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Pete Atkin / Members / Re: Julian Mount's Songs.... |
29.05.26 at 15:04 |
| Started by JtJ | Newest post by JtJ |
Hi there!
In 1973, Julian Mount (that's me) privately released a vinyl album of his original songs called “Unsung Lies”. Now in 2026, the album is re-released on the Seelie Court/Good Times record label worldwide! The CD is available from 29 May 2026. The vinyl version will follow on 26 June. The CD contains FOUR bonus tracks…this is one of them (an update to the first track on the original album “My Friend”).
#JulianMount #JulianMountMusic
https://youtu.be/bLoUHsYUNc8
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| 2 |
Pete Atkin / Words / Key Changes and This Sceptred Isle |
27.05.26 at 06:56 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by S J Birkill |
Apologies for posting this in the "Words" board, notionally reserved for Clive James's writings, for this in fact references Pete's own radio work, something we at MV don't seem to have a more appropriate space for.
In the April 4th episode of his "Sceptred Dial" blog, Radio Times journalist Simon O'Hagan introduces what the magazine describes as “an ambitious new series”, Key Changes, in 48 episodes on Radio 3, “tracing pivotal points of innovation across a thousand years of music”. O'Hagan compares this epic series, following the development of classical music from the 11th to the 21st century, to that earlier radio epic, Pete Atkin's This Sceptred Isle, which gave a similar treatment, though with even greater scope and depth, to the entire history of Britain from Roman times to the 20th Century.
In doing so, he salutes Pete's work, telling us how the series came about and giving a potted history of Pete's career in BBC radio, along with a mention of his musical collaborations with Clive James.
Key Changes is broadcast each Saturday at 13:00 on BBC Radio 3. Current and previous episodes are available here -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002tdbv
Read Simon O'Hagan's "Sceptred Dial" here -
https://simonohagan.substack.com/p/from-a-thousand-years-of-classical
Steve |
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| 3 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / Re: Three days to go ! |
26.05.26 at 21:22 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by S J Birkill |
Nice, Mark! Quite a while since we've had a 'parody lyric' -- this deserves a place in the discography's "alternative lyrics" column. I see we have a couple of Girl On The Train entries already, but I'm sure I can squeeze in another one. 
Pete didn't mention it, but before boarding his train home on Thursday he visited an old friend (the writer Frederic Raphael) in west London, lugging his guitar and backpack, so quite the exhausting day. And it wasn't until Friday he had the damage assessed and treated at hospital in Bristol.
Steve
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| 4 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / Durham Folk Festival |
25.04.26 at 20:20 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by S J Birkill |
Durham Folk Festival writes "Pete will join us for music performances across the weekend, and will lead a songwriting workshop. As his astonishingly prolific work in radio is worthy of an event in itself, Pete will be In Conversation with festival co-director (and broadcast media enthusiast) Jonny Mohun, in an hour featuring sound clips, anecdotes, and insights into a truly fascinating career."
The festival runs from 18th to 20th September, and Pete expects to feature in the events of at least two of the three days. The standard weekend ticket costs £130.00 -- book HERE. 'Early Bird' discounted tickets have already sold out. |
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| 5 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / Tim Benton - Catching the Light |
25.04.26 at 18:03 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by S J Birkill |
Sorry, I'm a bit late announcing this, but in case you're in the London area tomorrow --
Tickets are still available, HERE. The show begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, 26th April) in Greenwich Theatre's 'Studio', and Tim will be accompanied by our favourite piano man and MV member Simon Wallace.
