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Current page: Notice Board
Hi, Folks,
Sure enough the winter winds are biting across the landscape, and as darkness falls I actually love the roar of the wind in the beeches and elms around the churchyard near to here. There is something untamed and primeval about the black winter night. Not in any way do I find it spooky or unnerving.
In the old house on the hill, which gave me the very best childhood anyone could ask for, as there was no electricity, you had the warm glow of lamps and candles, and even though the elements howled around the house like banshees, the house took it all on the chin without moving.
Stories around the scrubbed pine table; then on Christmas Eve , the Yule log , a giant, hand cut by my Dad and I, would be eased onto the dog grate in the parlour. It had to last through until Christmas day.
Memories, ah, sweet memories. It is that time again and somehow it seems to heighten the paradoxes between joy and sadness; plenty and poverty; laughter and tears. Why, oh, why do things come to hit us so hard at this time, or is it just that the time is no different, just in concept ( when you get past the cash registers) the sad and the wonderful are thrown up into stark relief.
I look around and some friends have left this world for the next. Some are worryingly ill; some are fine and all across the world the story is the same. One of the joys and shocks of being a world-wide act is the sending of cards. We love it. So do the Post Office, and at the little Kirkheaton Post Office,you just leave your mail with them and they stamp and send it for you. Fine. I looked at the bill and instant palpitations! Well, when it comes to it Cathy and I had sent some 500+ Christmas cards. Nice to send them though and nice to get them back in love and friendship and news.
In retrospect the Dutch tour was lovely. So many fine people and nights when time seemed to stand still. So where to now? Cathy is wrapping presents- women are so much better at this than men- and I am figuring 'where to' after Christmas.
Hm, smells good. Dinner is roast pheasant. I -er-encountered it, and I can skin one in two minutes. Country boys never die. Anyway, after Christmas I will re-master 'No truth in the Rumour' with bonus tracks. Try and finalise getting 'Seasons' out of Universal ( that is the 1971 live in the Albert Hall recording) and start on the 'Fields of Eden ' album. Stand by for some surprises, not least 'The Children of the Sea.'
Be good to have multi-talented Laurens on board; Davey Johnstone from Fat Reg's (Elton John) band and - in comes beloved old friend and star producer of 'Lord of the Ages': Tony Cox. Lee of course on bass and ... Laurens keeps saying 'European Union Blues ' is a hit. Good on you Cameron. You're out there alone, but... so was a reviled Winston Churchill way back warning of the growing juggernaut of the Nazi wart machine.And nobody listened.
Anyway, enough pontificating, see you in some shape or form hopefully in 2012. I say, hopefully, for you should just check out the Maya. They were frighteningly accurate and...... Don't want to spoil your Christmas,
With love and music, Chris. Huddersfield 2011.
In the annual Top 2000, compiled by the listeners of Radio 2 in The Netherlands, Magna Carta's Lord Of The Ages is this year number 1259. The song will be played on December 27th between 20.00 and 21.00 CET (so between 21.00 and 22.00 GMT) on Radio 2.
in 2010 the song was at 1131 and in 2009 it was 1373. The highest position ever was 512 in 2000. Unfortunately Airport Song didn't make it this year.
The complete list can be found here. Number 1 is (as almost every year since the first top 2000) Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
Chris, Harvey and I popped up to Richmond in North-Yorkshire on Friday, December 2, to see Nigel Stockbridge (Guitar repairer to the stars!) to have a pick- up fitted on Chris’s new Martin D – 45, while I had some minor repair work done on my old “Mother of Pearl” D – 41.
Nigel provided us with chocolate biscuits ginger cake and cups of tea. We all had a great time talking over old times and this and that (maybe more this than that!) the afternoon slipped by and all too soon it was time for Chris and me to meander back to Knaresborough through the dark and the rain!
A very pleasant way to spend a Friday afternoon.
Lots of love and seasons greetings, Tom Hoy x
Photographs provided by Tom Hoy
.jpg "Tom and Chris")
.jpg "Tom and Chris")
.jpg "Nigel Stockbridge at work")
.jpg "Chris, Nigel and Tom")
Sadly my dear friend John Haxby, master album sleeve designer and master photographer (Rolling Stones, Slade, Magna Carta, etc.) died on Friday.
The reasons are not as yet known, but heart attack is the prime suspect. Please keep some moments in your hearts for the now, memory, of this fine man, and above all for his wife and beautiful daughter, left behind in the tragic wheels of fate.
