2010 news

I am delighted to be able to point you in the direction of a new, budding website, The Avalonian Spirit Level, Organ of The Free State of Avalon. Multi-dimensional tactician magus and determinedly free spirit Tim Flatus (of The Invisible Opera Co. of Tibet, Silver on the Tree and Ici Maintenants fame) decided to take up the challenge to publicly revive, stimulate, document and open up to the wider world a concept that has been dear to the hearts of all true Avalonians for many years. The more interestingly turbulent the times the more such portals to other pathways and realities are needed and may prove fruitful.

Prior to Gong's September 2010 dates Steve, daevid and Gilli were busy spinning tales and spreading the word. They did loads so you'll probably bump into the results all over the place.

• Record Collector October 2010 features a large Gong article several pages long - their first big Gong article since the mid 1990s.
• Classic Rock September 2010 has a half page Q and A article with Gilli Smyth.
• Steve Hillage has been doing some recording for radio stations listed below. There are couple of interviews and a "take-over" where he chooses some favourite music. These may be archived by the stations.
  • Rock Radio : 106.1 FM Manchester; 96.3 FM Glasgow. Was boradcast 10pm on Tuesday August 31st.
  • Kerrang Radio : 105.2 FM Birmingham; DAB: Kerrang Radio. 5pm on Sunday August 22nd
  • Total Rock Radio : Broadcast Thursday August 19th
• daevid allen and Gilli Smyth also did some telephone interviews from the GAS office, but for who escapes me at the moment. They could turn up anywhere, "Caravan Monthly" to "Nursing Times" …expect the unexpected, I expect.

Gong's UK dates in September are only one month away now, so all manner of Gongishness can be expected to pop up. Over the past month Steve, Daevid and Gilli have all been busy spinning tales and generally spreading the word. You'll probably bump into the results all over the place. Here are some more of the firmer points of contact to look out for...

• Record Collector for October is due to feature a large Gong article. The magazine will be on the newstands in the last week of August. [preview]
• Classic Rock's current September edition, has a half page Q and A article with Gilli.
• Steve Hillage has been doing some recording for radio stations listed below. There are couple of interviews and a "take-over" where he chooses some favourite music. None of these have been broadcast yet.
• Rock Radio : 106.1 FM Manchester; 96.3 FM Glasgow. To be broadcast 10pm on Tuesday August 31st.
• Kerrang Radio : 105.2 FM Birmingham; DAB: Kerrang Radio. 5pm on Sunday August 22nd
• Total Rock Radio : To be broadcast Thursday August 19th, time TBC.
• Daevid and Gilli also did some telephone interviews from the GAS office, but for who escapes me at the moment. They could turn up anywhere, "Caravan Monthly" to "Nursing Times" ...expect the unexpected, I expect.

Haiti Appeal Project triple CD track Dream Me A River (Arc of Darkness Dub mix).

Also available, with or without the rest of the album from iTunes and other download sites. The album has tracks by many of the best trance, downtemp and chill-out acts such as Eat Static, Gaudi, Greg Hunter, and there is even an Alan Parsons track featuring Shpongle and Dave Gilmour. All proceeds going to the Haiti Earthquake victims.

"Blood of the Earth" (studio recording), was released at the end of July. I'm sure Tim Blake plays a key role in proceedings… It is available in several different formats including vinyl. (I think you have to buy all of them in order to get every newly released track?). I may stock a few copies in the Bazaar.

"The Madcap Laughs Again" (Mojo magazine's March 2010 cover-mount CD) includes a version of Syd Barrett's "Long Gong" contributed by Hawkwind. Rather old news, but… rather good.

Steve Hillage has been invited by guitarist Manuel Göttsching, prime mover of Ash Ra Tempel and Ashra, to be part of 'Inventions For Electric Guitar' at the 10th Metamorphose Festival in Japan on September 4th. Other guest guitarists are ace avant-guartist Elliott Sharp, and young Zhang Shouwang from China. 'Inventions for Electric Guitar' is Manuel's 1975 solo album of richly treated and effected guitar pieces which was ahead of it's time - well worth exploring. Rehearsals have been taking place in London and I know that Steve is excited at the prospect of the gig. YOu'll find samples of the original album Manuel's website.

Hawkwind, including of course Tim Blake, were honoured at the Mojo Awards earlier this month when they received the 'Maverick' award. So congratulations to the current line-up and all the other mavericks (and boy have there been some) who have have served the Hawkwind cause over the years. And as Tim himself posted on the Planetgong Forum, "Being awarded such a distinction was one of the weird things that bring stuff into light. I thought how proud I was to have taken part in the two most marvellously "Maverick" bands in the past 41 years!"

Due to receiving 'surplus stock' from the record label we now offer the remaining supplies of this intriguing series of daevid allen archive CDs at great prices, and one much nearer the price I thought perhaps they should have been in the first place. If you want to complete your collection single copies are just £6.00 + VAT, and there are further even lower price per CD deals on buying two different batches of 7, or all 14 of the remaining BMO numbers. The planned BMO releases, Nos. 18, 19 and 20 will almost certainly now not be released.

