A Dream Of A Midsummer

Hello,

For those of us in the northern hemisphere the longest day of the year will soon be here. Travelling towards it at a speed of 18.5 miles a second, it will be upon us before we know it. Summer Solstice has long been a time of celebration, last year for the first time this included the Steampunk Summer Solstice in Wirksworth. Celebration of the summer solstice, or midsummer has changed over the years. In 15th Century England John Mirk of Lilleshall Abbey wrote "At first, men and women came to church with candles and other lights and prayed all night long. In the process of time, however, men left such devotion and used songs and dances and fell into lechery and gluttony turning the good, holy devotion into sin". The Steampunk Summer Solstice will certainly feature song, you can dance if you wish and there are plenty of places to eat in Matlock so gluttony is also an option. No doubt a quick dip in the rather cold River Derwent would put paid to any lechery.

Another change to the celebration this year is that the Steampunk Summer Solstice moves to The Grand Pavillion in Matlock Bath. If you remember the weather during last years event you will be relieved to know that this year it takes place indoors, in addition it is now a three day event. This is of course the first gig on Crimson Clocks Second Hand Tour which draws to a conclusion at Alt Fest 2014

The Steampunk Summer Solstice features BB Black Dog, Gladstone, Birthrite, Metropolis, Crimson Clocks and a host of other bands and entertainment. It all takes place on 28 - 30 June 2013, the market will open from 16:00 on the Friday and 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Bands will play from 18:00 to 23:00 each day. Tickets can be found here 

Matlock Bath is well worth visiting, and with the added attraction of this event it will be a weekend to remember, an absolute dream of a weekend in fact.

Thanks for reading, and until next time, farewell

The Front Line...

Hello,

We have recently mentioned that tickets for Alt Fest are selling quickly and that more details can be found at the Steampunk Experience event page however, we have failed miserably in making you aware of another fine event for which tickets are also now available.

The event in question is of course the launch of The Front Line, the second novel in the Automata Wars series. As if the launch of the novel wasn't enough without embellishment (which it really is), the event is embellished with comedy from Dr Agamemnon When and performances from Crimson Clocks, Gladstone and Birthrite. So, that's five excellent reasons to justify your attendance (The Front Line being the first). In addition, to make this event something to remember for years to come, Crimson Clocks will take the incredible step of performing songs with lyrics written by the author of The Home Front. Did we mention that the author is also our vocalist? Ah, in that case we must correct that oversight. The author is also our vocalist, that is not to suggest the books will be presented as an opera, not yet anyway.

If you have read The Home Front, the first novel in the series, then please be assured that this event will in no way resemble scenes describing the coming out party at the end of the first chapter. Or at least we hope not, although with an unknown enemy at large one can never be entirely certain about these things. Please bear in mind that the management can not be held responsible for any atrocities that may take place during the event. If you have yet to read The Home Front it is available from The Last Line Publishing, and shame on you for not having read such a fine piece of literature.

The launch takes place at ORT, in Birmingham on 27 July 2013 from 19:00 to 23:00, further details can be found at the event page. As mentioned above tickets are already on sale and are available here they are limited in number though so if you intend to be there you really ORT to make certain of yours sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

Thanks for reading, until next time, farewell.

Over The Electric Grapevine...

Hello,

Recently we have been heard on a number of independent radio shows, and are very grateful to them for including us. Listed below are links to shows that have played our music, if you haven't heard any of these before it's well worth listening to hear independent music that you may otherwise miss.

Sounds of Steam  - a steampunk themed international radio show with an ever growing audience 

CPR Radio show on Reading4u.co.uk - a steampunk infused blend of contemporary rock

Diane Green presents Independent Saturday Sounds - featuring a variety of unsigned musicians from around the world

Dark Gift Radio  - playing the best of metal - darkwave - hard rock - classic rock - industrial - punk - new wave - alternative - decades - 80's - EBM - electronik, gothic, gothic metal and symphonic metal. We were also hounoured to be the first band they reviewed in their blog. The review can be found here

Stu Vickers on Spitfire Radio  - The Home Groan Show, playing unsigned artists from the UK and all over the world.

It goes without saying that if you are hoping to hear the latest X-Factor winner then the shows listed are probably not the best places to go (a therapist may be though), if you want to hear new music and discover a whole new world of entertainment click on the links above - you never know what you might find.

The Second Hand Tour

Hello,

We are now in the midst of preparations for our 'Second Hand Tour'. This 15 month tour begins on the last weekend in June at The Second Annual Steampunk Solstice at The Pavillion in Matlock Bath, and reaches a grand finale at Alt Fest in August 2014.

Fifteen months is a long time to be on the road and so we have ensured that our carriage is fully stocked for the journey with tea, gin, cake, marmalade, marmalade cake and of course, two rashers of bacon. We expect to be able to resupply stocks during the journey as they deplete, although it is to be expected that the initial levels of bacon will prove to be somewhat excessive and may have to be ejected from the carriage to make room for more cake.