John Haxby was, and is, a great man and will be sorely missed.
Chris and Cathy, Huddersfield, December 5th, 2011.
Chris Simpson and Tom Hoy played at Manchester charity concert
Got back from Holland on November 2nd. Amongst some 200 e-(bloody)mails) I found one inviting us to a memory concert of the above venue. We held the house record for audience for quite some time around the time of 'Seasons.' It was a magical place and we would head on up some 250 miles from London to play it.
I think then we realised we needed a new agent when it was always so full and we got so little. But, I loved it. Way back, Paul Simon played it, Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, like everybody...
I asked Tom if he'd do it, as apart from the fact I love him as a player and a friend (celtic nitwit), to bring the recent successful -and -a -half line up in Holland would have taken a lot of organising, So. Cathy and I down the miles to the Bridge at Knaresborough town. Pick up his eminence, and to Manchester.
It was a fair few folk listening to a wide variety of folk music and all with links to the late MSG. We played 'Airport Song' - and the MSG was originally one of the places we played it, and 'Seasons' in it its entirety,- all those years ago. Eventually, a la 'Last Waltz, everybody was up on stage. Tom and I were asked to play the instrumental breaks. It appeared to go down rather well and will be on a DVD.
A truly happy night and the most important factor was the little boy with a terminal illness for whom the funds this event raised will be going to help. We dropped Tom off in his lovely hideaway, and headed happily home. Like the MSG it is one of those you don't forget.
Chris/ Cathy/ Tom. 2011
Photos provided by Tom Hoy
Oh, it could have been what we call in English, a 'damp squib'. I realise now that I spent much of the Summer,- which cannot have been easy for Cathy,- wondering why I was going to do it in the first place. The thoughts that come in to roost like crows on the evening wind.
What happens if no-one comes? After all, it was supposed to end at the Carré. What if musically it does not mesh? George has not been on the concert stage for years. Would it work?
Then the Dutch Viking, Laurens, very much an unknown quantity whose musical talents I had observed for a few chance moments on a Radio Noord Holland show...
Well, as someone famously reported before the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, ... 'it is not ours to reason why!' (...)
More on the special page dedicated to The Return Tour!
To access this page simply go to this page.
LATEST NEWS
Linda, Elrieke and Leopold will play a short set during the Open Mic Night at Folkcafé De Lantaern in Zevenaar on Saturday November 12th from 8 PM.
Info on this venue: please check the Magna Carta Calendar page on this site (see top menu).
Please note: Admission is FREE!
The Sisters In Song Tour by Linda Simpson and Elrieke van Gelderen has been extended. Three more concerts have been added to the November dates they are:
Friday 25th Nov Kerkje in Drachstercompagnie starts at 20:00
Saturday 26th Nov Coco Maria in Veenhuizen starts at 20:00
Sunday 27th Nov Pakhuis Hamburg in Groningen starts at 20:00
More info about this tour at Elrieke’s website:
Everything about the current Dutch tour can now be found on a special page on this website.
PLEASE NOTE This page is being updated almost on a daily basis during the tour, so please return regularly!
To access this page simply go to this page.
Photo: Irma van Rijswijk
As you all will know by now Linda is very busy with the preparations for her short tour of the Netherlands, together with dutch singer/songwriter Elrieke van Gelderen. Here’s the latest news about this tour, from Linda’s website:
“I've just been over to Holland to do some promotion for the coming dates in November. We did a few radio shows, some recordings and had a photo shoot. Thanks to all the friends that are helping us to put this one together!!
Magna Carta has had a long association with Holland and I would hate to lose that contact and the friends I have made there.
I can't do in Holland what I am trying to do here in the UK as it would be impossible for me to set up venues at a distance. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do but then several people, including Chris, asked if I had any plans to work with Elrieke.
Elrieke is a very talented young singer/songwriter just trying to break into the music scene. I had thought about offering to manage her at one point but as I'm not really 'management material' I decided I would probably do her more harm than good and shelved the idea. I do very much believe in her talent though and so to work with her seemed like a good idea. I asked her if she would like to give it a try, and she said yes.
At the concerts Elrieke will be joined on stage by singer/songwriter Leopold Geldmeijer, a fine performer in his own right. We will perform both together and separately and will of course include some favourite Magna Carta songs too. Matt will join us at a couple of the venues if he can, but I can't promise anything as he is now with a new band, Tommy Ebben & The Small Town Villains, and they are very much in demand.
