The BlueYellows Recording Diary. Debut EP (by J.T.)

"Bring everything"...

2012-02-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

Pre-recording preparation.

2012-02-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

It's not just a matter of turning up and playing (like anything else to do with making music). "Bring EVERYTHING" the man said, the man being Dan Logan our man at the console for our upcoming recording sessions at Orchard Studios in Cheshire. With this in mind I've been prepariing some guitars, by which I mean, among other things, changing the machine heads on "Rosie" the main classical I've been using lately (the previous ones had picked up some road-damage and weren't particularly high quality) and I've been re-stringing the Firebird and, last night my lovely new (old - early 80s) Tokai Strat.

We had a final recording preparation session yesterday which meant going through some further songs for possible selection, working out ideal tempos and getting used to playing to click tracks. We also came up with some new backing vocal ideas which we're really excited about to bring new dimensions and sub-melodies to our music. We're in the studio on Wednesday. See you soon!

The old machine heads from Rosie, pretty, but crappy.

Recorded Live at "Oddie's Bar", including my miss-sung lyrics!

2012-01-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

Lyrics...
Please be with me for ever more,
I don't want to close the door.
In the darkness, the air is still,
broken silence, like bird's song shrill.

(Chorus) Feels like sunshine,
tastes like sugar,
sounds like thunder,
'cross the water,
the rain is washing my drowning sorrow,
the bell is tolling across the river.

A rainbow painted into the sky,
air like a tower, feel the spirits slide.
A scent of Autumn, smell of decay,
The Moon relfecting my final wave.

(Chorus)

High and dry, above, deep inside, to The Earth I sacrifice,
deep into the soil my spirit slides, to The Earth I sacrifice.
(Chorus x2)

The bell is tolling, tolling, tolling, tolling. (Copyright J.Tarplee All rights reserved.)

For your pleasure...

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Live, Radio-Session version of "The Day I Die".

2012-01-07T10:36:00.001-08:00

Not "The Day I DIY". That would be something.

New Year Planking.

2012-01-02T04:44:00.000-08:00

Guitars I intend to gig with in 2012; on the floor we have (L-R) a Bose acoustic folk & Ashton Joey [mini-acoustic for impromptu sessions etc], back row (L-R) Mirage custom [similar to a Schecter with powerful humbucker pickups], Tokai Goldstar Strat, Roberts Firebird and Ashton Classical. The Tokai Goldstar is a new addition to me, an early 80s model I found in The Rhythm House in Stoke .I tried it having heard good things about these guitars from a friend & fellow guitarist, Derek (who also sold me the lovely Firebird) and following this up with investigating some online reviews. I also tried, for comparative purposes, a U.S. Fender Strat which was 6 times the price but didn't sound as good to me!

One more thing, for now; Here's a new youtube posting of a live track I did as part of a live radio session a while ago.

2011 - Some highlights.

2011-12-22T03:46:00.000-08:00

SO MANY... So I'm just picking one high point for each month, but before I do that, please spare a few moments to listen to some of the awesome musicians we have shared a stage with this year; If you do, I feel sure that you'll agree with me they deserve a lot more recognition. Enjoy :)

Suzie Does It

Dayve Dean

Dan Logan (also in the video with Dayve above, here with Thea Gilmore)

Hayley Strangelove

Phil Maddocks

Guitar Mal

Not forgetting those brilliant mammals with channels, The Angry Badgers! Read their blog at http://badgerodyssey.blogspot.com/

Jan: Green Party Gig at Alexander's, Chester. We helped them raise money for their election campaign, gorgeous little venue and the wonderful Phil Maddocks and Dayve Dean (featuring Nick Bayes on Bass) in support.

Feb: Some fun promotional radio shows as I remember and made some low-key videos including this one http://youtu.be/XLCJpED7Vn8

March: A gig in our local, what could be better than that?

April: A guest appearance on Simon Newbury's radio show. A great photographer but apparently still learning the ropes on the mixing desk, yet he did a great seat-of-pants job of mixing and recording a live, acoustic version of "No Tobacco", hear it here http://youtu.be/3lpirGL7jm0 plus (OK I'm cheating now) an introductory appearance for a Rick Sanders gig, a great musician and showman.

May: An action packed and packed house for a CreweLive 11 Festival in the town centre.

June: The unfailingly fantastic atmosphere at The Middlewich Boat & Folk Festival and first of many support slots by the great Manchester band Suzie Does It and Dayve Dean. As with so many times this year professional, quality sound provided by those Angry Badgers.

July: A new sound for me, acoustically with my re-found love of nylon strings and a debut solo performance at The International Eisteddfod!

August: Quiet on the public front but some unforgettable private shows in preparation for playing for our own fellow BlueYellows Emma's wedding to chief roadie Pete!

September: My solo debut on "Rosie", my new (to me) classical guitar joined on stage by Hayley Stangelove and her awesome pipes!

October: One word. BOXJAM!

November: Rehearsing for a tour-packed September and 3 of the BYs not only went to see The Red Hot Chili Peppers but a huge (10ft high?) image of Hayley appeared behind the band during their encore!

December: Gigs, gigs, gigs plus free double A-side released! Click on this link to download. http://jonathantarplee.bandcamp.com/album/no-tobacco-no-jesus-humankind-double-a-side-single

Merry Christmas and all the best for a great 2012 xxx

End of tour/Christmas Party

2011-12-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Photo by Suzie Does It's own Jo Allum.

Photo by Verity Gray

Tim Lee from The Suzies & Dan Logan both joined us on stage for the final jam.
(Photo Jo Allum).

A heart-felt thank you so much this year to Hayley, Emma and Simon from the band for all their hard work, sacrifice and commitment (people often only see the fun side of these things!) plus so many people surrounding the band, without which we wouldn't be able to do what we do, plus everyone who has supported us in any way, including coming to band gigs and my solo gigs and all the amazing musicians and organisers we have met, shared stages with and shared the stress with sometimes. Thank you for making 2011 so ace! xxx

Dayve Dean with Dan Logan on purcussion provided quality support again. (Photo Jo Allum)

Simon in his favourite erm.. deerstalker, plus antlers!?
(Photo Jo Allum).

I'm thinking of doing a sort of "highlights of 2011" type of post before the year is out but in the meantime, here's some photos from this event, in which our the fantabulous Suzie Does It, Dayve Dean and Dan Logan did a magical job in support. Thanks also to Verity Gray and Jo Allum from the Suzies for the photos.

Tim Lee from The Suzies offered the largest donation to St Tiggywinkles for this one-off T-shirt.

"I write nestled in the back of a freezing van over 4 hours from showtime & wouldn't change it for anything :)"

2011-12-04T04:54:00.001-08:00

Photo by Verity Gray.

These were my thoughts tweeted (@JonnieGitAhhr if you're that way inclined) and fb updated and although sometime between sound-check and the first band being on I thought this was going to be one of those nights to put down to experience, it ended up being a lovely night thanks to organisation by "The Situation" and great support from Dream Circuit and our brilliant friends Suzie Does It (and more with the lovely Suzie's in the near future). The Ballroom setting was a *plummy accent* "splendid" venue and the audience, although not exactly huge, were really open to original music and gave us a great time, mad as a box of puppies the lot of them. Special thanks to Verity Gray for the photos (her's are the good ones). Thanks all!

