Fairground Attraction: News

News

'11
*According to Mark Nevin himself, he will release a new solo album "Stand Beside Me in the Sun", the first in nine years. It will be released on May 16 in the UK according to Amazon.co.uk. Also, the official MySpace and Facebook are now available. You can see lots of old pics from the days as The Academy of FIne Popular Music with Eddi Reader. Mark frequently adds information as well as his insight on photos and videos.

'07
*Fairground Attraction is picked up in an article called "Where are they now?" on April issue of the British music magazine "Q" . All four members gave comments on the last days of the band and what they have done after the breakup. FYI, I put up Eddi's comment made around Christmas Eve of '05 on Fairground Attraction's breakup here.

'06
*According to HMV.co.jp, First of A Million Kisses and Ay Fond Kiss will be reissued again on December 6 in Japan (note: the artworks for these are just wrong). It is stated as "24-bit remaster", but it is unknown if it is different from the last reissue three years ago.
Update (Dec.3):
According to BMG Japan web site, it is confirmed that "Ay Fond Kiss" contains the two bonus tracks as the last time.

'05
*Eddi Reader looks back to and gives her insight to the breakup of the band in the thread regarding Fairground Attraction at her official guestbook (click here).

*According to Play.com and Amazon.co.uk, Concert DVD titled "Full House" will be released on Oct.31 in the UK. It is supposed to be taken from the same concert as "Live at Full House", which was released in Japan in '90. However, it features much more songs than the Japanese edition - 19 songs - plus the interview with Mark Nevin and Simon Edwards. It is formatted in PAL.

*"Perfect" is covered by a Japanese female singer Bonnie Pink on her upcoming collection of covers "Reminiscence", which will be released on June 22 and produced by her frequent collaborater Tore Johansson. Other songs she covers include songs originally done by Frente!, Bangles, Pretenders, Aimee Mann and Sundays. FYI, Bonnie Pink was featured on "Blackbird" contained in Japanese version of "In My Life", the last album Sir George Martin produced. Her tunes can be purchased at iTunes Music Store US too.

*Kirsty MacColl's classic "Titanic Days" was remastered with a bonus disc on Feb.22 from ZTT. The bonus disc includes three Mark Nevin/Kirsty MacColl compositions as well as Kirsty's original demo version of "Dear John", which Eddi Reader recorded for her second album.

'04
*According to eil.com and amazon.co.uk, a new "Best of" album will be released on Sept.6 in UK. Mark Nevin selected the songs and wrote the sleevenote too. It contains 21 tracks with four live recordings that was taken off "Kawasaki Live in Japan."

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark joined in the Songwriting Workshop in "A Music Convention for the Region", which was held during May 12 through 14 in Northeast By Northeast, Stockton-on-Tees.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark and his wife welcomed a baby boy (named Gabriel).

'03
*The First of A Million Kisses and Ay Fond Kiss were re-releasd at last with remastering with "K2 24bit Mastering" technology on October 22 in Japan. Ay Fond Kiss contains two bonus tracks , the live versions of "Clare" and "Comedy Waltz", both of which were contained in Walking After Midnight UK single.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, a recording from Fairground Attraction's only Japan tour will be released on CD from RCA on Sept.1. Titled "Kawasaki - Live In Japan 02/07/89," it is from the concert at Kawasaki Club Citta on July 2, '89, which was once broadcast on several FM stations in Japan. This album includes all of eight never-released-second-album materials played on the day, which were later included in Sweetmouth's Goodbye to Songtown.
1. Winter Rose/Allelujah
2. The Waltz Continues
3. The Moon Is Mine/Get Happy
4. Don't Be A Stranger
5. Dangerous
6. I Know Why The Willow Weeps
7. Home To Heartache
8. Fear Is the Enemy of Love
9. Find My Love
10. Broken By A Breeze
11. Whispers
12. Goodbye to Songtown
13. Fairground Attraction
14. Clare
15. Perfect
16. Moon on the Rain
You can view the album artwork too at Mark's site.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, a Fairground Attraction's collaborator Will Hastie died on Feb.6. He played clarinet on The First of A Million Kisses, most notably for Clare and also appeared in the promotional video of the song. He was 76.

