Duncan McFarlane Band

Subject: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 02:51 AM

Just played The Woodshed Boys album by the Duncan McFarland Band! How good are these people? Great sound, great musicianship, lots of great voices, powerful interpretation of traditional songs, stiring and memorable songs of their own and I guess just great rock and roll.

I know Yorkshire is a different country but am the last person on the planet to discover this band? Are you Yorkists just keeping them to yourselves? Will we need visas and such like to hear them live or do you let them out sometimes?

I will go and find their web link and put it up here or fail to. In the meantime thanks to the Mudcaters who put me on to them.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 03:04 AM

It is nice when Lncashire eventually catches up with Yorkshire. GHelps if you spell it Duncan McFarlane

Duncan also appears solo, is a wonderful guitarist and comes on Mudcat. So no doubt he will spot this thread and comment i his usual inimitable style.

Having said all that, yes he is great and so typical of Mike Harding that such a talent never gets airtime on his show. Disgrace.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 03:15 AM

I have to confess origins in Cheshire, don't you know, well Ellesmere Port, the jewel in Cheshire's Crown. Once spent a glorious year in Leeds culminating in a a week at Whitby Festival. Saw Planxty's first tour at Leeds Irish Club. OK I wont go on just loved it all.

Now, about Mike Harding. Up to this point I would not have a word said against one of Lancashires finest, but if he hasn't heard and enjoyed the DMcF Band he is in serious need of help. If he has and has not played them on his programme we should be told why!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:00 AM

Actually I think Mike DID play one of Dunx's tracks on a request show a while back... that right D? Pressure from fans I believe, which just goes to show it helps to have a strong following (and richly deserved of course)!
Tom (who's been keeping the secret here in Yorkshire for nearly 30 years)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:11 AM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ........... just the one then?

So no excuse. People deserve the DMcF Band. Mike Harding is just the person and his programme the media through which to enrich the sum total of human happiness. God I can write tripe.

I call upon those of you who know the excitement and utter joy of the DMcF Band to bother Mike in a friendly unthreatening manner until .....

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:15 AM

http://www.duncanmcfarlane.co.uk/

Have a listen to the samples on their site.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Sooz
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:15 AM

Come and see both the Duncan McFarlane Band and Tom Bliss (and Tom Napper of course) at Gainsborough Folk Festival in October.
Did you investigate the Strummer Tom?

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:17 AM

Strummer Tom? Did I miss him?

I cannot seem to make the blue clicky thing work either. can anybody help?

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Sooz
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:25 AM

Duncan's Website
All about Strummers

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: RWJ
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:39 AM

Blue clicky thing worked for me , so does the band .
Traveld from West Brom to Robin Hoods bay to see them one friday night

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:40 AM

Hi Sue - yes, Hugh's started on a special for me - with an active pick-up, thanks for the tip-off! Tom

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 04:51 AM

You must be the only Les who has took so long to find out about Duncan McFarlane Band. Look forward to seeing them again at Gainsborough. I saw them at Moor & Coast April 2005. He's a wild man when he is in the band :-)

Mrs Sooz at this rate, you could arrange a strummer band for the festival :-) What with Mr Sooz, Steve Jackson and Tom Bliss amongst others using this amazing instrument, it could be a winner :-)

And if you are around Market Rasen on September the 8th, come and see Duncan performing at Market Rasen Folk Club. I do love his solo act.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 05:27 AM

Les, sorry for disparaging your origins, It was the Corley that fooled me!!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 05:57 AM

Did someone mention Duncan McFarlane????? ;0)

We travelled all the way up to Otley Folk Festival, from Sidmouth where we live...to see Duncan and his band, last September. This was after seeing them play in The Ham at Sidmouth Folk Week.

Sidmouth hasn't jumped so high for centuries! They took years off the place!!! AND...they're back again this year too....but this time, up at The Bulverton on Thursday night, which is great, because now, we'll all be able to dance to them properly...you *can't* sit down when the DMcF Band are playing, believe you me!

So....sorry Seth, but this time round, we'll be up with Duncan and the band. (Seth Lakeman's on at The Ham the same night)

And did you know that Duncan's now in Myspace?

Oh rats! The 'blue clicky' button won't work at present, but here's the details anyway, I'll try and nip back later and put it in properly.

http://www.myspace.com/theduncanmcfarlaneband

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:30 AM

Sorry, no excuse Duncan McFarlane!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 09:34 AM

Bother - so Dunx is on at the same time as the Pipers Sons? Now how did I manage to let THAT happen?!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Big Mick
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 01:39 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 02:06 PM

I'll second everything said about DMcF and his incredible band.

BTW Villan, I collect my strummer tomorrow evening - just need to learn to play it now......!

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 03:36 PM

As promised:

http://www.myspace.com/theduncanmcfarlaneband

:0)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:47 PM

So your after joining the strummer band then BBP :-)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:54 PM

Looks like it Les!.

BTW, cracking evening, sorry I had to bow out before the last song, sleep beckoned too much and it's been a long day, what with the Riverside Festival and all.

