Press release

Date: 20th May 2009

Fiddle ace Joe O’Donnell presents an intimate evening of Celtic-rock music in Coventry city centre’s newest venue

- The new Belgrade Studio Theatre hosts Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla and guest musicians

- New single to follow success of Celtic Cargo album

Experience the captivating sounds of Celtic violin wizard Joe O’Donnell and his band Shkayla in a special evening of home-grown entertainment at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre.

Joe and his band will be performing alongside invited guest artistes in the unplugged, cabaret style atmosphere of B2, the exceptional 250-capacity studio theatre and an ideal location to invoke the spirit of Celtic tradition with the dynamic groove of modern rock and jazz.

The show starts at 8pm. Doors open at 7.30 and tickets are £8 (concessions £6). They can be booked on 024 7655 3055 or online on www.belgrade.co.uk.

Limerick-born Joe moved to Coventry in 1998 and has previously worked with former Steeleye Span members, Terry and Gay Woods, dynamic fiddle-driven rock band East of Eden and the late, great, Irish bluesman Rory Gallagher.

Currently showcasing the latest Shkayla album 'Celtic Cargo', Joe will be describing the stories featured in his own material (Shkayla is Gaelic for ‘stories’) in his own inimitable way. The show also features re-jigged versions of Shkayla classics with internationally respected Indian recording and touring star Juggy Rihal, who brings his unique musical perspective to several tunes. The Shkayla performance will develop from a set of acoustic tunes to the high-energy full-on electric sound for which they are celebrated.

A special highlight will be a performance of the forthcoming single 'P Is For Paddy', which has become a favourite with live audiences and radio stations across the UK.

Says Joe, 'I’m pleased that this song is already getting plenty of airplay even though it doesn’t feature any fiddle. The band's arrangement really does bring out the best of this lovely old Irish lovesong.'

The evening's guests are Coventry's popular Wes Finch & The Dirty Band, the new outfit 'Apesmirk' from Monkeys Grin members Neil Hunter, Clive Layton and Vicki Farmer, and acclaimed new acoustic trio, Smoke's Welcome featuring Pete Willow (vocals/guitar), Chele Willow (vocals) and Dave Cook (lead and slide guitars).

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Notes for Editors

Click here for photo of Joe O’Donnell.

Click here for photo of Joe O’Donnell's Shkayla - left to right: Joe O'Donnell, Brendan J.Rayner, Si Hayden, Martin Barter, Mark Fulton (former bass player).

(photos by Chele Willow - please acknowledge in caption)

Click here for website for Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla and follow links for background and audio clips.

Click here for the relevant Belgrade Theatre website page

For an interview with Joe O'Donnell, please call 02476 275807.

Artiste Details:

The line-up of Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla is:
Joe O’Donnell – electric violin, mandolin, vocals
Martin Barter – keyboards
Si Hayden – guitar
Brendan J.Rayner – drums
Adrian Litvinoff - bass

Wes Finch & The Dirty Band are an evolving collective of accomplished local musicians who share a love of playing music that gives plenty of nods to country, blues, swing and rock 'n' roll while lyrically retaining a definite sense of Englishness. The group formed over two years ago around main singer/songwriter Wes Finch and are a dirty, sweaty, upbeat and joyful band to witness perform. The DB will showcase new songs from Wes’s forthcoming 'Asthill Grove' CD, recorded with local producer Paul Harty. Dirty Band members Joe, Andy and George are currently touring the country with acts on the Coventry Tin Angel label.

It’s been a decade since the release of Passing of the Years by Coventry trio Vicky Farmer, Clive Layton and Neil Hunter, known more or less collectively as Monkeys Grin. Evolution being what it is, many variations have materialised down the last few years, and here we arrive at yet another, now presiding under the moniker Apesmirk. Expect laid-back, jazzy and damn clever vibes.

