David Bradshaw

StarShipSofa Stories: Volume 3

David Bradshaw — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:38:51 +0000

StarShipSofa Stories: Volume 3 is all set to launch on November 11, 2011.

The cover artwork (above) by Skeet Scienski is gorgeous, not to mention the amazing stories and artwork within, from some of the best in the biz. Pop on over to http://www.starshipsofa.com/ for more details (you really should!).

While you’re at it, check out the latest sci-fi musical contribution by
yours truly – Magnetic Tape Blues.

By popular request (yes, dear), here are the lyrics – hope you enjoy:

Magnetic Tape Blues

(Got a magnetized head, tape machine won’t roll
I said I got a magnetized head, tape machine won’t roll
I got the built-in obsalescence magnetic tape blues deep in my soul)

I’ll record it all here for posterity
They won’t ever hear the last of me
Strictly analog with a proven past
This document is built to last

Be sure to leave ‘em something they can use

I’ve got it all on tape but I don’t know what it means
These images won’t display on any computer screens
Ain’t digitized or lifted into cyberspace
It’s slidin’ off the reel and gone without a trace

Be sure to leave ‘em something they can use
Reeled up in magnetic tape blues

It’s forgotten words of warning carved in temple stone
It’s a needle skippin’ scratches on a gramaphone
It’s a signal fading from a satelite lost in space
And busted TV sets lying all about the place

It’s forgotten words of warning carved in temple stone
It’s a needle skippin’ scratches on a gramaphone
It’s a signal fading from a satelite lost in space
And busted TV sets lying all about the place

Got no cassette deck, got no reel-to-reel
Got no 60-cycle, got no microphone squeal
Head is magnetized, the reel won’t roll
Ghost in the machine but he ain’t got no soul

be sure to leave ‘em something they can use…

…and where I’m going!

David Bradshaw — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 03:40:52 +0000

This is going to be fun! I’m hittin’ the trail with the Key Frames for several shows on their first tour of Maritime Canada. We’ll be at The Mason Jar in Sussex August 27, Plan B in Moncton August 29, and Alibi’s in Charlottetown August 30; the ‘Frames have even managed to squeeze two Halifax shows Sunday, August 28 (Gus’ Pub and a special in-store appearance at Obsolete Records) into their schedule. I’ll be road-testing some new songs in my solo shows, and rounding up my band for a set at Gus’ Pub ( Chad Creaser, Drew Debay, Devin Small, and Paul Pottie, good fellows, all! ). Lots of good twangy music to keep the hurricane away, folks! Hope to see you there!

Where I’ve been…

David Bradshaw — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:32:20 +0000

Perhaps I’m a little biased, but I can’t imagine more beautiful surroundings than western Newfoundland, in and around Corner Brook and Gros Morne National Park. A couple of weeks with family in Corner Brook and sight-seeing in Gros Morne was a perfect vacation. The hiking and sight-seeing was topped off by some fantastic music and theatre, courtesy of the Gros Morne Summer Music Festival . Indoor and outdoor venues in Woody Point, Norris Point, and Corner Brook feature a variety of unique live music, dance, and theatre every summer. I particularly enjoyed the night-time staging of “Borrowed Black” around, on and even in Glynmill Inn Pond. The multi-talented Daniel Payne in a solo show called “Daniel’s Ghosts” demonstrated that the tradional music of Newfoundland’s west coast is alive and in good hands. I can’t wait to go back for more; there’s just too much good stuff for only one visit, believe me!

Live “Creature”(s) in Lakewind Sound Studio

David Bradshaw — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 04:13:27 +0000

There were quite a few creatures roaming about Lakewind Sound at Point Aconi, Nova Scotia back in November 2010, all under the able leadership of Carmel Mikol. My Gatcomb banjo and I were there for the fun; check out some of the results!

ECMA 2011 – Charlottetown PEI

David Bradshaw — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:39:54 +0000

Off to Charlottetown I go for a quick, action-packed ECMA jaunt! I’ll be performing at the Discovery Stage (Murphy’s Community Centre – 200 Richmond Street) at 9:30pm, Wednesday April 13 2011, where I’ll be debuting a few new songs – new CD on the horizon…stay tuned, folks!
To make things even better, I’ll be joining the ever-delightful Carmel Mikol on the Members’ Lounge stage at the Delta Hotel (18 Queen Street) at 3:00pm April 14th 2011 for a selection of her fine hand-crafted songs. Then it’s back to Halifax, where I’ll be appearing at Dr. Sharp’s Roadhouse 7:00pm Saturday April 16th.

