Musica Continua. Mestre (Venice). Italy. 6th April 2013
Join Mr Drake and his so called friends for a super Spring weekend in Italy! They are thrilled to be returning to Musica Continua at Hotel Bologna in Mestre (Venice), performing the old favourites plus the odd new song or two destined for the next album (currently being recorded).
Mestre is the mainland part of Venice, popular with visitors because it’s only a short train,bus or boat ride from the old city.
For more information- http://www.musicacontinua.com/
Hotel Bologna. Via Piave 214. 30171 Mestre. Venice.Italy.
http://www.hotelbologna.com/
Fond memories of Musica Continua 2012
Tune-in! BBC Radio 6 live session 29/10/12
Mr Marc Riley has invited Mr William D. Drake and his band to perform another live music session on his evening radio programme on Monday 29th October 2012 from 7-9pm. Mr Drake promises brand new songs from his next album, currently in the early stages of recording.
Now its done you can tune in to the session again again again for a week!
For those seeking news of the Free download single “Lawrence” we are almost ready to send out the dowdload codes to all those subscribed.
William D. Drake and So-Called Friends play Musica Continua Mestre 31/03/2012
William D. Drake and So-Called Friends have been invited back to the Hotel Bologna in Mestre, to perform at the Musica Continua festival on 31st March of this year. James and Richard Larcombe will be performing as Stars in Battledress earlier in the evening and then joining Mr Drake alongside Duggie Parker and Nicky Baigent for a collection of songs old and pretty brand new. More details may be found at http://www.musicacontinua.com/calendario.htm
Tuning of seasons
Come and see William D Drake promoting his latest album ‘The Rising of the Lights’ at a couple of performances this autumn ..
Firstly on November 12th Believers Roast will be staging Roast Fest, a free all-day event with performances by:
Knifeworld, Sanguine Hum, William D Drake, Stars In Battledress, Redbus Noface, Arch Garrison, Thumpermonkey, Matt Stevens and Admirals Hard
This coincides with an LP release “A central element” featuring material from many of the above mentioned artists.
Then on Saturday December 10th 2pm Bill joins Left With Pictures + Oliver Ralfe for Daylight Sessions at Union Chapel in Islington, London..
St Giles-in-the-Fields Friday July 15th
William D Drake will be playing pieces from Yew’s Paw – also selections from barely-heard work – prior to North Sea Radio Orchestra playing from their beautiful new album ‘I a Moon’.
Video from the event can be seen on youtube.
The Rising of the Lights
William D. Drake and Onomatopoeia Records proudly announce the release of their new long-playing record, The Rising Of The Lights.
The album’s title is taken from a mysterious cause of death which plagued London during the 18th and 19th centuries. Drake discovered the malady in a Victorian medical journal somewhere among Venice’s labyrinth of canals while on an Italian tour. “I liked the sound of the words: it stuck with me”. This said, The Rising of the Lights is a work at the very peak of health. Whether it be the ancient grind of James Larcombe’s hurdy gurdy, rediscovered gems from The Sea Nymphs project, or the curious fixation on disease, a spice of old time pervades the new compositions. But this record could not come from a different artist, nor be created at a different time. To quote ‘Ornamental Hermit’, titled from the long-forgotten eccentric English practice of wealthy families keeping an elderly, grey-bearded hermit within their grounds, The Rising of the Lights is ‘overflowing with joy and with pain’.
Marc Riley BBC Radio 6 session
William D Drake his so called friends – James Larcombe (hurdy gurdy/television organ/harmonium/vocals) , Gaz Williams (bass guitar), , Richard Larcombe (electric and acoustic guitar/vocals), Stephen Gilchrist (drums), Nicola Baigent (clarinet) and Dug Parker (miniature tambourine/toy glockenspiel/vocals).
performed a session for the Marc Riley radio6 show which was played live on Monday July 11th which you can now listen back to via the BBC website or here via our quick edit. They also recorded a song for Gideon Coe to play at his leisure. Hurrah! which we don’t have a recording of just yet.. bah!
BBC6 Sessions
Both Marc Riley and Gideon Coe are arranging sessions for BBC6 broadcast in July. In the meantime the airwaves have been flooded with the meanderings of Mr Drake’s afflicted mind via the jockeyship of Messrs Riley and Coe among others and reviews for the new LP have been glowing with praise, these things work together and so sales are good !
Mark Riley session now confirmed for 11 July 7pm sharp, so set your alarms now.. (please double check program listings)
The Rising of the Lights release and album launch!
Hooray! William’s new album ‘The Rising of the Lights’ is to be released on May 16th 2011, and there is to be a party at Arnold’s, 24 Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8DT on Tuesday May 17th. There will be special guests! Please put in your diaries – more info to follow soon!
William D.Drake gig this Thursday April 14th
William D.Drake and band play the Buffalo Bar (Highbury and Islington tube) this Thursday 14th April. The evening is to celebrate 10 years of Glass Shrimpery. More details will be unravelled very soon, hopefully…
Musica Continua February 19th 2011
William D. Drake has been invited to play as part of the Musica Continua series at the Hotel Bologna, Mestre, Italy. He will be accompanied by James Larcombe, Dug Parker and Nicola Baigent. They will be performing songs from the forthcoming album ‘The Rising of the Lights’ - and expect some surprises!
Venice photos
There are some great photos of Bill’s gig in Venice on the 10th April on the Musica Continua website: http://www.musicacontinua.com/2010/foto-2010-04-10.htm
The Rising of the Lights
William’s new album is entitled The Rising of the Lights .. it features twelve recordings made in the last six months and features contributions from James Larcombe, Dug Parker, Nicola Baigent and affectionate friends along the way. You will be able to place your order soon for the Spring release.
In the meantime please head over to the discography section and enjoy.
