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STOP
PRESS: New Official Facebook Group Page opened..why not join up?
http://www.facebook.com/groups/274677405999868/
NEXT LIVE DATE: Sun 9th June Robin2, Bilston
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| Next gigs Updated! See the LIVE page for details |
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28th March 2013
|
| Y-PROG HAS BEEN CANCELLED! |
Sadly, the events for the Saturday and Sunday have had to be cancelled but the Friday night show with Riverside and Jolly will still go ahead as promised and is going to be a great bill!
We are very sad that we cannot appear as hoped, but can assure you that the Promoters have done all in their power to save the Festival.
Hopefully it may come back at a future date. |
5th March 2013
|
| CRS BOTY awards, Steve Hackett & New Album Progress! |
 It is indeed a nice thing when recognition is finally given!
Last night at the Classic Rock Society's Best of the Year awards for 2012,
our good friend Andy Tillison was awarded the prestigous "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award, presented to him by music legend 'Whispering' Bob Harris.
Well done that man!
Naturally, as it WAS the Annual BOTYs once again, Steve Hackett,
(guitarist extraordinaire) also took advantage of my being in attendance to grab his prized copy of MANNINGS latest "AKOUSTIK" album to add to his burgeoning MANNING CD collection!
(Well the BOTYS would not be the same without this regular encounter! Ed)
On the new album front, we can report that the Sax, Cello and Fiddle sessions are
now completed!
Next up is the Flute before the core band get stuck in.... plus, the addition of some other special guests!
The band is also rehearsing hard for it's debut (with this new line-up) at Y-PROG
in March.
We hope to see you there, there may be some surprises!
|
24th February 2013
|
| MANNING - New Studio album named for 2013 |
 It is to be called "The Root, the Leaf & the Bone" and is set for
Autumn 2013 release.
9 new tracks have been composed (in no fixed running order yet):
1. The Root, the Leaf & the Bone
2. Old School
3. The Forge
4. Autumn Song
5. The Huntsman & the Poacher
6. Decon(struction) Blues
7. Mists of Morning calling to the Day
8. The Palace of Delights
9. Amongst the Sleepers
The recording line-up will comprise of current (and newly revised) MANNING band plus some Special Guests (TBA).
It is envisaged that the bulk of this new material will be premiered with the 2013 live dates.
2013 – The year of the MANNING Great Excavation tour!
Photos: Kevin Brudenell-Maylin
|
12th December 2012
|
| Steve Dundon leaves to devote more time to his own band, Molly Bloom! |
 A Statement From Steve Dundon
"I can’t believe it’s been six years since Guy contacted me to ask if
I fancied playing some flute for what would become "Anser's Tree". 'Margaret Montgomery' was the first track I played on and it remains my firm favourite to this day. Playing flute for Manning has been a honour for the last six years and it’s brought some great musical rewards. Playing in Europe and The USA is something I will never forget. It's been a pleasure to share a stage with all of the past and present musicians, I have witnessed extreme professionalism from them all.
I guess I’m one of the longest standing band members to record and go on the road with Manning and that has not made it easy to say “it’s time to move on”
I honestly felt sick when I told Guy, but as I said to him 51% of me
is fighting to leave against a big 49% that wants to stay. I just feel I
can't commit to another year set in stone when I want to do the
same for Molly Bloom (the band I have been the lead singer and flautist in for the last 12 years).
I still feel really crappy, even though Guy is OK with my decision.
Six years is a long time to build up relationships with Guy, Julie and Kris plus all the band members that have come and gone and are still present and s,o I honestly feel like I've asked for a divorce!
It is a hard part of being in a big band that when people leave, you do build a relationship with them and to be
honest all of the members since I joined have been smashing people as well as top musicians.
I'm going to be seriously jealous if I see another flautist up on stage with my mates, especially if they are better
than me (tut) as I will always feel like I am Guy's flautist!
Fortunatel,y I don’t live too far away from Guy and so it’s very likely we’ll stay in touch, who knows we might do a joint
gig together, Manning and Molly Bloom. As Guys says...'Never say Never!'
I really do wish the Manning band all my very best for the 2013 tour.
Damn it, I bet Guy will charge me for a ticket next time to see 'em !"
Steve
A Statement From Guy
"As I read the "AKOUSTIK" album reviews that are now coming in, I realise that it has been one of the main
benefits of
my musical career, to be able to work with fabulous players like Steve.
He has always made it so much fun! plus, he grounded me and the whole band and stopped us from being
'po faced' and taking ourselves far too seriously!
The trips to Europe and the USA would simply not have been the same without him there and I'll miss him being
at my side up on stage.
However, nothing stops me from going to watch Molly Bloom in action!
We will always remain great buddies and I love him to bits...so I will make sure we do stay in touch! and he has agreed to be the 'Special guest' flautist whenever we need him!
(which is just as well as the new album has lots
of flute parts written in it especially for him!)"
Guy
All at MANNING HQ want to wish Steve all the best with promoting Molly Bloom (long over due!!) |
11th November 2012
|
| 'LA VOCE DEL VENTO' RIDE AGAIN! |
 
"Owing to the recently announced lineup changes in THE TANGENT, the concerts in NOVEMBER at which the Tangent were to appear will now be replaced by four
informal gigs by Andy Tillison and former Tangent member
Guy Manning who
also fronts his own band, 'Manning' ".
This long overdue 2 man show will call on music from the intertwining careers
of both artists and is promised to be light hearted and exceedingly varied!
These concerts will be played as support to the remarkable West Midlands based
band IO Earth who will be providing an excellent full band show."
|
14th October 2012
|
| AKOUSTIK |
  The brand new album "Akoustik" is now officially released!
