goliards

After the demise of the band in the summer of 2010 with the departure of Laurence Morgan-Anstee and Tracey Baker, the group have reformed during the winter. With founder Paul Whittall now the only original member the band is now augmented by Matthew Shepherd on Cello and Bass Instruments, Anita Munsun on Clarinet and Dave Wisdom on Fretted Instruments. Also, the welcome return of Claire Anstee on Flute and Singing. The band is currently at the rehearsal stage and hope to be gigging once more by the summertime. The third album 'Ghosts' was realeased in December 2010 and features a good proportion of Paul's compositions such as the title track and also some settings of the poet John Clare in 'She Tied up her Few Things' and 'the Crow sat on the Willow Tree' Check out the Goliards page for soundbites and older news.

It has been a busy wintertime for all three of the Guild, not least in the creation of a new recording of the Tain. This hour long epic is available for purchase from the Spending Slot and is priced at a very reasonable £7 compared to £10 at gigs. The lads will be out on their usual travels as the year progresses and will no doubt be spotted at various grisly gatherings. watch this space ..................................................

Busy as ever on one project or another, Paul spent the back end of 2010 completing 'Little Palaces' his latest cd of self penned songs and including 'Fish in the Sea' 'Ian Looked Away' 'Grave' and the added track a 15 minute fantasy entitled 'Boiled Egg and Badger' This rounds off a five album project that began with 'Stroking Bees and Chasing Hares' six years ago. Also the eventual descision to release 'Ghosts' the third Goliards album was taken. As the recording was all but finished before the band broke up Paul decided that there was enough quality in the album for release and here it is. At last 'Playing Cards and Paper Clips' appears to be on the move. Phoni FM in Exeter have broadcast the first couple of episodes and there is scope for more apparently due to the positive feedback in that area. Thanks to Martin Hodge for his continued encouragement. Further collaborations impending hopefully. Paul's involvement in the improvisatory aggrigation 'CheF' is the latest project. After an appearance at the Aeon festival in the summer of 2010 three of the then seven piece band secided to continue and so Paul, along with local composer Philip Robinson and Matthew Shepherd, one of the latest Goliards have already been rehearsing and recording, so watch this space for more news. Finally a collaboration with old friend Bob 'the Dog' Maddox has resulted in a mini opera. About 20 years ago when they met Bob wrote a special piece that until now stayed hidden, between the two of them they have created "Hirdan", a fantasy tale and it is nearly ready for consumption. So there, and don't say you weren't warned