uncertainty.

As Allman Brown explains of the new track:

“It’s a song about reassurance and being the safe harbour for someone in distress. It has a gentle groove to it that mirrors the theme of being calm for someone. It’s a soothing song in a soothing style ultimately.”

With its pacifying take on percussion and a heart-warming message at its core, each of the track’s verses lap like a gently rolling ocean tide against a serene shore.

“Breathe In, Breathe Out” also follows recent single “Bewildered” and arrives as Allman Brown puts the finishing touches to his third full-length album. With an upcoming EP in the works and planned for this winter in the meantime, Brown is inviting listeners to get to know him slowly, brick by brick, as he builds towards his latest long-player.

ALLMAN BROWN – NEW SINGLE: “BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT”

OUT 8 SEPTEMBER 2023, VIA NETTWERK

STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE

Born and raised in Hong Kong, before moving to London at age 11, Allman Brown made an introduction with his hit single “Sons & Daughters” (performed with Liz Lawrence) in 2013. The track proved a Spotify smash, amassing over 10 million streams worldwide as well as features on multiple TV soundtracks including Love Island, Suits and Made In Chelsea.

His debut album ‘1000 Years’ was released in 2017, earning critical acclaim for Brown’s tender balladry and folk-fuelled pop inspired by artists such as Bon Iver, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon and Feist, before ‘Darling, It’ll Be Alright’ followed in 2019.

Performing new material and older favourites, Allman Brown will be embarking on a tour of Ireland with Seba Safe in October. Catch him at these venues as follows:

ALLMAN BROWN – TOUR DATES

7 Oct – GALWAY – Monroes Live

8 Oct – LIMERICK – Upstairs at Dolans

15 Oct – DUBLIN – Whelans

Tickets on sale now.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Courtney Gains – Horror Meets Harmony

10th September 2023

Music News

With September’s last echoes fading and October’s eerie embrace drawing near, the month of ghouls, witches, and spine-tingling tales beckons.

As the veil between worlds grows thin, from the misty realms of horror cinema emerges an unexpected minstrel: Courtney Gains.

This very soul, who once haunted our dreams in “Children of the Corn”, now seeks to serenade us with melodies from the other side. His new magnum opus, ‘Safe Haven,’ is a bewitching concoction of rock and folklore fables, conjured in the midnight hours.

To me, this record is about calling bullshit on some things I think are really fucked up out there!”

Courtney Gains

‘Safe Haven’ stands not only as a testament to Gains’ musical prowess but as an evocative chronicle of his artistic metamorphosis. Shifting his form from the dread-filled fields of ‘Corn’ to the intimate reverberations of the sound studio, this album reveals a Gains unseen, one that’s both raw and introspective. Through darkly humorous verses, he casts incantations that lay bare the unsettling truths of our times.

As the first chills of Autumn descend, Fake Fangs Records will unfurl these captivating spells to all who dare listen on October 2nd.

The album is also available as a limited-edition, hand-numbered , personally inscribed/autographed deluxe CD. The deluxe edition is limited to 500 copies and only offered through pre-orders. Purchase Safe Haven at www.FakeFangs.com.

Gains comments on the song, titled “Look Out.”

“‘Look Out’ was originally written on acoustic guitar, as are many of my songs. It started with the verse and the line ‘The bigger they come, the harder they fall…’ popped into my head. That lead to the whole lyrical idea of having to throw a boxing fight. When the chorus came, the thought of ‘Look out your gonna hit the wall’ came through and that’s how it all came together. If I get a chance to make a music video it would definitely be very film noir, set in the ’40s and black and white!”

Stream “Look Out” now at this location.

Whispers in the Night:

Safe Haven

The Healer

Big Brother

Bills In Space

Look Out

Good Times

Forged in the shadowy recesses of Gains’ imagination, ‘Safe Haven’ promises an ethereal auditory experience. And while the phantoms of Hollywood might have once been his playground, the dimly lit enclaves of LA’s musical scene too have felt his haunting presence. From mystic alliances with beings like Matt Sorum to the enchanting ‘Journey Man’ that once ensnared the spirits of collegiate souls, Gains’ symphonies echo with otherworldly allure.

Whispers in forbidden tomes speak of an imminent assembly of a rock trio, with Gains at its heart, summoning both bass and lead vocals. The year 2024 holds portents of a duality – a chilling commemoration of the 40th anniversary of “Children of the Corn” and a musical resurrection that promises to be unforgettable.

Beyond this siren’s call of music, Gains’ tapestry of tales spans both the ethereal and the cinematic, with dark classics woven seamlessly with digital phantasms. His recent ventures into the labyrinthine alleys of GTA: Los Santos Drug Wars and the portrayal of the enigmatic Twig in 2023’s spectral drama ‘The Wrath of Becky’ are but glimpses of his vast repertoire.