'02
*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark will tour Australia from October to November. Dates to follow...

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark will do a show at 12 Bar Club in London on Oct.3. He will be accompanied by Louise and Colette O'Leary.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark is one of the performers for Kirsty MacColl Tribute Show which will be held at Royal Festival Hall in London. Other performers include Brian Kennedy, Mary Coughlan, Johnny Marr and Roddy Frame. The tickets can be purchased at the venue's web site.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark will do a show on Jyly 24 at The Minx Club in north London. The show will start at 8:30pm with the support of Dave Saw. Newly wed Louise will play with Mark too.

*According to Mark Nevin himself, he got married to Louise Newman on June 15! Congratulations on your happy wedding, Mark.

*This is belated, but according to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark is touring UK with Mary Couglan. And the new single "The One I Love" will be released coupled with two new tracks, "I Am Right The World Is Wrong" and "Problem Page."
Here are the tour dates with Mary Coughlan:
　5/1　Theatre Gwynedd (Bangor, Wales)
　5/2　Royal Court Theatre (Liverpool)
　5/3　Burnley Mechanics (Burnley - Lancs)
　5/4　Pocklington Civic Arts Centre (Pocklington - York)
　5/16　Maddermarket Theatre (Norwich)
　5/17　King's Lynn Arts Centre (King's Lynn - Norfolk)
　5/18　Phoenix Arts (Leicester)
　5/19　Lewisham Theatre (Catford - London)
　5/20 　Royal Spa Centre (Leamington Spa )
　5/21　Astoria Theatre (London)
　5/23　The Stables (Milton Keynes)
　5/24　Wycombe Town Hall (High Wycombe)

*You can now download the video for "Mighty Dove" from Mark Nevin's official site. And more tour dates of Mark Nevin was announced:
Apr.10 The Minx Club (London)
Apr.28 CAFE LISBOA (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Apr.29 CAFE LISBOA (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)

*Additional tour dates of Mark Nevin was posted at Mark Nevin's official site:
Jan.29 The Borderline(London)
Feb.1 Tower Arts Centre(Winchester)
Feb.2 The Musician(Leicester)
Feb.3 The Witchwood(Ashton under Lyne)
Feb.9 The Empire(Belfast)
Feb.10-16 TBA(Ireland)
Feb.19 Concorde 2(Brighton)
Feb.20 TBA(Southampton)
Feb.28 TBA(Nottingham)
Mar.1-9 TBA(Scotland)
Update (Feb.8):
Here are new and cofirmed Mark Nevin tour date:
Feb.11 Borders Bookshop(Kingston Upon Thames) - Acoustic Gig
Feb.20 The Brook(Southampton)
Mar.14 Salisbury Arts Centre(Salisbury)

'01
*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark will play on December15 at Half Moon in London. It's going to be a "double header"(according to Mark) with Bap Kennedy, who did the support for Eddi Reader at her concert at Cabot Hall(for details, please refer to his official site). Mark will also perform at Birmingham Songwriters Festival, which will be held January 14 - 19, '02, with again, Bap Kennedy.

*Mark Nevin's official site is now refurbished and got hold of the new domain - marknevin.com. Not only it looks different, the contents is very enhanced and now it offers among others: detailed info including song lyrics, artwork on his new album The Mighty Dove; complete discography with song lyrics to all the songs Mark wrote on his own including his Fairground Attraction days; detailed and personal biography. You can buy his single/albums online now.

