#notsobigblog

[georgemontague]

a rather large blog-type update on what has been occurring through October so far... a few gigs I played, a few gigs I went to (The Hoosiers​ Trick to Life 10th Anniversary Tour + SK Shlomo​ for his Birthday show at Camden Assembly​), plus Elles Bailey's album launch gig and a something special she is up to in the studio, as well as some details on my upcoming live shows: 

29th October - The Bacon Theatre​, Cheltenham 

28th November - The Stables​, Milton Keynes (supporting Andrew roachford​) 

30th November - TANK Gloucester​ 

5th December - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club​, London 

 14th December - Pizza Express (Winchester)​ 2018 

13th January - The Prince Albert , Stroud​

19th January - Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury​ 

also, some awesome new sketches by Emilyjaysee Illustrations​ for my 10 Characters project... 

I hope you enjoy, please like and share 

 thank you 

G xx

[georgemontague]

just a little round up of September including the upcoming gigs: Elles Bailey​'s album Launch show in Bristol Saturday night, Pizza Express Solihull on 12th and Oktoberfest at The Potting Shed Pub​ next weekend! 

plus, some amazing artwork sent in by Nathan and Emilyjaysee Illustrations​ (emilyjaysee.com) 

and my first 5 nominations for the 10 characters/songs project - Emi McDade​, Ethemia​, The Black Feathers​, Ben Maggs​ and SK Shlomo​ The Rules: 10 songs written in 10 days taking suggestions for song titles/characters from fans 

(by the end of it having 10 songs written and demoed with a video by the end of the 10 days - or split it in half and do 5 in 5...) 

this is all about the fun and sharing in the inspiration with fellow artists and songwriters be creative, have fun 

much love 

G xx

[georgemontague]

Part iii of August 2017 notsobigvlogs - yet another impromptu performance, this time helping out Emi McDade after she lost her voice and playing SoMAC, plus Selsley Sausage & Cider Festival and The Potting Shed - don't forget to post your ideas for characters for my 10 songs in 10 days project... Thank you as always, please consider subscribing and sharing G xx

[georgemontague]

Part ii of August 2017 notsobigvlogs - a whole bunch of last minute unexpected gigs in August - plus planting a little seed about an idea of writing 10 songs, in 10 days, about 10 characters, in 10 genres (if I can…) make sure you comment with you ideas and suggestions for characters below Thank you for watching, please consider subscribing for more ciao ciao G xx

[georgemontague]

Part i of August 2017 notsobigvlogs - filmed in the shadow of BBC Broadcasting House after my 90 minute set for Caffè Nero BBC World Cafe - plus announcing my show at The Camden Assembly at the end of the month! Thanks for watching, please consider subscribing for more Everything you do to support me and my music really does help, thank you my notsobigfans! ciao G xx

[georgemontague]

Blues found a new Groove

Brewery Blues has definitely found a new home at Cirencester Rugby Club, felt so good to be back playing for John and the team to welcome in their new home. It is a perfect place to be and made for some great new faces in the audience, the CRFC crowd that came along were so up for dancing and singing, it was a great night of laughter and music!

As always it was nice to come out unplugged and play ‘Flame’ acoustically in and amongst the audience - and so nice to be welcomed back so warmly with open arms that love and appreciate my music, even just me stripped back with just Gloria (my guitar)

Also, check out these stunning snaps from my good friend Eric Hobson

Next up it’s TANK in Gloucester Quays on Thursday 13th April 

and after that we have Monday 17th April back with my notsobigband at The Daffodil in Cheltenham

Also, last bit of exciting news, I will be playing a couple ‘Around Town…’ sets for Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Saturday 29th April:

1pm - Imperial Gardens 2pm - Regents Arcade

Will be nice to be in and amongst the excitement of the festival crowd on the streets of Cheltenham

Just a quick update for now, will let you know how the next couple shows go

Last thing, how would you feel about some new George Montague music before the end of the year?

ciao ciao

G

[georgemontague]

Everyman loves The Stables + a Tea Party + Della Lupa’s Frog and Fiddle

A truly wonderful feeling to be back on a stage you have been performing on since you were in your early teens! And three years after first performing their as ‘George Montague’ music artist… I do love the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham - holds many fond memories.

We had the most special night, packed into the intimate studio with so many familiar friendly faces in the audience. Tom on drums, virtuoso and occasional banter-filled as ever, and a huge thank you/well done to Zak Raynard for stepping in at the last minute to play some stonking bass. Super! Felt good to be back on stage with a band, making a great sound for an enthusiastic crowd, with very special moments including bringing ‘Hold On’ and ‘Hamish’ both back into the set!

Finally got ‘A-Lone Boy’ out there with a band arrangement which sounded awesome! Going for that indie sound of bands like The Strokes, it finally slotted into place sonically in my head and I think I have a much better idea of how I will record it for the next record… yay!

THANK YOU to all the notsobigfans who came out to see me back in the theatre, we rocked!