Me on the Firebird. Photo- Verity Gray.

The Suzies from stage left.

Hayley's unconventional set list!

Emma giving it some accordion (pic- Verity Gray).

Another fab photo from Verity Gray.

Soul with Rupert, the morning after the gig before being re-united with his owner (Rupert that is!).

EPILOGUE. After the gig we came across "Rupert", also on the road, a lost and lovely dog, happily reunited with his owner at a more civilised hour the following day.

Insert design for new Double A-Side CD Single

2011-12-01T12:30:00.001-08:00

For CD format soon (or download for FREE - see link on right!).

Happiness is a pink flange.

2011-11-27T11:50:00.001-08:00

Hayley pre-gig on the tiny acoustic stage.

I was tempted to name this post after the old showbiz adage & song "It's not where you start but where you finish" as we arrived to Friday's venue, late, grumpy and after having found we had left a cable-bag at base-camp, pretty pissed off. So a soundcheck-less gig ensued and after some sound-tweaking by our Angry Badger Friend, Nick (on his night off!). After a while the sound was sorted (thanks Nick!) and the crowd were a wonderfully warm and enthusiastic bunch. This was at The Nag's Head in Crewe, an almost unbelievably cosy pub with well kept real ales and a growing reputation as a superb little music venue. When I say little, the stage was only the size of some drum risers but with everything going for it, we didn't care a jot. It was also one of the longest set-lists we've done to date and it was the debut for new song "Big Low Copper Moon" and my new (pink) flanger. Both went down a treat. Thanks everyone!

Angry Badger Himself and Nick with me.

The Longest BYs set-list to date?

Blue Yellow Chili Peppers ?

2011-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

Artists we've been compared to include; The Dandy Warhols, The The, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Modern Lovers, Patti Smith and Radiohead, never the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But Hayley, myself and Emm from The BYs are huge fans of The Chilis, all went to shows of theirs while they've been in the UK and.... Hayley appeared as a super-sized super-fan photo (on the right) behind the band as part of The Chili's encore show in Birmingham. Awesome!

Out today... and it's FREE to download!

2011-11-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

No Tobacco, No Jesus/Humankind (double A-side single) by The BlueYellows

BYs 2nd Birthday & Boxjam.

2011-11-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

It was also our 2nd Birthday gig (hence the "I am 2" badges). Lots of dosh was raised for Oxfam and a good time was had.

Photos courtesy of Simon J. Newbury Photography and Tina Newbury Designs.

Mmmm nice shiney thing for the band.

2011-10-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

Fly-On-The-Wall or a Cake-On-The-Floor's view of a BYs Rehearsal!

2011-10-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

For what seems like much of the summer our rehearsals, and gigs... have been blessed with the presence of our lovely friend Dorota. Rehearsals have been transformed into a cake-munching, iced-drink consuming, Guiness drinking session (with plenty of work done as well of course!). She also took some rehearsal photos (come back soon Dorota!);

Of Butterflies and Bands.

2011-10-14T09:19:00.001-07:00

A great weekend, a gig in Emma's local with the band. For this gig at The Market Tavern, we tried out the idea of a seperate "acoustic section" of the main set where the whole atmosphere and instrumentation is changed for a portion of the night, rather than mixing it up through the set and compromising on instrumentation. Thanks to the many of you that gave us really positive feedback about this, I think it may well become a regular feature of our longer sets now. Local music fan Chris Salmon filmed us playing "You Want My Head" (not as stated here!) Thanks Chris.

The next day I was stunned to see over 200 Red Admirals and other assorted lepidopterra on a small patch of ivy by the canal, filmed it on my mobile and put it to "Jewel" a song off my "Happy Juice" album :)

SETLIST
Cry Cry Kill, Love Limpet, New Song (un-named), Jolene, You Want My Head, Owl & the Willow, Killing Me, Feels Like Sunshine, These Boots, Minute In The Sun, Beachcombing, Lazy Sunday Afternoon, Back In The Real World, Galleries, Just Like Nero, Humankind, No Tobacco, No Jesus!, Farmer John.

Music Squared.

2011-10-03T11:27:00.001-07:00

We returned to Sqaure One, Crewe this time in full band mode and with some new material. There's also a little blog post about the night by our sound-peeps, The Angry Badgers right here.

Set List No Tobacco No Jesus, Love Limpet, The Owl & The Willow, Back in the Real World, Jolene, Beachcombing, Killing Me, New Song (not yet named), Cry Cry Kill, Galleries, Lazy Sunday Afternoon, You Want My Head, Feels Like Sunshine, Farmer John, Just Like Nero, Humankind, These Boots Were Made For Walking, (Encore) No Tobacco No Jesus (extended).

Thanks to Rob Icke for the photo.

Dates, dates, dates.

2011-09-28T12:56:00.001-07:00

Gratuitous knob shot

2011-09-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

While you're here...

Check the gig list! Check the gig list! Check the gig list!

A break of sorts...

2011-09-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well in spite of a slow-down of BlueYellows gigs, the whole band have actually had a pretty busy summer through some special private musical performances and finally the main event itself at the wonderful wedding of our keyboard player, accordionist and backing vocalist extraordinaire Emma Alcock (previously Burgess) and good friend of all in the band, Pete. It was of course a private event so I'll leave it at that except to say it was a fantastic day and we wish them a lifetime of love and happiness together. I've also done a few solo gigs lately including including The Alsager Festival and a special charity festival at The Hop Pole Hotel, Crewe and what a fab atmosphere it was there. I was also delighted that the superb vocalist and songwriter Hayley Strangelove joined me for some impromptu backing vocals on "No Tobacco, No Jesus!". I was thrilled!

Thanks to Tom Bloor for the photos.

P.S As I write the band are due to meet tomorrow for our first rehearsal back in The BlueYellows mode for quite a while, with shows booked from the end of the month - Oh yes!

New Band Photo

2011-08-14T03:04:00.000-07:00

The BlueYellows L-R; Hayley Worsdale, Emma Burgess, Jonathan Tarplee, Simon Taylor.

No Tobacco, No Jesus (Live)

2011-07-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

As recorded on Simon J. Newbury's Show on Redshift Radio. Click on the image to play;

Alternative "Love Limpet" Video

2011-07-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

Self explanatory really, a live track from a radio session

At The International Eisteddfod

2011-07-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

Photo by sister Suey.

The International Eisteddfod

2011-07-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

2011

2011 has seen my first performance at this prestigious event in lovely Llangollen. I played the New Music Stage in a massive restaurant tent! The audience were curious rather than madly enthusiastic with I suspect, lots of people coming to see what the event is like as well as the die-hard music fans. Nevertheless they politely listened and applauded (particularly my mum who came along!) and would love to play it again. Below, the minutes silence for peace conducted by Terry Waite.