The first reviews are startng to come in already
(See PRESS)
The Official UK release date is 1st October 2012 on
Festival Music (F2).
You can order it now via the ORDERS tab
Album details can be found via the RELEASES tab.
We have now completed our run of 3 final UK dates with the current line-up and were very happy to see some of you there to support and say goodbye to Kevin and Chris.
Their last show was at Summer's End Festival 2012, where we went down very well indeed!
Work has already started on the new 2013 set list and also the new 2013 Studio album!
Concert dates for 2013 are also being booked. Busy times indeed!
|
1st October 2012
|
| MANNING
line-up changes - David Million rejoins the line-up |
 We are pleased to announce that former MANNING guitarist extraordinaire, David Million is returning to the fold for both Elektrik and Akoustik work!
David will be the sole lead guitarist when Kev and Chris depart (after Summers End in September), so he has alot of work to do in replacing both these fabulous players, but David is well up for the challenge!
A Statement From David Million
"It is fantastic to be working with Guy again.
Following a successful appearance at the Cambridge Rock Festival in 2009,
I left the Manning line-up and focused myself on some pressing personal and work issues. Whilst I was away, Manning continued to flourish and develop. I think the work done by Chris Catling and Kev Currie has been consistently strong and coming back to play a solo guitar role that covers both areas is, to say the least, a bit of a challenge. Those guys are extremely talented and accomplished players and to follow either of them is a scary prospect.
My relationship with Guy has always been dynamic but underpinned by a tremendous sense of being on the same page. Our work together on 'Anser’s Tree', '...Bilston House. and .Number Ten. provided ample evidence that we are on a similar wavelength and looking ahead, it is exciting to think about the new projects to come.
More important than anything is the knowledge that I can once more stand alongside Guy and play to a loyal fan base that understands and appreciates the work that goes into making this kind of music. The thing I have missed the most has been the warmth and support of some lovely people who turn out in the most unholy weather conditions, travel great distances and show their affection for Guy and the band.
There is a distinct sense of coming home in all of this but things have moved on, the music is more dynamic, the playing is even better and the line-up change means that I will have my work cut out. With a band this good and knowing that Guy is ready to deliver even better material than before, it seems like a worthwhile endeavour indeed and to say I am fizzing with anticipation, is something of an understatement.
It’s been 3 years since I wandered off but the bond that exists between me and Guy is as strong as it ever was. He writes great music, inspires my playing and he can reach out to a wide audience and hold them spellbound with his music and his lyrics. Being a part of that relationship was and still is a privilege. I predict more great music, great live entertainment and ceaseless banter as Manning enters its next incarnation.
I wish Chris and Kev the very best as they venture forth into their own new territory and promise to safeguard their musical legacy (and my own, for that matter) with Manning. I also look forward to reacquainting myself with Guy’s fans and friends."
David
|
16th August 2012
|
| MANNING
line-up changes coming later in the year! A NEW GUITARIST
is needed! |
We
have known for a little while now that our two Electric
guitar players (Chris Catling and Kevin Currie), having
moved away from the North of England where the band
is based, would find it increasingly hard to stay a
part of the MANNING line-up. So, we sat down, discussed
it and agreed that we'd put a time frame on changing
the band format.
We can now reveal that it is planned for the Summers End Festival performance,
in late September 2012 to be, very sadly, their last gig with the band. A glorious
send off if ever there was one!
We have tried to keep the current set list fairly static for the next European,
UK and Festival appearances so as to retain the line-up in its current form
for as long as possible plus the current combination of pieces has gone down
extremely well in concert so far but, like any active band, we will of course
need to change the live show set list plus write and record brand new material.
So there is the challenge for any available Guitarists out there! we only want
to recruit ONE all
rounder versatile, creative player to bring their own brand of virtuosity on
board.....so you'll have to be damn good!
We plan to audition immediately as there is now new material to start to write/record
and a new set to devise for 2013.
This is a challenging role, but we can honestly say that this is also a great
band to be part of. Our standing and reputation is formidable and the music
is really tremendous to perform live and the new creation process always fascinating. So...
Mr or Mrs Rock God Guitarist..... please get in touch!
Anybody
interested in trying out should write to us at guym@guymanning.com asap.
Statement
From Guy Manning
It is
always sad
losing any
band member
and this
time we have
two going
off together
(well not
together,
together
but at the
same time!
Ed.)
Chris and Kev are both fabulous guys and great players and have supported me
and the rest of Manning brilliantly for some years now. It will really not
be the same without them but we will, I know, forever remain close friends.
We travelled to RoSFEST together, played ProgMeister Festival, DanFest, the
Cambridge Rock Festival a few times and many CRS plus other assorted UK dates
. We also recorded/performed some fantastic music together.
Sadly, geography got in the way...I wish them well with everything they do
from here on in and any outfit they join will be very lucky indeed to have
them, but it is not over just yet though, we still have a few gigs to do with
them, thankfully! The Europe experience is next!!!!
I'll
leave the rest of this bulletin to the guys themselves...
Guy
Statement From Chris Catling
 "During
my time as a gigging
musician, I have found
that it’s very
easy to convince yourself
that you are involved
in some noble pursuit.
The reaction from listeners
and live audiences (when
things go well) almost
tricks you into thinking
that you are performing
some generous service.
But the reality is that
we make music because
we enjoy it and if we
were to ever stop enjoying
it, we would stop doing
it. Sadly this means
that despite its ostensible
nobility, sometimes music
has to take a back seat,
and so it is to be with
my current involvement
with Manning. Regretfully
I have to announce that
this year’s run
of gigs will be my last
with Guy.
Guy
has worked me incredibly hard over the past couple
of years and has probably shown me more of music’s
various facades than I could have hoped to experience.