Then off down to Milton Keynes to play The Stables. What a gorgeous and lovely crowd, only one of which had ever been to a G show before (thank you Alistair for spreading the word of the show)! Most heartening to playing a city I have not before and see kind new faces enjoying the show. Very big thank you to the most warm and welcoming staff for looking after us so beautifully with tasty sandwiches and teas backstage! Great night!!

Interesting Tour Anecdote: Yamaha upright pianos tend to be a lot higher than some so which using Louis (my loopstation) I had to decide where to place him for ease of use during the songs, as he usually goes centre up on the top, but it was far too far away to see when playing sitting down, so I set him up on my Pelicase next to me which after a quick relearning of where to move my hands to fire off the live loops it worked well…

During ‘Risk’ my A string snapped on Gloria which meant I had to bring the song to a close much quicker than intended, though still with a rousing singalong “take that risk”, and forced my encore ‘A-Lone Boy’ to be played on BB (Big-Blue, my hollow body) which made for a very different feel that I rather enjoyed!

Anyway the next night I was back home in Cheltenham to play Boston Tea Party in aid of the Butterfly Garden Charity - nice to play a set just with Gloria and no loopy frills! ‘Otto Orange’ seems to be finding its way onto my setlist a lot lately…

And finally in this March stint of the Curiouser Tour, it was fantastic to be asked to support the talented Della Lupa on her Arts funded March tour for her Cheltenham date at The Frog and Fiddle (kindly set up by The Cheltenham Underground, thanks John for asking me!)

Interesting Tour Anecdote: not very interesting and rather annoying, Louis decided to die this night… he has been struggling with the mic connection for some time but on Tuesday evening 9pm (after working perfectly fine during soundcheck), he decided it was time to pass on… Luckily! The lovely folks at Roland UK are picking him up on Monday and he will go off to be repaired *fingers crossed* and be back in time for Brewery Blues on Friday 7th April!

Although I was sans Louis, the amazing audience, along with Steph and her brilliant backing singers (utilising a bag of badges as a shaker) sang their hearts out and joined in to make it a supreme show, also with my spontaneous backing hype/dancer man Adam!

All in all it has been a rather event filled few weeks! Looking forward to playing Cafe Rene in Gloucester on 30th too…

Really appreciate you coming along to see me at these shows my friends and especially you lovely folks who have bought copies of Curiouser on CD, I love being able to sign and thank you properly and personally for being there and supporting live music! Oh and lastly, I applied for my Blue Tick Verified status on Spotify last week… we made it!! Thank you!

talk to you later folks

G

[georgemontague]

Playing The Lantern for The First Time

Spontaneous collaborations seem to be my favourite kind!

I had the most amazing night in The Lantern at Colston Hall in Bristol playing one of SK Shlomo’s brand new songs, ‘The First Time’ - he put a shout out for filmmakers online, so I offered and he said “well, if you are there, do you want to play one of my new songs with me?”

We arrived just in time to catch his Children’s Beatbox Adventure (which was awesome!) and then we set up the cameras ready to film a few runs of his new single, my brother, Tim, was able to come along too which meant we got some really sweet footage!

After the filming, we sound checked and rehearsed ‘The First Time’ and then went for food at the AMAZING restaurant across the road form Colston Hall… OMG!! with Sound engineer and regular chap Luke, as well as Laura (from This Means War) - huge thank you to Shlo’s lovely wife Michelle for her hospitality, was so nice to finally meet her! With full bellies we headed back over to The Lantern to warm up and get ready for the show… it was a real privilege to watch Shlomo do his thing from the wings, and then when it was my turn I came on stage with a mug of hot peppermint tea - it is just how I roll…

A very different kind of performance than I am used to as I was firing off MIDI changes and playing a baseline one minute and then switching to synth chords for the chorus and then soft piano, so much fun to use my brain in a different way to perform. I really enjoy working with Shlo, it is strange, I feel I owe a lot to him for his infectious can-do enthusiasm for beatboxing and the positivity that anyone can do the basics (probably has even tried)

I love it when I get to hang with an artist as talented and at the top of his game as Shlo, and it just feels like I am with a dear old friend, warm and welcoming, kind and encouraging - he really is a legend! THANK YOU, the first of many more I hope! :D

There has been a flurry of new dates added to the tour and it is ever growing… always the way when I finally make the poster I then get more and more dates to add :P hehe

Upcoming CURIOUSER 2017 Tour + live dates: 

Saturday 25th February - Caffè Nero, Heathrow Airport

Saturday 11th March - Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Thursday 16th March - The Stables, Milton Keynes

Friday 17th March - Boston Tea Party, Cheltenham

Tuesday 21st March - The Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham 

Thursday 13th April - TANK, Gloucester

Monday 17th April - The Daffodil, Cheltenham 

Sunday 30th April - The Vault, Nailsworth

Friday 12th May - Royal Albert Hall, London

Friday 9th June - B-Bar, Plymouth 

Thursday 20th July - Chapel Arts Centre, Bath

Wings still under construction…

That is all for now, although I will say a big thank you for everyone who is spreading the word and helping me get to 250 followers on Spotify… nearly there - currently at 189

Ever so grateful to you for continuing with me on this mad journey

ciao ciao

G