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News
January 2015

Dear listener......

Happy New Year to you all!

I've made no resolutions and presented no lists of 2014.

I had a wonderful christmas at home with my wife and daughters and spent January doing up my house with all the jobs i'd put off all year and now i'm twitchy and restless and ready to get back out there plying my wears.

I'm not so much 'touring' as just playing as many gigs as i can between now and the release of my next album which hopefull will be towards the end of May/early June.

I've been busy recording demos of the 20 or so songs i'm working through with a plan to trim it down to the 12 that present themselves best and make most sense together.

I'll keep you updated on that....

Meanwhile i'll post what dates i have while I wait for the rest to be confirmed. I'm really pleased to have a bunch of House Concerts already in the diary and a few venues i've not played before.

My latest album 'Smiling From The Floor Up' (Clubhouse Records)was recieved pleasingly and made a few 'best of 2014' lists which is a wonderful compliment.

that's all for now, folks - look forward to seeing you out there.

Paul

November 2015

Hello listener... My next UK tour will be February, March And April 2015. I shall be doing some House Concerts as part of that. If you, or someone you know would like to host a house concert, please contact me asap via the 'Contact' page on this site as dates are getting booked up! please share this message to help me reach as many people as possible... thanks.

November 2014

Hello listener... I've come to the end of another busy period of gigs that has had me clocking up the latenight radio hours as I continue to find new places to ply my wares and make new friends.

One of my favourite things about touring is meeting other musicians out there and this year i've had the pleasure of sharing the bill and making new friends with some fantastic artists; if you get a spare couple of minutes, though you may have already, you might like to take a chance on one or all of these cracking musicians -

The Willows are a fab English/American folk band from Cambridge who I played with at Kevin Buxton's Kontra Roots night in Finedon, N'hants.

Kent Duchaine a slide blues guitarist from the USA who brought the house down in Silverstone - thanks to visionary promotor Phil Chamberlaine.

Red Sky July made my night in Nottingham by being not only top performers but also lovely gorgeous people.

Fraser Norton of The Tin Pigeons did a great opening slot for me at the newly formed Rutland Acoustic Sessions.

I did 3 show this year opening for the mighty Otis Gibbs; Truck Festival, The Maze in Notts for Cosmic American Music and The Musician in Leicester for Greenbird Promotions - Both genuine music promoters that never let you down.

M G Boulter (The Lucky Strikes)and Tim Manning (Blind River Scare)made my long haul to Swindon a very enjoyable affair - Boulter's new album 'The Water Or The Wave' is an beautiful piece of work, one of my favourites this year.

Leigh-On-Sea for Squeezebox Folk was another first for me, thanks for the warm welcome and lovely tunes from Gemma Khawaja. Adam Rees and Amanda McManus

I joined the ever classy Danni Nicholls for a songwritters circle in Bedford along with Davy Willis and Luke Tuchscherer who's taking a solo stance on a break from drumming with his band The Wybirds.

I shared a House Concerts with my good buddy Pete Gow of Case Hardin, we had a good time, finishing off with an impromptu 'covers' set - we don't feel we sold out with a bunch of crowd pleasers because I don't think the audience knew any of the songs! (The Felice Brothers, Warren Zevon, and Dylan) they still appeared to love it...!

This is just a small selection of some of the great artists i've bumped into on the road. None of us chart toppers, none of us millionaires but I doubt there's one amongst us that isn't grateful of the chance to share our music with you. We'd be knackered without your support. Keep searching, music fan, the music is out there!

October 2014

Morning radio fans... Here's me today playing and a-talking all over the radio. I'm the 'In Depth Guest' on BBC Radio Leicester between 3-4pm I'll be spinning some of my favourite songs and chatting and I might play my guitar and sing. Comment here if you want a mention...! BBC Radio Leicester on 104.9FM or on DAB in Leicestershire or Rutland, or alternatively listen live at www.bbc.co.uk/radioleicester.

busy gig week from tomorrow - I'm helping to establish a new live music night - The Rutland Acoustic Sessions - first one is Saturday 25th October at Cottesmore Village Hall, Doors 7pm first act on at 8pm, there's a bar and i'm sure you'll recieve a warm welcome, we go for that in Rutland...

September 2014

"on the road again, I can't wait to get on the road again..."
September and October UK dates are now up on my 'Shows' page. I'm still waiting on some confirmations so there could be a few more to follow.

Did you have a good summer?
Me too...

My eldest started primary school last week and I feel like my heart has broken.... I'm lucky in my job that I have time in the day to spend with my kids and watch them grow, but i miss her around the house in the daytime getting under my feet, stopping me working and getting me to build dens under the dining table when i ought to be updating my website and such...