Rosie

2011-07-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping for some pictures from the Eisteddfod but in the meantime here is a "new" or new to me guitar and in fact my first ebay purchase. The thinking behind it was that much of my plauing and writing on the boat on a nlylon-string classical guitar so it seems contractictory to always play a steel-stung "folk" instrument when "going acoustic" on stage. I love the sound of nylon strings and it radically changes my attack on the strings and my whole approch to playing. It's an Autralian made Ashton (an underrated manufactorer) which I'm calling "Rosie" becuase of the sound and the Rose-patterned inlays.

Djembe Days

2011-07-07T03:02:00.000-07:00

Hayley and Soul form part of a canal-side jam with Mr Djembe Dave himself.

Suzie Did It & so did Dayve!

2011-06-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

In our year and a half or so of BY-action (oh er Mrs!) we've played some really cool places and events, but sometimes things really surprise you (again!)... an unpre-supposing & ancient watering hole in Cheshire, great company, lovely atmosphere thanks to the fab folks who came along and simply wonderful songwriting and performances in the form our special guests & friends in the form of Suzie Does It , Dayve Dean and Dan Logan on percussion for Dayve, pre-empting a time when we'll all be at Glasto and there will be copy-bands called The Be-Wise, Suzie Does I.T. and Dave Dene or something ;) Thanks to Mr Tim Lee for the Photos (Top, BYS, Middle Suzie Does It).

A Review

2011-06-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

Well it's one person's view, one day I'll put together all the people we've been compared to in some sort of format.

Read the review of the band's single, Humankind by the BeckieBlog here

The 21st Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival!

2011-06-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 17th, 2011; The Big Lock, Middlewich

10.30 - Late The BlueYellows

9.45 - 10.30 Phil Maddocks

9.00 - 9.45 Dayve Dean
8.15 - 9.00 Liz & Bob
7.30 - 8.15 Eddie Roberts

I think it's safe to say this is going to be a great, great night. Middlewich is always great, superb performers. Probably a few suprises too ;)

I'm pictured here with Hayley Strangelove, a superb singer who is also performing several times over the weekend!

Unsung Heroes and Samurai Swords

2011-05-31T02:29:00.000-07:00

Behind every on-stage performance and hours of writing, rehearsing, travelling, equipment buying preparing and loading is a whole rank of unsung heroes who never get their moment under the stage lights including family, babysitters, partners and helpers plus this one; Emma's own Vincent, which doubles as the band van (see interior shot, partly loaded for a rehearsal). The live pic is from the weekend's Crewe Live 11 Festival (Thanks to The Duke for that one) which saw some great bands and artists perform all over the town and everyone seemed to enjoy (shorlty after our set there was a sudden and huge police presence which someone said was due to someone walking about brandishing a samurai sword, but all that was well, ended well thankfully!

Thanks to Abby and Angry... again!

2011-05-23T12:34:00.001-07:00

Abby Wallis that is and The Angry Badgers for the ace photography and sound/lighting respectively, not to mention the free Badger badge, cheers guys! No thanks to my still-injured thumb which is not conducive to the old spanking of the proverbial plank!

Recording fun :)

2011-05-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

You can now see links to my new download provider at bandcamp on the right of this blog. You can download my entire album Happy Juice and/or Humankind by The BlueYellows, as well as a few other individual tracks, most of which you can choose how much you want to pay should you choose to download it...

.. and just to show that recording can be fun, here's an unedited track from The Applecause days (faded out on the final mix)... you can hear our already-recorded track in the background (bleeding through from our headphones). Happy Days :)
Kudos Calling (unedited backing vocal track, Pleasure Machine - The Applecause) by Jonathan Tarplee

The photo is also from those days... As well as myself, The Applecause included Emma, also now in The BlueYellows, Nik Thomas currently enjoying plenty of gigs with metal outfit Chimps On Death Row, Warren Goff and Mike Clowes.

"The Show Must Go On"!

2011-05-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

The old showbiz adage was as true as ever for me on our return to The Full Moon. My Wha-wha foot (my right one) and fretting-support thumb (left one) were both painfully injured though incidents too embarrassing to go into here. During setting up I then set my thumb back further while passing a cable under the snare stand. Ouch! It could be a lot worse really and one day no doubt will be, but if I can sit, or even only lie down, as long as I can physically spank the plank and make some sort of acceptable noise from my mouth, I'll be there! On top of all this I then had a few hiccups somewhere along the line with the signal through the pedal-board set up plus my strap disconnected at the start of "The Owl and The Willow". Thankfully my bandee-mates played solidly throughout all this and saved the day, as did a sweet audience ;)

Bad Hair Days followed with a storming set. Go Robot! (Their fans will understand).

On the right are some of my effects pedals. I quite often get asked about these so I might well do a post about them some time, I've added a few more since I took this photo (it can be an addiction).

Set In Sandstone.

2011-05-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

(photos - Zinney Live on stage, Soundcheck at Bickerton Village Hall)
I spent much of my childhood wandering round the gorgeous wooded hills around Beeston and Peckforton, so it's been lovely to combine my love of this area with my love of music. Before the gig, and on the following day I enjoyed plenty of walking in the lovely hills with my fellow band-members. We played a mainly "acoustic" set before Zinney came on to introduce his soulful, moving songs. Ric Sanders was a revelation, (youtube and the like does not do any justice to the experience of witnessing this guy live). He is a truly inspiring musician who just makes you want to stretch yourself more and more on your instrument, and to non-playing music fans he is an incredible and entertaining musician. His approach to the violin was playful, jazzy, at times moving and with more than a hint of prog-rock about it :) The interplay between himself and guitarist Vo Fletcher was a joy, clearly a pair who had played together for many years telepathically knowing the direction they were heading, perhaps on well practiced compositions but also clearly with plenty of musical spanners thrown playfully into the works to keep everything alive and spontaneous. Vocalist Catherine Howe, who had a huge hit in the 70s with "Harry" added spirited vocals which evoked a timeless, almost movie-esque quality into the mix. In short, an EPIC night of music!
(Photo - The band's right, and left hand man Pete at Camp BlueYellows!)

Symphony

2011-04-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

Another sweet evening playing at a "Meet the songwriters" event courtesy of Cafe Symphony, Sandbach and host, Andy Anderson with fellow songwriter guests Johnny Jaeger and Guitar Mal. This time I managed to starve myself until the end of the gig so that I could enjoy the complimentary meal. Andy had set up a choir mic, which was a new one on me, and it seemed to work pretty well too in picking up both vocals and guitar from within it's "sights" out into the room through some Roland amplification. Another kind, listening audience too.

Radio Daze

2011-04-21T12:30:00.001-07:00

We've done a fair bit or radio in recent times. I joined The BlueYellows last Monday evening for Simon Newbury's Show on Redshift Radio where we really got through quite a few songs, we went a bit mad and brought loads of intruments and equipment for a would be "acoustic" performance. Thanks Simon, for putting up with us and giving us the opportunity! Simon is a busy guy, his main vocation I think being a very accomplished photographer (see his website here) plus every year he organises Crewe's wonderful Boxjam event, the first one, in 2009 being the very first gig for The BlueYellows! The man himself invited us back again to Boxjam 2011, and while not wanting to wish the summer away already, it's a great event and I kind of can't wait already! On Wednesday daytime it was back to radio-land again, a different station and this time Andy Anderson's "Meet The Songwriter's" show, an interesting show for real music fans and budding musicians and songwriters in particular.

