ARCHIVE NEWS...........

13.01.06 Started on the new album. There are allready a few songs written for the 3rd album, but this is the official start date!! This album will be mostly written on an apple mac G5 2.7 dual, with Logic 7.1, using steel, nylon and electric guitars, plus the multitude of 'virtual' keyboard instruments available in Logic...... the vibe will be much the same, though production will have elements of the more 'hi-fi' edge (as opposed to lo-fi - on a noisy pc with a crap guiatr) - but who knows what the result will be. Whatever it is, I'll like it (me, Alistair), cos I won't put it out if I don't!

19.09.05 Distribution has now been switched from Active Media to Genius Twin . Alistair will be working closely with the Genius Twin label, who are also home to top band and mates, Hipslinky! With new distribution comes negotiations in the download territory (so you'll be able to buy the music online, and download it onto your IPOD / MP3 player).

04.08.05 All three videos available online, in top quality (broadband only I suspect). Click here, then choose your vids.
Also check out MP3 songs to listen to at www.myspace.com/alistaircowan

18.07.05 Guilfest was stunningly good, thanks to everyone who came and supported. For all the photos (setting up, backstage, the crew, the gig PLUS a soundbite of the gig click this link (though you may need broadband..... I'm not sure)

16/09/03 Playing tonight at The Cargo. Not playing solo stuff, but am playing old Redwood material with a few Tenacious D covers thrown in. It's fora band called Mogul, who are releasing their first album. It's a launch party, so to speak. It's making me want to get out and gig, and not just in Belgium! However, I've decided that I need to have a second album completed before then, so no gigs around here in the near future. The album is comin on well though.......

I'm writing and writing, recording and recording. Got hold of a new guitar, which is splendid, and does the writing for me. I may try for album two and three, just as a catch up, as I feel I've been a bit slack. The Just How I AM EP essentially makes up half of the second album. Then again, I may go for a bonus 16 track album. May call it Point and Stare, or maybe Night at the Races. Top tracks emerging are These Arms and Morning Sun.

Regarding gigs, I'm not actinvely searching them out at the moment, but do the odd one, so keep an eye on the gig list. When I complete the album, I'll be back out.

29.6.03 Gig at The Filo in Hastings went real fine. it's always a pleasure to go down to this friendly little pub in the depths of OLD TOWN, HASTINGS. they brew their own bitter, which slips down well after a hot gig ( and during too ). The pub may be small, but they've got a stage in there, which really adds to it all. It's an intimate gig. The landord Mike and his other half, Sharon are incredibly helpful and suportive - they run LIONSDOWN HOUSE guest house along the road. they let us stay there, which was really cool, cos it has to be the nicest guest house I've ever stayed in, with a pucker fry-up in the morning - check out the website. Cheers to Steve and Michelle also (Steve sorts out all the gigs at the Filo)

GUILFEST 2003 PHOTOS are now done. Click here to see the slideshow (Flash 6 is needed). Click here for the simple lower resolution html gallery