So, dear souls, as the witching hour looms and the nights grow colder, let the mesmeric harmonies of the inimitable Courtney Gains guide you. In this realm of shadows and sound, he remains a spectral maestro.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Courtney-Gains-Group/100089254577564/

Dub FX – A Sonic Mind Fuck

9th September 2023

Music News

Dub FX (aka Benjamin Stanford) is an Australian musician, street performer and social activist who mixes live looping, beatboxing and world-class production into one sonic mind-f**k.

Genre-bending hip-hop, dubstep, reggae, dancehall, d’n’b and jungle into something uniquely his own, Dub FX has gained worldwide recognition for promoting positivity, unity and social awareness via his distinct and powerful lyrics, with acclaimed full-length releases such as ‘Thinking Clear’ and ‘Roots’ adding to his reputation.

His upcoming new album, ‘Infinite Reflection’, is further testament to this. Taking listeners on a transformative journey that transcends boundaries, each of its nine tracks could easily stand alone as singles and are being treated as such, with a song issued every Friday until the full album is released on 22nd September.

For his latest new single, ‘Living Inside’, Dub FX joins forces with Canadian singer, producer and musician FRASE, himself renowned for an eloquent lyrical finesse and a voice that conveys heartfelt emotion. In tandem, they have created a soulful and upbeat hybrid of samba, funk, neo-soul and hip-hop, with Dub FX explaining that “while away on tour a few years ago I started working on a track that fused all these genres and other elements. After coming up with the hook and verse, I sent it to Frase in Montreal, realising that he would be able add to its vibe, but I was simply blown away by what he then sent back. He took the track to a whole new level with heaps of extra harmonies, new sections with half-time drums, guitar and bass. It’s always amazing to work with such talented and like-minded musicians!”

FRASE recalls: “when Ben sent me the track, I was vibing to it right away and started singing to it on first listen. I had a melody, but wanted to deliver something poignant for my verse, so I ‘deep dived’ and went to town. Dub FX has always been one of my inspirations for writing on themes of social change and activism through the power of music. We have known each other for almost ten years, so I am glad we took our time with this first collaboration and produced something special.”

Commencing in Slovenia on the evening prior to album release, Dub FX will embark on ‘The Infinite Reflection Tour’, taking in 36 European dates that climax with five UK shows in November:

21.11.23 BRISTOL Thekla tickets
22.11.23 LONDON Scala tickets
23.11.23 BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2 tickets
24.11.23 MANCHESTER Gorilla tickets
25.11.23 MILTON KEYNES MK11 tickets

Fans can look forward to a new live show that promises to set new standards, delivering unforgettable performances throughout the continent. Full tour details are available HERE.

INFINITE REFLECTION
TRACKLISTING
1 Cracks In The Mirror (3:37)
2 No More (3:26)
3 Living Inside (4:15)
4 Woman Rising (3:14)
5 Floating (3:39)
6 Dig This (4:36)
7 Falling (3:21)
8 Supernova Jam (4:18)
9 Infinite Reflection (5:12)

Official Site

Torsten Goods – A New Beginning

9th September 2023

Music News

Torsten Goods is one of Germany’s most successful jazz guitarists and jazz-pop/soul singers.

The prodigious skills displayed at an early age by the German/Irish musician (German father/Northern Irish mother) resulted in a scholarship to study jazz guitar in New York while still in his teens, subsequent to which he won several awards domestically for a series of albums released on the ACT label.

In the UK, he was once reviewed by the Evening Standard as having “talent galore. Inspired by George Benson, he sings winningly and plays the guitar superbly”, while he has recently been residing on the Jazz FM playlist with songs from ‘Soul Searching’, his wonderful and very personal new creation.

Eight long years of soul searching have culminated in what is Goods’ seventh full-length record, but also an album that can be seen as a new beginning. Although containing feel-good music influenced by Jazz, Soul, Blues and ‘70s Westcoast/AOR – not to mention a number of star turns by feel-good guest musicians/friends – lyrically it tells the story of his recent visual transformation brought about by the autoimmune disorder Alopecia areata. Although the now 42 year-old Goods is otherwise healthy, the disease has been a source of immense emotional stress; becoming accustomed to his hairless appearance is a central theme of the album, as evidenced by songs such as ’Naked Funk’ and ‘I Had To Learn Not To Care’.

The album is out digitally now, with Goods explaining that its title song “is about my journey over these last few years, living through the Alopecia and the years after, where I pulled back and went searching for my new persona.”

Going into further detail in the album liner notes, he reveals that “I almost lost my mind, when I lost my hair. Sounds like a line from an old Blues song, but in my case it is the, well, naked truth. Imagine waking up one day and not only being bald, but even more so: completely hairless. The medical term is ‘Alopecia areata universalis’, and I‘m healthy and feeling fine otherwise. It took me many years to be able to say this, to get back on my feet, to start going out again, seeing friends, being sociable and comfortable doing what I love: making music with my friends, on stage, in front of an audience. These intense and inspirational times of soul searching, of quite a few false starts and many new beginnings, have led to this album. It is by far my most personal artistic statement.

