Howdy all, I hope this finds you in rude health. It’s been an interesting couple of months since I last blogged on here. At the start of March I found myself recording and producing in the Wolf Cabin on quite a regular basis, with various brilliant and unique misfits and talents – this seems to have continued sporadically…leading up to the release of ‘El Magnifico’, I drove up to Newcastle, staying with my dear friend Kathryn Williams & then onto Edinburgh and Glasgow for various commitments, with one day off, where I nearly got blown away by a Scottish gale on Arthur’s Seat. I lived to tell the tale, nursing my pint of Guinness in the Sheep Heid, Edinburgh’s oldest pub, looking like a sad, drowned ghost. After returning home, post-release of the record, I proceeded to tour the UK of it’s finest record stores and perform in my nudie suit, with a drum machine and a piano, even my four track cassette recorder towards the final shows. I can’t thank everyone enough for their kind words about the album, it really feels like it has been a resounding success and that makes it so worthwhile. It felt very exhilarating playing the songs with a full band at the Rambling Roots festival, even though I forgot my pedalboard. Fuck it! Who needs pedals (me, I have a slight addiction to be honest). The week after I spent two days in Abbey Road writing with one of my oldest collaborators, Sophie Ellis-Bextor & none other than the legendary Nile Rodgers – I was quite nervous to begin with but he’s a very warm and welcoming character, by the end..it was quite an experience I won’t forget in a hurry. He has a planet named after him called….er..Nile Rodgers. Anyway, I have just come back from Sweden having spent a week with Peter Jöback, who’s album just came out ( Kathryn W & I wrote it with Peter and I produced it) – that was a gas, it’s so nice to see Peter so happy in his natural element, what a guy. I also managed to slip in some solo shows which were splendid, with specials guests ahoy – even made it to Peter Moren’s little pub gig in Stockholm and sung Sitting on the Dock of the Bay with him and his stellar band. Phew! Then….it was the Baftas. Yes I was nominated for a Bafta Craft Award for Otto Baxter: Not A F**king Horror Story. Gita looked stunning & I attempted to play it cool on the red carpet and we quaffed quite a few cocktails, gotta milk it right? Sadly I did not snag the award but Bruce & Peter, the directors won so that was pretty righteous in the end. Right now I’m gearing up for more production in the ole’ cabin, tomorrow it’s Ministry of Desire, featuring Richard Strange & Clifford Slapper, my favourite odd couple! Stay cool and hang tough, thanks for selling out the vinyl of El Magnifico and see you all down the road. Best, ED.
THE HOME OF ALL THINGS ED HARCOURT 