THE GUILDFORD FESTIVAL THANG by AL
I think guilfest2002 deserves a special write up, considering what a top weekend it was. so here i am, monday afternoon, having just woken up, pondering on the weekends events.
i arrived friday afternoon, tented up, with stacks booze, snacks, and thoughts of saturdays gig. i would be playing on the 2nd stage, or ALADDINS CAVE stage, directly after THE OZRIC TENTACLES and before THE LEVELLERS. i set about finding my bearings, by having a quick scout of the layout. the 2nd stage seemed larger than other years, and there was no covering for the audience to stand under. the 1st stage was smaller than previous years, though the sound system seemed pretty cool. the unsung heroes stage was the same as last year (i played the unsung heroes stage last year). the initial scouting done, i continued with the usual festivities. many beers / vodkas later i found myself watching JOOLS HOLLAND, who i have to say, is a stunning musician. it's great to hear good blues played well. i wandered over to see HOTEL LOUNGE playing their stuff. i cannot comment on the music, cos i can't remember, but they are usually pretty cool. singer NIC looked the rock star as ever. the night continued on backstage at the main stage, and i continued on with it. i finally crashed with the sounds of the night large and loud about 4 feet from my tent door, at around 3-4am. i had a gig to do that day after all.
saturday came, and with it, a 'special festy hangover'. it's the stuff songs are made of, that's my excuse. my gig was to be at 8.50pm. the weather was holding out, so things were looking cool. i checked out bands, ate vegy burgers and ice-creams in the sun. bands i knew i'd miss would be MINDWIRE and REUBEN who were playing on the 3rd stage. bands i saw escape me, but ENERTIA were cool, though i think they may have played on the friday. come 6pm i was back fetching the equipment. come 7pm and i was back at the fest, but unable to leave the car. the reason for this was the sideways torrential rain, and howling wind. it was an absolute shit, to be absolutley honest. the OZRICS were rained offstage, and from here-on, it went pear shaped. they insisted on playing their full set. this pushed me back 45 mins, right into the LEVELLERS start of set time. so when i finally came onstage, i was was playing to a very big crowd, who clearly wanted the levellers, not some unknown bloke who happened to be me. a SPINAL TAP quote came to mind where the bass play says "i always like to play to an angry mob". and so i played. i had great support from the people who had come to see me, and by the third song, the sound, and the rest of the crowd seemed, or rather 'were' going my way. it's always good to turn a crowd, but i'd prefer not to of had too. but it was nobodys fault. i started when it was light and finished, with SAVING GRACE, when it was dark. the only other problem was that nobody could reach the merchandising, as the crowd was so large and packed in. THE LEVELLERS kicked off their set five minutes later, and that was that. sorry to anyone who was there early and thought i had already played, or anyone who wanted to but the album or the new EP . i can only say i'll be selling at future gigs, and the new ep will be available mail order. festivals are unpredictable at the best of times. cheers massively to all the people who came to support me, it made a giant difference, and i'd kiss you all if i knew who you were. this was the largest crowd i have ever performed to before. cheers t'y'all. i then checked out the FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS who were kickin ass.
sunday was the chill out day. FISH BELLY WHITE were opening on the main stage, but the power went on the 3rd song in. it was their biggest gig to date, so even more of a shame. the power came back but their slot had gone. i spent the rest of the day polishing off saturdays rider watching bands such as AUBREY LEMMON, OPUS, GLEN TILLBROOK (very good), HER ARMY, acoustic bloke who reminded me of NIK DRAKE, BOHICA. finally, HIP SLINKY hit the 3rd stage, whilst the pretenders were on main stage. SLINKY were on form, as always, with a bit more acoustic thrown into the mix, the groovemeisters they are. afterwards we all headed out to local nightclub, BO JANGLES, for the AFTERSHOW party. from then on it's all a bit hazy, but i woke up in the morning, gave my brother ANGUS a jump start (angus is co-producer of the JUST HOW I AM E.P.), packed up the tents, headed home, went to bed, then woke up and wrote this. hope y'all enjoy it, see ya next year,
cheers again to everyone who came along to the gig,
Al.
CLICK HERE FOR GUILFEST PICS!!!

the glee club in birmingham, was one of the best gigs to date. a perfect venue for the music, playing to a crowd who didn't know the music. by the end, if the demand for cd's was anything to go by, the crowd were digging the music. NATHAN BENNET started the night with a fine heart-felt set (nathan's bro is an early ex-bass player for a once young REDWOOD, back in the birmingham days). the headliners were very good, with amazing musicians. they got the crowd going in a big way. cheers to everyone who was so welcoming, it was good to be back in brum.

the heavenly social was a mighty fine gig, made all the more special by STARSAILOR playing a set at the end

the big day in, @ guildford civic hall was one of al's best gigs to date. the whole day had been a succes, with lots of very cool bands playing. the acoustic lounge was the smallest of the 3 stages, but it definately had a vibe. when alistair played, it was absolutely packed. cheers to everyone who came and watched, sorry to those who couldn't see the stage, cheers to everyone who bought RECORD COLECTION LP, hope ya'll enjoyed listening to it.

