Rewilding

After eight months in the studio Richard Durrant has finally completed work on his forthcoming album: Rewilding…

Richard at Knepp with ecologist Penny Green and soil specialist David Sheil

Now renamed Rewilding, this single album will be available on vinyl as a limited edition gatefold with artwork by the English “unrealist’ artist, Jon Everitt.  Although there are no plans for a CD release, the album will be widely available to stream or download including hi-rez audio formats (included in the vinyl price).

Unsurprisingly, this is a very different outcome to what was originally planned back in 2019.  

“The enormity of what we are all living through has, of course, deeply affected my work. Lockdown came at a time when I should have been finishing and launching an album followed by a busy and exciting tour.

“Instead the entire year was cancelled and what I had begun to record became all that was left. The music was immediately under intense scrutiny and the soul searching began.

Richard

The album’s focus on ecological issues are unchanged as is the sense of place with the Sussex countryside centre stage. 

The internationally famous re-wilding project taking place at the Knepp estate just outside Horsham has proved a particular inspiration.

This was where Richard was invited to play a gig with folk musician Sam Lee and one of the virtuoso Knepp nightingales back in 2018.

“Knepp allows us to see how nature can rebalance, realign and refresh; if we stand back to allow the process to unfold then this can happen fairly swiftly both above and below ground.

These results have proved surprising even to those in specialised areas and the benefits offered provide an incentive to reassess and change for the better. This is not just nature quietly offering to teach those who care to look, it is also a beacon of hope for humankind.

Richard

Rewilding the album is a musical fantasy led by guitars, ukuleles and cello. These instruments and many others are played by Richard himself. He is also joined by the incredible Brian Gulland from Gryphon on bassoons, recorders, organ and crumhorns.

Old friend and percussionist Stephen Hiscock plays various exotic percussion instruments and the Durrant family not only play but have helped out by engineering on some fairly intense recording sessions!

Side one takes place above ground with four tracks:
Aurochs, Forr All Mannkinne Nede, Knepp and Leaf

Side two is set below ground with three tracks:
Step Gently, Triskelion and Big Fat Earth Worm.

And coming up…

Don’t forget Richard has live performances coming up soon. This will be his first gig since February. See his diary for details.

Richard Durrant returns to the live stage with a special Open Air Harvest Concert to celebrate late summer…

On Saturday 5 September Richard Durrant will be playing a special, open air gig to celebrate the late summer.  This family friendly event will be held in the safest possible environment, a huge, beautiful field underneath the South Downs near the village of Albourne, Sussex.

Richard will play an extended, wide ranging solo set of music on his beloved bog oak concert guitar, tenor guitar and ukulele.

Gates open at 2pm with the support act The Kites (singer songwriting trio) at 3pm. Richard will be onstage from 4pm.

Richard Durrant’s Open Air Harvest Concert
North Park Farm, Church Lane, Albourne, BN6 9BY

  • Safely marked out areas for the audience with clear social distancing
  • BYO picnics
  • BYO gazebos (3m x 3m pitch) – extra £5 charge
  • Bar
  • Pizzas
  • Hand sanitisers
  • Toilets
  • Crowd flow directions
  • Car parking.
Richard on the main stage at Beautiful Days 2018 – during easier times!

“This will be my first gig in front of an audience since February, and for all we know it may be the last for some time to come. Sharing music with others has been a constant in my life and to say I’m excited to play again doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. 

Certainly the positive energy that a live audience shares amongst themselves and with the performer is something I crave, it’s as if there is a generosity of human spirit that becomes tangible as the music unfolds.”

Richard Durrant

The audience can enjoy the concert as an individual or as a bubble (2 to 6 people) or a double bubble. Both of which are now considered safe. 

You are also welcome to bring your own food and drink.