See you all between there and back again!

Looks like I’m owing a whole bunch of congratulations…

David Bradshaw — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:16:54 +0000

Huge congrats to Carmel Mikol and Kim Wempe on their respective East Coast Music Award nominations. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate every chance I get to work with these talented singer-songwriters. Wonderful stuff – you should check them out.

Don’t just take my word for it, either. Carmel is nominated this year for her CD “In My Bones” in the categories Female Solo Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year, and Rising Star Recording of the Year.

Kim is nominated for Female Solo Recording of the Year for her CD “Painting with Tides” . Last year Kim took home the Rising Star Recording of the Year.

This tells you something about the music scene around here. Good friends, great music. I like it.

On a slightly less local front, I want to send a belated thank you to StarShipSofa listeners for nominating “Tau Ceti Radio” in the Best Fact Article category for the Sofanaut Awards. That was a very pleasant surprise, seeing as I am a newcomer to the podcast. I am “chuffed to bits,” as show host Tony C. Smith would say, that listeners have responded so warmly to my ramblings. I still don’t know what “science ficion music” means, but folks seem to be having a lot of fun sending me songs and ideas as we wander around the subject.

Of course, congratulations to the winner of the Best Fact Article Sofanaut Award, Amy H. Sturgis (Looking Back at Genre History), and to J. J. Campenella (Science News) – both runaway favourites.

One last nod goes to Lawrence Santoro who swept the Sofanauts this year: Best Main Fiction (Lord Dickens’ Declaration), Best Narrator, and the 2011 Sofanauts Honorary Award. Larry has an anthology slated for release this year called DRINK FOR THE THIRST TO COME.

Great review of Kim Wempe’s Painting With Tides

David Bradshaw — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:42:29 +0000

Check out this terrific review of ECMA 2010 Rising Star winner Kim Wempe’s CD Painting with Tides. It’s always a pleasure to share a stage with Kim, and working with so many great musicians on her CD was a real privilege.

Be sure to look Kim up at kimwempe.com. You’ll be glad you did.

Catching up on the latest news, as it were . . .

David Bradshaw — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:07:12 +0000

So it appears I’m not the most active blogger. Ah well, my luddite self will get better at this, or at least that’s the hope.

Any-hoo, thanks to everyone who tuned in for my new segment on StarShipSofa: Aural Delights Episode 161. I’ll be doing this bit on the Sofa once a month; it’s called Tau Ceti Radio, and if you tune in you can hear me rambling on about science fiction music and playing songs submitted by fans of the show. For those of you into science fiction, you should check out this podcast: it’s a Hugo Award Winner, and I’m told it got close to 77,000 downloads in the month of October. Just a little niche audience there . . . egad! So if you have a song, idea or comment for Tau Ceti Radio, send me an email - I’ll be more than happy to hear from you.

A little closer to home (galactically and musically), I’m playing tonight at Nova Scotia Music Week backing the incomparable folk singer-songwriter Kim Wempe. Kim is a major talent and an absolute pleasure to work with. Come on out and hear her, buy her CD Painting with Tides, and tell your friends.

Related show

Artist: Kim Wempe

Date: Saturday, November 6th 2010

Time: 10:45pm

City: Kim Wempe in Yarmouth

Venue: Haley’s Lounge

Country: Canada

Notes: Nova Scotia Music Week – backing the amazing Kim Wempe!

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New video for StarShipSofa – music by me!

David Bradshaw — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:39:24 +0000

Pretty neat stuff. Thanks Tony for using my music, and Dee Cunniffe for making the great video. Check out StarShipSofa and pick up their new anthology on Oct 10. Y’know, if you’re into that sort of thing . . .

New dates added for “John Denver – Take Me Home”

David Bradshaw — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:45 +0000

Just added to my gigs list – three more dates for the John Denver show directed by Greg Simm.

Oct 1 – Bicentennial Theatre, Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia http://www.bicentennialtheatre.ca/whatsonstage.html

Oct 3 – Chedabucto Place Theatre, Guysborough, Nova Scotia www.chedabuctoplacetheatre.com

Oct 7 – deCoste Centre, Pictou, Nova Scotia
https://s53023.gridserver.com/decoste/shop/

This is a very special show, and I am honoured to perform the music of such a great artist. I hope folks enjoy it as much as I do.