Smoke's Welcome is the new name for a trio that's building up a strong following on the local folk circuit. Writer of superb songs, Pete Willow and lead and slide guitar wizard Dave Cook are joined by Chele Willow. Chele comes from Las Vegas and has a great singing voice adding a magic touch of blues and soul to their home-grown acoustic style.

Archived press releases

Date: 11th February 2009

Irish electric fiddle legend, Joe O’Donnell plays to home crowd at Warwick Arts Centre

Coventry-based electric fiddle legend Joe O'Donnell appears in the Midlands largest arts centre, the Warwick Arts Centre on Saturday 7 March in a concert that also features Warwick blues-jazz singer Kel Elliott.

Joe will be performing in the Studio with the latest line-up of his Celtic-rock band Shkayla featuring new recruit bass-player Adrian Litvinoff.

The music starts 7.45pm and tickets for the show are just £5 in advance or £6 on the door. Tel 02476 524524.

The highly acclaimed fiddle and mandolin-player, Joe O'Donnell has built up a worldwide fan base over the years and has made a big personal impact on the Coventry music scene since moving to the city ten years ago, by encouraging local bands and supporting music sessions in the area.

A leading light in the Irish and UK folk rock and alternative scene in the 1970s, Joe worked with late guitar legend Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Phil Lynott and former Steeleye Span members Terry and Gaye Woods. Joe was also a member of cult rock band East Of Eden when he replaced their fiddle-player Dave Arbus.

He has pulled together some of the most respected musicians on the Midlands music circuit to form the line-up of Shkayla. Named after the Gaelic word for 'stories', their recently released album, Celtic Cargo has picked up excellent reviews from leading music magazines in the UK and Ireland. It features eleven tracks of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany, performed with powerful rock and funk rhythms and arrangements.

Shkayla's keyboards-player Martin Barter and drummer Brendan J.Rayner are members of leading jazz band The Big Easy. Coventry guitarist Si Hayden has a huge reputation in his own right for his impressive fingerpick and flamenco-style playing, and Adrian Litvinoff has toured extensively with jazz line-up, Interplay and blues outfit SugarDaddies.

Joe O’Donnell says: ‘These guys are fantastic musicians to work with. They come from different musical backgrounds but there’s a great bond between us on stage and they really do bring out the power of Celtic music.’

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Date: 17th December 2008 for immediate release

First-rate Celtic rock musicians head for Moira

- Irish fiddle legend Joe O'Donnell to appear at National Forest Folk Club

The audience of the National Forest Folk Club in Moira will be rocking to the Celtic fusion sound of Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla on Friday, January 9th.

Highly acclaimed electric fiddle legend Joe O'Donnell has built up a worldwide fan base over the years. He also sings in English and Gaelic and plays some outstanding mandolin.

The Limerick-born musician was a leading light in the Irish and UK music scene in the 1970s through his work with late guitar legend Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Phil Lynott and former Steeleye Span members Terry and Gaye Woods. Joe was also a member of cult rock band East Of Eden when he replaced their fiddle-player Dave Arbus.

Now based in Coventry, Joe has pulled together some of the most respected musicians on the Midlands music circuit to form the line-up of Shkayla.

Named after the Gaelic word for 'stories', their recently released album, Celtic Cargo has picked up excellent reviews from leading music magazines in the UK and Ireland. It features eleven tracks of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany, performed with powerful rock and funk rhythms and arrangements.

Shkayla's keyboards-player Martin Barter and drummer Brendan J.Rayner are members of the Birmingham-based jazz band The Big Easy. Coventry guitarist Si Hayden has a huge reputation in his own right for his impressive fingerpick and flamenco-style playing, and bass-player Mark Fulton has toured and recorded extensively with top name rock and jazz line-ups.

Joe O'Donnell says: 'These guys are fantastic musicians to work with. They come from different musical backgrounds but there's a great bond between us on stage and they really do bring out the power of Celtic music.'