Got to go, I think i've got something in my eye.

August 2014

Welcome music fans,

It's been a busy summer in camp McClure so August has seen a little down time while I focus my energies on my nippers before my eldest starts school. I'm not dealing with that well at all....

And in sympathy with those starting school, college, Uni or the school run, September also sees me back on the road traversing the country through September and October with new shoes and freshly sharpened pencils. I'll also be celebrating my album's half birthday. Full dates will be posted here soon.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, I'll see you when term starts...

Tuesday 1st July

Hello listeners,

Back on the road again.

June and July see me back on the road for my next series of House Concerts (with a few choice venues too, just keep my hand in).
The album's been out for 4 months now and I'm pleased people seem to be enjoying listening to it, thanks to all the kind people who took the time to shared their thoughts and impressions with me either on the fb or email or better still at a concert. Thanks too to the music writers who made time in their busy lives to ponder my album (check out the 'Press' section of this website for insight...).

July brings Festivals and i've managed to fit in a few lovely ones so I can bring my family with me and enjoy the day as you would. Last year at Truck in the Saloon Stage, my daughter suprised me by appearing next to me on stage while I was half way through a song, quite rightly I instantly lost the attantion of the entire audience! She stood there right next to me very politely till i finished and then chirped up "Daddy, when do I do my song?" Little angel, thing is it's not like she had a party piece or anything that she 'does'. This year will be different though thanks to 'Frozen'....

Check out my 'Shows' page for info.

Saturday 17th May

I'm playing Wood Festival tomorrow, 5pm on the second stage.

Meanwhile, i've put some snippets of a couple of new reviews for the album up on my 'Press' page. Reviews are a funny thing. You send your work out there and someone whom you may never have even met, gives their opinion of it and then publishes it to the world and there's not a darn thing you can do about it. As artists, we need reviews because it gives our record buying public an independent view of it from which you can make your decision as to wether you feel confident to part with your hard earned cash and to spend your valuable time listening to it. I get that. Really I do. But I got to tell you, for me it's one of the hardest most frustrating parts of the process.
Generally, unless the review has come off the back of an interview where I've been able to give a bit of background on why and how I did what I did, the reviewer is invited to say/write whatever they want. Some clearly take their job seriously and research the subject and even listen to the album, maybe even twice! where it gets hard is when a review is made up mostly of the press release WE (the record lable, PR people and me) write. I just think that if you want to be a reviewer and have the power to influence a readers opinion, then take the time to actually review it! Two of the recent reviews for the album couldn't even be bothered to get the instruments right for Pollyanna writing how much they enjoyed the banjo, resonator, slide and percussion on the song - It's just me playing one guitar track!! It would have been nice to have been recognised for that....
Don't get me wrong, there are some fine and genuinely talented writers out there who don't 'slag off' or 'gush praise' because to be honest, neither of those approaches serve either artist or reader. These writers tend to go beyond just being a music fan who wants to be in the buisness rather than the audience and are prepared to sacrifice their time and in most accounts, their earnings to seek the truth.
I was recently out with a music writer of many years experience, who'd tevelled the hard miles and been to the gigs, both big and small, who had sat up all night waiting for the interview, travelled everywhere and anywhere to be where the moment was and put up with aggro and hasstle to find the truth - not just cut and pasted the press release - and he was telling me about phone calls and emails he gets asking how to get where he is? what's his secret? If he doesn't just hang up, then his answer is that there is no secret. You get out there and you do it, you love it, and you learn it.... There is a music writer I've come to know who also promotes his own shows who I talk to from time to time at gigs and festivals all over the country. I saw him at The Redlands Palomino gig in Leicester last week, I was opening for them as it's my local town and they're good friends and labelmates, and there he was; a bit drunk and quite vocal, but loving it, not as a writer but as a fan of the band he's been following for years, he knew their history, their music even their inter-band relationships!
So, for fear of upsetting the most dangerous members of our community, what am i trying to say? I don't know, maybe it would be nice if the wannabee music writer realised that they have the power and to use it wisely. That what they do can make a difference to the little artist and his art. And that there is more to it than buying a laptop and reading the press release. Have some respect for your profession and for the music writers who work their asses off for the one reason we're all in this.... Music.

Friday 2nd May

Kids say the darndest things...

I wear a hat from time to time. The one in my photos. And often a plaid shirt. So I'm teaching guitar in a little local Rutland primary school when this 7 yr old lad stops in his tracks and looking up at me all bewildered like asks "what have you come as?" "You what?" I enquire. "What you dressed as?" He further asks. "I'm not 'dressed' as anything.." Slightly confused he then perks up "are you a cowboy?!" To which I put his mind at rest with "well yes I am, son". I then walked on down the corridor using my best John Wayne walk. It was a good feeling....

