“Heritage” – John & Duncan Reed – Release Schedule
It’s with a huge amount of pride and happiness that I can now share the release schedule for “Heritage”, an album of folk songs with my son Duncan Reed, recreated in our progressive folk style.
When Duncan was about four years old, I used to sing various songs to him and his sister to settle them to sleep, just as Duncan now sings songs to his boys. One of them was “Belfast Child” by Simple Minds – both because it was on an album we listened to a lot at the time, and because it was shorter than “She Moved Through The Fair” from which it takes its tune. As a four year old, Duncan had Jim Kerr off to a tee. Memories and dreams are made of this.
At that time, I never dreamed I’d one day be putting an album together with my son. Having played the guitar since the age of 15, and written unrepeatable songs as a student, my creative mode was interrupted by a world of international business travel. Apart from visiting guitar shops, playing songs and tunes to the kids, and ‘noodling’ away on whatever guitar was to hand, I didn’t start making music seriously until 2014.
By that time, Duncan had already released his debut EP “Until The End” (2013), was involved in a number of bands, and regularly appeared on Manchester’s open mic circuit. My debut album “Moorscape” didn’t emerge until 2016, and our first work together was probably for his 2017 album “Hypnotise”, by which time we were both being produced by Ali Karim.
Our music styles diverged a little but have never been too far apart. With “Heritage” we’ve found a blend that we both love. Most of the tracks are recreations of existing, mainly traditional folk songs our family have known all our lives together. We’ve cemented that family theme with two original songs: Keeping of the Bridge Parts 1 and 2, whose lyrics come directly from a WW1 trenches parody of the poem “Dream of Gerontius”. It was included in the WW1 memoirs of Frank Reed (1897-1964). The photos of us playing together were taken by Jamie Massey before and during Duncan’s wedding at Niedpath Castle in Peebles.
Please look out for a number of events as we move towards the release of the album (all times are UK times):
8pm Wednesday 2nd September
One song from “Heritage” debuts on the Compendium on www.folkfridayradio.com
8pm (UK) Saturday 5th September
One-off “Heritage” YouTube listening party at https://www.youtube.com/@johnreed-music/videos
Sunday 6th to Saturday 12th September
Different songs from “Heritage” air on various independent radio shows, starting with the album’s opening song on Alternative Roots on Brum Radio (12 noon to 2pm) hosted by Mike Davies. Other airings will be announced on social media.
6pm Saturday 12th September
“Heritage” will be released on https://johnduncanreed.bandcamp.com/ The album will be available in digital and CD form.
6pm Friday 25th September
“Heritage” will be released on all platforms
So that’s what we’re up to. If you love the album as much as we do, please buy rather than just stream or we may never be able to afford to tour it! Give us a Follow wherever we may roam, Share our various posts and Subscribe where subscribing is a thing.
Enjoy the album!
Peace.
John