The National Forest Folk Club meets on the second Friday of each month at the Moira Miners Welfare Club, Bath Lane, Moira, nr Ashby de la Zouche. The music starts at 8.30pm and tickets can be booked on 01676 540219.

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Notes for Editors

Date: 18th November 2008

Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla in Music Against Poverty gig

Electric fiddle ace Joe O'Donnell and his band Shkayla are to top the bill for a major fundraising concert in Coventry to help combat global poverty.

Also featuring Sean Cannon of chart-topping Irish folk band The Dubliners, the event is staged at The Maudsley, Allesley Old Road, on the evening of Sunday 23rd November.

This will be Joe's first Coventry gig since he and his band launched their hugely successful Celtic Cargo album last Spring. Fronted by Joe's world-class expertise on fiddle and mandolin, the band's powerful Celtic fusion sound has already won them rave reviews in Britain's Folk Roots and Fiddle On magazines and the Dublin-based Irish Music Magazine.

The Shkayla line-up includes some of the most respected musicians on the Midlands music circuit. Keyboards-player Martin Barter and drummer Brendan J.Rayner are members of leading jazz band The Big Easy. Coventry guitarist Si Hayden has a huge reputation in his own right for his impressive fingerpick and flamenco-style playing, and bass-player Mark Fulton has toured and recorded extensively with top name rock and jazz line-ups.

Organised by Warwickshire musician, Richard 'Doc' Rider, the concert will raise funds for the charity, Engineers Against Poverty, established for over ten years to support development projects and education in the world's poorest countries. Richard and his son, Steven are drawing attention to the work of the charity by talking part in a sponsored trek in December to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Joe O'Donnell says, 'Richard is a very active member of the local folk circuit and I've played music with him on many occasions, so I'm delighted to support him in this excellent project. It will be fantastic to perform with the band on home territory again and the evening will be a great opportunity to wish Richard and Steven bon voyage.'

Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. The evening also features music from Coventry singer-songwriter Kristy Gallacher, guitar and harmonica trio Little Mountain, fine performers of traditional songs and tunes Dark Island, and popular guitar and vocal duo Pete Willow and Dave Cook. The show will be compered by singer, multi-instrumentalist and Dark Island member Bob Brooker.

Admission is £3. There will also be a big prize raffle plus an auction for a Turkish holiday. Further details are available from Richard Rider on 01788 833453.

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Notes for Editors

Click here for further details of Engineers Against Poverty

Click here for more details on Richard’s involvement in the project and his donation site

For an interview with Richard Rider, or any further information, call 01788 833453 or PCWillow on 01788 832608 / 07887 552896.

Date: 26th September 2008

Ace fiddle-player Joe O’Donnell brings Celtic rock to Leamington

The superb electric fiddle-player Joe O’Donnell returns to Leamington with his powerful Celtic fusion band Shkayla. Catch them on Saturday October 4th at the town’s popular music pub, The Newbold Comyn Arms.

The Limerick-born musician has rocked the Irish and UK music scene since the 70s through his work alongside Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore and Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and as a member of rock legends East Of Eden.

Joe moved to Coventry in 1998 and has been active in the city’s folk scene often promoting live music sessions while working with leading Midlands musicians to establish Shkayla.

Named after the Gaelic word for ‘stories’, the band recently released its long-awaited and critically acclaimed album, Celtic Cargo. Recorded in Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon, it features eleven tracks of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany, performed with powerful rock and funk rhythms and arrangements.

The line-up includes some of the most respected musicians on the Midlands music circuit. Keyboards-player Martin Barter and drummer Brendan J.Rayner are members of leading jazz band The Big Easy. Coventry guitarist Si Hayden has a huge reputation in his own right for his impressive fingerpick and flamenco-style playing, and bass-player Mark Fulton has toured and recorded extensively with top name rock and jazz line-ups.

The band performs in The Stables Bar of the NCA in Newbold Comyn Park. Admission is free and the music starts ay 9pm.

Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla returns to the venue on December 20th for a Celtic Christmas Party.