24th April 2014

Dear listeners,

I had a smashing time on Bonanza & Son (Resonance 104.4FM www.resonancefm.com)with the wonderfully hospitable Martyn Bonanza (the show is now up on Soundcloud for those who missed it - click on the facebook icon in the top corner of this page to find the link) and a big thank you to all of you who took the time to comment... the chair is fine, i'm fine, there will be no impending law suit...

Tonight (thursday 24th April) sees me playing in the historic Camden Town, the London. I'll be playing at The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, music starts at 8pm so come on down!

May is pretty quiet by my standards picking up again in June. I shall be embarking on another run of house concerts through June and July so if you (yes, You!) fancy hosting me at your very own House Concert then drop me a line at paulmccluremusic@gmail.com.

We had a great time on Saturday 19th April for Record Store Day - big thank you to Rapture in Witney and The Record Shop, Amersham where i played in store shows, and a massive night at The Clubhouse Records aftershow party featuring live sets from The Redlands Palomino Company, The Dreaming Spires, yours truly (featuring a duet with Pete Gow from Case Hardin who went on to close the night in fine style.

for pictures and more info please visit www.clubhouserecords.co.uk

see you out there...

2nd April 2014

Firstly please allow me to appologise for not updaing my website in a while, I have recieved a few repremands, and quite rightly too, at several of my recent concerts so here I am making ammends...

Well that's all for now, too busy gigging, writing, rehearsing, cooking, throwing bread to ducks, crafting, tidying up, washing up, hanging pictures, drawing, driving, checking the freshness of eggs (is it float or sink?) playing records, updating my sticker album, texting, twittering, tweeting, wittering on, walking, rambling, sitting about, watching tele, playing my Tele', blowing my harp, remembering, commemorating, regretting, missing.... loving.

see you out there....

(new tour dates added)

April dates:

Saturday 12th - Melton's Music Cafe, Melton Mowbray
Sunday 13th - 'Come Down And Meet The Folks' The Apple Tree, Clerkenwell, London
Saturday 19th - Record Store Day
2pm In Store show at Rapture, Whitney
4pm In Store show at The Record Shop, Amersham
Evening show - Clubhouse Records 'After Party' - 5 live
Bands!!! at Harris & Hoole Cafe, Amersham,
info and tickets www.clubhouserecords.co.uk
Thursday 24th - 'Countrier Than Thou', Lock Tavern, Camden, London

May Dates:

Thursday 1st - Tribe Whisky Festival, Sheffield (info to follow)

Im on tour!

The Rutland Troubadour Tour has begun. Here is my 'on the spot' report of the first 3...

first gig of the tour... the Phoenix Cinema, Oxford. It felt like a house concert, intimate happy room of friendly listeners and a beautiful sleeping dog. Photos show - food from 'Posh Chips' on Walton St. It rained all night. Ryan Adams and The Felice Brothers on the way there, Gillian Welch on the way home, twice... Next gig is at The Musician, Leicester Thursday 30th then it's on to the south coast. I'm not going to call it a tour as i'm coming home after most of the gigs but more a 'load of gigs crammed into 3 months with a similar intention' - not very catch, might have to work on that.... suggestions welcome x

Second gig of the tour... last night I opened for Neil McSweeney, thoroughly nice chap and a fine performer. My songs seemed to go down well with the friendly and appreciative audience - I would expect nothing less from the good people of Leicester. The latter part of the evening was definitely a game of two halves - half of the people I spoke to after were lovely, very polite and a pleasure to meet. The other half were just barking! a joy to behold of course, but just bonkers! loved it all... Photos show The Musician; my home venue. Malc; a very Sound man, aftershow dinner, bonkers new friends, 2 Mac, Travel music; The Beatles on the way there, 'Cargo' by Neil McSweeney on the way home, I really enjoyed this album. South coast tomorrow - I'll bring you all back a stick of rock, or perhaps just one you can all share between you... x

Third gig of the tour... Saturday night was the first of the house concerts and what a start! It's a long way down to St. Leonards on the south coast but it was worth it. I love a road trip anyway, gives me chance to listen to my choice of music in the car for a change...(rather than the usual children's story book cds and nursery rhyme singalongs) Tom & Fiona could not have been more welcoming and they sure have a great group of friends who know how to put a fella at ease. I forgot to take any photos of the actual performance but i did pass a video camera around the audience to gather footage for a future film of the tour, I'm hoping i'll get some photos forwarded by some of he guests i saw snapping away too. For now the photos to accompany this post show: Louis the Welcoming comittee - my rider - classic musician's tea - you know you're gonna have a good gig when there's one of these hanging on the wall next to you - Guitarist extraordinaire and all round legend, Tom Bowen - The mostest hostess, Fiona - listening there - listening back.