Many other Voiceprint Gong related CD releases are also greatly reduced in price.

Audio samples in the bazaar.

Universal Sounds of Orchestra present System 7 in Tokyo this Saturday, May 1st - quick, engage - teleport now - tuneful, colourful Youtube advert.

In Japan, Beltane coincides with Sakura, or the Cherry Blossom season. Apparently due to the cold Winter the Cherry Blossom forecast here in Europe is better than it has been for years. I hope you are seeing evidence of that near you right now!

Byron Bay, Australia, Sunday 7 March 2010, The Rails car park, 2pm. Read daevid allen's (centre, clothed) take on events, download the newspaper page, see the ride reports?

Inspiral Lounge - Saturday, 24th April. The CD will be released June 21st - the Summer Solstice - and will be available to pre-order here at Planet Gong as soon as possible.

In other Steve and Miquete news : A great bouncing psy-trance System 7 remix track with some distinctively Hillageian guitar lines appears on the Liquid Soul album, 'Cocktails', which was released on Jan 5th of this year. Hunt it down. As the alert among you may remember Mr L. Soul did a rather fabulous remix of 'Space Bird' on the System 7 EP of the same name. A nice productive example of "I'll remix yours if you remix mine…".

The first Gong gigs of 2010 to be announced, and the only ones planned for the UK, are in three of our favourite locations. It's 10 years since Gong played Glasgow, a city justifiably renown for hosting some of the most vibrant gigs - must be the water. Manchester Gong gigs are always very hearty affairs, it's almost a second home. Last year's gig sold out 3 months in advance so to avoid any disappointment this year the Gong/Space Ritual event will be in the larger of the Academy venues. Finally the Forum, home of the Gong 25th party in '94 and many other memorable capital city Gong extravaganzas over the years. What the Bataclan in Paris has always been to Gong the Forum has clearly become in London.

This will be the UK's first chance to experience Ian East, newest recruit to the cause in the ever revolving Gong whirligig. He was amazing on the European tour last year and is a very humorously creative sax and flute player ideally suited to Gong's particular quirks. For any of you prone to fret - please don't, saxist extrordinaire, Theo Travis has not vanished, nor has Dr Howlett, they are just very busy chaps and are rightly surfing their own personal waves for now. Also on board this season is Dave Sturt on bass. He too slotted perfectly into last year's European (and a couple of the UK Festivals), and then took it further. Everything bubbles along in a way we all find most stimulating and pleasurable. We trust that you will find it likewise.

With such vibrant juice in the tank we are naturally working on other opportunities to come together with you this year, French dates in September are currently being finalised. Stay tuned, more gig news very soon.

Birmingham's HMV Institute on Monday 20th September has just been added to the list of UK Gong dates this year. A bit of a late surprise, but a very pleasant one. It's over 30 years since the band have played what used to be known as the Digbeth Civic Hall. So most pleasingly a heart of England gig joins the three other favourite locations in hosting the Gong/Space Ritual extravaganza. Just click on the image above to order tickets (yes I know Birmingham not listed there yet).

It's 10 years since Gong played Glasgow, a city justifiably renown for hosting some of the most vibrant gigs - must be the water. Manchester Gong gigs are always very hearty affairs, it's almost a second home. Last year's gig sold out 3 months in advance so to avoid any disappointment this year the Gong/Space Ritual event will be in the larger of the Academy venues. Finally the Forum, home of the Gong 25th party in '94 and many other memorable capital city Gong extravaganzas over the years. What the Bataclan in Paris has always been to Gong the Forum has clearly become in London.

This will be the UK's first chance to experience Ian East, newest recruit to the cause in the ever revolving Gong whirligig. He was amazing on the European tour last year and is a very humorously creative sax and flute player ideally suited to Gong's particular quirks. For any of you prone to fret - please don't, saxist extrordinaire, Theo Travis has not vanished, nor has Dr Howlett, they are just very busy chaps and are rightly surfing their own personal waves for now. Also on board this season is Dave Sturt on bass. He too slotted perfectly into last year's European (and a couple of the UK Festivals), and then took it further. Everything bubbles along in a way we all find most stimulating and pleasurable. We trust that you will find it likewise.

Gong's Italian dates in July have now been finalised. Joining the Rome gig on Thursday 8th is one in Asti, between Turin and Genoa, on the Monday 5th and Imola, near Bologna, on Tuesday 6th. All three are in stunning locations, a Park, a Piazza and the grounds of a Renaissance Castle.

And….we are possibly not quite finished with the Gong gig schedule for 2010. There is a chance that a futher European gig may appear in the September schedule.

Hugh's wife Christine and daughter Rosa are in temporary but pressing need of money. Christine has very recently come out of hospital, and for complex reasons (compounded by the glacial pace of estate law, following Hugh's passing) is desperately low on funds. If you are able to help, please contribute - either here, or at Chris Cutler's ReR Megacorp.

Additionally, all proceeds from sales of the Brainville 3 CD - both at ReR and Planet Gong - are dedicated directly to aid High's family.