Already on his way to becoming a national treasure and oft the recipient of patronage from the likes of Marc Riley, Newcastle singer-songwriter Richard Dawson’s record label Weird World are re-releasing his first albums The Magic Bridge (2011) and 2012’s The Glass Trunk, as a follow up to last years acclaimed Nothing Important.
Both albums have been important in shaping Dawson as an artist. The Magic Bridge being the moment when he committed himself to being a songwriter and storyteller, taking the craft he’d been working on in and around both the studio and his hometown of Newcastle for several years before, and placed it, along with his unique fire, on record.
The Glass Trunk was initially triggered by a comission to respond to his local museum service’s archives, and so the album is largely inspired stories found in an old 17th Century scrapbook, including tales of the demise of Joe the Quilt-maker and fan favourite Poor Old Horse. The more developed (but wholy acapella) songs on the record (which includes a version of Mike Waterson’s The Brisk Lad) are interspersed with brief instrumental vignettes as Dawson’s guitar playing is embellished by Rhodri Davis on the electric harp.
If you’ve yet to discover the charms of Richard Dawson and his music, this might be a perfect place to start.
Both The Magic Bridge and The Glass Trunk re-issues are available to pre-order now via Dom Mart and iTunes with pre-order links and album
Sunday 25th October 2015 – Primavera Club at Theatre Principal- Barcelona
Saturday 7th November 2015- Illuminations at St John at Hackney Church – London (with Josh T Pearson and Briana Marela)
Saturday 14th November – James Yorkston presents Tae Sup Wi’ A Fifer at Adam Smith Theatre – Kirkcaldy (with Steve Mason and Pip Dylan)
Thursday 19th November – Cumberland Arms – Newcastle (with Mdou Moctar)
Thursday 26th November – Moskus – Trondheim (with Alasdair Roberts)
