Gannets live on Radio 3

Gannets returned to the live stage for the first time in over a year with an energetic half hour set during this years London Jazz Festival. We also saw one or two unique collaborations between Gannets and members of Dave Kane's Rabbit Project, Mat Maneri, Corey Mwamba, Paul Rogers, Robert Mitchell and other guest artists at this years festival.

Adventures in Sound, as it was billed by BBC Radio 3 posed the quizzical notion; is improvisation more creative in longstanding groups or one off collaborations? The nature of the gig was to encourage the sense of surprize and shock that should confront improvisation for both the listener and performer and which can truly be appreciated as something unique in that all too breif a moment when and where it takes place. Its also done to mix things up a bit and there were indeed some beautiful and sometimes odd musical moments during the collaborations but I just don't know which I would say was most creative. Judge for yourself . . . . .

Highlights of the gig can be heard over on BBC Radio 3 on Monday 5th December at 11pm - Jazz on 3 presents Adventures in Sound with special guests Gannets.

Photo of Fyfe Dangerfield by Richard Kaby.

gaNNets tour dates

"one of the highlights of the London Jazz Festival"  TIME OUT

"the abstract improv version of the Guillemots"  THE GUARDIAN

GANNETS WINTER TOUR 2012 - click on the tour dates below for more info and to link with local venue and ticket outlets. . .

JANUARY 2012
Weds 25th: NEWCASTLE > Central Bar Gateshead £7 / £5.
0191 478 2543

Thurs 26th: MANCHESTER > Band on the Wall £9 / £8.
0161 834 1786

Fri 27th: LEEDS > Brudenell Social Club £6.
0113 275 2411

Sat 28th: COVENTRY > Taylor John's House £6.
024 7655 9958

Sun 29th: BIRMINGHAM > The Yardbird.
0121 212 2524

FEBRUARY 2012

Weds 1st: LONDON > The Vortex £9.
020 7254 4097

Fri 3rd: BRISTOL > St. George's £10.
0845 40 24 001

Sat 4th: CHELTENHAM > Slak Bar £6.
01242 524011

Sun 5th: BRIGHTON > The Blind Tiger Club £10.50 / £9.50.
01273 606312

With support from ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, NATIONAL LOTTERY FUND and JAZZ SERVICES.

The boy returns from Brazil and Gannets play London Jazz Festival.

Around about now Fyfe will be returning from his adventures in Brazil where he’s been scooting about doing a bunch of shows with that other band of his, Guillemots. They will also be playing dates in the UK this coming November but more to the point, if you happen to be around on the 19^th of that very month you will have the oppertunity to catch Gannets on home turf! We shall be giving our first public appearance in over a whole year! The occasion is the London Jazz Festival where we’ll be playing as part of 'Adventure’s in Sound' which incorporates a selection of new compositions and improvisations from current artists in Jazz. As well as Gannets there promises to be a rare appearance from ‘Mujician’ double bassist Paul Rogers, Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooaar and the Glaswegian saxophonist Raymond MacDonald amongst other surprise guests, and on the day of the concert a selection of unique collaborations between different combinations of all the musicians will also be devised so you can expect a decent bit of off the cuff thick thackery. It starts at 2pm Saturday November 19^th in the Front Room of Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. It’s free entry too. And for all of those out of towners amongst you the whole thing can be heard in glorious stereo on December 5^th on BBC Radio 3.

NEWS FLASH! Gannets will be featured in the closing set at Adventure's in Sound from 5.30pm - 6pm.

Click here for link to Gannets at London Jazz Festival

clarinet improvisation

Here's a short bit of footage of Alex performing a solo clarinet improvisation at London's Cafe Oto in February earlier this year.

Fyfe Dangerfield in Antiquity Epic Flick!

Gannets very own Fyfe Dangerfield provides an amusing musical backdrop to an unusual film! This clip is from another episode of the ridiculous antics that can be found over on Two Thirteen TV. We witness the discovery of a metal gong from antiquity, believed to possess highly potent magical powers that multiply potatoes. As the stockpile of coveted knowledge and religious myth is unpacked by our two learned inquisitors their revelations turn out to become somewhat more fruitful than just the potatoes they had originally bargained for.

Album launch and live stuff all coming soon!

Welcome to the all new Gannets blog offering you the first bleary eyed glimpses into our eager return to live activity. To be honest we’ve been a bit all over the shop as of late what with Dominic moving to New York and Chris going off to join the circus. Fyfe has been working on the new Guillemots album, and Alex and Steve have both had their hands tied with recording projects of their own so it’s been hard to fathom anything that might resemble the usual crystalline nerve that you must have come to expect from us. So in an attempt to put a stop to all this dillydallying around we’ve decided to announce the long awaited release of our debut album which will appear on the fantastic Babel record label in early 2012, and to celebrate this momentous occasion we’ll be playing a whole bunch of live dates around the UK in the New Year. As tempting as it is to spill the beans all at once, we’ll have to wait until October before we can confirm each and every detail about the tour. However, should you need to whet your appetite you will be able to catch us at this year’s London Jazz Festival on November 19th for free . . . Yes for free, zilch, no green shield stamps required, not even a half crown or a three penny bit needed! We’ll be playing a totally improvised set as part of BBC Radio 3’s Adventures in Sound at The Front Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. Exact timings and numerical equivalences will be shared with you here soon, and you can also search the radio waves for Jazz on 3 every Monday night at 11pm to eavesdrop on rumours surrounding this star studded event as well as what else might be going on at LJF this year. OK that’s all for now.

exclusive album preview

Here's a little taste of what the forthcoming Gannets album is sounding like. We recorded it at the legendary Pinewood Studios and this one is called Walking the Gannet.

Listen Here.