The Ophiuchvs Recordvs Label
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photo of Ophiuchus by Martin Tom Sawyer
photo of Ophiuchus by Martin Tom Sawyer
Re-issued 26th May 2008 as part of Free Reed's "The Second Series"
The Old Swan Band's 'No Reels' album has been re-released on CD for the first time by Free Reed as part of their 'The Second Series' re-issues.
The CD includes a short film documentary by Jon Cousins on the origins of the Old Swan Band, featuring interviews with Ken Langsbury, Rod Stradling, Jo Freya, Fi Fraser, Martin Brinsford, Paul Burgess, Peter Hayes, and John Kirkpatrick, plus live footage of the band performing at Cheltenham Folk Festival.
The CD booklet features notes by Jon about making the documentary, The Old Swan Band, Plain Capers, Gloucester Old Spot Morris Dancers, Ken Langsbury, and his involvement with The Cafe Sol Band.
Full details of the release can be found on Free Reed's Homepage.
Re-issued 13th July 2007 as part of Free Reed's "The First Series"
This CD re-issue of John Kirkpatrick's seminal album includes a DVD version of the documentary film made by Jon Cousins about the LP's cover photo. Full details of the release can be found on Free Reed's Homepage. This is the first time the documentary, made in 1998, has been available on disc, and the film features interviews with John Kirkpatrick, and various members of The Old Swan Band, Edward II and the Red Hot Polkas, The Caf� Sol Band, and Brass Monkey.
Here are Jon's thoughts on the release of the film:
"In 1995 I was studying documentary programme production as part of a media degree at Cheltenham. I decided to get some work as a musician to supplement my meagre grant, and so I went to the Axiom Club, (a hotbed of Cheltenham cultural activity), and was ordering a drink when my eye alighted on a small note stuck on the edge of the bar: bassist wanted for Caf� Sol ceilidh band. "What do you know about this?" I asked the barman. "Nothing," he replied, "but you could ask the guy next to you; he�s the one who brought the notice in." I tapped the guy next to me on the shoulder: "Are you looking for a musician?" I asked. "Are you a bassist?" he replied. "Nope." (I thought honesty the best policy). "Do you play English Country music?" "Nope." Well that was it; I joined the Caf� Sol Band the next week. The man I had stood next to was Peter Hayes. Although I didn�t know it at the time, this meeting was to be my introduction to the magical world of the Old Spot Morris, Ken Langsbury, Bampton, The Old Swan Band, and English Country music. It would also eventually lead to my production of a documentary about John Kirkpatrick�s wonderful �Plain Capers� LP as part of my final year at college.
"When I told my tutors that I was going to make a programme about the Morris, they thought I was joking. Then, when they saw I was serious, they thought I was completely mad - one tutor even refused to sit through the screening! What drove me to it? Two things come to mind:
"A memory of the first time I listened to the album back in the early 80�s. I was hanging out with friends who were members of Chippenham Morris. I listened in reverence whilst they talked about Francis Shergold in hushed voices - I didn�t realise at the time that this �mythic� dancer was a real person, so you can imagine my surprise when I met him many years later!
"As a film-maker, the thought of a Plain Capers programme had an added attraction to me. On its cover, personified in Paddy O�Beirnes� iconic photograph of the legendary Old Spot Morris, is the basis of a visual English Country �Folk Family Tree� from the 1970s to the present.
"I remember, not long after joining Caf� Sol, I was round Pete Hayes� one day and he put the LP on. While we listened, he started to point out the people on the cover: "That�s me," he said. "That�s Martin Brinsford, who plays on the album and is now a member of Brass Monkey. That�s Rod Stradling who was in Oak, and was a founder of The Old Swan Band with Martin and Fi Fraser, (who also plays on the album). Rod was also in Tiger Moth, and the English Country Blues Band. There�s Ken (Langsbury). Of course Ken was in The Songwainers, started Caf� Sol, and he�s well known as a solo singer and story teller. Just out of picture is Paul Burgess, who was also in Old Swan. Paul has worked with Laurie Lee, and is in the English Country Dance Band with Martin and Rod. I think Paul and Rod also played in Edward II and the Red Hot Polkas with David Haines, who was also in The Old Spot." The list went on, and on, finally cumulating in: "And that�s Teddy Taylor who went missing one day! (?)"