Our fifteen month mission is to explore strange new venues; to seek out new stages and new audiences; to boldly play where no Crimson Clocks have played before. The list of dates below is not exhaustive, extra dates will be added during the tour and you are free to begin a campaign to bring Crimson Clocks to a venue near you (please note bribes and/or payment  offered in bacon will not be accepted - we have plenty thank you!).

June 28 to June 30 2013 The Second Annual Steampunk Solstice at The Pavillion in Matlock Bath

27 July 2013 The Front Line Book Launch, Ort Cafe, Birmingham 

9 to 10 August 2013 Steampunk Stamford, Stamford United Reform Church, Stamford

21 to 22 September 2013 Raising Steam, (two venues, one per day) Reading 

More Dates to be added (no figs though!)

14 to 17 August 2014 Alt Fest, Boughton House, Kettering

Despite being so far into the future tickets for Alt Fest are selling quickly (as indeed are tickets for all of the events) so be sure to get yours before it's too late, and please be sure to tell them we sent you - and not that Big Dave sent you.

Thanks for reading, please feel free to get in touch, until next time, farewell

  

Hip Hip! HooRae!

It's safe to say that the Selling Mars book launch was a great success, a big thank you to Rae Gee for inviting us to perform at the event.

The evening began with a Crimson Clocks performance featuring a mashup of Mars from The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst and The Eve of The War from Jeff Waynes War of The Worlds. We should point out that any "jokes" told during our performance are strictly those of the individual and not representative of the sense of humour of Crimson Clocks as a group. Thanks also to those that came up to talk afterwards and said that they had enjoyed what we had done - it really does make it all worthwhile.

Rae Gee then took to the stage and gave a short reading from her excellent book Selling Mars, this being the second in the Veetu Industries. We highly recommend it and more details can be found here.

The mighty Birthrite then performed a brilliant set that saw many of the audience take to the dance floor and included classics such as Goodbye Happiness, and Heroes. It was a great end to what had been a fantastic night.

If you are wondering where you can see us next, we will be at the Second Annual Steampunk Solistice at The Pavillion, in Matlock Bath along with Birthrite and many other bands, we hope to see you there.

Leicester Literature Launch!

SOMEDAY 

 SPRAT    

The Nations Favourite Chip Wrapper

21st  April 2013

Crimson Clocks In Red Planet Shocker!!

The Sprat has discovered that highly regarded so called "steampunk" band Crimson Clocks have been linked to attempts to sell Mars, and we don't mean the confectionary. 

They, along with Birthrite, will be taking part in a night of what has been described as "Steampunk madness in the heart of Leicester". Are the poor residents of Leicester ready for this steampunk invasion? The Spratt has reason to think not. Our investigations have revealed that a few tickets for this event are still available on the internet, an underground source said "I am a mole, you dig?.". It has also come to our attention that high quality "Steampunk" literature will be changing hands at this event (the works of Rae Gee no less!). Will the poor citizens of Leicester get a chance to purchase this for themselves or will the horde of steampunks descending on Leicester like a plague of literature starved locusts purchase the entire stock? We suspect the latter may be the case. 

What of Crimson Clocks? What is their part in this? As ever, The Sprat has asked the questions that others fear to ask in an attempt to ensure our readership is fully informed with all of the facts. Where we don't have the facts we've been forced to rely on rumour and hearsay. Vivacious vocalist Linzi (21), from Birmingham, had this to say when we contacted her "Who is this? Do you have any idea what time it is?". Rockstars take note, The Sprat always wears a watch and requires answers not questions. Bass player Colin (93) said something when questioned, but no one (and that includes The Sprat) listens to bass players. Our attempts to contact Jo and Steve were both met with laughter and the sound of the phone being put down as soon as we were forced to admit we were indeed The Sprat.

Fear not though for The Spratt intends to be at the Selling Mars book launch, in disguise, inept and in over our head to bring you a full report after the event.

Late Breaking News!!

The Sprat has heard a whisper that Crimson Clocks will be on stage at Alt Fest 2014 also, in addition, as well as, and extra to that, they will be on stage at Raising Steam this September. Get your tickets before its too late!

We Has It, Yess...

We has the preciouss, yess. Keeper of the Door gives it to us when we gets there,  yess. Nice, kind Keeper of the Door, not tricksy like nasty hobbit, no. One ring that grants entry to all (that sounds a bit wrong I know, nevertheless onwards and upwards as they say).

If you missed The Day of The Dog then you really did miss out (and won't have a clue what the paragraph above is about). The day featured what was arguably the finest collection of steampunk and other bands ever amassed, including ourselves. We throughly enjoyed proceedings and it was great to meet up once again with folks that we see far too infrequently. Congratulations to Cas for organising such a fine and well run event and thanks to Ted for working his magic with the sound.

If you are currently hanging your head in shame, having missed our performance yesterday then fear not, all is not lost. Along with Birthrite we will be performing at the Selling Mars book launch in Leicester on 27th April, tickets are available here. The number of tickets is strictly limited, so be sure to get yours soon - the price also includes a goodie bag. Things kick off at 8:00 pm, it promises to be a great evening.

Sadly we have reached the end of this instalment, thanks for reading, and until next time, farewell.