the kashmir klub is a top place (check out www.kashmirklub.com ). gigs are broadcast on the internet live, and we are told that people in seatle are watching while we play. on the friday there are 10-11 acts doing 2 songs each (1 in the first half of the show, another in the 2nd). this is kinda wierd, but it definately works. for this gig, the room was packed, and everyone pretty well stayed quite. the quality of the artists varies, but it means everyone gets a chance to play such a cool place, which in itself is what live music should be about. the pizzas looked really nice, but it's not a good idea to eat then sing, so i can't review the food. it was the ideal vibe, the sound system was the ace, and i'd recomend it to musicians and punters alike (free entrance). so yes, it was a good gig, and yes, i'd play there again.....

acoustic barfly, supporting PATRICK DUFF (ex STRANGELOVE) was a fine, fine gig. after playing to a packed room i settled down to enjoy the show. the audience were obviously strangelove fans, so he couldn't really go wrong. in fact he didn't go wrong, 'cos he was dead good. strong songs with fine melodies. lyrics like 'listen to the hum of your vibrator' are pretty cool, especially when he's talking about his 'refrigerator'. the latter part of his set seemed less 'singalong' and more melodic in a BEN CHRISTOPHERS way. melodic, intense, acoostic, moosic.

the star gig, warming up for ERIC ROCHE went well. the crowd were massively attentive, hence al, me, i, played a very mellow 'flawless' (the most chilled song of the set). the crowd were predominantly students of the academy of contemporary music, so sorry for any bum notes, though the odd bum note proves quite healthy I find (that's my excuse at least). eric was very good, tapping, strumming, picking, doing all sorts of things to his tasty acoustic guitar. twas fine, very fine. after gig activities led al and friends to the CHESNEY HAWKES gig up at the uni, with many a post gig beer. i am the one and only......

upstairs @ the garage was a splendid gig, candles on tables (useful if you haven't got a lighter), and a fair crowd. The sound was fantastic, which makes a big difference. It's so much easier to vibe off. hip slinky played well, midnight being the highlight of their set, cos it's a way cool song. London gigs mean the day starts at 3pm and ends at 1am, but that's what gigging's all about. oh for those redwood days of playing glasgow one night and having to be back in Woking for 10am the next morning.........

the acoustic barfly @ the enterprise was cool. The other bands were superb quality, and the vibe was cheeeled to the extreme, candles on tables'n' all that. cheers to the MOTHERLOADers that turned up, and all the other people too (pics to follw soon). the bedford arms, nr clapham north tube gig was short but sweet. all the other acts were really friendly, as were the audience. promoter and main-mic man ZAID helped keep the night rolling in that laid back acoustic way....... which is nice. cheers to all you good people of clapham nth.

the gig at the robin hood was VERY crowded, but went down well. it's a tiny pub with a cool vibe. the evening kicked off with a fine set from MARTIN (don't know his full name), slide guitar, bluesy, the mighty H on bass and flute. JOHN MARTYN meets SOUNDGARDEN I guess it'd be. next up was AL, who is me, so it's hard to be objective. i played, sang, people watched, clapped, cheered, and drank beer. the new song, JUST HOW I AM seemed to go down well. SAVING GRACE, as always, kicked ass, if i do say so myself. headliners TREADMILL rocked the very low rafters of this tiny pub. it was a tight squeeze for the band, but as mentioned before, even more so for the punters.....al.

if you wish to submit a review of a gig, click here, and e-mail it through.......

STUDIO
i'm working on the second album now. i've got about half of it written, with two tracks completed and recorded, JUST HOW I AM, and LONG WAY TO GO. it will have much more direction than RECORD COLLECTION, with the nylon string flamenco providing the backbone to the sound. i'm also trying to get as authentic drums as poss - laid back, minimal kit, 'lo-fi', in an early G-LOVE way. it helps that my brother, ANGUS, half of POCKET ANGEL, is a wiz at the recording lark.

GENERAL MUSIC STUFF
BILL WITHERS is the overlord of songwriters worldwide, LAMB's first album is way cool, and JOHN MARTYN's SOLID AIR is in al's cd player at the mo. alistair lives in guildford at the mo, hence the spattering of guildford gigs. the m stands for macfarlane. XFM played RECORD COLLECTION on the unsigned slot.