2012 Looking back….
Below is a list of the main RAMS’ events of 2012. Im slightly tempted to replace it with a list of the bizarre and wonderful characters we’ve met along the way (usually found backstage….)
Anyways… it’s blurry but here goes….
Headline-toured UK and Ireland twice
headlined our first show in Amsterdam (a long way from home) … and people turned up!
Toured with Snow Patrol, in arenas across Mainland Europe and Scandinavia
Performed at the O2 arena in London and Dublin and the Odyssey in Belfast.
Enjoyed daytime playlisting on Radio 1
Enjoyed daytime playlisting on CoolFM in Belfast and 2Fm in Dublin.
Performed on National TV - Cultural Review show, BBC; Craig Doyle show, RTÉ
Played a live Session on daytime BBC Radio1 with Huw Stephens, from Holland.
Toured with Get Cape wear Cape Fly across UK
Recorded debut album with David Kosten, (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything, Guillemots), in London
Nominated for best song At the Northern Irish Music Awards
Performed in the Shepherds bush Empire with Matchbox 20
Played with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast
Played for the president of Ireland
Played with Gungor in Ulster Hall Belfast.
Played a variety of large and small festivals in Europe, UK and Ireland. Personal favourites were Rockin park, Nijmegen; Eurosonic, Holland (somehwere!); Walk the Line, The Hague; Gampel, Switzerland; Y-Not, Greenbelt, Glasgowbury and Tall Ships, Dublin.
….next blog… looking forward!
Px
Anonymous asked: Any chance that you make the sheet music of some of your songs available? Would love to get to play "Dogs run in Parks" or "Dieter Rams has got the Pocket Radio" myself!
Have been meaning to do that for a while now… hopefully will get round to it over the next few weeks :)
Artwork Developments: Béton #2
(Source: peterjmccauley)
Album artwork developments: Béton #1
(Source: peterjmccauley)
VISA.
so.. I should be in the US right now… but due to the nature of the US visa application process I’ve missed out on the opportunity of a 6 week tour with the Grammy-nominated US collective, Gungor.
It’s the second time something like this has happened to me and a common problem with Irish/UK musicians. I was supposed to be playing at the prestigious SXSW festival two years ago when my first visa was rejected last minute due to lack of international profile. A bitter pill to swallow as it’s an expensive process and also as I had just completed my first European tour with NY hipster, (and freestyle rap guru) Darwin Deez.
Two years on, after an Arena tour of Europe with Snow Patrol, my own European, UK and Irish tours, appearances at a variety of large European festivals, Glastonbury, National TV performances, UK,Irish and European radio performances, playlisting on Radio1 and Irish radio, Supports and tours with Get cape wear Cape fly, Foy vance, Lemonheads and Matchbox twenty; my profile was still deemed to be insufficient for entry to US. We appealed the decision and somehow the visa came in, valid for 3 years. I think it was the picture of me and the Irish President (total hero) which sealed the deal!
It was however, 2 weeks late, and sadly my bunk on the tourbus had been filled by that point.
I’m in no way bitter about it or even disappointed, I live by faith. You have to in the music world. Also, there are some obvious silver linings:
1. Without the endorsement of Gungor, I wouldnt have been granted a visa of such a long duration. A 3 year visa is rare thing in itself, many of my friends, successful artists in the US aren’t offered visa’s of such a duration.
2. I got to sleep off my year of touring and album recording, and get charged up.
So I’m at currently at home, writing, recording and working on album artwork. I’m plotting the release of my record and figuring out how I’m going to put this visa to good use!
Let’s see what happens.
x
I had a bit of extra creative energy tonight. I decided to record an alternative, demo style version of one of my songs. A few of you were suggesting Aria, an as yet unreleased track. This is a bit of a wacky spin on it… also my cello debut ;)
This is how I would usually record my demos initially - on garageband, with wrong notes everywhere, before bringing it to a studio/producer.
This will be availbe for your listening pleasure for a limited time .. as the album version will be available in the not too distant future.
I had fun making this tonight, hope you have fun listening.
Pete
Team rams kipping outside Geneva airport after our performance at Gampel festival. The previous morning we were sipping champagne in business class en route to Zurich.
The good times never end.
Czech mate!
Czech friends, brush up on your english with Dogs run in packs!