The stress and strain of putting together some ridiculously
complex, and more importantly, lengthy songs contrasts
perfectly with the highs of traveling abroad and
playing to hundreds of people (and signing autographs?!).
But saliently Guy has made me work at my playing,
taught me when to shut up, when to wail noisily,
and I am a better musician for it. And that would
have to be the ultimate recommendation to whoever
has the balls to take my place.
Although
I’m not quite done yet, may the final furlong
be as rocking as the road past. Most importantly,
thanks to Guy, ‘the guys’, and all the
people who have made it all more than worthwhile."
Chris
Statement
From Kev Currie
"After I moved
away from the spiritual home of the Manning
Band it
became more and more difficult to justify the long hours away from home and
family. Lugging my amp around was also taking its toll on my back, so after
a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to retire from
this illustrious group of musicians whom I count as my friends first and foremost.
So my thanks. My thanks to Guy for the enthusiasm, endless imagination and
pushing me way beyond what I thought I was capable of.
Thanks too to Julie who looks after us all.
To Steve, David M, Chris and Tim for their sense of humour and allowing me
to play with such talented guys.
To Dave A for showing me what attention to detail and dedication was all about.
Thanks too to Kris for noticing the shit on that bar in America and for showing
me Tims' Gettysberg autograph at the airport!
I have had a whale of a time and will always remember the great gigs we have
played together for the good people who have supported our efforts. Finally
good luck to the new guys, you'll have a great time.
So then, one Carlesbro 150W amp for sale - One careful owner, apply Kev Currie,
former Manning Guitarist
(well after Summers End at least).
Kev (facing the final curtain) Currie"
Kev
.jpg) The
Next UK Manning Performance
Please
come along and support the band
Please support the Classic Rock Society
We play these gigs to meet you
So....Support
LIVE music !! |
14th
May 2012
|
| 2012
LIVE DATES and the CRS BOTY Awards for 2011 |
MANNING
Live in 2012 on the "...It's
not the end of the World!" tour
Advance tickets are now on sale for some of the dates in the LIVE Calendar
GREAT NEWS!: The
band are to play their first EUROPEAN dates
as part of the 2012 tour alongside The
Tangent ......
...these dates are not to be missed!
Sat.
Sept 8th 2012 -
Double headliner gig in York
with DeeExpus just
booked!
<<< See
the LIVE Page
for
a venue
near
you
and
the
links
to
TICKET
<<< ORDERS
<<< See the CONTACT page
- The MANNING competition page has
<<< also been reinstated!!
<<< HELP US! - we need
your involvement with regard to a MANNING
<<< LIVE album - So please click here <CLICK>
NEW
MANNING T-SHIRT IS NOW AVAILABLE!
 CRS
BOTY 2012 - STEVE HACKETT GRABS ANOTHER ALBUM...
<<< Steve
Hackett attends the Classic Rock Society 'Best
of the Year' (for 2011) awards ceremony to
pick up his award for 'Best Guitarist' and
of course to make sure he can obtain a copy
of the latest MANNING album... (....as he has
done for the last 3 years running!!)
<<< Here
is Steve, proudly displaying his prized copy of MANNING's "Margaret's
Children"
<<< Congratulations
to Steve on his great new album ("Beyond the Shrouded
Horizon") and for his deservedly won CRS award.
Congratualtions too go to Luke Machin for being awarded the 'Best New Band'
credit for his band Concrete Lake and also to our mate Andy Tillison for managing
to get not one but TWO tracks from "COMM" into the Top 5 'Best Tracks
of the Year'! (...which we think is quite something...)
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR!
As the full award listings for the CRS BOTYS are now published, we can reveal
that MANNING were in the Top Ten for four awards this time around: Best Album,
Best Bass Player, Best Gig and Best Male Vocalist! |
28th
April 2012
|
|
MANNING
- New Live Line-up announced, Classic Rock Presents Prog
and more.... |
So
here we are just before the Seasonal break and as
well as wanting to wish you
all a very Merry Christmas/Chanukah and a Happy, Peaceful
New Year, we need to complete our 2011 activities with
some late announcements!
THE
NEW MANNING BAND:
We
let you know recently, that Tim Leadbeater, the Manning
keyboards player for the last two years had decided
to leave
the band for a 'quieter life!'...well we are very
pleased to
be able to tell you that our new keyboards
player
for 2012 and beyond will be Mr.
Martin Thiselton.
His full resume can
be
found
on
the site Biography page.
A well established arranger / composer / performer,
Martin also plays the Viola and Violin, which I
am sure will
come in very useful indeed!
  Also,
we have now parted company with drummer, Joe Casey.
We wish him well with all his future projects.
Coming
in to
bat for us on Drums & Percussion is Mr.
Rick Henry.
Again,
find a lot more out about Rick
on the Biography page.
REVIEWS
AND INTERVIEWS:
More
interviews have now been published here on
our Press page,
garnered from articles on web
sites and published magazines.
On Dec 28th 2011, the new issue of CLASSIC
ROCK PRESENTS PROG publishes it's Xmas edition
with a very nice sized article in it all about the
band (as a follow
up to the fabulous "Margaret's Children" review
we got in the previous issue). The track "The
Southern Waves" is also featured on their covermount
CD, 'Prognosis 2.2'.
We hope you will like these and also the great
photos from the session
we
did with
professional
photographer, Stuart Wood.
See our Press page.
LIVE DATES:
2012 promises far more live concert performances
from us including
SUMMERS END FESTIVAL 2012,
CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL 2012 and some long
overdue European dates!!!
