Archive for category: News

Celebrate Christmas and Midwinter with Richard Durrant & Family in a Winter Solstice Concert on YouTube and Facebook…

Streamed live from Richard’s home on Monday 21 December from 3pm, Richard will be celebrating the Winter Solstice with his four children, Rooney, Daisy, Django & Felix. They will also be joined on film by Amy Kakoura, Nick Pynn & Brian Gulland.

The music will continue as the sun goes down on the shortest day of the year with guitar solos, six specially made short films and some great carols so you can join in with the singing.

‘Whatever has happened to us this year Christmas is still upon us and in this we are offered hope for the year to come. Please join us to mark the moment our planet carries us into the heart of the winter. We can pause together, think of our place in the scheme of things and feel the spirit of Christmas.’

Says Richard

Please buy a voluntary ticket of £10 to support this event. 

If you are unable to watch the concert live don’t worry –  the show will still be available to watch until 12th Night – 6 January 2021.

Thank you for your continued support this year. Let’s hope 2021 brings us all more opportunities to gather together and once again enjoy live performances of music and theatre.

As the days shorten and the year draws to an end Louise and Richard wish you all a very happy Christmas…

My song is done, I must be gone,

I can stay no longer here;

God Bless you all, both great and small,

And send you a happy new year.

Oh the Moon Shines Bright!

On the last day of the Celtic calendar, a full moon and halloween, last Saturday saw Richard Durrant’s first gig in Ropetackle Arts Centre in over eight months and the launch of Rewilding.

A ukulele playing fox came on stage to help out with Saturday’s performance of Triskelion – and he was delighted to get his paws on an actual Pete Howlett ukulele.

The following Monday Scala Radio played the track on the breakfast show and news has now come through that BBC Radio 3 want to book Richard for a live session in late November 2021.

For the show Richard was joined onstage by the legendary Brian Gullland and Django Durrant (pictured) as well as Daisy Durrant.  

The 2pm event was live-streamed with the help of Peter Lisney from the Richard Durrant Academy  The album went live on all streaming platforms at sunset in Shoreham just as Richard had promised.

The live-stream is still available to view on Facebook and YouTube. You can still buy a voluntary ticket to donate to the development of this fantastic album here:

Well, the vinyl didn’t quite make it in time for the celebrations due to Covid difficulties in the Netherlands. But it has now been packed and shipped and should arrive during the coming week.  

If you are one of the many people waiting – it won’t be much longer! The limited edition vinyl signed and numbered by Richard is on sale in our online shop.

The beautiful album artwork for Rewilding has been attracting a lot of attention. Painted by English artist Jon Everitt, we are delighted to announce that a limited edition, high quality, framed print has been produced by Hypergallery.

Look out for more exciting Rewilding news and details of Richard’s new podcast: The Barefoot Guitarist

In his new album Rewilding Richard Durrant strays closer than ever to the world of acoustic prog rock. Tracks such as “Step Gently” and “Big Fat Earth Worm” summon vast forces with Brian Gulland’s bassoon and crumhorns weaving through Richard’s guitars, cellos and hammond organ. But there are moments of delicacy too.

Here is a short film by Richard focussing on one particularly finely etched track – Forr All Mannkinne Nede (for the sake of all mankind) featuring four ukuleles & cello.

“This album was wholly inspired by the rise of the new earth sciences and the hope they bring to our damaged planet. In Rewilding I’m trying my hardest to acknowledge and to celebrate nature’s offer of salvation.”

Richard

Richard continues:

“Because this new music is so closely linked to the natural world the official  release date I’ve chosen is Halloween (which is also Samhein, the day that marks the end of the Celtic year). This day signals the start of winter – a time of peace, reflection and magic.”“

Spotify & Apple Music synchronise for a Sussex, Halloween Sunset

Rewilding will go live on all streaming platforms at 4.37pm on 31st October (that is sunset in Sussex on Halloween). You can pre-order the music using the various links below, and the music will go live as the sun sets on launch day.

You can buy vinyl (180g, gatefold, limited edition, signed and numbered by the artist) online and download FLAC and ALAC audio files online – buy today.

Official launch event with Livestream
11am & 2pm at Ropetackle Arts Centre

Live streamed from 2pm on Richard’s YouTube & Facebook

See diary for details of the live and streamed events.

Triskelion is one of the tracks from Richard Durrant’s new album Rewilding – now available for hi-res download or to pre-order on vinyl…

The triple spirals of the Triskelion can be found on artefacts as far back as the Neolithic and Bronze ages and also in Celtic traditions. 

The triskeles symbol meaning ‘three-legged’ is also founding Greek antiquity and through the classical period. It also became used in the flag of the Isle of Man.

The artist of Rewilding’s sleeve cover, Jon Everitt,  created the ‘Tinner’s Rabbits’ on the round labels in the centre of the record inspired by the Dartmoor legend and Triskelion image. Jon’s fascination with these three rabbits, joined at the ears, inspired Richard to write this captivating track for the new album.

“This cyclic art with minimalist music reflect nature’s ability to regenerate – if left alone.“

Says Richard.

Buy your REWILDING download now or Pre-Order the vinyl Album today.

The vinyl album is due to be released at the end of October and all copies of the first, limited edition run of 200 albums are signed and numbered by Richard.

Meanwhile, hi-res FLAC and ALAC files can be ordered today.

This is just one of the magical tracks from this topical musical fantasy. It has a strong connection with Knepp Wilding project in Sussex where Richard performed a gig with a nightingale and folk singer Sam Lee one summer’s evening back in 2018.

Led by Durrant’s guitars, ukuleles and cello, this uplifting and optimistic album was created by Richard Durrant earlier this year during Lockdown, and as he says:

‘The world changed… and so did my music.’

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.

“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.