Tales and Stories

Hey Everyone! 

I’ve been playing on Spotify and put together a playlist for you all to listen to. If you like it, please give it a ‘Follow’ and I’ll keep adding to it, so you’re always discovering something new! 

Compiled is a list of songs i’ve grown up with, music that inspire’s me and many songs I wish I had written! 

https://open.spotify.com/user/jm119191/playlist/1WMQYbp7EP9WTPdrPLtamM

Enjoy 

I love discovering new music and then telling all my friends about it. I think its one of the reasons I love creating my own music. By sharing my songs and stories, I might hit someone with my lyrics or melody that makes their hair stand on end. I put a post out on facebook earlier today asking my friends to share some new music with me, as my Itunes library and Spotify playlists weren’t doing it for me this morning. My friend Philip Pearson ( Addisons Uncle - You should check them out, great folk band on the rise ) suggested that I check out Ed Prosek. So I did. Within 30 seconds of listening to Ed’s first track on his EP The Riverbed I was hooked to his soothing folk/country sound. A few listens later and I stumbled onto his track ‘California’. This is the track that made my hair stand on end. Its lyrically hit me in a way that made me want to curl up in a blanket, put my headphones on and watch the rain hit my London loft Velux window, whilst re assessing life. The beautifully plucked acoustic guitar and Ed’s soothing vocals along with some luscious harmonies were just perfect combination for today’s listening. So thankyou Ed for creating something I think is stunning. 

Have a listen to Ed’ track - California . Never know, it might make you feel something too. 

Jake x 

NEW MUSIC - FEAR STRUCK WILD (Single) 

One of my biggest inspirations as a songwriter, performer has been watching and listening to the progression of Mumford & Sons. When their first two singles came out for the new album ‘Wilder Mind’, I was in a state of shock and negativity. However, I have sat down on this blustery Tuesday afternoon before my band rehearsal kicks in and listened to the entire album ... TWICE.  I’ve been streaming a constant blur of verbal negativity about the new sound ever since hearing the singles. But after today’s listening. Oh MAN, they have made me eat my words. It is a masterclass in songwriting and energy. Nearly every song on the record is making me want to hop in my VW van, drive down to the North Cornish coast, smash a 6 hour surfing session out, party all night long then drive home the next morning. 

Yes, I miss the banjo’s and acoustic guitar. But not so much so that I don’t like where this new direction is taking Mumford. Admittedly I am still yet to see the band live and supporting them would be a mind altering experience. I thought I had lost a big inspiration to me, but the truth is ‘Wilder Mind’ has just made me respect them as a band even more.  Onwards and upwards team Mumford ! 

Being a designer as well as a musician Jake designs gig posters for online promoting for nearly every gig. Next gig is Tomorrow night at The Cambridge Junction, Venue 3, Doors 19:00. 

Our upcoming show at The Granary, Wells Next The Sea, Norfolk. 

So, its been a slow start to 2014 but things are picking up nicely. We have a great looking new website - www.jakemorrell.co.uk. We have signed a publishing deal for 3 singles with Frontier and Jigsaw music ( Alison Krauss, Marcus Bonfanti ) . We have lots of new material showing itself at rehearsals and gigs... and if you see the image we have some really exciting dates coming up for this summer and loads more on their way - 

Be sure to keep up to date by signing up to our mailing list on the website - www.jakemorrell.co.uk 

Oh Fringe you mad crazy festival -  All be it a bit late, I thought i would do a quick blog post about our little adventure up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 17th - 26th Aug.. 

After an 8 hour drive we finally pulled up at Morton Hall our fringe lodging of grass and porta-loos. Setting up camp, putting dinner on and discussing how this year was different and not going to be as gruelling as last year because we had a venue!! 

Oh how wrong we were .. 

We spend the next nine days slogging on the streets, playing at any opportunity we could get our hands on, flyering anyone that looked even mildly interested in what we were doing and desperately trying to gain a reputation on the Royal Mile. Along side our fantastic team ( Gracey Bennet, Abbie Rust, Dave Butterworth, Jo Jenkins, Hannah Taylor and Helen and Dave Morrell ) we managed to pull in a crowd of 15+ every night in our venue ( Fringe average is 7 people ) and on the streets the crowds were even bigger. Playing in sun, rain, snow we found ourselves gaining more and more presence on the mile as each day passed. On our final night we pulled in well over 30 people to our final show. The week went by in a blur, its hard to say how many street shows and gigs we actually did in our 9 days but it was around 26 shows, selling 256 CD's and 5 T shirts. 

During our time up in Edinburgh we also managed to crack 1000 like on our facebook, So we would just like to say thank-you to everyone who supported us, stood in the rain to watch us, laughed when we failed and generally made our time in the North so enjoyable. 

I would also like to thank my team of legends who, without your help we wouldn't of had nearly the success we did.. So Thank-you all.