Sorry I can't make Friday - I'll see them Cara lads a week later in Chorley.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:57 PM

Not a problem Dierdre. There was no pressure for anybody to stay. Glad you thought tonight was a cracking night.
Les

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 08:08 PM

Oops, sorry, total thread creep - let's get back to Duncan McFarlane Band.

I'm fairly certain I heard him say at Holmfirth that the band are going to bring out another CD soon - about time too - we want more!.

So Duncan, give us an update on this please.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 09:53 AM

You a creep Dierdre - NO!!!!! :-)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 10:24 AM

Les, it's DEIRdre, not Dier!.

Moi, creep?. NEVER!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 10:42 AM

Oh dear sorry about that - Dyslexic fingers and not reading it before sending - but hey what do you expect from a 60 year old. :-)

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarlane Band
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 02:16 PM

Well, thanks one and all... heartening read, that.
Cheers Les, glad you liked the CD!
You know, I DID make a missionary foray into your territory (along with Anne, on fiddle, from my band) on Wed 23rd April 2003 when I secured a gig at at The Hare & Hounds, Abbey Village, near Chorley (put onto it by the fab Maggie Boyle).
I've also (twice) played 'live' over your airwaves on the (sadly) recently ousted 'Sounds of Folk' prog that Ali O'B ran on BBC GMR.
I've even done a gig at the Platform in Morcambe (sp?) with the ace Howden/Jones.
You have to keep an eye wide open for me/us Les!
We get few offers!
That nice Mr Bell of Fylde Fest had a long hard (approving) look at me (solo) at Holmfirth Festival in 2002 (just after I started really) and gave hope he might consider me for his fest over your way. Sadly, I think he sees so many folk that I've been forgotton.
Thing is Les, we are semi-pro and don't 'actively' pursue gigs very much at all (only a score or so over the last four years) and get our meagre amount of work mostly via word of mouth.
We have no agent, manager, distributor etc etc and yet still receive scorn in some quarters (oh yes) when we have the temerity to self-publicise or 'push it' a bit... something which actually puts us off!
Folk like you posting stuff like this and putting a good word in for us wherever you can is our main track forward...thanks.
And more on the bright side!... your post has put a smile on our faces after a hard week of nights in the studio (and all day and night Saturday - missing all that glorious sunshine!)
The new album is progressing well - more trad material than on 'Woodshed' this time (by choice) and we'll hopefully launch it at our 'home' fest, Otley, in Sept ('cause these things allus take longer than anticipated!).
The 'acoustic' format of the band play Galsson Dock Fest on June 30th - that a poss for you Les? Let's have a beer together if so!
After another week of night sessions in the studio next week, the acoustic band play Masham Black Sheep Brewery Fest next Friday and the electric band play TWICE on the Sat there (aft and eve) - Coo! A matinee! Ah, but it's all on the website and myspace.
As for that scoundrel Tom B, he's been treading the same boards as me (from way back) here in Leeds (do ask him about the Bryan Ferry imitation-leather-trouser-look of the eighties folks! (hee hee, sorry Tom!). Check out his duo with Tom Napper, Les. Not folk rock, but an ever escalating standard of songwriting (in a fine folk style) to match instrumental prowess within the outfit.
Cheers to all that chipped in positively. Makes us want to keep going!
I'll see you all further on - Duncan

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 05:16 PM

I thought you'd gone quiet on us Duncan, so we'll forgive you as you were in the recording studio!

Villan, I've collected the strummer this evening - first tune to appear, as if by magic, was Beethoven - Ode to Joy!. Oh well, you can't win 'em all :-).

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:17 AM

Ah - lummy days (by heck - I woudn't want to try to fit into those trousers now)!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:22 AM

Is it a joy to behold BBP (Easier than trying to get Deirdre correct :-))

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 03:47 AM

Ooops!
Told you I was tired after the studio...
That should've been Glasson Doc and not Galsson Dock Fest on June 30th.
I've got a bit stockier myself Tom!
Cheers! - Duncan

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarland Band
From: GUEST,BBP at work
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 10:08 AM

Next chance to see the acoustic and electric band - see the separate Black Sheep Brewery Fest thread.

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarlane Band
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 08:01 AM

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarlane Band
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 09:36 AM

Speak up GUEST 13 Jun 06...
You're not getting through (wonders what was supposed to be posted)
Cheers - HFA

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarlane Band
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 07:12 AM

I am at work and need to keep a low profile but think DMcF band are a bit good!

Subject: RE: Duncan McFarlane Band
From: GUEST,Mollycat
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:29 PM

Well the lads worked hard this weekend at the Masham festival with 5 performances over the weekend - they must be exhausted - especially Duncan with all that leaping about.

I hear that they are back in the studio again this week working on their latest CD. Poor Matt, their engineer, he can't seem to get away from them! He played bass with the band this weekend, what a fantastic job he did too both in terms of his playing and also by reducing the average age of the band by 1/2!

Off to Leigh on Sea festival this weekend, so all those who didn't make it to Masham cos it's too far, will get the opportunity to see them on Sunday at an open air gig at The Crooked Billet - let's hope the weather is kind again this weekend.