Its all about the gigs…

Some Sieben shows coming up in various parts of the world, soon.

First up, in my hometown of Sheffield next week I have the pleasure of supporting Whispering Sons, a great new band from Brussels. They’re touting their debut album Image, which I can highly recommend. I’ve only seen them live on youtube thus far, but what I’ve seen has been striking and lovely, so expecting to be blown away by them next week. Looking forward to combining with In The Nursery to play some of their songs, and a sneaky cover, too. Great local venue too, Café Totem– intimate, close-up and personal. That’s my way of saying I may well poke you in the eye with my violin bow inadvertently whilst playing, if you’re in the audience for this. Which you should be, of course 😉

A great night of DJ-ing too: DJ-ing upstairs will be Marco Rico. For those of you local to Sheffield, I can highly recommend his Kick Up The 80’s! night on the first Friday of every month – great music, and a fab night. I’ve been several times, and looking forward to the next one in April. And downstairs will be the wondrous sounds of DJ DeAth, based in Leeds but often globe-trotting, always a fine supporter of the underground scene, and good music.

After that, in April, I’m in Antwerp, Belgium, for Black Easter Festival. This festival was inspired by Ward De Prins, music journalist, music lover, and great guy who sadly died last year. Very happy to be coming back to play this, and will be dedicating you a song, Ward.

The week after I’ll be playing a delightful concert in Friedrichshagen, Berlin, at the Eiskellar venue. Support for the evening will be by German darkfolk band Stein, and will be a pleasure to share the same bill with them once again. Always pleased to see them, especially as one of their tribe smokes an excellent fish in many innovative ways, and I will be a happy recipient, I hope, once again. Special mention to super-music-lover Andrea Nickel, who has taken supporting music she loves to new heights, and is putting on the gig herself. One of the joys of working in the underground music and arts scene is the resourceful, caring and supportive people you befriend along the way, and the energy they give to the scene. They make it all worthwhile when your bank balance is giving you a different narrative. Event page for this is here.

May 4th I’m back in Sheffield, playing the first ever Amberfest – a local festival to celebrate 20 years of women’s and girl’s football. Really heart-warming to have ex students of mine running the event, with help from current ones, and past and present students also on the bill playing the event. No way I could say ‘no’ to this. Will be a lovely day.

June, I’m in Norway, near Trondheim for Celebrata Hindrheimr 2019. This is a fabulous family-run private festival which is going to be an absolute blast. Last time I was there I spent quite a bit of time with the cows, simply listening to them munching in a barn was a sonic treat. It might have been the beer…

After that comes Scheunenmottenkiste, Germany, a secret little affair in the woods. Then France, but I can’t give you more details until its announced.

Come the summer, there will also be a new Sieben release – a digital EP (and very limited edition) lathe-cut vinyl 7” single entitled Kickstart The Empire! Details will appear here first so please sign up to my mailing list for news, if you haven’t already. There will only be 50 hand-made vinyl available in total. And then they’re gone. The digital EP will last until the end of internet, however.
 
Kickstart The Empire
Give me new old days.
Those heady, Summer old ways.
Gilded history and gold rays.
People knew their place.

Come on, let’s do The Idiot Test…

Kickstart the Empire!
Come on all you good people out there.
Kickstart the Empire!
What’s wrong with all you damn people down there?

Heave those mighty oars!
We can row this land to brave new shores.
Ride the froth of hope,
we can make ‘then’ now great again.
Kickstart the Empire!
We all need a good plunder now and then.
Kickstart the Empire!
Free the chains of the modern age.
Kickstart the Empire!
 
Hope to see you at a concert somewhere soon 🙂
Matt
March 2019