For up to the minute information,
please make sure you keep on coming
back and check out the Live page
and also sign up for our exclusive Mailing list (at
top of the
page)
OK, that's about it for 2011.... It has been another
great year for us!
We hope you have enjoyed it too....
See
you all down the road in 2012 and thanks once again
for all your support...
...it
is so very much appreciated!
Take care
GuyM,
Julie, Kris, Kev, Chris, Steve, Martin & Rick
|
28th
December 2011
|
|
New
album "MARGARET'S CHILDREN" - MORE
REVIEWS!! + Check the LIVE Section! |
 New
MANNING ALBUM "Margaret's Children" Cat:
201111
Official Release Date 7th Nov 2011 on Festival Music
(F2)
<<
Now available to buy via 'ORDERS'
<< First Album sample now available via 'LISTEN'
<< First Reviews now published
via 'PRESS'
"Again, there's
copper-bottomed songcraft on display here.These people
are lovingly placed into their musical worlds, and live
and breathe...there's also something of the spirit of
a Robert Wyatt about this Guy. He really sells these
tales,
with an eccentric English spirit and unerring conviction.
Wordy,
heady,
perplexing and joyous,
Margaret's Children is an album
to get lost in"
Classic Rock Presents
Prog (Grant Moon)
 "As
always Manning handles the bulk of the musicianship
but
surrounds himself with an eclectic cast of
players...It’s
an
amazing group of individuals executing some amazing
music....It’s
classic progressive rock in my books... I would suggest
that
any self-respecting fan of the genre should
have more than a few of his titles in their collection
and certainly Margaret’s Children is a great
place to
start that collection. Recommended."
Jerry Lucky for
The Progressive Files
"I
didn't think Guy Manning would produce an
album to beat Charlestown but in Margaret's Children
I reckon he may well
have just done that!"
John Sealey at
Progressive Ears
"For those unfamiliar, I can only suggest that he
is an artist you need to get to know as
soon as possible as it really is artists like this
that do make a difference in the world of
music....Twelve
years
and twelve albums in, Guy Manning continues to
release material that is prolific, memorable and
of the highest
order. 10/10" John
O'Boyle for the DPRP
"....This
is intelligent Progressive rock music of the highest
order...a band at the top of their game...an album
of tremendous ensemble and solo excellence
from all the instrumentalists...Guy really is an
amazing Storyteller"
Paul Jerome Smith for Fireworks Magazine
"Margaret's Children reaches
the level of Manning's best albums ... I learned
not to squander highest rating, and so here I will
give four and
a half stars...but do
not fail to mention that the latest album
Manning is one of the three best records
that I've heard this year" Paul Tryba for ProgRock.org.pl
"Margaret's
Children" is the Manning masterpiece,
because we have a nagging urge at the end of
listening to it to immediately
press "Play" again.
I highly recommend this album
if you like folk-progressive rock. It is not about
to leave your player! 5/5
Stars" JPL
for Music In Belgium (translated)
"‘ Margaret’s Children’ is a triumph from start
to finish. I’ve
listened to it on trains, in cars and even on my
computer at home from where I write this review
and every time I discover something different".
Phil
Jackson for Acid
Dragon
Magazine
"The stand out piece for me though has to be the
closing track'The Soutrhern Waves', with one of the
best guitar solos I have heard for a very long
time. Superbly done! Margaret's Children' could
well be the best Manning album so far"
Miles
Bartaby for Rock Society Magazine
 " A very powerful collection of songs done by one of the most
prolific and talented singers/songwriters to appear by the
new millenium.There are not really highlights on this album. Every track is
a little
jewel
on itself....
Conclusion:
another prog rock masterpiece done by one of today´s
finest songwriters...5/5
Stars"
Progressive Archives (1)
"...the more you play it, the more you'll like it. Growers
are almost the best albums, aren't' they? 5/6
Stars"
Rockreport.be
"...Last
year's Charlestown was a strong release and therefore
set the bar high for its follow-up
and I am happy to report that Margaret's Children is more
than equal to its predecessor. 8.5/10" Bob
Mulvey Editor for the DPRP
" I
will enjoy Margaret's Children for many
years to come, it is outstanding...5/5
Stars"
Progressive
Archives (2)
"I have
three other albums awaiting review
and fear that I may have to delegate
the job due
to the fact that every
time I attempt to play some music “Margaret’s
Children” is first into the
machine!" The
Progmeister
THE AUDIO-VISUAL ALBUM TRAILER CAN BE ACCESSED [HERE]
The
album is the sequel to the acclaimed "Anser's
Tree" (2006) and we can now discover more of
the life stories
from the ANSER family tree. Each
week, in the run up to the release, we released a character
biography for each of the SEVEN new
album tracks
NOW
ALL THE EPISODES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED (See 'RELEASES'),
WE HAVE ALSO ADDED THE
FULL FAMILY TREE TOO!
We
hope you will enjoy these items, they were a lot
of fun to construct!
Album cover artwork and original family tree poster were
created by Ed Unitsky.
|
20th
December 2011
|
|
Tim
Leadbeater retires! The hunt for a new KEYS PLAYER
starts
|
 We
have to report the sad news that our principal keys
player Tim Leadbeater has announced his intention
to leave the band at Xmas.Here
is a statement from Tim.
"I joined Manning in the nick of time to rehearse up for Rosfest 2010 and
(writing the day after Steve Jobs died)
that was a great opportunity seized and a dream come
true. But
even then, I knew it was a commitment piled on top
of much else - not least running a whole other, 11-piece,
band.
And so, having hung in there to support production of
a new album and bed in new drummers (metaphorically you
understand), it is finally time to give myself a break.I'm
told you can check out but never leave. (This
is very true! Ed.)