Photos Simon Newbury (taken by me, obviously, not him!) and thanks to Andy for the picture of me at his show.

If you're quick you can still listen to Meet The Songwriters HERE!

"Music of the forest and the surf"...

2011-04-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

I love that it's not always so easy to work out which will be the really cool gigs. The Commercial is an ancient, (unchanged by the hands of unscrupulous landlords), pub and hotel with it's own parrot and history steeped into it's walls. We had a great night there thanks to the amazing talents of Hayley Strangelove, Guitar Mal and Phil Maddocks who supported us and both Mal who joined us on improvised trumpet and Jason Louth who joined us on a rare outing for "Custard" a song which he and I co-wrote and which Em named. Most of all though it was down to the wonderful, considerate, listening, enthusiastic friends and strangers who came along to see us all. Thanks xxx

Photos courtesy of Olga Whitmore and Guitar Mal. Cheers guys.

Hip to be Square

2011-04-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

We play to all kinds of audiences in this band, one of the the things I love about playing in the BY's as I've said before. Some of our acoustic gigs have a sort of pin-drop atmosphere and of course it's great to have that much attention focused on the music, the Square One gig had a much noisier, sort of pre-clubbing atmosphere but it was still great fun and some of the crowd were definately up for it, we even had some dancers. Perhaps a full-kit gig would've been more suitable for this venue in some ways but The Angry Badger's gave us a great sound as always! Read about their own exploits at badgerodyssey.blogspot.com

Thanks to Nick/The Angry Badgers for the photo with Angry Badger himself in it and Tim Lee (a super-talented singer songwriter) for the other photos.

Mother's Day?

2011-03-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

As Mother's day approaches, I couldn't help but mention this facebook post by Stephanie, lovely friend to the band and our keyboard, piano and accordian player's sister (that's all one person, Emma)...

"Just had a premonition that I'm going to have my baby whilst the Blue Yellows are on stage on Friday night..... I found out I was pregnant when they were going out live on the radio last summer, so it all makes sense...." All the best to Steph and her soon to be slightly larger family! x

-The photo is from a private party, Hayley (The BlueYellows) and Steph at the piano-

No Tobacco, No Jesus!

2011-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

This song was inspired by the book "Wild" by Jay Griffith. A Video company chappie caught us doing an acoustic version recently.

"Acoustic" = Related to sound. All gigs are acoustic!

2011-03-13T04:49:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a fine old time of gigging last weekend including a full set on Friday Night and an acoustic-only set in Crewe for The Acoustic Lounge Event, run and sound-engineered beautifully by those Angry Badgers. I suspect they're really quite chilled most of the time! I'ts a great time for us, we've grown so much in confidence and are now are gelling so much as a bunch of musicians, and this is reflected in our shows. Thanks all of you who came, to The Broughton for Friday and also to Mally and Abigail Wallis for these photos. (More about Mally soon...).

Another bit of time on my hands, another vid!

2011-02-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

Yes I've been playing with my Window's Movie Maker again, and free clips from the web. Nice to resurrect this song though!

New Video

2011-02-05T04:55:00.000-08:00

The Day I Die, ( from http://www.youtube.com/jonathantarplee )

Cafe Symphony

2011-02-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

I recently played a lovely "Meet The Songriters" event at Cafe Symphony in Sandbach. Hosted by Andy Anderson (an accomplished songsmith himself) with myself and the talented Geoff Mather (middle) and finger-pickin' expert Nigel Beck (right of photo). I'll be back there again in April (check links on the right for shows as usual!).

New Band Photo

2011-01-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

Taken at our lil' Christmas get-together by Stephanie Burgess Arteaga...

Don't forget to stay tuned to our reverbnation for our latest bookings, some interesting ones coming in now...see our links and HERE... before then, we're planning a visit to the studio. See you soon :) x

(L-R Em, Me, Simon, Hayley).

Alexander's Jazz Theatre, The Green Gig

2011-01-13T01:04:00.001-08:00

I think it’s safe to say on behalf of the whole band that we had a spiffing time at The Green Party Concert. We were delighted to be able to invite Phil Maddocks (“The Maddocks”) and Dayve Dean who brought Spoons for some precision accompaniment on acoustic bass. In the van on the way over I had managed to convince myself that no-one would turn out on a Sunday night so soon after the Christmas party season but the place soon seemed pretty filled, and many stayed ‘til the end, a wonderful audience, certainly not the loudest crowd we have played to but a really listening, enthusiastic and attentive bunch they (YOU- if you are reading this – thanks! X). Apparently the gig was quite significant in terms of raising funds so thanks to my fellow bandees and everyone who organised the event, and most importantly, those who came. From “the guys” point of view of view I feel that we have we really grown as a band in the last few gigs, for instance I feel that we did the best performance ever (publicly or in rehearsal) of one of our songs; “Feels Like Sunshine” – so emotional and spirited, a magical experience to be within, and a part of such a fluid breeze of sound and feeling– what it’s all about!

Thanks for the photos by Abigail Wallis (B&W) & Howard Thorp (colour). Howard was an organiser and Parliamentary Candidate for The Greens for Weaver Vale at the last general election. Read his blog here.

There is also a different take on this event by an Angry Badger(!... see link at the bottom of this blog too) no less - he comes with an entire team of talented sound and promotional music people, and that's here.

The BlueYellows - YouTube Debut!

2010-12-31T04:05:00.000-08:00

Humankind Remix

2010-12-21T04:50:00.000-08:00

I love the shear variety in our gigs. This photo is from in front of the stage at the Sandbach Christmas Lights concert, not long before we went on. The children here, including Soul and Alba from our entourage are meeting Alex from CBeeBees, who has just been doing storytime sessions with them. In the background, against the van, are Emma and Simon from the band and the sound-man for the day, who I think was called Allan.

Towards the centre, bending down towards little Alba, and next to his wife Steph, is our talented friend Jose Manu Munoz Arteaga (sorry for the lack of accenting here, how do you do that on an English keyboard???). As well as being a film-maker and musician, Jose has a wonderful talent in sound-mixing and has produced the music for some big theatre productions in Spain.

You can here his remix (with all the "cotton wool" taken out of the original sound) of Humankind here

In other news, we're delighted to be playing a concert for the Green Party at the wonderful venue of Alexander's Jazz Theare in Chester. Dayve Dean and Phil Maddocks should help to make it a wonderful evening!

Hope to see you there!

Boxjam II was an absolute B L A S T

2010-11-05T08:57:00.001-07:00

Arriving at the gig in the afternoon with Hayley & Em from the band (simon wa to turn up later) for my solo part of the event, the atmosphere at the acoustic stage was really mellow and the audience were really a considerate bunch of people who were there to take in the music and enjoy. Thank you if you were one of them! I cajoled the 2 of my band-mates present to join me for “No Tobacco, No Jesus” at the end of my solo set.