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Notes for Editors

Date: 15 May 2008

Celtic fiddle ace, Joe brings new band to Leamington Spa

The powerful Celtic fusion sound of Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla comes to Leamington Spa following the release of their long-awaited album Celtic Cargo.

They’ll be appearing at the Newbold Comyn Arms, Newbold Comyn Park on Saturday 31st May at 8.30pm.

One of the finest electric fiddle-players on the Celtic music scene, Joe has spent over a year on the recording which critics are already describing as his best yet. The album features eleven tracks of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany, performed with powerful rock and funk rhythms and arrangements.

Born in Limerick and now based in Coventry, Joe was a key figure in the 1970s rock scene on both sides of the Irish Sea, performing with Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott and East Of Eden. He moved to Coventry in 1998 and has been active in the city’s folk scene often promoting live music sessions while working with local musicians to establish Shkayla.

The band is named after the Gaelic word for ‘stories’ and the Newbold Comyn Arms concert is only the second public appearance of the current line-up which features Martin Barter (keyboards), Mark Fulton (bass), Si Hayden (guitar) and Brendan J.Rayner (drums).

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Notes for Editors

For a review of Celtic Cargo, by Coventry Telegraph folk writer, Pete Willow, click here

The full name of Joe's band is Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla.

Joe is well-regarded as one of the finest electric fiddle players specialising in Celtic music. His arrangements are best described as Celtic-rock fusion.

For background information on Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla, including details of their line-up, click here and scroll down

For press photos, audio and video clips of Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla, click here

Contact details:

For interviews and further information about Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla, contact:
Pete Willow on 07887 552896 (any time)
Chele Willow on 01788 832608

Email: info@pcwillow.com

Visit Joe O'Donnell's website on: www.joe-odonnell.com or click here

Visit Joe's MySpace page on: www.myspace.com/joeodonnellsshkayla or click here

Date: 2 May 2008

Countdown to launch of new band, new album and new website for Celtic fiddle ace, Joe

Saturday 3rd May is a red letter today for acclaimed electric fiddle-player, Joe O’Donnell.

Not only is he making his first public appearance with the new all-star line-up of his Celtic folk-fusion band, Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla – he’s also launching his first new album in ten years plus a brand new website.

The launch event for the CD, Celtic Cargo, takes place at Coventry’s famous music pub, the Hope and Anchor on Whitefriars Street. Doors open at 8.30pm and the band strikes up its first set shortly after 9pm.

The album features eleven tracks of songs and tunes from the Irish, Breton and Scottish traditions, powerfully arranged to appeal to fans of rock, jazz and funk as well as folk. Joe’s soaring and atmospheric fiddle-playing is well-featured on most of the tracks.

Now based in Coventry, Joe first made his name on the Irish and British folk and rock scene in the 70s, working closely with such top names as Gary Moore, Phil Lynott, East Of Eden and Rory Gallagher.

He became involved in Coventry’s music scene ten years ago having just released his album, Shkayla, named after the Gaelic word for ‘stories’. He then formed a band by the same name and found himself in demand on the UK club and festival circuit.

Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla has seen several changes and the current line-up includes two newly-recruited musicians who weren’t involved in the recording of Celtic Cargo but are now fully rehearsed in live performances of the track list.

Popular Coventry guitarist, Si Hayden and drummer Brendan J.Rayner are looking forward to their first live show alongside keyboards player, Martin Barter and bassist Mark Fulton.

The CD launch is celebrated with the launch of a brand new website on www.joe-odonnell.com.

The site includes up-to-date news and profiles, a large gallery of photos taken by respected music photographer, Chele Willow, plus a chance to listen not only to all the tracks on Celtic Cargo but also tracks from the original Shkayla album and the cult Gaodhol’s Vision album, two tracks of which feature the guitar wizardry of the late Rory Gallagher.

