Martin Carthy  Transform me into a Fish.

New album.  Quite a surprise- i thought he'd retired.

I see what you did there!  

Bill Murray and his Band of Blood Brothers, last night at the Paramount.

What to say. It was fun to see Bill Murray in the flesh, but the concept was mildly confusing. This appeared to be a bar band, perhaps friends of his, with some modest talent and a deep vein of cover songs at their disposal. The performance was pleasant enough until Bill stepped up to the mic to sing "Tired of Waiting for You" by the Kinks. Not good.

I haven't skipped out early on a show in a long time, but I felt like I had seen all I needed to see after five songs. We were out of there more than an hour before the scheduled end time.

In retrospect, I should have gone next door to see Glen Tilbrook instead.

Three days in and now double the target!

Yes  the 2CD  Nic Jones : Unearthed  came out around   2001 and must be hard to find now.  It is very good.

When I saw Nic and his lad play in Preston in 2012-13 (with Mike Heron and the Trembling Bells, and Emma Pollock of the Delgados), his son was talking about him playing online chess...

I guess Nic had a couple of albums of live tracks released some years back, but yes, a big retrospective like this would not be out of order for someone of his talent, much of whose music has also been stuck in the same Celtic Music black hole for far too long.

Dick would probably be the first to agree, he only ever spoke of Nic in the most glowing terms - his chess playing as well as his musicianship.

Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers - tonight at the Paramount!

I have no idea what’s going on here. I’ve intentionally avoided reading setlists or reviews because I want to be surprised and hopefully delighted. I’ve loved Bill Murray since he debuted on Saturday Night Live in 1976, so I can’t imagine I will be disappointed. Unfortunately, Glenn Tilbrook is playing a solo show at the theater next door at the exact same time. I wish I could be in two places at once but they haven’t perfected the technology.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/Rodney Crowell - tomorrow at ACL Live!

The NGDB are on their farewell tour. I believe there is one original member left. I confess “Mr. Bojangles” is the only song I recall from their heyday. I’m looking forward to some great music and healthy nostalgia.

Here's what Colin wrote:

"It seems mad to be posting an update only a day after the first update (and that one on the first day).... but the scale of engagement with this project, and the widespread desire to honour Dick Gaughan, has been extraordinary. Indeed, it would seem mad NOT to post an update on a day in which another £16-17,000 has been added to the total.

I've yet to speak with Dick but I've no doubt he'll be as stunned as I am about the level of support out there.

Having raised the quantity of the 'extra reward' signed Live in Belfast 1979-82yesterday from 200 to 500, it looks likely that even this new quantity will soon sell out. But it will remain 500 - a limited edition, if a bit less limited than I imagined!

Based on feedback from fellow fans, I had discussed with Dick before the Kickstarter campaign began the possibility of a spin-out 10-track vinyl/CD/download Dick Gaughan at the BBC 1972-79 (all tracks being on the box set) - to give vinyl connoisseurs something and likewise to offer some 'new old' to existing fans or the newly curious who were not in a position to invest in a larger set. I imagined such a spin-out product would be something we could look at in collaboration with a small existing record label if/when the box set was funded - a couple of months down the line...

Well, obviously those plans have changed. I've agreed terms for the 10-track release with the BBC and I'm discussing it with a friendly label. Hopefully, within a few days we can offer at least the standalone vinyl and CD of Dick Gaughan at the BBC 1972-79 on the Kickstarter platform (organising a download offering linked to this Kickstarter is probably too complicated - so that will happen later). It will be made available as two separate entities (CD and LP - for those who have already pledged for an item/items and who wish to purchase the new offering) and also in combination with the box set. This 40-minute BBC release (which, I have to say, is a brilliant snapshot of 'phase one' Gaughan at his best) will not be limited - it will sustain as a 'normal release' via the label partner's usual distribution channels after the Kickstarter campaign. This release will likely be a bespoke 50/50 arrangement between label and artist once the BBC cut is taken off the top. Why not issue it myself? Because I simply don't have the physical space or time to get involved in vinyl distribution!

I'll also consult with Dick about the possibility of offering one further limited-edition signed CD or 2CD. I'm considering two complete, uncirculating club performances from 1973 (with Aly Bain) and 1977 (solo), from which only five tracks between them appear on the box set - both performances having already been transferred from reels in 24-bit by my good pal 'Late Night' Tony Furnell, ahead of the campaign. The 1973 concert had been a full disc within the box set in an early draft. Would you believe that I had honed the box down to its absolute essentials, eliminating most repetitions of repertoire, in a desperate bid to make it a commercial proposition? :-D  

Listening to these concerts in full as I type, it seems to me that given the extraordinary demand to honour Dick and to bask in his 'lost era' of music making, I should get a couple of test masterings of tracks done and discuss this offering with Dick. If he's happy about it, I'll proceed to add that as another standalone item (CD format only) before the campaign is over.

Phew...

As before, thank you all so much!

Colin H"

Just broken through the £50k mark.  It is very pleasing indeed.  I'd love somebody to do something similar for Nic Jones whilst he's still around...