The whole event was wonderfully organised and there was a decent crowd at the electric stage, some cool bands on, belly-dancing and some random and fun, fez-wearing, heart-bearing goings on. Big thanks to you if you came, and to the organisers, Simon, Mat, Tina, Toby, Spoons! Looking forward to Boxjam the 3^rd already! X

(The pictures are courtesy of Tina Newbury of Simon J Newbury Photography).

Boxjam!

2010-10-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

Our first Birthday gig,in effect (with The BlueYellows, that is!). I'm playing at 5pm to do an acoustic set followed by the full band at 7.15 pm. Loads going on, check out the poster...

BTW, thanks to Dayve Dean, Mat, Nigel Stonier & Thea Gilmore for asking me to play some songs at Acoustic Sunday, part of The Nantwich Words & Music Festival, when I'd only turned up to as a music fan rather than a performer. Thanks guys!...

I did go home feeling sick with caffine overdose, quite something for me, as you will know if you know anything about my usual coffee intake, but this was couter-acted by the warm glow of having appeared at one of the best kept secrets of the UK festival scene, as I say, thanks X

By the way here's a lil' pic of us from last year's Boxjam, our first ever as The BYs !

New LIVE! Radio Session track.

2010-09-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

You can listen to Love Limpet, live from our Cat Radio Session here

More comming soon!

August bank Holiday gigs in Alsager and Northwich

2010-09-25T03:57:00.001-07:00

Hayley and myself played the acoustic tent in Alsager on the Sunday, thankfully the heavy rains cleared and the sun came out just in time for substantial crowds to arrive by the time we were on.

The following day, all of The BlueYellows closed the Northwich festival (which included a strongman event and funfair, a proper English-style carnival of old you might say!). We might get some photos from Northwich up soon but in the meantime here's a couple of pics from Alsager and one of my new guitar, the best I've ever owned... A Robert's Firebird. I'm a happy bunny :) !

See you soon x

And talking of the radio...

2010-08-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Since the last post, we have broken our summer hiatus to make a couple of further appearances (if you can "appear" on the radio); I appeared on The Dayve Dean show on The Cat-fm solo and played The Day I Die, Back in The Real World off the Happy Juice album and Galleries.

The band was also invited to play a live set for the station's Dayve Dean sessions.

Live set for The Dayve Dean Sessions for The Cat- FM;

Killing Me
Galleries
The Owl and The Willow
Love Limpet
Just Like Nero
You want My Head

The performance was at Orchard Studios and mixed by Dan Logan who as well as being a producer, is an accomplished percussionist who plays for Dayve and Thea Gilmore among others.

Our Session/Interview on Moorlands Music 103.7fm

2010-07-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

Paul Oldfield was our friendly and ebullient host who probed us with his questions and made us feel relaxed in the studio (and the pub afterwards!). Thanks Paul :)
See the station website at http://www.moorlandsradio.co.uk/ and all the other photos are here!

The Hop Pole

2010-07-08T02:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came, especially those who made good use of the especially springy pews in bouncing along to our songs (!) in this intimate venue, and the generosity shown by the landlord and Tony, who booked us.

The Next thing is a live session on Moorlands Radio on the Paul Oldfield show (103.7FM) next monday 7-9pm).

Tune in if you can, peeps!

Middlewich 2010

2010-06-16T01:18:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came, especially those of you who had a long day and came to both our daytime, acoustic, and our more full-on evening one. We had a couple of technical issues but the energy coming from you guys really made any other problems seem like a minor issue. Next stop, a return to Crewe and the intimate environs of The Hop Pole. Should be good! x

Audlem Festival - Thanks to Phil Baker/Audlem.org for the photo

2010-06-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous village and lovely crowds, thanks to all who came....I played my own solo set in the afternoon which included some songs which we don't do with the band such as a cover of Six Blade Knife, plus my own songs like The Day I Die, City Of Indifference, Back in The real World, The Picture Paints itself.

And Here's the set we did with the band, pop-pickers;

Killing Me
Galleries
Cry Cry Kill
Lazy Sunday Afternoon (cover)
Minute in The Sun
Beachcombing
The Owl and the Willow
You Want My Head
Jolene (cover)
Love Limpet
Humankind
Farmer John (cover)
Feels Like Sunshine
Just Like Nero
These Boots Were Made For Walking (cover)

Bank Holiday Monday - The Audlem Festival!

2010-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am playing a solo set from 2.30-3.30 in Blues Alley...

Then we have our full BlueYellows Set from 5-6PM at The Bridge Inn

(not sure if this is outdoors in a Marquee or in the pub itself, but I’m sure you can find us! )

Hope you can make it x

See http://www.audlemfestival.com/

So the Summer gig list looks like this;

May 31st Solo Gig, Audlem Festival, Blues Alley. 2.30pm

May 31st The BlueYellows, Audlem Fesival, 5pm

June 6th Solo acoustic show, The Burslem Arts Trail (sometime between noon and 3pm)

June 18-21 The BlueYellows at The Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival (several shows)

June 19th The BlueYellows, showcase performance the Middlewich Folk & Boat Fest,
The White Horse, Middlewich, 7pm

July 9th The BlueYellows at The Hop Pole, Crewe

July 19th The BlueYellows interview and live session on the Paul Oldfield Show.

August 29-30th The BlueYellows at The Northwich Festival

More shows being organised as I write, see you soon x

Coming Soon!

2010-05-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

The Beat Route

2010-04-26T04:33:00.000-07:00

So I strapped my guitar on for the start of the set and Plonk, it droped straight off, breaking the plug of my guitar lead (& giving me a painful lump on my shin). So thanks to one of the nice chappies from Path to Perdition who leant me his. Anyway t'was a proper old-fashioned lil' rock club and we'l be back again sometime.

Set;

Killing Me

Galleries

Cry Cry Kill

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

The Owl & The Willow

You Want My Head

(I'll be Your) Love Limpet

Humankind

Farmer John

Just Like Nero

These Boots Were Made For Walking

The photo is another one from the Sandbach transport Fest, Thanks to Bob Burgess.

Sandbach Transport Fest 2010

2010-04-23T01:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to eveyone who came to this, we had some weird technical issues which resulted in both mine and Emma's amps making peculiar noices and generally being out of control, Emma's reverting to some sort of "Pixie" setting every few seconds! But we had fun and everyone seemed to enjoy it, here's some pics from the event, appropriately we played on the back of a truck!

Sandbach Set:

Killing Me

Galleries

Lazy Sunday Afternoon (Marriot & Lane)

You Want My Head

HumanKind

Just Like Nero

These Boots Were Made For Walking (Hazlewood)

*****Also STOP PRESS ETC....Exciting news, we also have our first BlueYellows track for you to hear. It's "Humankind" and we recorded it on the 7th and 21st of April. Hear it at http://www.reverbnation.com/blueyellows and at http://www.myspace.com/blueyellows *****

Peace and Peas to you all x

Spring Gigs and Debut CD ? (note time confirmation for Sandbach!)

