Featured IPO CD Artists: The Newds, The Glimmer Stars, Blake Jones & The Trike Shop
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Newds
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “The Street Leads To The River”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
This is a special song in that it’s a collaboration with my friend Bill Harry (creator of Merseybeat) it’s taken from a poem Bill wrote of the same name. Bill was one of “The Dissenters”, along with his friends Rod Murray, Stuart Sutcliffe and John Lennon. Many years later I attended the same art college in Liverpool. Over the years myself and Bill have become good friends. I admire he has achieved so I was honoured to pay him this tribute. The song also features (The Shakers, a Cavern club veteran staple) Liverpool drummer Tony O’Keeffe.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
I always adored listening to music which was everywhere in our house growing up. I eventually wished to learn guitar my guitar tutor was friends with The Searchers and he played working mens clubs, hotels and pubs and invited myself to sing with his band as I knew all the songs. It was a baptism of fire for a 15/16yr old and I loved it. I then began playing with my friends and fellow Newds members Dean Woods and Paul Crompton. Upon finishing my fine art degree I came back to Bolton and we along with Kieran Schofeild and Chris Harrison formed The Newds. When that incarnation broke up I worked with Daniel Garthwright drummer and Tony Sabanskis. Slowly but surely Dean, Paul & Kieran came back.
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
I love The Beatles and LA group LOVE who I was most privileged to play with on their U.K. tour this year the stuff dreams are made of love those guys. My tastes are eclectic. I love Bob Lind, The Sunshine Club, Robert Lester Folsom, Cotton Mather Michael Fennally & The Jayhawks and of course all the usual suspects. Music styles we like Rock n Roll, Merseybeat, folk rock, country, folk, blues, jazz anything organic that sounds great.
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
Some people really struggled (conspiracy theorist’s et al) with Covid and it’s restrictions but it was a busman’s Holliday to me. I took it in my stride and just kept making music.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
The IPO as the I indicates is International which is a great way to feel involved in a much bigger scene than one could ever occupy otherwise. I love the CD’s especially on Omnivore records one of my favourite labels.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
The best places to find us are on:
Bandcamp – https://thenewds.bandcamp.com/track/the-street-leads-to-the-river
Twitter – https://mobile.twitter.com/NewdsThe
Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/100047632246665
Featured IPO CD Artist: The Glimmer Stars
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “Sunday”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
We chose our song, “Sunday,” because we thought it would fit well on the IPO landscape. It’s also one of our favorite tunes, too.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
Pivotal moment; definitely hearing the “new” music that Rodney Bingenheimer was playing at KROQ in the late ‘70s. It was life changing and I began writing songs immediately – some decent, some not so much, but it became my true passion in life.
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
Beatles, Beach Boys, Raspberries, Ramones, Tommy Keene. The song craft was, is, moving and real.
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
COVID-19 really hit us, especially performing live. We did not play live for a year and a half. On the positives side, we recorded and released two EPs. The pandemic seemed to make us work in that area.
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
The community; likeminded players. Meeting new bands, making new friends and of course, catching up with old friends. IPO is really a beautiful family.
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
The Glimmer Stars’ music is available on all digital platforms. The Glimmer Stars can be found on Facebook, where up to the date live shows are always posted.
Featured IPO CD Artist: Blake Jones & The Trike Shop
IPO Vol. 23 CD Song: “Dreaming About Sleeping”
1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?
We’re in the middle of an album project. I was about to go in for heart surgery.
I wanted to make the deadline. I needed to find a song which a) was close to being finished.
b) was upbeat and snappy. “Dreaming About Sleeping”—bingo. A few guitar overdubs and vocals, and it was ready.
2. Please describe that pivotal moment when you first realized you wanted to create music or become a band.
Without going into ancient history (my friend playing guitar and me: shoeboxes and Sears Chord Organ in 3rd grade…)—I think the modern version of the Trike Shop clicked when, at a show played with a temporary drummer who now lived 200 miles from us (see: ‘third grade friend’), I met John Shafer and said I’d like to have him play drums with us sometime. He said to give him a call, and that he’d always admired my tunes. Ok then. That was nearly 20 years ago.
3. Which other artists (living or dead) do you admire most and why?
No surprises here: Lennon/McCartney, Ray Davies, Pete Townshend—it’s all about the songs.
Brian Wilson—it’s all about the songs AND the arrangements. James Brown—the clockwork precision of the arrangements. Frank Zappa—his work ethic, band leadership and willingness to step wayyyy outside the box.
4. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact you and your music?
Ah, you know this sad story from personal experience. We had plane tickets and hotel reservations for Liverpool’s IPO fest when, BOOM. The door closed. I did use my isolation time to come up with a solo album: The Homebound Tapes [on Big Stir Records]
5. What do you most enjoy about being associated with The IPO Festival/CD?
It’s the community. A place to meet. A place to enjoy the music of one’s colleagues. A place to make new friends and form new alliances! Thank you, David Bash!
6. Where can people who love your song on the IPO CD go to get more of your music and/or find out when and where you’re playing?
We’re on all the typical downloading services. One can hear samples, buy CD’s and LP’s at www.bigstirrecords.com We’re in the middle of updating www.blakejonesmusic.com –it’s way out of date. For now, following us or me personally on Facebook is probably the best way to stay up on the news.