Says Joe: ‘A lot of hard work has gone into Celtic Cargo and I’m very pleased with the end-result. I’m also excited about working with the new Shkayla line-up – they’re fantastic guys and first-rate musicians.’

Admission for the Hope and Anchor concert is £5. Other local dates for the band are:
Saturday 31st May 2008 - Newbold Comyn Arms, Leamington Spa
Saturday 7th June 2008 - Crown Inn, Bond Street, Nuneaton
Sunday 6th July 2008 (afternoon) - Godiva Festival, War Memorial Park, Coventry

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Date: 21 April 2008

New album and new band line-up for electric fiddle wizard Joe

A new album and an updated line-up are about to go public when Coventry musician, Joe O’Donnell makes four Midlands appearances with his band Shkayla.

Regarded as one of the finest electric fiddle-players playing Celtic music, Joe has been busy for the last year on recording Celtic Cargo. Critics are already describing it as his best recording yet, with eleven tracks of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany, performed with powerful rock and funk rhythms and arrangements.

The album will be launched at a gig in Coventry’s popular music pub, the Hope & Anchor, Whitefriars Street on Saturday, May 3rd. The music starts at 8.30pm.

Admission is a mere £5 and audience members will be able to pick up copies of the CD at half price - also £5.

The band also has appearances lined up at the Newbold Comyn Arms, Leamington Spa (Saturday 31st May) and the Crown Inn, Bond Street, Nuneaton (Saturday 7th June).

The afternoon of Sunday 6th July sees them onstage at the Godiva Festival in Coventry’s War Memorial Park.

Limerick-born Joe was a key figure in the 1970s rock scene on both sides of the Irish Sea, performing with Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott and East Of Eden. He moved to Coventry in 1998 and has been a key figure in the city’s folk scene often promoting live music sessions while working with local musicians to establish Shkayla.

He says: ‘Celtic Cargo is the realisation of a long-term dream and I’m really pleased with the end result.’

The album features Martin Barter (keyboards), Mark Fulton (bass), Dave Perry (guitar) and Paul Johnston (drums), although the forthcoming live shows feature new band members, Si Hayden and Brendan J.Rayner on guitar and drums.

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Date: 3 March 2008

Guitar ace Si Hayden joins Shkayla

Dynamic Coventry guitarist Si Hayden has joined Celtic rock fusion band Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla.

Si is a self-taught guitarist who first picked up an old right handed guitar at age 10, despite being left-handed. He has gigged with numerous bands from age 15 and performed solo guitar shows from age 22.

An experienced recording artist, he has also composed theatre scores. He wrote and performed the soundtrack score for Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre’s productions of Scenes From The City and Live Like Us.

A versatile musician, Si has performed flamenco on nylon-strung guitar and draws on the influences of funk, jazz and drum’n’bass.

Virtuoso fiddle-player Joe O’Donnell is delighted to welcome Si to the band line-up.

‘This is an important time for Shkayla,’ he says. ‘We are just about to release our Celtic Cargo album and the band is in for a busy time. It’s important to have a guitarist with the skill and understanding to do justice to the musical style that we’re trying to achieve. Si certainly fits that bill and it will be a great pleasure to work with him’.

The new line-up of Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla will be featured at the Godiva Festival in Coventry on Sunday 6th July.

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For a press photo of Si Hayden, click here. Please credit Chele Willow as photographer.

Date: 4 February 2008

The sounds of Coventry inspire new music for fiddle-player Joe.

Violin ace, Joe O'Donnell aims to capture in music the atmosphere of his adopted home of Coventry as part of an Arts Council funded project.

Joe, who is front man of Celtic-rock band Shkayla, is recording the ambient sounds of different places in the city and using them to provide a backing track for new violin compositions.

Locations range from Coventry Cathedral, St.Mary's Guildhall and the Lunt Roman Fort, to a canal bridge, shopping precinct and the storm drains in Finham, used to film the famous Mini Cooper sequence in the 1969 classic movie The Italian Job.