I'm certainly not trying to prove something different,
but there must be somebody out there whose time has come
to 'fire up the Fantom G8!' "On
behalf of all the members of MANNING, I want to wish
Tim continued success with the Beatleaders and a
restful dotage!
Tim has kindly agreed to stay with us while we find someone
to take on his duties but, if we can manage a transition
switfly, then the December gig will be his last with
us, sadly. Please come along and wish him Bon Voyage!
A
new keyboards player has been recruited and will
take over from Tim after this gig.
More details
will be revealed then!
Email guym@guymanning.com
|
10th
October 2011
|
|
Akoustik
Manning - Cambridge Rock Festival appearance
|
We
hope to see some of you at this hallowed event tomorrow (Friday
5th August)
There are a number of fine acts involved and we hit the
Classic Rock Stage at about 5:15pm!
We will be featuring some 'other' more forgotten (and
more acoustic) gems from the Manning back catalogue in
an 'unplugged' format which we hope you will like and
sing along to!
Please say 'Hello!"
We have also got a late (and possibly last) review of "CHARLESTOWN" which
is very complimentary indeed...the album has brought
us alot more attention (after only 10 years!)
In particular the 35 minute title track. (...or album
in its own right, if
this was 1972 Ed.!)
"...a milestone in the
recent history of symphonic progressive"
"...one of the best and more complete symphonic prog tracks of the new millennium.
Do yourself a favour and check it out…now!" The complete review
is featured on our Press pages.
We believe that 'Margaret's Children' (due out Nov
2011) is a worthy successor!
|
4th
August 2011
|
|
Please
welcome Mr. Joe Casey!
|
 We
are pleased to announce that we have secured the
services of
Mr. Joe Casey as our new Drummer/Percussionist!
To find out more about the latest MANNING recruit please
visit his biography page.
Meanwhile, back at BURNSIDE, we are about to go into
the mixing and production stage for our new album "Margaret's
Children".
You should be
able to hear the results of all this activity in the
first week of November 2011!
Launch events will be posted nearer the time so keep
watching!
|
28th
July 2011
|
|
Leon
Camfield closes the Margaret's Children recording
sessions
|
Leon
Camfield (percussionist/drummer extraordinaire
with TINYFISH) travelled up North to play percussion
for the new album recently! He
played a vast assortment of 'tradtional' percussion
(congas, bongos, bell tree, triangles, shakers, cabasa,
incantation bells, triangles, blocks) as well as
experimenting with Roland Sound Pad samples, newspaper
and kitchen utensils!
 Leon's
work marks the end of recordings for the album with
some redubs planned next before going into the mix
and production phases.
The
artwork for
the package is also nearly completed with just some
unusual photos
of the Manning band left to add in!
Following our request for vocal New Yorkers, we had quite
a few entries sent in (and so we thank all who contributed
very much) but we have now selected our special guest
'MC for the Savoy', none
other than US music maestro, Phideaux!!
|
8th
July 2011
|
|
New
York 'voice over' needed!
|
On
the new forthcoming album, there is a track called "HARRIET
HORDEN (1912 - 1955) [A Night At The Savoy, 1933]",
set in a New York Jazz club.
The track has a live-ish feel to it so, we have added
audience FX to the track to try give it some realistic
'ambience'.Guy
has also recorded the MC introduction for it, but
to be honest, it sounds really fake...what is really
needed, is a recording of a REAL LIVE american introducing "the
band".  Here
is the actual phrase we need:"Ladies & Gentlemen,
the Savoy is proud to present...Miss Harriet Horden...".
(Horden is pronounced accenting the HOR part ..HOREDEN)
Try to get into character with it and maybe provide a
few alternate versions!Please
send a high quality MP3 or WAV/AIFF of it to guym@guymanning.com.
We'll
use the one that we all agree (here) sounds the best
/ most at home.
An album credit awaits!
|
29th
June 2011
|
|
MARGARET'S
CHILDREN - Wind Player
|
Marek
Arnold (of Toxic Smile and other projects) has kindly
offered to add some Clarinet and Sax parts on the
new MANNING album.
Meanwhile works continues at a pace with parts arriving
via FTP/Email etc. from the other players plus weekly
sessions at Burnside.
Tim 'Mouse' Lawrie is helping me out with some Sound
Advice on the production side this time too, which is
great.
More
Guest contributions will announced very soon hopefully!
The ELEKTRIK line-up now goes quiet for a while while
we audition new drummers before returning to live work
in the Autumn.
AKOUSTIK, next stop is a welcome return to the Cambridge
Rock Festival in August (See LIVE Dates)
|
5th
June 2011
|
|
CHANGES...
as JohnK departs
|
A
statement from John Kennard
 "Getting
a call from Guy Manning back in September last year
was the start of one of the biggest musical challenges
I’ve ever faced: learning a >90-minute set
(with some darned complicated songs in it!) in four
weeks, ready to play at that most esteemed of venues,
The Peel. Somehow,
and with the aid of beer and mirrors (thank you
Dec), I pulled it off.Since
then, we’ve played some great gigs together.
The feedback I’ve received from the audience,
both at the gigs and online, has been unexpected
and really rather wonderful– thank you! Now
then...
The business I’m a partner in is, most unreasonably,
becoming rather successful. This, in turn is creating
greater and greater demands on my time, and I’m
finding it increasingly difficult to devote the time
I need to keep my playing skills sufficiently honed for
such a tight, professional-sounding band.We
have something of a break now, with no “Elektrik” gigs
until October, so now is a good time for me to
do the decent thing and bow out, giving the lads & lass
a good while to find someone who does have the
time, skills and capacity for drinking Australian
Ginger Beer to take my place on the drum stool.I
shall, of course, fulfil my commitment to arranging/recording
parts and vocals for the upcoming album, "Margaret’s
Children". (Just you try and stop me - BOY
are you lot in for a treat with this one!). But,
I’m afraid, no more will the Raucous Roto-toms
of RacingHippo be seen behind Guy’s head.