Having already decided to visit Holland in November I am now approaching venues interested in helping new talent to make their way in this very difficult business. This will give Elrieke a chance to work with the right kind of audiences and, if it works well, it will give me the chance to do the same with other musicians just starting out.”
VIDEOS
On the web site there is a PR page. It's not a public page, but those of you on the mailing list can have a sneak preview. Click HERE to find personal video footage taken whilst shooting the publicity photos - and some footage from a radio show. There's lots of other information available on the page too - along with the November Dutch dates. It seems that there may be more so I will let you know as soon as I have more information.
NEWSLETTER
Want to stay informed about Linda’s project(s)? Please subscribe to her newsletter (it’s free!). Just visit Linda’s website and subscribe to the newsletter (on the top right of every page) by leaving your name and e-mail address. It’s so easy…
TOURDATES:
Thursday 10th Nov 2011 20:15 Het Beauforthuis Austerlitz
Friday 11th Nov 2011 20:30 De Klif in Oosterhout (near Nijmegen)
Friday 18th Nov 2011 20:00 DRU-Cultuurfabriek in Ulft (near Doetinchem)
Saturday 19th Nov 2011 20:15 Engelmunduskerk in Velsen-Zuid
Please note: more dates will be added soon!
DETAILS on these tourdates and where to obtain tickets: Linda’s website
The concert at Theater Zuidplein in Rotterdam, on October 15th, has unfortunately been cancelled. Apologies for the people who bought tickets; for refunds please contact the theatre.
Interview with Chris from Psychadelicbaby.blogspot (2010) on Magna Carta in the Articles section.
So far- so good.
We came into Holland some five concerts ago. Before that, as Nick Hall chose a separate road, George came into the frame with his usual enthusiasm and a whole concert set to learn. Rehearsals began with multi-talented Laurens at our hideaway in Soest and it all took shape.
That was five concerts back. Whist being a part of it, I have watched the whole thing go from strength to strength. The comments have been wonderful and mostly to do with the powerhouse spiritual connection with the audience that comes from the music. As George relaxed more into it then our respective senses of humour came into play.
Laurens ranged across harmonies, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and slide guitar and the whole tapestry has taken shape. Like it or not again and again we have had wonderful comments and it was all summed up by a guy at Gasselte yesterday not in any way detracting from the past. but simply...'I have seen many Magna Carta concerts in the past but for me this the best line-up ever.....' and that goes back to the days of Glen and Davey.
All I can add to that is just come and see and listen for yourselves.
Soest. 26th. September 2011.
Bezoekt u een van de concerten van Magna Carta en u vindt het leuk (of niet), schrijf dan een kort verslagje voor op de website! Foto's zijn uiteraard ook welkom!
Mail uw verslag en foto('s) naar de webmaster
The Magna Carta Newsletter #8 was sent on September 6th.
PC Crash Because of a PC crash most e-mail addresses from newsletter subscribers were lost, but fortunately almost all were recovered. But... when you did subscribe but didn't receive this newsletter, please subscribe again by contacting the web master. Thank you!
Did you subscribe to the Newsletter but did not receive it, please check your mailbox!
Every time a Newsletter is sent several e-mails are being returned, because (mostly) the recipient's mailbox is FULL or that there are other problems getting the newsletter delivered! This applies especially to quite a few South African members!
Please note that we will NOT remove returned e-mail addresses, except when the message we receive reads 'this address does not exist'. And... our system does NOT resend the newsletter after it was unable to deliver, so if you'd like the latest newsletter after all, please send an e-mail to ask for it.
On Friday, August 26th, Chris Simpson and Tom Hoy played at a charity concert in Knaresborough Town. They were supposed to play just a few songs, but since the performance was so well received that in the end they played for almost 90 minutes!
Below you'll see some pictures made by Tom's son Rory Hoy, who's a well acclaimed artist in his own right.
.jpg "Chris and Tom")
.jpg "Tom Hoy")
Chris Simpson's book 'Complete Works', which contains the story of Magna Carta and most of the songs written by Chris, is now online available at The Music Index.
The Magna Carta Newsletter #7 was sent on August 5th.
Did you subscribe to the Newsletter but did not receive it, please check your mailbox! Every time a Newsletter is sent several e-mails are being returned, because (mostly) the recipient's mailbox is FULL or that there are other problems getting the newsletter delivered! This applies especially to quite a few South African members!
