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<< back 6 October 2004
LATEST TOUR DATES
October 8th - Palace Theatre, KILMARNOCK - 01563 554 900
October 9th - Lemon Tree, ABERDEEN - 01224 642 230
October 10th - Carnegie Hall, DUNFERMLINE - 01383 314 000
October 13th - Eden Court Theatre, INVERNESS - 01463 234 234
October 14th - Tolbooth, STIRLING - 01786 274 000
October 22nd - The Hall, near ASHFORD, KENT - 01233 770 628
October 28th - Queens Festival, BELFAST - 02890 972 626
16 May 2003
Hi guys
Just wanted to drop in and tell you a bit about the new Capers release and
forthcoming plans.
The album is released in Britain on 5th May and we're all very excited about
it. It's been a year in the making (on and off) starting in Sardinia last
May in a beautiful villa in Porto Ulisse near the Costa Smeralda. The idea
was just to find somewhere warm and "chilled" to experiment with new ideas,
as we had done in the past in Ronda, Spain.
We knew from previous experience that technically it wasn't ideal, but we
thought we could maybe lay down the bare bones,and then spend the rest of
the summer perfecting the tracks. So we piled Kim, our erstwhile engineer,
Manus's wife Yvonne, children Croise,Tuathall and Hector,Nanny Paula and a
lorry load of wine on to a plane and headed off to our dream creative
location.
Of course things are never as idyllic as they first appear and after
spending 2 hours trying to find the villa, which was a few miles away from
the nearest village and then down a mile of VERY rough track we discovered
that the house was perched on a pile of rocks with a sheer drop into the
beautiful mediterranean ocean. The perfect romantic location for a
honeymoon couple, but with 3 weans under the age of 3 it was utterly
treachorous.
Once myself, Yvonne and Paula had done shrieking,, we decided we would have
to make the best of the situation, and proceeded to cordon off a "safe" area
at the back with planks of wood, deckchairs whatever we could get our hands
on.
Needless to say Hector managed to scale whatever barrier we put in his way,
and was the ringleader leading the escape on a number of occasions! Keeping
them from plunging off the rocks into the sea actually proved to be the
hardest task of all that week!
Once we ironed out the initial problems though, we settled in and a lot of
the vibe that you hear on "choice Language" was created on that beautiful
island that is Sardinia!
I have to say, a couple of images will remain etched in my mind forever.
One afternoon we were vibing away on "Nuair a chi thu caileig bhoidheach",
and we decided to set up a mike on the verrandah, so we closed off the front
of the house, and I just stood looking out at the sparkling ocean with a
soft breeze blowing through the trees, and sang the song with shivers
running up my spine. Sometimes I think music is just the best thing in the
universe, and this was one of those times. and I feel so priveledged to be
able to communicate in this way. The boys "jammed" on the verrandah also
and the sound of fiddle, box and whistle outdoors is just so intoxicating I
can"t begin to tell you!
"Little do they know" started off humbly there too with just guitar and a
few words, and then grew into the brilliant song that it now is. Donald has
worked so hard on this album, and it never ceases to amaze me, how dedicated
and driven he is, even when the rest of us are flagging. I have to take my
hat off to him on this one!
We spent the rest of the summer doing festivals in Europe and just really
dipping into the album when the time allowed. Donald has been working non
stop on various film projects, Charlie making his fabby new album with
Session A9, Manus plannning the building of a new house in Donegal, Michael
gigging like fury, Chimp "Salsa Celtica-ing" Che doing sessions for
Mancunian rock bands, and Ewen playing with virtually every folk and jazz
musician on the scene!
Needless to say it was December before we knew it and Sanctuary (Donald's
collaborator with Vertical) were screaming for the album. Celtic
Connections in January slowed us up even more, but finally by the beg of Feb
we had the tracks nailed, and only a photo shoot to do before I headed off
on a solo tour of Spain. The tour was a hoot, and the reaction from the
fans was brilliant - I was thrilled and reiterate yet again that next to
Scotland, Spain is my very favourite place to tour.
Well, a year in a page, and we are currently on a British tour which
will see us performing the new material live on some brilliant stages. We
did play in Strontian a few weeks ago and tested out some new stuff on the
audience there - seemed to go down ok so fingers crossed!