Steve |
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| 6 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / Re: Thursday's Pheasantry gig |
21.04.26 at 13:56 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by Paul_Griffin |
Thanks Steve. If it's of interest,I would mention that Al Steele is an ex-pat Aussie (as Clive James was,of course) who as well as being a member of The Korgis (best known for their hits Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime and If I Had You as well as other songs such as Something About The Beatles and Bringing Back The Spirit Of Love) runs Shabbey Road Studios in Caerphilly. As a retirement hobby I have recorded with Al a couple of CD albums called Atlantic Coast Express and Return To Vindolanda of songs written by myself and Al and featuring myself on lead vocals and Al on backing vocals and all instruments. Al is also the arranger,engineer and producer of the songs and he and his wife design the artwork for the CDs. The CDs are available from the Korgis Records Artists page of The Korgis official website or from the merchandise stall at Korgis gigs. We're currently mid-way through recording songs for a third album. I was pleased and honoured to be asked to sing a song with Al and his band at his gig last Saturday.
When talking to Pete after Pheasantry gigs,he has been most encouraging towards my musical efforts which is very much appreciated. Many thanks Pete ! |
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| 7 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / A Cab to the Festival Hall ? |
11.04.26 at 23:45 |
| Started by S J Birkill | Newest post by S J Birkill |
Yes, friends, on Thursday that magnificent venue will host a performance of Igor Stravinsky's ballet music Le Sacré du printemps, played entirely from memory by the Aurora Orchestra.
However, if your preference is for a one-time game-bird shop, school of ballet, a rooming house redolent with rock and movie history, or to be reminded of (among others) Memphis or Charlie Christian — or maybe you could just murder a pizza — you might ask your cabbie to drive out to Chelsea instead, where Pizza Express Live! will present an evening with Pete Atkin and Simon Wallace at 152, King's Road, the venue known as The Pheasantry.
Once again Pete and Simon will entertain with another selection, mostly from the seemingly inexhaustible (well over 200 songs) Clive James and Pete Atkin songbook. So expect a few you'll not have heard, along with some of the old concert favourites.
The show begins at 8 p.m. (doors open 6.30) on Thursday 16th April, and as of today (Saturday), tickets are still available. You can book your table on line via the Pizza Express Live! website at www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/pete-atkin.
Don't forget to exchange the secret MV wink with other members... 
Steve
« Image credit: The Party's Over, Tricastle Films Ltd., London 1965 » |
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| 8 |
Pete Atkin / Gigs / Des de Moor |
10.04.26 at 12:45 |
| Started by Richard Whiting | Newest post by Richard Whiting |
I mentioned this to Steve and he ‘encouraged’ me to let y’all know that……but, first, a pre-amble.
On the 7th of May 2001 I went to The Vortex (Jazz) Club in Stoke Newington Church Street in order to see Pete. Before the gig, I chatted to a guy, who gave the impression that this evening was (mainly) his doing and, reading the post-gig notes, that seems to be the case. It turned out that he was Des de Moor and he was also on the undercard. It was a great evening!
That was the pre-amble.
Fast forward quite a few years and I find myself at The North London Beer Festival in the Euston area. I noticed a guy holding a few books that he’d, obviously, like to sell and I recognised him as being the aforementioned Des de Moor. So, I approached him and we started chatting about Pete and The Vortex and that sort of thing...as you would expect. He was friendly but ended our short conversation by speculating that, and these are my words and not his, “As much as I’ve enjoyed this chat, as you seem un-likely to buy my book, I’m moving on”. And he did.
That was the mid-amble.
The post script is this:
Sadly, I’ve found out that Des has died.
Apart from being a musician, Des was also a highly-respected beer writer. He wrote regular beer articles in various publications and produced many books on the subject...at least one of which, I didn’t buy.
Here’s a link to his obituary. I hope you don’t have to be a CAMRA member to access it.
https://wb.camra.org.uk/2026/02/10/des-de-moor-a-man-of-many-words
But, in case you do, here’s a pertinent extract:
“His passion for beer was matched by his love of music. He was a singer and performed in a number of clubs in London. He specialised in cabaret and presented a collection of songs by David Bowie called Darkness and Disgrace with pianist Russell Churney. Des was “a man of many layers”. He translated into English, songs by the Belgian performer Jacques Brel. He founded music nights in the Vortex Club in Stoke Newington and took part in poetry festivals in the Camden People’s Theatre.
RIP Des! |
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