NEWS:
February 2010
Sadly, we've decided to call it a day... our day in the sun at Otley last September has proved to have been our swan song. The Allensmith won't be performing any more... The reasons? Well, we wanted to develop the band further, but Dave was finding it difficult to give the time we needed because of family and work... On top of that, Dave and Richard live over 60 miles apart (Oldham and York, respectively, with Barry roughly in the middle in Brighouse) so getting together has been difficult over the freezing winter.
With The Allensmith in limbo during the winter, Richard started working on plans for a new folk-rock band, based in and around Leeds. He asked the others if they'd like to join him, but Dave felt he couldn't make the commitment to so much travelling. We did for a while imagine that The Allensmith could continue alongside Richard's new band, albeit with a lower profile, but we've now all decided that this wouldn't work, so we reach the end of the road. Allensmith was a brilliant little trio, exciting to play in, always popular. We leave a legacy of some excellent recordings, that you can still hear on the old MySpace site.
So, bye for now, and thanks for all the support.
17-20 Sept 09 - Otley Folk Festival
A very successful Otley Festival for The Allensmith, with several concerts and sessions - both official and unofficial - concluding with an exciting concert performance in Korks on the Saturday night. It was a fitting culmination to a year of building a new set, a new sound, and a solid reputation.
30 Aug 09 - Very enjoyable Sunday afternoon gig at the Rodley Festival, playing on the back of a lorry outside The Barge.
11 July 09 - Long spot at the very pleasant Heptonstall Festival in the market square in the centre of this historic village.
9 July 09: Recent performances at the Cross in Heptonstall, and at the Abbey Festival in Leeds. This weekend we're back in Heptonstall for their festival.
26 June 09: We've been recording our current set to make into a first CD, to be called "Rolling over the moors". It will include old Allensmith favourites like "Couldn't have come at a better time" and Barry's "Safety of the one I love", our recent "blues/rock" reworking of traditional songs like "Raggle taggle gypsies" and "Spanish Lady", and a couple of Richard's songs. Go to the MySpace site to hear a preview. Out tonight playing The Cross in Heptonstall.
13 June 09: Played a long set at the Abbey, supported by Beth Harris's new duo "The Zeits"
29 April 09: Played a support to the Duncan Macfarlane Acoustic Band at Otley folk club.
2 April 09: Supported "Quiet Rebellion" at the Comrades Club in Heckmondwike... Nice sound, good reception... "Brilliant night" said Barry.
27 Mar 09: A brief appearance at the Cross in Heptonstall earned high praise, and two further gigs: a return visit to the Cross in June, and a booking for Heptonstall Festival.
29 Jan 09: Another well received performance by Barry, Dave and Richard at the Troubador's "MySpace Acoustic Night" at Henry Boon's in Wakefield. Also on the bill was outstanding singer Carissa Lee Broadwater from Nashville.
17 Jan 09: Excellent gig supporting the popular folk-rock band "Blackstone Edge" at the legendary "Red Shed" in Wakefield.
January 2009: the band are currently playing support gigs in the West Yorkshire area while working on new material to build a longer set, and to put on a CD later in the year.
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