2010-04-13T01:39:00.000-07:00

Hi all, just a quick note to say we’ve not been lounging in the Easter sun too much, we went into the studio on April 7th and recorded a version of Humankind. We’re going back on the 21st with a view to maybe recording a live track.
We’ve got some Spring gigs coming up including our fist festival of the year;

Sat April 17th Sandbach Transport Festival, Sandbach 1-1.30

Fri April 23rd, The Beat Route, Congleton with bleached Wail, from 8pm

*We are hoping to have our debut single available (and give-away offers!) for our headline gig at Fat Cats in Hanley on Monday May 10th. Monday night is student night with drink offers on too so it should be fun. Dayve Dean’s band James and The Giant will be in support (full line up of support acts is awaiting confirmation).

So, happy springiness and we hope to see you soon!
Jonathan, The B Y s xxx

On the web at;
http://www.reverbnation.com/blueyellows
http://jtmusic.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/blueyellows
and on Facebook; Search “blueyellows” (one word)

BlueYellows Biography

2010-03-10T04:31:00.000-08:00

You can now read the band's biog as well as mine (just scroll down for the band) here.

Sounds, CDs, Songs, Gigs and more for 2010.

2010-02-28T06:15:00.000-08:00

With the first signs of spring arriving it seems a good time to take stock and make plans. Here’s what the band and me are up to from where we are now;

As you may know we have done a number of gigs which represent our debut performances with the full line up, these have enabled us to dust off some of our cobwebs and live-performance nerves and get us used to performing in a variety of different acoustic environments. We have had some great gigs and some seriously dodgy ones and we would like to thank everyone who has come out to support us. We really do appreciate it, you make it all worthwhile.

Our Sound. We have been particularly pleased with all the comments from people saying we have come up with a new sound. This is something that has come naturally to us I think as we have not gone into this with any conceptions of sounding like this or that band, or for that matter with some contrived idea of coming up with something new. If we are unique it is because we write, shape and play this music from our own hearts and personalities rather than trying to copy our musical heroes or by being influenced by current fashions. Thank you again, this is really interesting for us to hear.

Recording. Through March we are intending to some recording, perhaps using a variety of different sound engineers and resources, so we are hoping to come out of it with a CD single, EP or who knows even an album!

New Songs. We are really excited about a load of new songs going into our live sets, we hope you will be too!

Live. We should have a number of headline gigs and festivals coming up. Keep checking myspace.com/blueyellows for latest confirmed events. We will invite some artists who we really like and who have been a help to us to support us at some of these gigs, people like Dayve Dean who as well as being a talented singer/songwriter in his own right, has had us on his radio show among other things.

Stuff to buy. As well as a CD, we are hoping to soon have some other stuff to buy like T-shirts, badges and who knows what else?!?... and expect a BlueYellows banner behind us when we play!

My Solo gigs? I am loving playing with these guys so much, they are all great friends (thank you BlueYellows! Xxx) and all of them are very individualistic people and musicians. However I will keep my solo oar in here and there, I will be playing a set at the Audlem festival for instance, as well as having a BlueYellows set there too.

Thank you again everybody x

Finally, for anyone interested in these things (and for my own record). The set list for our last two gigs, at The Full Moon and in Alsager was as follows. It’s rare to stay the same in 2 gigs but there you go;-

Killing Me
Galleries
You Want My Head
(I’ll be your) Love Limpet
Owl in the Willow
Cry, Cry Kill
Feels Like Sunshine
These Boots were made for Walking
HumanKind

First 2010 Gigs coming in...

2010-01-21T01:05:00.000-08:00

The first outing for the BlueYellows this year will be a benefit gig to raise money for the Haiti Earthquake victims. Loads of bands and performers - should be a great event. we also have a UK tour support slot with possible dates in Italy on the "home" leg....Here's our confirmed outings so far:-

Saturday Jan 30th - Haiti Benefit Concert, Voodoo Lounge Hanley

Saturday Feb 6th - Acoustic Session at The Big Lock, Middlewich

Friday Feb 12th - The Full Moon, Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Wed Feb 24th - Screaming Shadows UK tour, Alsager Arms

Saturday March 6th - Dayve Dean & Friends, Woodlands, Alsager

Friday April 16th - The Full Moon, Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Platypus Duck in Support)

Sat-Sun April 17th-18th - Sandbach Transport Festival

Plus gigs awaiting a date in Congleton, Sandbach and Nantwich, and we have already been offered gigs with Italian Roacksters Screaming Shadows on their home turf.

We are in the process of organising lots of summer festivals too so stay tuned...

Links; Haiti Benefit Concert

Screaming shadows

Dayve Dean

Now Some New Pictures...

2010-01-14T01:13:00.000-08:00

...of Hayley, our drummer and backing vocalist with the BlueYellows, and of our cold, Christmas gig in Sandbach Square. (Thanks Steph)

Remember the Summer!?

2010-01-12T00:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks Tom & Laura for these photos from the Alsager Festival.

Sandbach Christmas Gig

2009-11-30T04:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks if you came, we had a great time. Here's the set list from the event in case you're wondering...

Killing Me
Fairytale of New York
Galleries
Bitter End
Own & the Willow
Humankind
Instrumental (loosely based on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!)
These Boots were Made for Walking

Dayve Dean also appeared with Dan Logan on purcussion. Dayve is also running a radio show The Cat Radio Station. We're going to be joining him on Thursday Morning on December the 17th for a chat and we'll be playing some songs acoustically. Join us if you can!

The BlueYellows turn on Sandbach!

2009-11-23T04:49:00.000-08:00

Our next blueyellows gig is this Saturday (Nov 28th). The Sandbach Christmas Lights concert.
Chloe and Dayve Dean, among others including other rock bands and local folkies will be performing.

We are performing at 1pm...

See you there Pagans!

The BlueYellows at Boxjam Festival 2009. Special Thanks to Roger David Sheperd for these images.

2009-11-02T03:30:00.000-08:00

New Boxjam Poster

2009-10-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

all the Gigs!

2009-10-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

Take me down to the Coffee Shop - we could dance like Iggy Pop!...

2009-10-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

Dayve Dean Sound-checking

Had my first ever coffee house gig on Saturday, & very enjoyable it was too with sets from talented fellow singer-songsters like Dayve Dean and Chloe & in spite of feeling ill, but in kind of a spaced-out fairly pleasant sort of way. I hope I do some more. Espressos instead of beer. I love them both!

This one was in The Brew Tea House in Central Liverpool and it was all for Oxfam so we could feel even better about it.

Don't forget our 1st ever gig, it'll be rough and (nearly!) ready;....

Halloween night at the Box, Crewe (Oxjam/Boxjam) with the new Grunge/Folk outfit The BlueYellows.

Loads bands & stalls. Tickets £3 advance from Oxfam, Crewe. Doors 5pm - Late.

Don't forget your scary costume!

1st gig as The BlueYellows - New Poster!

2009-10-15T08:10:00.001-07:00

All the Gigs...