For which I’m sure Guy will be grateful.A
shame, because it really has been great, but needs
must and all that. " JK
A
statement from Guy Manning
"On
behalf of the band, I would like to publically
thank John for the tremendous effort and dedication
he has put in to make our 2010/2011 dates so very
very positive.
Learning to perform 'Charlestown' is no mean feat I can
tell you!
John is stepping out of the limelight here, but is still
behind the scenes working very hard with me now on the
new album; so we have not seen the last of the Hippo!" Guy
This leaves us
now on the hunt for a new drummer!
Can applicants please form an orderly queue or email
me!
|
16th
May 2011
|
| MARGARET'S
CHILDREN - Progress
|
Seven
new tracks have now been created!
FLEMING
BARRAS (1645 - ????)
[The Year Of Wonders]
JORGEN
BARRAS (1834 - 1900)
[Revelation Road]
AMY
QUARTERMAINE (1862 - 1916)
[A Perfect Childhood]
HARRIETT
HORDEN (1912 - 1955)
[A Night At The Savoy 1933]
JAMES
FAIRFAX (1922 - 1945)
[An Average Man]
AMELIA
FAIRFAX (1926 - 2010)
[Black Silk Sheets Of Cairo]
DAVID LOGAN (1967 - 2022)
[The Southern Waves]
Work continues as we start to get the additional electric
guitars, bass, flute recorded.
No release date has been agreed yet, but we are enjoying
the album creation process and hopefully should be able
to announce some Special Guest contributions very soon!
|
2nd
May 2011
|
| PROGMEISTER
PROGFEST 2011 - A Great Success!
|
 PROGMEISTER
PROGFEST 2011
SATURDAY MARCH 26TH 2011
Manning were very pleased to
announce that they had been invited to headline the
brand new Progfest in Teeside!
This special one day event took place at
The Studio, Hartlepool, UK.
For all the latest feedback from the event please visit
the Progmeister
web site.
+ More album reviews published (mainly in FRENCH!)
|
28th
Mar 2011
|
| CRS
Awards 2010
|
 MANNING
were very pleased to be nominated for best track
("Charlestown") of the year 2010 by the
members of the Classic Rock Society at the recent
awards ceremony.
Sonya Kristina was this years guest presenter.
Kris Hudson-Lee was also nominated as best bass player
of 2010.
Steve Hackett dropped by and of course demanded his copy
of the last album. Steve had grabbed a copy of "Number
Ten" at the previous years event and obviously wanted
to keep his Manning album
collection up to date!
<< Here
is Steve, proudly displaying
his prized copy...
We kick off our first 2011 concert dates on Sat March
12th
(again for the CRS) with our guests JUMP and we do hope
some
of you can make it down there to support the band.
|
6th
Mar 2011
|
| Margaret's
Children (Anser's Tree II)
|
Work
has now commenced on writing material towards a next
12th MANNING studio album!In
fine MANNING tradition, we are going to revisit one
of our own previous works
to discover more about the family first explored on the
2006 concept album,
"ANSER'
S TREE".
7
prototype pieces are being fleshed out by the band
at present and some of these new tracks may very
well find their way onto some of our 2011 date
setlists.
We are very pleased to announce that the fabulous Ed
Unitsky has agreed to reprise and re-engineer his original
cover artwork for this sequel. A small version can be
seen opposite or over on the RELEASES page.
We are still hoping that 2011 will finally be the year
of the long anticipated documenting of MANNING LIVE in
the form of an album/DVD package. Plans are afoot for
an Autumn filming schedule.
Meanwhile, 3 more MANNING albums get the digital download
treatment.
This time, "CASCADE" ,"THE
RAGGED CURTAIN" and "THE
VIEW FROM MY WINDOW" have been made available
for you. Please check the Albums on the RELEASES page
for the links.
|
1st
Mar 2011
|
| 2011
|
Welcome
to 2011!
As the reviews continue to arrive, we are updating our
Press tab with the latest views!
More gigs are now being booked for the year, so please
keep returning often to get the latest information.
You can also sign up to our mailing list (See top of
page)
Manning “Charlestown" by Jerry
Lucky (The Progressive
Rock Files)
"I’ve
been a fan for quite a while, but I say this with no
embarrassment, Charlestown is Guy Manning’s masterpiece!
It’s one of those CDs where everything fits so
well. It’s everything prog is all about. For
the uninitiated Manning will remind you of The Strawbs,
Roy Harper, Al Stewart and Jethro Tull all wrapped
up into one. If you’ve yet to sample his music
Charlestown is a great place to start. I highly recommend
it."
|
4th
Feb 2011
|
| Classic
Rock Presents Prog Interview & Live Review
|
 The DECEMBER
2010 Edition includes a candid interview
with Guy plus a live review from the "CHARLESTOWN" launch
gig at the PEEL in London.
The
articles can also be
found HERE along
with a Video review of
the new album on LiveProg plus an important US review
from ProgressiveWorld.
In case this is our last short term update...on behalf
of Guy and all the MANNING band, may I take this opportunity
to wish you all a
very Merry Xmas/Chanukah etc. and a peaceful and Happy
New Year.
2010 has been a fantastic year for us, with ROSFEST,
gigs in the
UK and great new album...it has been fabulous!
So have a good rest and we'll see you all in 2011!!!