I'm very much looking forward to the next few months of gigging what I
believe is our strongest album for a while, and also to embarking on a
traditional album myself. We have festivals all summer and then a U.S. tour
in October and who knows what else in the pipeline - we'll keep you posted.
I do drop into both websites from time to time, and love the banter that
goes on betwen you all - keep it up guys and thanks for listening - remember
it's thanks to you that we exist!!
Love, Peace and Happinness
Karen XXXXXXXXX
29 January 2003
KAREN'S SOLO TOUR OF SPAIN
In response to demand from fans, Karen Matheson will perform a series of
dates in Spain to promote her album 'Time to Fall'.
The dates in February include:
14th - Valladolid - Sala Ambigú
15th - Burgos - Teatro Vigón
17th - Madrid TVE
18th - Santiago - Teatro Principal
20th - Madrid - Sala Caracol
21st - Cartagena - Teatro Circo
Karen's band will include singer/guitarist James Grant, who wrote many of
the songs on the new album, along with Capercaillie members Donald Shaw
(keyboards) and Ewen Vernal (bass) plus Shooglenifty drummer James
Mackintosh. The final member of the band is the amazing pedal-steel guitar
player Stuart Nisbett.
Contact the venues for further details.
17 January 2003
New Picture Gallery
Previously unseen images of Karen are now available in the Gallery.
Some have the option of being used as desktop wallpaper, simple select your screen resolution
and download the zipped file by clicking on the link.
18 December 2002
Celtic Connections Festival
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 20th January 2003
Karen and her regular band open a concert featuring amazing Irish singer Brian Kennedy.
Ticket Hotline: 0141 353 8000
£18.00, £16.00
18 December 2002
Celtic Connections Festival
Glasgow Cathedral, 31st January 2003
A repeat of last year's sell-out 'concert by candlelight' featuring Karen, her band and a string section.
Ticket Hotline: 0141 353 8000
£15.00
18 December 2002
18 December 2002">
Hi there!
Just wanted to say Season's Greetings and a HUGE thank you to all of you out
there for your support and loyalty over the past year.
This website was constructed for the release of my new solo album 'Time to
Fall', and I'm delighted at the response and hope to have a more active role
in the coming months.
It's been an exciting year, as ever, for both, myself and Capercaillie and
next year promises to be a 'stormer'! We are currently in the studio
finalising the album tracks, which should have a Spring release to coincide
with the British tour starting in April. I am touring with my own band in
Spain 14th - 21st February and hugely looking forward to that, having never
travelled outside the UK with this outfit.
My gig in the Queen's Hall was a 'gas' with the whole squad there - strings,
lap-steel and sax adding to the normal line-up. We're hoping to repeat this
line-up in Glasgow Cathedral in January (31st) for Celtic Connections and
also, supporting Brian Kennedy at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (January
20th) Full details of these gigs can be found on the Vertical Records
website - www.verticalrecords.co.uk.
Capercaillie are also performing at Stirling Castle at Hogmanay (bring your
thermals!) The Box office and information line is on 01786 274000 or 01786
473544.
I realise in writing this that I'm jumping back and forward from month to
month - that's my addled brain at the moment! As I write, we are travelling
between Manchester and Birmingham and everyone is a little weary after a
hard night.... but I digress. I was asked in an interview last week if
Capercaillie and my own stuff merge together after a while and I realised
that, yes, they do. While there are obvious differences I feel that the two
have complemented each other and I feel more comfortable musically now
(while lunging towards my 40th year - aaaaaargh!) than every before.
So.... onwards and upwards for another year of music, friendship and
'craic'.
Have a good one guys
pógan
Karen X
13 May 2002
Karen Matheson releases her long awaited second solo album - 'Time to Fall'.
A collection of songs that bring her mesmerising vocal beauty to the fore, and confirms her status as one of the most respected singers worldwide.
Much of 'Time to Fall' - including the title track - reunites her with the compelling songwriting of James Grant (ex Love & Money) - a relationship developed on her debut solo album 'The Dreaming Sea'.
Also included are a host of superb guest musicians including the BT string ensemble and vocalist Tim O'Brien, with production from Donald Shaw and Paul McGeechan and mixes by Calum Malcom (The Blue Nile).
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