"So in January 1998 I began working on the programme with three other students, none of them totally convinced by the subject matter! Production started in February, and it was a great delight for me that both John Kirkpatrick and Free Reed�s Neil Wayne agreed to take part. I had the particular idea that we should try to recreate Paddy�s photo by bringing as many of the Old Spot back together as possible. Out of the 14 people in the original photo (including Paul Burgess), I managed, with a lot of help from Keith Glover, to contact 12 who were all delighted to be involved. The Old Spot met once again at the Old Bear Inn, Cricklade on Sunday 24th May 1998, and the �Reunion� photograph was taken by Lis Parsons. Not present were Darrel Glover, who was unfortunately out of the UK at the time, and Teddy Taylor - still missing!"
Jon performing 'Time Has Not Taken Me' at the 2005 Tribute.
Jon Cousins performed at 2005's Nick Drake Tribute Concert, on Saturday 30th July, at St. Mary's Church, Tanworth-in-Arden.
Jon performed 'Time Has Not Taken Me' (originally released on his 'Songs From Rachel's Book' album) and a cover of Jackson C. Frank's 'Blues Run The Game'.
Jon performing 'Hallelujah' at the Tribute, picture from the High Planets website
The second of two rare solo appearances by Jon Cousins this year was at the Nick Drake Tribute Gathering in Tanworth-in-Arden. Visit The Official Gathering Website here (NB use BACK button to return to News page).
Jon performed Cohen's 'Hallelujah'.
The BeatROOTS at Glastonbury - Jon Cousins, Mark Newton, and Pete Hayes
'The BeatROOTS', featuring Ophiuchus founder Jon Cousins, fellow ex-Caf� Sol member Pete Hayes, and Danny Blyth on Guitar and Mandolin played at Glastonbury Festival on Friday 25th June, performing on the 'Bandstand Stage'. On the Festival's only bright sunny afternoon, the group - with new Bassist Mark Newton - played an hours set, which was recorded, to a warm and enthusiastic reception.
Jon and Pete played again as an unplugged duo on the afternoon of Saturday 26th at 'The Banyan Tree' Stage, and Jon gave a rare solo gig at the 'Tiny Tea Tent' Caf� venue on Saturday evening - performing mainly covers including Tim Buckley's 'Happy Time', Fred Neild's 'Dolphins', and Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'.
The BeatROOTS promo CD cover
The BeatROOTS are a new English Country Roots band formed by Ophiuchus singer and ex-Caf� Sol guitarist Jon Cousins with fellow ex-Caf� Sol members Pete Hayes (caller and harmonicas) and Dick Hanson (Bass). The line up is completed by Mandolin(ist) and Guitarist Danny Blyth.
The BeatROOTS have produced a demonstration CD entitled 'Slightly Down Hill', not available in the shops!, and will be performing a Ceilidh near you soon.
Both Jon Cousins and the Ken Langsbury Band (featuring Jon and fellow Caf� Soler Pete Hayes) are performing at the Isle of Mann's Beltaine Fest. This is a return concert by the Ken Langsbury Band (Friday 3rd May), and Jon's first ever solo appearance (Saturday 4th May).
photo of The Caf� Sol Band by Peter Hayes
After a couple of years appearing with nearly everyone else except themselves the Cafes are back in action at the 48th Sidmouth International Festival, where they perform at the Anchor Gardens on Sunday 4th August, at 4pm.
In preparation for Sidmouth, the Cafes played a blistering set at the Saul2002 'Folk on the Water' event in July.
The Ken Langsbury Band (featuring Jon Cousins and fellow Caf� Soler Pete Hayes) are performing at the Isle of Mann's Beltaine Free Festival, opening the Friday night Concert, and performing again on Saturday afternoon.
Photo of Old Spot Morris used for the Plain Capers LP sleeve by Paddy O'Beirnes
Two of Jon Cousins' films will be screened at the 3rd Cheltenham Folk Festival, including his documentary on the Gloucester Old Spot Morris: 'Plain Capers', which features John Kirkpatrick, The Old Swan Band, Edward II and the Red Hot Polkas, The Caf� Sol Band, and Brass Monkey.
'Songs From Rachel's Book', the first solo offering from Jon Cousins was released as a limited edition CD and Cassette on 11th November 1998. The album features 13 tracks with contributions from fellow Ophiuchans Pat D'Arcy, Pete Causer, and Xavier Tutein.
Catalogue Numbers
CD = Ophiuchvs Recordvs OPHCD1
Cassette = Ophiuchvs Recordvs OPH006
The Caf� Sol Band appear at the Cheltenham Town Hall as part of the Cheltenham International Music Festival on July 24th 1998.
The Caf� Sol Band will appear at the Cheltenham Folk Festival on Sunday 8th of February 1998, in the 'Pillar Room' venue at 6pm. Band members Mike Christie and Lawrence Wright will also be dancing with the Silurian Morris on Saturday 7th.
Links to other sites on the Web
The Caf� Sol Band Info Page by Webfeet