P.S. Don't forget to join our bulletins mailing list
(see above) .
|
2nd
Jan 2011
|
| MANNING
to headline new festival in 2011! / DPRP Round Table
reviews!
|
PROGMEISTER
PROGFEST, SAT. MARCH 26th 2011
Manning are very pleased to announce
that they have been invited to headline the brand new
Progfest in
Teeside on Sat. March 26th 2011.
This special one day event will take place at
The Studio, Hartlepool, UK.
Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday 20th Dec 2010.
For all the latest news on the event please visit the
Progmeister web site.
The DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK
PAGES site has
published a 3 man ROUND TABLE REVIEW of "CHARLESTOWN" (their
ratings and feedback about the new album were impressive!)
PLUS, there is also a full interview with Guy speaking
to Geoff Feakes.
The articles can be found at http://www.dprp.net or HERE
Manning “Charlestown" by John
O'Boyle (DPRP)
"I
would
like
to tip
my hat
here
to the
Guy and
the band
for what
they
have
created
here.
I strongly
believe
that
you are
not going
to come
across
another
album
as good
as this
in 2010,
although
there
have
been
some
quality
contenders.
This
is the
first
10 out
of 10
that
I have
rewarded,
EVER
and I
strongly
believe
that
this
masterpiece
truly
deserves
that
accolade."
Manning “Charlestown" by Geoff
Feakes (DPRP)
"Whilst
in the past Guy has often blended
elements of folk, jazz and
mainstream rock into his sound,
Charlestown is for me his most
fully realised prog-rock album
to date. It’s a skilfully
produced, free flowing work
and along the way classic bands
like Yes, Genesis and Jethro
Tull are hinted at without
ever once resorting to plagiarism...Musically
there is a wonderful attention
to detail throughout whilst
the lyrics tell stories that
are both easy to absorb as
well as being thought provoking.
Instrumentally Guy is in full
command throughout particularly in his abundant use of
keyboards with stellar support from the aforementioned
contributing musicians. My final rating therefore (10
out of 10) serves as both an acknowledgement of the excellence
of this release as well as being in recognition of Guy’s
long and fruitful service to the genre of progressive
rock. "
Manning “Charlestown" by Bob
Mulvey (DPRP)
"Concluding
my review of The Ragged Curtain
I said: So the burning question
is would I spend my hard
earned cash on this album?" Yes
was the answer then and yes
is the answer now. A fine
piece of work that deserves
to reside in any self respecting
prog collection..."
|
17th
Dec 2010
|
| MORE
CHARLESTOWN REVIEWS !!
|
 CLASSIC
ROCK PRESENTS PROG - NOV 2010
MANNING are featured
in the November 2010 edition.
The track, CHARLESTOWN (EDIT) is Track #2 on the Cover
Disc
(Prognosis 12)
Inside, there is a full review of the whole album.
"It's
his most adventurous album to date, a release where one
discovers even more inlays of beauty and mood after each
listen, but because of the well-crafted way in which
the textures and layers of this particular composition
at least are structured,as well as the airy production
which allows the tracks to breathe, it perhaps is far
more accessible..." A
copy of all the reviews in full can be found HERE
Manning “Charlestown" by Ron
Fuchs (ProgNaut)
"Opening is the epic title track, “Charlestown“ (35:09), and
what a way to open the album with. This track alone is worth the price of admission.
Guy just keeps upping the ante with each release. Charlestown, is by far his
best album to date. There’s everything on this song, from some roaring
Hammond, passionate flute, acoustic & electric guitars and of course, Guy’s
vocals. He has a talent for laying out his emotions when he sings..." Manning “Charlestown" by Steve
Petch (The Progmeister)
"This
really is prog as
good as it gets...Did
we like this album?
You bet your ass
we did. Guy Manning
has recorded his
best work yet with
Charlestown and with
the aid of gold standard
musicians created
a tour de force.
Beautifully packaged
and oozing quality,
miss this one at
your peril."Manning “Charlestown" by Fab.Prog
(Progressive Archives)
"Charlestown
deserves to be a
candidate for best
album of 2010, Charlestown
now undoubtedly will
be one
of my favorite albums of all time..."Manning “Charlestown" by Jerry
Fecher (Manning Website)
"As an ardent listener of Manning over the past few years, please convey
to Guy Manning that I recently received my pre-order of the latest Manning album
Charlestown and it is absolutely amazing, from the great
multi-faceted title track through to the blazing instrumental
at the end. This is music of a depth that few others
even approach. Kudos to Guy and the band for producing
such a gem, and keep up the good work!
This disc will not stray far from my player..."Cheers,Jerry
Fecher
San Diego, CaliforniaManning “Charlestown" by David
MacLeod (Progressive Archives)
"If
you only get one album
this year, make it
this one!"Manning “Charlestown" by Alex
P. Torres (Amazon Top 100 Reviewer)
"Charlestown,
is a credit to English music making in general, whatever
the genre.
It deserves great plaudits: more than that, it deserves
a large audience; it deserves to be heard.
When
you release an album in which
one of the compositions is 35
minutes long,
over half the duration of the 6 in total, then that composition
had better be good.
Well, it's not only good, it is nothing short of perfect!..."Manning “Charlestown" by Toroddfuglesteg
(Progressive Archives)
"Guy
Manning has released
another excellent
album which cements
his position as one
of the three best
British prog rock
artists in today's
scene. Charlestown
is also his best
ever album. It is
not a masterpiece,
but it is a close
call though!..."
Manning “Charlestown" by GermanZero
(Progressive Archives)
"I
heard
this
album
over
20
times
and
it
never
ceases
to
amaze
me,
really
is
an
excellent
album..."
