Until now only physical copies of Ends and Starts have been available but now the album can be downloaded via bandcamp
Physical copes are of course still available via Fish Records and at Robert's gigs.
A video for Robert's latest single Alone Now will be released on Sunday to coincide with the digital release of Ends and Starts.
Ends and Starts is currently the featured album on Brum Radio and tracks from the album are played throughout the day along with clips of me talking to Robin Valk about the writing and recording. Have a listen to the station online, it's doing great work to support Midlands based musicians.
Robert has written a blog post for Foghorn Unscripted in which he discusses Andy Murray, jealousy, actors and the importance of being happy for our contemporaries.
http://foghornunscripted.com/bitter-twisted-jealous-totally-hopeless/
Robert plays the first of two Scottish gigs tonight at String Theory Hawick, supporting James Hickman and Dan Cassidy.
On Tuesday he is headlining at Leith Folk Club
Robert's music page on Facebook has recently been verified! (It means it has a nice blue tick next to his name.)
This morning Robert experimented with his first live video stream on Facebook and you can see the result on his page. He will be posting more videos soon so make sure you have "liked" the page to stay up to date.
Robert will be playing the opening slot for Nashville in the Round, a tour featuring Sarah Darling, Jenn Bostic and Kyshona Armstrong.
"An evening in the style of the Nashville’s famous Bluebird Café as Sarah Darling, Jenn Bostic and Kyshona Armstrong come together."
The 9 dates Robert is performing on are;
3 Sept The Winemakers Club London EC2
4 Sept The Musician Pub Leicester
5 Sept The Met Studio Stafford
7 Sept The Green Note London NW1
8 Sept Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead
10 Sept The Atkinson Southport
11 Sept The Hive Shrewsbury
12 Sept Kitchen Garden Cafe Birmingham
13 Sept The Bicycle Shop Norwich
More details about the tour;
A taste of Nashville comes to the UK in September 2016. Nashville in the Round will comprise three Nashville residents and wonderful female voices performing together and individually whilst supporting each other. An evening in the style of the Nashville’s famous Bluebird Café as Sarah Darling, Jenn Bostic and Kyshona Armstrong, each recording artists in their own right come together for an evening of songs in the round from the music city.
Sarah Darling: https://youtu.be/iZk44Wt-KyI
Over her career Sarah Darling has released several albums with 1/2 a million downloads worldwide and two number 1 videos on CMT and GAC. Her biggest hit, ‘Home to Me’ lead to performances on Conan O’Brien, Fox & friends, and opening for artists like Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves. The dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry came pass Feb 2011, when Sarah debuted. Her next Grand Ole Opry appearance will mark her 82nd performance on the historic stage. Darling is getting ready to release new music this spring. "A sophisticated songwriter with a crisp and powerful voice...destined for stardom" NEW YORK TIMES.
Jenn Bostic: https://youtu.be/pBg9btpGqKU
Jenn Bostic is a Minnesota native, currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Her emotive songwriting and powerful vocals have been touching hearts around the world. “Jealous of the Angels,” a song written for her late father, allowed her to connect and empathize with her fans in a remarkable way. “Jealous of the Angels,” produced by Barrett Yeretsian was discovered by Smooth Radio’s Simon Bates, where the song immediately jumped into the station's Top 10 Most Played. In 2012, Bostic received 5 Independent Country Music Association Awards including "Best Female Artist," and "Best Songwriter.” She has performed across the US, as well as the UK and Germany, including venues such as The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. She has opened for artists such as The Band Perry, Eric Paslay, Randy Travis and Christian Kane. June 1, 2015, Bostic released her third album “Faithful.” Debuting on popular UK television programme Songs of Praise, with a release concert in London, a one month tour of Germany, and full band tour in the United States, “Faithful” has already begun impacting people around the world.
Kyshona Armstrong: https://youtu.be/YojaAOkZ0VQ
Kyshona Armstrong has a natural gift for using music to tap into emotion. She uses her emotional intelligence to create her unique bluesy and soulful style of music. Her latest album, ‘Go’, shows off vocal stylings that are reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Al Green. She has three independent releases under her belt, 2008’s EP “Music”; 2011’s EP “Home Again”; and 2014’s crowdfunded full length album, entitled “Go”. As she has travelled across the country the last 5 years, she’s had the privilege of sharing the stage with Lake Street Dive, Meiko, Lera Lynn, Angie Aparo, Hope For Agoldensummer, Randall Bramblett (Bonnie Raitt), Anthony David (India Arie), Cracker, and many more. She currently resides in Nashville, TN where she is writing, performing and donating her time as a music therapist in nursing homes and prisons.