2009-10-14T01:09:00.001-07:00

Tourettes and Giggles

2009

Oct 31st Oxjam/Boxjam (with the BlueYellows), Crewe

Oct 24th Norfolk Inn Farewell Party, Shelton CANCELLED

Oct 17th Oxjam at The Brew, Liverpool

Aug 9th Mind, Body & Boogie Festival, Bollington

Aug 1st Stoke Sounds Festival, Stoke On Trent

Jul 16th Norfolk Inn, Shelton (with Emma Burgess & Simon Taylor)

Jul 15th Alsager Festival, Cheshire

Jun 20th Acoustic Tent Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival (with EB & ST)

Jun 20th Big Lock, Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival (with EB & ST)

Jun 20th Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival (with EB & ST)

June 19th Acoustic Tent Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival (with EB & ST)

May 25th Waldron, Volume Festival, Crewe (with Emma Burgess)

May 23rd Barr 22, Volume Festival, Crewe (with Emma Burgess)

May 22nd Nakatchas, Nantwich

May 9th Norfolk Inn, Shelton Cancelled

May 3rd White Horse MBOFF Fundraiser, Middlewich
May 3rd Kandi Bar, MBOFF Fubdraiser, Middlewich
April 5th The Big Lock Session, Middlewich
Mar 28th Private Party (with Emma Burgess & Simon Taylor)

Mar 24th Norfolk Inn, Shelton

Mar 1st The Unicorn, Hanley

2008
Aug 30th Street Party, Crewe
Nov 29thOxjam Unwrapped Festival, The Wheatsheaf, Sandbach
Nov 23rd The Unicorn, Hanley
May 25th Borough Arms (With Jason Louth), Crewe

Oxjam acoustic gig in Liverpool.

2009-10-13T01:04:00.003-07:00

Myself, fellow singer songster Dayve Dean and others are to play an acoustic event for Oxfam in the gorgeous city of Liverpool this Saturday afternoon, should be fun, and for a really good cause. Details;

Brew Coffee shop, Bold Street 12-6pm Liverpool

Booking NOW!

2009-09-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

The BlueYellows Myspace site

Introducing the new band - The Blue Yellows!

2009-09-15T01:22:00.000-07:00

Details are still to follow over the coming weeks but I can reveal some info on the new band I’m now involved with...
We are The BlueYellows and we consist of;

Jonathan Tarplee, guitar & vocals

Emma Burgess, keyboards & vocals

Simon Taylor, bass guitar

Hayley Worsdale, drums & vocals

We have a fledgling myspace at http://www.myspace.com/blueyellows ...stay tooned! Some of us

Simon, 100% maverick, 100% bass

Hayley, ever changing hair, ever swoopy backing vox

Yours truely

Em, full time musicologist and guinessologist

Very Low-Fi home webcam recording of 'Galleries'

2009-09-15T01:18:00.000-07:00

How to buy my Album

2009-08-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

My 8 track album “Happy Juice” is now available from me directly (Price £4) at all gigs and also as a digital download at

aimestreet.com

f you prefer the album to be sent by post please email me at jtarplee@hotmail.com and I will email you the address details for your £6 cheque/postal order (to allow postage & packing).

Cheers medears x

First Ever Video of the New Band!

2009-07-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

We don't even have a name yet. This is from the acoustic tent at the Middlewich Boat and Folk Festival 2009 and is part of our first ever public performance.

Acoutic Tent, Middlewich Boat and Folk Fest...

2009-06-30T03:24:00.000-07:00

what seemed like a residency for the weekend!

Biographies for Jonathan Tarplee and The BlueYellows

2009-06-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Tarplee (AKA ‘Jaytee’) has been writing songs since an early age and his first ever live performance included self penned rock tunes which went down a storm with a jam-night crowd more used to cover versions. The Blues was a major early influence on his lead guitar style and some of his first gigs were as the sole guitarist with 7 piece rhythm & Blues outfit ‘Safe Sax’. However his own songs were pushing very hard and it wasn’t long before he was writing, singing and playing for original bands varying in style from indie to folk rock and grunge, his lead guitar style becoming more fluent and individual in style from its blues/rock origins, though maintaining it’s intensity and expressiveness.

Successes in part one of his career included solo support slots for Nick Harper and Atilla the Stockbroker as part of their respective tours, having his song ‘You & Me’ used as a BBC soundtrack and a further composition ‘Firesign’ used in a surfing video. Further storming performances both solo and with bands followed with interest being shown from major record labels. However, Jonathan was becoming disillusioned with a music scene increasingly dominated by tribute acts, and other interests in his life led him away from the stage.

In late 2008 an email from out of the blue was all the encouragement he needed to sling an electric guitar on again and start rehearsing with the keyboard player he had worked with before in ‘The Applecause’, Emma Burgess, along with an assortment of songwriters and musicians. He is now booking regular live gigs at venues and festivals around the North and Midlands. His current gigs are largely solo performances but his new, as yet un-named band include Emma on keys and Simon Taylor on Bass guitar, and whether on his own or with band, his unique new songs range from quirky ditties to ballads and full-on rock-fests all played with passion and an earthy intensity.

Discography

A Near Life Experience (with The Applecause)
Banned Substances (North-West bands within, D.A.N. Network; includes the track ‘Firesign’)
Urban Birds Six songs for Gaia (solo E.P.)
Happy Juice (Collection of solo and band recordings)

Commendations

"Beautifully crafted songs with bite and edge"- Mind, Body & Boogie festival.

"Great guitar work" - Chronicle Newspapers.

"Powerful lyrics and absorbing melodies" - Nigel Stonier.

"Fine, powerful and melodic guitaring" - F. Scott Corrigan.
“I recently saw you perform live and was really inspired” (email comment).
“Loved Taught and Four Horsemen best! I haven't had a good internet reception up till now so had to wait to hear your stuff but worth waiting for!” (Comment on floatingcosmos.blogspot.com).

The BlueYellows

The BlueYellows create original music which is intense yet reflective, melancholic yet uplifting, quirky, passionate and unique. With influences as diverse folk, metal, funk and grunge, the band have no interest in following the path or style of others, even if they stand on the shoulders of those bands and artists they love. At the centre of their style is the acclaimed song-writing of lead-singer and guitarist Jonathan Tarplee, songs which are then modulated through the classically trained keys of Emma Burgess, the elastic, walking bass strings of Simon Taylor and the almost Celtic feel of Hayley Worsdale’s drums to form a set comprised of everything from quirky, acoustic ditties to full on post-apocalyptic rock-outs. Compared with bands as diverse as James, The Pixies and The Dandy Warhols, their sound has been described as grunge/folk which is perhaps a reasonable pigeonhole when labels are unavoidable. Recently they have been honing their set to include some individualised cover-versions and new material to take them on to a bigger-than-ever show and plans for their debut CD. But whether it’s major rock venue or an intimate corner of a folk club, they always aim to play live with a passion, emotion and intensity, as if it were the last thing they do on Earth.

The blueyellows are;

Jonathan Tarplee - Guitar/Vocals
Emma Burgess - Keyboards/Vocals
Simon Taylor - Bass Guitar
Hayley Worsdale - Drums/vocals

Middlewich 2009

2009-06-10T01:28:00.000-07:00

Midddlewich Boat & Folk Festival Appearances

Friday 19th June 8 PM - Acoustic Tent, Main Field
Saturday 20 June 1 PM – Kings Lock, Lewin Street
Saturday 20 June 6 PM - Acoustic Tent, Main Field

STOP PRESS - Fellow Bandees Emma Burgess and Simon Taylor are now also confirmed as playing!

