Merry Hell News No.27 - October 2016

The wait is over and “Bloodlines” is finally with us. Boasting 13 splendid new songs the band are extremely pleased with the album and think it is their best to date. The official release date is 1st November but pre-orders placed through the Merry Hell Shop will be posted out the week before. Of course, several of the songs have featured regularly throughout the year in both the full band and acoustic sets. “We Need Each Other Now”, "Coming Home Song” and the anthemic “Come on England” are already crowd favourites and many of the other tracks will definitely attain similar status.

John, Virginia, Bob and Lee are joined on the writing roster by Neil whose song, “Chasing A Bluebird” is his first for the band. Neil is also responsible for cover art in conjunction with web designer, Julian. Promo copies went out to press and radio a few weeks ago and feedback has been everything we had hoped for. Local, regional and internet stations far and wide have been kind enough to play tracks from "Bloodlines" and many folk shows have featured it as 'album of the week' or in special slots airing several songs on the same night. We have been keeping an eye on the playlists and every track from the album has been played. Not a bad start for an album that has yet to be officially released.

We have three shows coming up ahead of the album release date and they are already selling well. We return for our third visit to The Miller in London. The following night we are in Suffolk at the Leiston Film Theatre where you can avail yourselves of both premier seats and cuddle seats, though we believe these have sold out - normal seats are still available. Merry Helloween is always a special night on the gig calendar with a longer set and a few surprises and this year will be no exception. For those of you who haven't pre-ordered it, "Bloodlines" will be on sale at these shows. Halloween fancy dress is optional at the Citadel but go on ... you know you want to.

Thursday 27th October
LONDON - THE MILLER
Friday 28th October
FOLK AT THE FROIZE - LEISTON FILM THEATRE
Saturday 29th October
MERRY HELLOWEEN - ST HELENS - THE CITADEL

Summer was A’ Coming last time we were in touch and the promise of the festival season lay ahead of us. Time flew by all too quickly as the band flitted between its electric and acoustic incarnations and between live shows and spells in the studio. The acoustic band kicked off the festivals with the "Small Corner of the World" Festival near Garstang and our third "Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival". In fact 2016 represents the busiest year to date for the Acoustic band who headlined the huge "Peterborough Beer Festival" as well as other intimate folk club appearances. It is always a treat to witness the full band on a bigger stage in front of an appreciative audience. Our sets at the Beverley and Wickham Folk Festivals and playing to the massed crowds at the "Folk at The Dock" event in Liverpool surely rank among the many highlights of the summer. We also played our first overseas show at the "Costa Del Folk" Festival in Portugal where the 12.40 am stage time was a new record even for us!