He continues: For the first time ever I had a hand in writing most of the songs – and the two cover songs are deeply personal choices, too. The music shows my love and appreciation for Soul, Jazz, R&B and the 70s sound of the American West Coast – the harmonies welcome you, the melodies sing to you and the rhythm moves you in all possible ways. I am grateful for the many friends and my family, of course, who helped me make this album what it is, in the studio and on quite a few stages, in long conversations and through intimate and emotional revelations. Thanks to them, I feel understood and loved – I hope you do, too, when you listen to my music.”

SOUL SEARCHING
TRACKLISTING
1 Ain’t Gotta Do It
2 Spinning Round (feat. Viktoria Tolstoy)
3 Who’s Right Who’s Wrong
4 I Had To Learn Not To Care
5 Moonlight (feat. Seven)
6 Turn The Lights Down Low (feat. Kim Sanders)
7 Carnaval De La Gente (feat. Bireli Lagrene)
8 Soul Searching (feat. Nils Landgren)
9 Walk Away (feat. Randy Brecker)
10 Naked Funk
11 Keep On Running (feat. Pete York)
12 Wade Groove
13 I’ll Do It Anyway (feat. Ida Sand)
14 Paradox Jam (feat. Magnus Lindgren)

Goods will begin his ‘Soul Searching Tour 2023’ later this month, on which he will be performing with his long-term band: Jan Miserre (keyboards and piano), Felix Lehrmann (drums) and Thomas Stieger (bass). The schedule will include UK and Irish shows in November.

Official Site | YouTube

« Next

Monthly Archives: September 2023

Home Free – All Fired Up!

The Coral – A Rare Road Trip

**The Coral announce December tour dates as Gaz Coombes remix surfaces on Sea Of Mirrors deluxe edition**.

Ché Aimee Dorval – Reaching New Heights

Canadian musician Ché Aimee Dorval was raised in Vancouver by her mother, a plethora of hippie aunts, punk rock uncles and a colourful extended family.

Prophecy Fest 2024 – Into The Cave

Presale for Prophecy Fest 2024 has officially begun today at 12:00 noon CEST. The 2024 edition in the Cave of Balve will take place on September 5 to 7, 2024. The 2024 ticket price has been set to 139 €.

Stone Foundation – A Smooth Celebration

The seeds of British modern soul band Stone Foundation were sown in the early ’90s when Neil Sheasby and Neil Jones met.

DUSTIN LYNCH – Be Happy In Your Skin

There’s a high noon showdown going on inside MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch.

ALLMAN BROWN – A Slow But Steady Build

Singer-songwriter – ALLMAN BROWN – has shared “Breathe In, Breathe Out”, the second single to be taken from a forthcoming EP (due this Winter).

With September’s last echoes fading and October’s eerie embrace drawing near, the month of ghouls, witches, and spine-tingling tales beckons.

Dub FX (aka Benjamin Stanford) is an Australian musician, street performer and social activist who mixes live looping, beatboxing and world-class production into one sonic mind-f**k.

Torsten Goods – A New Beginning

Torsten Goods is one of Germany’s most successful jazz guitarists and jazz-pop/soul singers.

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Monthly Archives: September 2023

Home Free – All Fired Up!

The Coral – A Rare Road Trip

The Coral announce December tour dates as Gaz Coombes remix surfaces on Sea Of Mirrors deluxe edition.

Ché Aimee Dorval – Reaching New Heights

Canadian musician Ché Aimee Dorval was raised in Vancouver by her mother, a plethora of hippie aunts, punk rock uncles and a colourful extended family.

Prophecy Fest 2024 – Into The Cave

Presale for Prophecy Fest 2024 has officially begun today at 12:00 noon CEST. The 2024 edition in the Cave of Balve will take place on September 5 to 7, 2024. The 2024 ticket price has been set to 139 €.

Stone Foundation – A Smooth Celebration

The seeds of British modern soul band Stone Foundation were sown in the early ’90s when Neil Sheasby and Neil Jones met.

DUSTIN LYNCH – Be Happy In Your Skin

There’s a high noon showdown going on inside MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch.

ALLMAN BROWN – A Slow But Steady Build

Singer-songwriter – ALLMAN BROWN – has shared “Breathe In, Breathe Out”, the second single to be taken from a forthcoming EP (due this Winter).

Courtney Gains – Horror Meets Harmony

With September’s last echoes fading and October’s eerie embrace drawing near, the month of ghouls, witches, and spine-tingling tales beckons.

Dub FX – A Sonic Mind Fuck

Dub FX (aka Benjamin Stanford) is an Australian musician, street performer and social activist who mixes live looping, beatboxing and world-class production into one sonic mind-f**k.

Torsten Goods – A New Beginning

Torsten Goods is one of Germany’s most successful jazz guitarists and jazz-pop/soul singers.

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**The Coral announce December tour dates as Gaz Coombes remix surfaces on Sea Of Mirrors deluxe edition**.