Ends and Starts has a review in the latest R2 "a talented songwriter and singer. EP Ends and Starts is full of deceptively simple songs with clever and witty lyrics across a range of styles."
Part 2 of Robert's blog series about his recent tour in Germany http://robertlanemusic.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks to Andrew Chatterton for the play on his Croydon Radio podcast. I'm at 41.20 sandwiched nicely between Kitty Macfarlane and Richard Thompson (what an image!)
http://croydonradio.com/podcast/show.php?HistoryID=2a50ac09-9c00-cf00-9638-0c197d761cde
Robert gives a tour of his very interesting room in Dresden
https://www.facebook.com/robertlanemusic/videos/10153789236229735/
Robert has almost completed his short tour in Germany, with a final performance tonight at Tonfink in Lubeck. Read his first blog post about the trip here http://robertlanemusic.blogspot.de/?m=1
Robert will be performing at Sugnall Jazz and Blues festival on Sunday the 24th of July.
Robert will be appearing on the Roots in the Woods Acoustic Stage
Following listening to a very interesting BBC Radio programme looking at "The Business of Music" Robert blogs about the the shape of the music industry and where it could be heading
http://robertlanemusic.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/httpwww.html?m=1
Robert is featured in Fatea Magazine's Summer Session, "Memory."
http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/news/SummerMemory/
Here are the details from Fatea's website;
Fatea Announces Line Up For Memory
Fatea is proud to announce the line up for the new Fatea Showcase Session:Memory
Once again we've looked at the fantastic releases that have come through the Fatea office and put together an eclectic mix of some of the best rising names across the acoustic spectrum for your enjoyment.
Featuring 18 exceptional artist we think you'll be bowled over by the strength of the songs that will be available for you to download on the Fatea Showcase Sessions Summer 2016:Memory compilation.
01. Ashland - (Everything’s Turned To) Blue
02. Ben Maggs - The Traveller’s Song03. Boreas - North Sea Holes
04. Bearpark - Distant Fields
05. Claire Anne Taylor - My Mother, The Mountain
06. James Edge And The Mindstep - A Room
07. Hannah White - Whose Side Are You On ?
08. Jez Hellard - The Lord Giveth (Scott Cook)
09. Kitty Macfarlane - Wrecking Days
10. Madame Ceski - Flying
11. NE3Folk - Monstrosity
12. Neil Stanton - Give My Love To Rose
13. Rivers OF England - In The Barley
14. The Delta Jacks - Trouble Ahead
15. Threaded - A Secret Charm
16. Hogie - Rome
17. Samantha Whates - Three Miles Left
18. Robert Lane - My Love’s In Deep
"Memory" will be the 33rd download in the Fatea Showcase Sessions series and is available from 00:15 on the 1st of May. It will be available for three months only.
The download comes to you at no charge. Support the artists involved by listening to the download and then more of their songs, buying their albums, going to their gigs, writing about them on Facebook, publicising them on Twitter etc.
The 2016 Fatea Showcase Session Front Covers are artworked by Daria Kulesh
Robert makes his first visit to Germany soon to play the following gigs;
27th April Kulturcafe Lichtung Cologne
29th April brandmarken Jena
30th April und Rausch Dresden
3rd May Tonfink - Kulturcafé & Bar Lubeck
"I'm beyond excited to get to Germany and play these gigs! It's my first trip to Germany and I'm looking forward to exploring these four great towns I've heard so much about" Say Robert.
"It Feels Like 5000 Miles" was played on The Rock Show with Keith Fabrique on Hillz FM yesterday. You can catch up with the show on mixcloud.
https://www.mixcloud.com/hillzfm/the-rock-show-with-keith-fabrique-1342016-part-2/
"Always good to be played alongside The Loving Spoonful and live performances from The Who" says Robert.
David Chamberlain has played My Love's In Deep on his excellent Acoustic Roots show. David also mentions the launch of Ends and Starts at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery as well as Robert's live session on his show at the end of 2015.
https://www.mixcloud.com/acousticroutes1/acoustic-routes-show-107/
Robert blogs about his first visit to Droitwich
http://robertlanemusic.blogspot.co.uk/search
This Thursday night (14th April) Robert will be performing the featured guest slot at Southside Blues at The White Horse Pub in Harborne, Birmingham.
The gig starts at 8.30pm with a set from Chickenbone Blues.
The White Horse
2York Street
Harborne
Birmingham
B17 0HG