'00
*According to Mark Nevin's official site, Mark will play a show at Kashmir Klub on Nov. 5, and it will be webcast live. The time is unknown, but they host live show nightly from 9:00pm - 11:30pm GMT and there will be one more act other than Mark. The band will be of the lineup you don't want to miss...as they are Roger Beaujolais, Simon Edwards, Roy Dodds and Graham Henderson, i.e. all ex-Fairground Attraction tour members minus Eddi...Be sure to check it!
Update (Nov.5):
According to Mark Nevin himself, Mark will play from 10:00pm - 10:30pm GMT. Unfortunately Graham Henderson pulled out of the show, so it will be Mark, Roy, Simon and Roger. You can see the webcast here.
Update (Nov.6):
Watched the webcast. He played twelve songs including encore for 55 minutes. The band was Roger, Simon and Roy as told before and violin player joined in some songs, which was a good spice actually. I bet half of the songs played are new songs to be included in the coming album.
Update (Nov.10):
Here's the setlist:
The Mighty Dove
All Of Us
Simple Faith (with Jake Walker on Viola)
Little Bridge (with Jake Walker on Viola)
The One I Love
Queen Of Angels
What The Hell Is Going On?
Home
Turnaround
Allelujiah
Have A Go Hero
(Encore)
Absent Friend

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, the new album is finished. The title will be "The Mighty Dove" and other details will be informed at the site 'ASAP.' Let's wait and see...
Update (Nov.1):
According to Mark's site, details about the album will be available when the official site is completely re-designed.
Update (Nov.5):
According to Mark, the new album will be out on Feb.4. For details, wait for the website redesign!

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, he will do a gig on April 1 at Half Moon in Putney with Squeeze' Chris Difford and Helen Boulding. And now he's working to make a new album with Roy Dodds, Simon Edwards and Roger Beaujolais.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site again, Mark will do a full set with his band at The Kashmir Klub on Nov.15. It will be live webcast too.
Update (Nov.15, '00):
According to Mark Nevin himself, he will appear at around 9:15pm local time(4:15pm US EST).
Update (Nov.19, '00):
The setlist went like this(told by Mark Nevin...thanks Mark!):
1. The Mighty Dove (new song)
2. All Of Us (new song)
3. Simple Faith
4. Absent Friend (new song)
5. Tobermorey Bay (new song)
6. Queen Of Angels
7. What The Hell Is Going On
8. The One I Love (new song)
9. Home
10. Allelujah
11. Have A Go Hero
Encore
12. You Don't Have to Make Me Laugh
The first four songs were played by just Mark and Roger Beaujolais. The atmosphere was very soothing and relaxing. From Tobermorey Bay, which Mark played at Helioscentlic Songwriters Festival too, Roy Dodds(drums) and Simon Edwards(bass) joined to make the perfect ensemble. The quality of the broadcast was so-so with occasional interruption in video, but it was well worth watching.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, his live performance at Helioscentlic Songwriters Festival on Sept.30 or Oct.1 will be web-broadcast at i-gig. As a side note, his composition with Paul Brady, Love Made A Promise, is now included on Joe Cocker's latest album, No Ordinary World. It's already out on Aug.21 in the US.
Update (Sept.26, '00):
According to Mark Nevin himself, Mark will appear on Oct.1. Other performers on this day include Dr.Robert, Paul Carrack and Chris Difford & Jane Birkin.
Update (Oct.1, '00):
According to Mark Nevin himself again, the festival will start at 1:00pm and he is scheduled to play from around 7:00pm. But he also advised that it's safer in case of schedule change, to check it from one hour earlier or so. He will play backed only by Roger Beaujolais. The URL for the webcast is :
http://www.i-gig.com/heli/home/
and click "watch it". It's in the midnight in Japan, so I hope to get some report from UK people.
Update (Oct.5, '00):
It seems it was not a realtime webcast, but now you can watch low speed version of the performances(Windows Media Player needed). Broad Band version will be uploaded later.
Update (Oct.20, '00):
I watched the webcast finally. It goes like this:
1. Tobermorey Bay (new song)
2. Absent Friend (new song)
3. Simple Faith
4. All of Us (new song)
5. Allelujah
6. Have a Go Hero
Total timing is about 25 minutes.
It was done only by Mark on guitar and Roger Beajolais on vibraphone in a studio-like setting with some audience. He played three new songs, all of which are great. Especially the second track, Absent Friend sounds somewhere like Sweetmouth song and has a relaxing and warm feel. Mark's vocal on these tracks well matches the songs and you can feel that he improved much on his singing. He doensn't hesitate to sing Allelujah anymore.