Please note that we will NOT remove returned e-mail addresses, except when the message we receive reads 'this address does not exist'. And... our system does NOT resend the newsletter after it was ubable to deliver, so if you'd like the latest newsletter after all, please send an e-mail to ask for it.
Nick Hall, after some globetrotting and tours with Magna Carta has decided to follow his personal star.
For a while that left a vacuum, but not for long and I am more than happy to say that old Magna Carta cornerstone, George Norris (who many of you know from the Midnight Blue album), a superb instrumental and vocal talent, will be on the tour together with a real surprise as well.
George's biography can be found in the Biographies section of this website.
A brilliant young multi-talented instrumentalist/ vocalist will be coming in to join us and I am truly excited about this. Back to the roots with a vengeance and using all the moves that made Magna Carta what it was and is.
Chris Simpson, July 28th, 2011.
George Norris (photo by Charlie Manning).
The Magna Carta Newsletter #6 was sent on July 29th.
Did you subscribe to the Newsletter but did not receive it, please check your mailbox! Every time a Newsletter is sent several e-mails are being returned, because (mostly) the recipient's mailbox is FULL or that there are other problems getting the newsletter delivered!
Please note that we will NOT remove returned e-mail addresses, except when the message we receive reads 'this address does not exist'. And... our system does NOT resend the newsletter after it was ubable to deliver, so if you'd like the latest newsletter after all, please send an e-mail to ask for it.
Chris and Nick will play two festivals in July. The first one is on Sunday July 10, at the annual Canterbury Festival in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Magna Carta will play the Yvonne Hunt Memorial Stage from 14.15 on. Please note that this is a FREE festival! More info can be found at http://www.canterburyfolkfestival.on.ca/mainevents.htm On Saturday July 16 between 16.00-17.00 they will hit the Wouw Podium at the Fantastyval in Wouwse Plantage, near Roosendaal in the Netherlands. Other acts include Stream Of Passion and The Dolmen. More info can be found on http://www.fantastyval.nl/programma.html Tickets are available online as well!
In the mean time Magna Carta has found a driver for the forthcoming Dutch Autumn Tour. A huge thank you to all applicants!
Best wishes, Chris.
1. It would be good to see people at Fantastyval. Then they'll get a taste of what is coming at them in the Autumn.
2.Canada on Friday. Had a rehearsal with Nick last week (another tomorrow) and we slipped straight into the well-oiled South Africa mechanism. Put me in mind of the late, great Jim Croce.
3. Many have suggested a new album for the big Dutch tour. That is fine and there is no shortage of new tried and tested material, but it needs to be a phenomenal package and I think a month to make it. So it will be during and after the tour. I am negotiating right now. In principle I want to do a 3 disc set. 'Seasons' live at the Albert Hall, 1971 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the late John Dankworth. Look out for battles with Universal who do nothing with the tapes but still want a pound of flesh. A new CD of new songs from the Fields of Eden to Greenhow Hill. And, live at the Van Studios, Bunschoten, a live set for a DVD. It will feature as always, great musicians, not least Lee Abbott (bass) Doug Morter; and from Fat Reg's band (Elton John) Davey Johnstone via LA studios and cyberspace.
I dislike computers and people with mobile phones permanently glued in their left hands, but I'm not so stupid as not able to see certain advantages.
By the way, for a good read, read Keith Richards's book 'Life'. He has had one! But very wise and informed, and check him out on recording techniques and how in his opinion, technology has scuppered the true essence of recording. He knows what he is on about, for he and Jagger are two of the best producers ever. Anyway, back to the point, as you realise you don't do all of this in 10 minutes, and it will be a while before, hopefully, it is all finalised. We will be bringing merchandise for the tour and some surprises, some great guest artists.
Apart from all this, Cathy and I have worked on a great vegetable garden next to our boat. We even have a greenhouse and I am also trying to re-write 'Seasons in the Dale'. So. There is no stopping and by and large I live with the knowledge that unless you are in Simon 'Cowell's clutches; look like Lady GaGa, or pontificate like Bono, you're on a hard road to nowhere. Please do all you can to publicise the Dutch tour. Yes, even tell your neighbour's cat!
Love, Chris, July 4, 2011.
Matt Barnhoorn recently joined dutch up and coming band Tommy Ebben & the Small Town Villains. Their debut album Dreamless Slumbers was released in 2010 and reiceived massive critical acclaim in the Netherlands. The band is currently recording the second album, which will be released some time later this year. After leaving Magna Carta Matt played (and stayed) in S.L.Y. and after this group disbanded he was a member of De Draad Kwijt, a band that played mostly in music café’s but also did a gig at last year’s Lowlands Festival. In the meantime Matt also regularly played with The Desperados.