The Middlewich Boat and Boat Festival is in the top Ten music festivals in Britain (The Guardian) and is possibly the most family-friendly one as it has many other things going on besides the music including craft stalls, historic boats, boat horses, face-painting, floating gardens and so much more….see http://midfest.org.uk/mfab to give you some idea.

I’ve been going to the festival on and off as a punter for many years and am really chuffed to bits to be playing for the first time this year.

I may also put in an appearance in the open sessions at the White Horse on Sunday the 21st.

Be folk’n there!

J xxx

Bank Holiday gigs

2009-05-15T02:54:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics....in reverse order (top to bottom) from The Waldron and Bar 22 as part of the volume festival and at Nakatchas, Nantwich. Emma Burgess from the new band is on the Keyboards.

Thanks to Hayley for the top 2 pics and Jules from the Crewe Blog for the middle one. Cheers everyone who came too!

A big weekend of gigs coming up in the Crewe & Nantwich area starting with Nakatchas nightclub on Friday night and continuing through the Volume festival performances in Crewe.
Emma Burgess from the new band will be joining me on keyboards with a possibility of Simon Taylor on Bass for the Monday gig if he is back from France in time.
Anyway here’s the schedule…

Friday May 22nd – Nakatchas, Nantwich 9pm

Saturday May 23rd – Bar 22, 2.30pm

Monday May 25th - The Waldron, Crewe, 4pm

Facebooksters take note....

2009-05-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

An event, or really two events, namely my two appearances at this year's CreweLive09 Volume Festival, a festival with a focus on original, upandcoming artists, should be cool!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/updates.php?id=41311745779&sent=1&e=0#/event.php?eid=77580896518&ref=nfhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/updates.php?id=41311745779&sent=1&e=0#/event.php?eid=77580896518&ref=nf

Gig with Souvenirs, Stoke On Trent

2009-04-28T02:34:00.000-07:00

It's on a Saturday, that's May 9th in the intimate Norfolk Inn, from about 8.30 onwards.

That's at Norfolk Street, Shelton, Stoke On Trent

I'll be supporting Indie power-popsters, Souvenirs

My latest gig list is Here

Gigs Gigs Gigs...

2009-04-09T04:16:00.000-07:00

Loads of gigs coming up including summer festivals!

See Here for list

or http://www.myspace.com/jonathantarplee in general...

There's also 10 old songs of mine featured on this site to listen to/download!

First Band Photo!

2009-03-30T05:56:00.001-07:00

Taken after a first warm-up, mini-gig at a friend's party.

L-R me (Jonathan Tarplee, guitar/vocals), Simon Taylor, Bass and Emma Burgess, Keyboards & Backing vocals.

We are looking for a drummer/percussionist but are thinking "what the hell?" we'll do some acoustic gigs in the meantime.

Next 'proper' gig is a solo acoustic performance supporting pop-rock act "New Dawn" at the Norfolk Inn, Shelton, Stoke On Trent.
Entry is Free!

Norfolk Inn set.

2009-03-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

Galleries

Cry Cry Kill

When This Flower Opens (co-written with J. Louth)

Killing Me

The Owl in the Willow

Hidden Shallows

Feels Like Sunshine

Beachcombing

(All songs by J. Tarplee unless otherwise stated)

Thanks also to Arthur who provided mesmeric fingerpicking styles and hypnotic songs.

Next Gig...

2009-03-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Norfolk Inn, Shelton, Stoke On Trent 8-9 p.m. Free Entry

Best Advert Tune?

2009-03-03T04:21:00.000-08:00

Ta if you came!

Set List for Unicorn Gig; (all songs written by J. Tarplee unless otherwise stated)

Back in the Real World
Six Blade Knife (Mark Knopfler)
Hidden Shallows
Galleries
Beachcombing
Just Like Nero
Owl and the Willow
Cry Cry Kill

When this Flower Opens (J.Tarplee & Jason Louth)
The day I Die
Feels Like Sunshine
Killing Me
R. Whites Lemonade Ad’ Theme tune! (Declan Costello)
Waiting
Four Horsemen

Next Hanley Gig...March 1st.

2009-02-16T03:22:00.000-08:00

Gig coming up at The Unicorn, Hanley, Stoke On Trent City Centre (Piccadilly). I'm co-headlining with Phil Wagg.

Intimate environs, free entry. March 1st from 8.30 or so.

hope you can come! Jxx

Plans for 2009.

2009-02-09T06:44:00.001-08:00

Well, I thought it should be about time so here we go a-blogging…..I’ve got a new band who are almost formed including Emma Burgess on keyboards/ backing vocals and Simon Taylor on Bass. We have someone who can, and may well play drums for us but the person in question also has commitments with another band so we’re still considering percussionists. We’re pretty open-minded by the way so if you just have a snare and a pair of razor-fish shells to play it with (& you’re good!), we’ll still bear you in mind.

Drummers with conventional kits are OK too!

I’m still gonna book the odd solo gig as well so stay tuned. Enjoy the snow, J xxx

Oxjam nearly Undone!

2008-12-01T05:06:00.000-08:00

After an almost disastrous problem caused a last minute change of venue(!), due it seems to sheer incompetence on behalf of Congleton Borough Council. Oxjam quickly relocated to the meeting rooms at The Wheatsheaf, Sandbach.

Dayve Dean débuted his new, as yet un-named but already tight, accomplished-sounding band and managed to take some photos of me between sets!

Set (as far as I can remember...)

Back in The Real World

Galleries

Cry, Cry Kill

The Day I Die

Feels Like Sunshine

Oxjam - Sandbach Town Hall this Saturday

2008-11-24T04:15:00.000-08:00

I'll be playing in Sanbach Town Hall this Saturday evening along with a host of artists and bands. Free entry from 7Pm but money will be collected for Oxfam.
There will also be other distractions including fair trade goods.
Full details on the Oxjam Blog.

Hanley Gig

2008-11-24T04:02:00.000-08:00

I originally stated here that "I ended up headlining at the Unicorn last night" but this is really not being fair to Pete Carney. When I say "ended up" I really mean that it was just the way it turned out...I was there to be supporting with Pete as the headline, but Pete was gracious enough to make it a joint effort with us both swapping over through the night. Thanks Pete, Matt from the Unicorn and everyone who came. It seems I'll be back there sometime in February.

Unicorn Set…
Back in the Real World
Galleries
Hidden Shallows
Six Blade Knife
Beachcombing
Just Like Nero
The Day I Die
Pt 2
The Owl in the Willow
When This Flower Opens
Feels Like sunshine
Cry Cry Kill
Solstice Song
Four Horsemen
Waiting

Hanley Gig

2008-10-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday the 23rd of November in The Unocorn, Hanley (Stoke-On-Trent), from 8.15 FREE!
CDs will be availavle for sale.