Mark kindly told me the behind-the-scenes stories to the first two new songs. Here are his words:
(On Tobermorey Bay）
I wrote it with Helen Boulding, my girlfreind. The song is about a place on the Isle Of Mull in Scotland. My mother died at Christmas last year and after she died and before the funeral Helen and I drove up to Scotland, I wanted to go to Iona, which is a very special little island off the west coast. The night before we crossed the sea to Iona we stayed in Tobermorey Bay, it was two days after new year and the new Millenium.
(On Absent Friend)
Absent Friend is a song that I actually wrote a few years ago and have never released, Brian Kennedy did in fact sing it at a lot of his shows, I am going to pit it on my next album. (Thank you for sharing the stories, Mark!)

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, he will play at Kashmir Klub on May 2, which will be broadcast live via internet. It will start from 9pm GMT.

*According to Mark Nevin's official site, he played a solo acoustic concert in Belfast, Ireland on March 18.

'99
*In January issue of Mojo, there's a small article about Mark Nevin and he talks about how he came to think about singing himself.

*According to a Billy Bragg Fan Site, Simon Edwards, who used to play gitaron in Fairground Attraction, is now a tour member of Billy Bragg and plays bass.

*Mark cowrote the title track with his ex-bandmate Brian Kennedy, in his latest album, "Now That I Know What I Want." Brian even cowrote with Boo Hewerdine among others too. For details of the album, refer to his official site. You can buy the album online here and here.

*Mark Nevin's first solo album, "Insensitive Songwriter" finally went on sale publicly in Japan on Oct. 29, '99. This is not a Japanese release though, as it's an import circulated by a Japanese record company. But it is with a special comment from Mr. Peter Barakan who wrote useful liner notes on Fairground Attraction's "The First of A Million Kisses":

"The essence of the charms of Fairground Attraction who made '80s best pop album was definitely Eddi Reader's voice and Mark Nevin's songs. His romantic expressions which never gets unrealistic, were irresistable. After ten years, his senses are still accute. I am carried away by his original music, whose stylish sound is built around the sounds of vibraphone, and sung gently by himself." (This text is translated by myself and not the actual words by Mr. Barakan)

* Mark Nevin did two shows, Nov.9 at Bloomsbury Theatre in London and Nov.12 at Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon, both opening for Suzanne Vega.

*You can still see the concert Mark did at Mean Fiddler on July 7, here in real video. It is 44 minutes long and 10 songs set:
1. Home
2. You Don't Have to Make Me Laugh
3. Perfect
4. Simple Faith
5.（New Song?）
6. Queen of Angels
7. What the Hell is Going On?
8. Heatwave in a Ghost Town
9. Allelujah
10. Have a Go Hero

The band members were: Mark, Roger Beaugolais on vibraphone, Roy Dodds on drums, and Martyn Swain on bass. He did sing better than in the album and he also did two Fairground Attraction numbers. Hope we can see him live in Japan too.

*Mark finished his tour for two months from May 20. It was the tour with Ron Sexsmith, Suzanne Vega, Marianne Faithful, Vonda Shepherd, Mike Oldfield and Brian Kennedy. He did appear in Glastonbury too.

*You can read Mark's interview at BIRDpages (long text with picutures) and at The Irish Times as linked at Mark's official web site.

*You can see Mark's interview in real video at Dotmusic. He sings Queen of Angels with his guitar(a nice performance) at the end of the interview.

*Mark Nevin's first solo effort ever, "Insensitive Songwriter" was released in the UK on June 28, '99. On all of the songs, he does the vocal part himself.

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