Magna Carta are looking for a driver with own vehicle, who can take Chris and Nick to the shows and also supervise merchandise. Should be a fun time. Please reply to the web master if interested.
Best wishes, Chris.
The Magna Carta Newsletter #4-2011 was sent on June 17th.
Did you subscribe to the Newsletter but did not receive it, please check your mailbox!
Every time a Newsletter is sent several e-mails are being returned, because the recipient's mailbox is FULL!
A classic video of Magna Carta returning from their Norwegian tour (from the "Live In Bergen" fame) to the Netherlands and some studio and live footage. Courtesy of Piers De Jong!
Just go to the Videos page.
Chris Simpson and Nick Hall will play the annual Canterbury Festival in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada on July 10th. This is a 3 day FREE festival.
Details are on the Calendar page.
Magna Carta will embark on an Autumn Tour of The Netherlands. New date added: 25 September Gasselte (Drenthe).
Nick Hall will be joining Chris Simpson, as well as some (yet unnamed) guest musicians.
Details are on the Calendar page.
In the latest issue of one of the Netherlands’ finest music magazines, Revolver’s LUST FOR LIFE, you can read a four star review of Magna Carta’s Midnight Blue reissue-cd-set, written by veteran dutch journalist Harry de Jong.
Lust For Life is available in all good bookshops and news stands in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Magnac.com now has a new page on Linda Simpson and her Mama Don’t project.
To access this page simply go to this page.
Linda has released her first solo CD 'Moving On' to help to fund the project.
The album Moving On has been released on Mama Dont Records and can be ordered here www.mamadont.co.uk [opens in a new window] using Paypal or credit card.
Craig Hood's acoustic guitar and voice arrangement of Magna Carta's beautiful "Airport song" from the 1970 Seasons album.
The guitar arrangement is roughly a combination of bass and guitar on the original album version. I first heard this song on a German satellite radio station around 1992 and managed to tape it.
It took me about 5 years to find out who it was, I think it's the world's nicest song (the Magna Carta version not mine).
Check out Craig Hood at http://www.craighood.com
Linda Simpson's first solo cd is now available!
The album Moving On has been released on Mama Dont Records and can be ordered here www.mamadont.co.uk. [opens in a new window].
A beautiful cover version of Airport Song by a Norwegian duo with orchestra is now on YouTube:
NOW you can access various MAGNA CARTA (related) videos on YouTube directly from this website!
Just go to the Videos page.
The first Magna Carta Newsletter of 2011 has been sent on January 31st.
If you subscribed to the Newsletter and you did NOT receive this one, please check out your spam-inbox!
If it's not in there either, please sign up again at the Guestbook button on the top of the page. Then click on Sign the Guestbook. Please leave your name and e-mail address and tick in the box next to Add to our mailinglist (Yes). Thank you!
Please note: e-mailadresses that are returned as undeliverable (for whatever reason) will be deleted. So make sure that you give us your current (and working) e-mail address!
The re-release ofMagna Carta's classic album Midnight Blue / Live And Let Live gets a superb review (5 out of 5 stars!) from reviewer Ryan Sparks on Sea of Tranquility.org. You can read it here.
A classic Magna Carta live-performance from Dutch popular TV-chatshow Sonja's Goed Nieuws Show from 1978 can now be seen on YouTube.
You can see Chris Simpson, Tom Hoy, Robin Thyne and Lee Abbott performing Took A Long Time on this programme, which was re-run on digital channel Best24 in 2010.
Thanks to Rory Hoy for the edit and upload!
Chris and Nick went to Spain for the first Magna Carta concert in 2011.
Read more on this page.
Magna Carta's Chris Simpson and Nick Hall will play in Logrono in Spain on January 3, 2011.
Details
Venue: Circulo Logroñés
Concert time: 6.30 PM
Círculo Logroñés Duquesa de la Victoria 10. 26003 Logroño, La Rioja
LINKS You can find other websites on Magna Carta in the Links section.
ARTICLES You can read various articles on Magna Carta in the Articles section (updated).
You can read what Chris, Linda and Matt wrote about the farewell concert at the Carré in 2009
MAGNA CARTA'S Farewell Concert at the Carré, Amsterdam, May 11, 2009 You can see photographs of the Carré concert here [opens in a new window].
Notice Board for 2010
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