Joe explains: 'I'll be setting up microphones at each location for one hour and picking up all of the sounds - footsteps, birdsong, mobile phones, whatever.

'I'll work on the soundtracks to produce a rhythm mix that reflects the atmosphere of the location. Then I'll go back to compose and perform a piece on violin, probably about 15 minutes in length, using the rhythm recording as a background. I'll record each piece at the actual location'.

A former member of early 70s rock band East of Eden, Limerick-born Joe was very active in the Irish folk and rock scene before moving to the UK and has recorded with the late Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher.

Since his move to Coventry in 1998, he has developed an interest in the history and culture of the city, reborn after being bombed in World War II.

'I'm calling the project The Long Sobs,' says Joe. 'It's a reminder of Coventry's war-torn past and refers to the words of Chanson d'Automne by the French poet, Paul Verlaine.

'One verse translates as The long sobs of the violins of autumn lay waste my heart with monotones of boredom. It was used as a code to inform the French resistance of the D-Day Normandy landings.'

Joe will be using a range of unusual fiddles for the recordings. These include a ceramic fiddle, brass fiddles, a French antique violin and a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle.

'I'm very excited about this project which I have been planning for the last four years,' says Joe. 'It was wonderful news when I heard the Arts Council were agreeing to fund the initial recordings.'

Meanwhile, Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla has just completed recording its long awaited new album, Celtic Cargo, due for release later in February.

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Date: 22 October 2007

Joe’s new fiddle is top brass

As far as fiddle ace, Joe O’Donnell in concerned, where there’s brass there’s music.

The front-man of the acclaimed Celtic-rock band, Shkayla, Joe is now showing off the latest in his collection of instruments – a fiddle made out of brass.

It was built specially for him by Irish craftsman, Hugh Charles. Now based in Oxford, Hugh is actually a roofer by profession but decided to build the instrument after a conversation with Joe about fiddles made out of tin.

Joe explains: ‘I was telling him that tin fiddles were commonplace in Donegal, because of the damp climate. The wood on normal fiddles would split and tin was longer-lasting.

‘Next thing I knew, he presented me with a fiddle made of brass. As far as I know, it’s unique. It’s beautifully made and has a wonderful resonance, similar to the famous Norwegian Hardanger fiddles. I’ll certainly be using it onstage.’

A veteran of the Irish folk-rock scene and now living in Coventry, Joe is already the proud owner of a rare ceramic fiddle that was also built specially for him.

Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla are about to release their latest album and Joe is now making plans to record a solo CD.

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For press photos of Joe with the brass fiddle and other press photos, audio and video clips of Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla, click here

Date: 16 September

Long awaited Shkayla album almost here

Autumn 2007 will see the release of a new album by acclaimed fiddle-player Joe O'Donnell and the latest line-up of his Celtic-rock band Shkayla.

It's been a busy summer in the recording studio for Joe, who made his name in the Irish rock scene of the 1970s and has performed with Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and progressive rock band East Of Eden.

The project has been a long time in the making and this will be the first new album to be released since Joe brought out his Shkayla album in 1998. The cult concept album, Gaodhal's Vision, which Joe recorded in the 70s with Rory Gallagher and others, was recently re-released with some tracks added to the original version. But this will be the first original recording to feature the band's current membership of Joe on electric fiddle, Dave Perry (guitar), Martin Barter (keyboards), Mark Fulton (bass) and Paul Johnston (drums).

Still to be named, the album features eleven tracks of songs and instrumental pieces, all original Joe O'Donnell arrangements of mainly traditional material.

Says Joe, 'Some of the first recordings took place in Paul Johnson's own studio in Stratford-on-Avon. But we had to take a break for several reasons, not least the floods in July which affected his premises.

'Fortunately we've been able to make progress using some of the recording facilities at Coventry University.'

The album now looks likely to be released in mid-Autumn and plans are also afoot for a launch concert in Coventry. More details will be announced in October.

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