Dear Readers,

February has been quite the month...

Wednesday 3rd.

It started with a big spend The Nord :http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/43219-nord-piano-88.html/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base

I bought the piano of my dreams. It was a big decision, something that I've been umming and ahing about for some while but it was time.

It sounds so good, even the pedal makes a noise when you put it down. 

Friday 5th. & Saturday 6th

I had to get the piano as Greenwich Tea Party had a couple of good gigs coming up. We've recently completed the EP. You can listen to it at 

http://greenwichteaparty.co.uk/. The gigs went well and I had the best time. There's more gigs coming in March! 

Thursday 10th

I went to Manchester Night & Day Cafe to play with the tremendous James Canty http://www.thesixtyone.com/#/s/CmgkgZJDaEw/ 

From the sound check we could see the other bands on the bill were those 'must be loud or it can't be good' types, which can be intimidating when you're tip toeing on the stage with an accordion and a cow bell, to name a few instruments, but we blew them all out the water. I'm sure they'll think again before turning their backs to an unsuspecting folk band. 

Monday 14th

PJ Harvey's Album 'Let England Shake' was officially released, and should have arrived at my door. (got lost in the post or something) 

You can listen to it here:http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=133495228&m=133474929

I don't think you can listen to it in it's entirety here so you'll have to buy it but it's worth every penny! Favourite track is 'Bitter Branches'.

Monday also saw me going into the studio to begin recording my very own EP! Yes, soon I will have some music for you all to hear.

The tracks we recorded were: Sticks & Stones/ Heart Strings/ Glorious Feeling/ Broken Man

It's going to sound great!

Tuesday 15th

We went to the BRIT Awards! It was a good experience, I just hope I'll be sat with the nominees one day. The outstanding performance for me was Adele. 

It was also good to see some real musos winning some awards i.e. Laura Marling, Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons (last one's questionable haha)

The rest of reading week I will be in studio recording Vocals tomorrow and guitar and strings early next week. 

The month will be topped off with another visit to London but this time to see a gig: PJ Harvey at the Troxy on Sunday 27th. (Tickets won on Ebay)

So as you can see, it's been quite the month. Next month I have my first gig at Mello Mello Liverpool - Wednesday 2nd March! 

Thanks for reading. 

First and foremost; Happy New Year.

Now, I am supposed to do one of these things every month on, or by, the 20th. The 20th of December was pretty busy for me so in short, I didn't do it. Woops. 

Better late than never, as they say.

I am currently more passionate about music than I've ever been (check out Captain Beefheart - he's cool), I keep getting distracted by my guitar and daydreaming about being a rock star - suddenly I feel 14. My mum says it's a faze, I hope not, I rather like it. 

Rehearsals have been on pause what with the christmas break so I have been finishing off lyrics and other bits of songs. My aim was to get 10 songs finished before I went back. I'd written 9 before christmas and I think I may have a tenth??!

I want to do a video for you all to see but I'm a bit cautious of making a prat of myself. However if you do want to see Douglas Dare making a prat out of himself there are plenty of videos on my facebook (warning - some contain full frontal nudity) and I also have a youtube channel that hasn't been touched for some years under the likely name of 'dougiedare'. 

I plan to wipe all those videos and replace them with a nice music video for my single, which is yet to be decided.

So the plan for my return to Liverpool.

• RECORD MY SONGS (3 track EP and Demo Album)
• GIG (as much as possible)
• REHEARSE 10 SONGS READY FOR SHOWCASE
• DO SHOWCASE (11TH APRIL 2011)

It's a plan. 

I do hope the next blog is a bit more interesting that this for you.

Douglas Dare 

Hi there adoring fans. 

Since my last letter a great deal has happened. 

I've written two and half new songs, and one's on the organ - it's called 'Time To Leave' (That's all you're getting for now)

Ah, before I forget, the showcase date has been confirmed! 

MONDAY 11th APRIL 2011

I will be sending out invites after christmas, and our brilliant theme will be revealed, but until then, keep this date free please. 

The band have been rehearsing bright and early on Saturday mornings and I'm already loving the sound. 

Once we've got around six tracks together we plan to gig.

I really want to play in venues with real pianos, so I thought-

View 2 Gallery 

Kazimier 

Peter Kavanahs (Pub next door to my house)

St Bride's Church 

and probably throw in a Parr St gig or 2 despite lack of piano. 

This will probably happen after christmas, so watch this blog. 

Until next time,

Douglas Dare