Manning “Charlestown" by Textbook
(Progressive Archives Forum)
"These
expensive sounding,
pleasant musicians
just drift around
like they're auditioning
for a pierside
show or something
while Manning ocassionally
comes in sounding
like the offspring
of Ian Anderson
and a goat..."
|
16th
Nov 2010
|
| CHARLESTOWN
LAUNCH ACTIVITIES & EVEN MORE REVIEWS !!
|
THE NEW ALBUM IS NOW IN STOCK AND READY TO BE SENT OUT
!!!!
There are a number of planned radio interviews & podcasts
being scheduled here in the UK, Canada & in the USA,
to coincide with the launch of the new MANNING album "CHARLESTOWN"
 Details
on where / when to catch these
shows are found HERE!Some
shows are now published HERE! We
hope you can join us to celebrate the
culmination of another years hard slog!
Meanwhile, the very first reviews of the new album have
started to arrive...
Manning “Charlestown" by Tarcisio
Moura (Progressive Archives)
"Another
masterpiece
of progressive
music,
no less!
Guy Manning is definitly one of the most important songwriters
to appear on the new millenium and Charlestown is definitly
a must have for anyone who thinks they don´t do
great albums like they used to
do in the 70´s. Highly recommended to all music
lovers!"The
longer and more in depth version can be found HERE!
Manning “Charlestown” by
John Sealey (Progressive
Ears)
"I've
been playing this CD regularly
since it dropped through the
letter-box at the end of last
week. The title track is hugely
impressive and I envy anyone
attending the live show on Saturday. (23rd
Oct 2010 - Ed.)"Charlestown" (the
track) may be an "epic" but it's also
a stirring suite of well put together tunes which
flow excellently throughout the whole 30+ minutes.
The most pleasing thing for me is the that the
subject matter of the "story" and it's
lyrics fit so well with the musical themes. Guy
Manning, I think, is a composer who understands
the link between the poetry of the lyrical content
and the drama of the music. I can't see this being
anything other than a real "grower" for
me and I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who
has an interest in the written word as well as
the music played. Actually,
although I've so far concentrated more on the title
track (it's 35 minutes long, back in the day it's
what I was used to for a complete album!), the
other five songs on the CD are very good too! I'm
kind of saving them as the dessert when I'm getting
full of the main course. "Caliban
and Ariel" is a really gentle piece that,
again, fits the lyric beautifully. I suppose it
keeps the watery theme going too! "The Man
in the Mirror" is a tale that reflects that
sometimes life is just not full of happy endings,
delivered with real pathos, I think. I like this
song very much. "Clocks", another rather
gentle song with a beautiful and very wistful lyric,
may turn out to be a personal favourite for me
- only time will tell! In some ways it reminds
me of The Musical Box in it's sentiment, although
interpreted differently, of course. "T.I.C" takes
us into more uptempo territory with it's more blues-rock
feel - a bit of fun here I think and even a bit
of Wishbone Ash twin lead and some Tull flutes! "Finale" wraps
it all up with a full on instrumental coda rounding
up some of the themes from, I think, the title
track? The reworking here works superbly well and
provides a fitting end to a high quality album.
A little irony at the end really; an album so brilliantly
served in it's lyrical content ending with an intrumental.
I like that and it says a lot about the artist. There
you go, I've done the lot now. It's a pleasure
from start to finish - a highlight in what has
been a super year for the music I love. Now
.........back to my epic!! "
Manning “Charlestown” by
Keith (Aural Moon)
"The
title track is a veritable MASTERPIECE!!!!!!
Superb playing throughout.
You
won't be disappointed if you
get this I promise you."
Manning “Charlestown” by
Paul Baker (ARFm Soundscapes
Radio)
"The
11th
album
from
one of
England’s
best
kept
Prog
Rock
secrets; ‘Charlestown’ is
a splendid
blend
of modern
and classical
progressive
rock.
Epic
opener ‘Charlestown’ is
an amazing
musical
adventure
on the
high
seas
of imaginative
forward
looking
rock. ‘Caliban & Ariel’ is
a gentle
contrast
to the
drama
of the
title
track,
there
is also
a ‘what
was that?’ moment
when ‘T.I.C.’ takes
to the
air!
Album
closer, ‘Finale’ takes
some
themes
from
the epic
opening
track
and re-works
them
into
an absorbing
instrumental
extravaganza,
but don’t
expect
a straight
copy,
that
wouldn’t
be Manning!
Fans
of Jethro Tull, Yes, Gentle Giant, Genesis and
all the usual suspects should find a lot to like
on this album, but may be disappointed if they
expect an impersonation of their heroes, Manning
and Charlestown are much too adventurous and original
for that!"
The longer and more in depth version can be found HERE!
|
13th
Oct 2010
|
| CHARLESTOWN
ALBUM LAUNCH - The Peel, London on 23rd October 2010
|
 We
are happy to announce that the Official
CHARLESTOWN launch gig is to be held on
Sat. 23rd October 2010 at the Peel,
Kingston-upon-Thames, London.
Tel: 0208 8546 3516. Doors open 7:30pm
Our special guests will be
Dec Burke's Destroy All Monsters
This will be the first gig with our new drummer, John
Kennard.
Please come along and support him!
The album will on pre-sale and we will
be debutting some new material from it, but you
can now PRE-ORDER it
from this site plus there is
an edited snippet from the title track for you
to hear HERE!
We hope you can come and see us and
pick up your pre-release copy!Evening
dress is optional OR you can come
dressed as a sailor from the late 1700s to fit
in with the album theme.
NOTE:
Change to 3rd Dec 2010 concert:
Crimson Sky have had to pull out, but we have
managed to persuade the fabulous GODSTICKS to
take their place!!
|
|
24th
Sept 2010
|
Archived
News
|