Click on the facebook icon in the top right hand corner of this page to see the photos....

February dates:
Saturday 1st - Private House Concert. St. Leonards On Sea
Tuesday 4th - The Gladstone Pub, Borough, London
Thursday 6th - The Donkey, Leicester
Saturday 8th - Private House Concert, Oakham, Rutland
Thursday 13th - Portobello Acoustic Sessions, The Metropolitan Pub,London (next to Westbourne Park Tube)
Saturday 15th - Private House Concert, Manchester
Sunday 16th - Private House Concert (on a boat) Leeds
Tuesday 18th - The Maze, Nottingham
Wednesday 19th - Private House Concert, Oakham, Rutland
Thursday 20th - Private House Concert, Nelson's House, Rutland
Friday 21st - Private House Concert, Tilton-On-The-Hill, Leicester
Saturady 22nd - Uppingham Town Hall
Sunday 23rd - Live Radio Session, The Late Gig on Swindon 105.5
Live session 9-11pm
Monday 24th - The Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
Friday 28th - Songs From The Shed, Bristol

March dates:

Saturday 1st - Private House Concert, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Sunday 2nd - Private House Concert, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Monday 3rd - Official Album Launch Date
Thursday 6th - Private House Concert - Reading
Friday 7th - Riff's Bar, Acoustic Sessions, Swindon
Saturday 8th - Stonesfield Village Hall, Oxfordshire
Sunday 9th - Acoustheque, The Playhouse, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Friday 14th - Private House Concert, Buckingham
Saturday 15th - Private House Concert, Rickmansworth
Sunday 16th - Live Radio Session, Folk DJ
Radiodacorum.org.uk 5-7pm
Sunday 16th - The Breathingroom Acoustic Session, The Antelope, Tooting, London
Saturday 22nd - Union Music Store, Lewes, afternoon instore performance
Saturday 22nd - Private House Concert, Lewes
Thursday 27th - Loughborough Acoustic Club
Saturday 29th - Private House Concert, Amersham

April dates:

Saturday 12th - Melton's Music Cafe, Melton Mowbray
Sunday 13th - 'Come Down And Meet The Folks' The Apple Tree, Clerkenwell, London
Saturday 19th - Record Store Day
2pm In Store show at Rapture, Whitney
4pm In Store show at The Record Shop, Amersham
Evening show - Clubhouse Records 'After Party' - 5 live
Bands!!! at Harris & Hoole Cafe, Amersham,
info and tickets www.clubhouserecords.co.uk
Thursday 24th - 'Countrier Than Thou', Lock Tavern, Camden, London
Sunday 27th - Tribe Whisky Festival, Sheffield (info to follow)

23rd December 2013

Dear listeners...

My 4 year old daughter chose The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' this evening as our tea time music. More, i'm sure, for the funny cover picture of them dressed up as 'monkeys' than anything else but by the time we got to the end of 'All You Need Is Love' we're all of us singing along.

This post isn't really about The Beatles, i'm just using them to illustrate a point: As we sat round the table i got to thinking; I bet when they recorded this song they truly believed that all you really need IS love. So at this time of year, a time when the line between 'need' and 'want' get seriously messed up, go through all your stuff and the shit thats going on around you and put it into perspective and ask yourself "what do I NEED?" Now i like a drink as much as the next man and i still go weak at the sound of a Telecaster and i've blown more shit up my nose and smoke out my ass than i care to remember but when I think about what I want for christmas this year the answer is simple; love. we say it so often but if a few more of us practiced what we preach a little more often then it really will be a merry christmas. This isn't new and I appreciate i'm not changing the world but what's the alternative? hope in silence? My family are either dead or moved away - I can't blame them, you've met me right? - so it's just me, the wife and my girls and i wouldn't swap that for all the tea in china. So do me a favour, if you've got someone in your life, someone you love, tell them you love them... and really mean it.

Merry Christmas music fans.

4th December 2013

We have a release date!

Paul McClure
Smiling From The Floor Up
Clubhouse Records
Release Date: January 27th 2013

For copy of the album and press release please contact Del Day at Ark PR on 07759 528006 or email

27th September 2013

The Album Tour.

My album is coming out in January. Here's how the tour is going down

'The Livingroom Tour' - Bringing Music Back Home.

There's not enough live music in the home anymore. I grew up with a piano and guitars at my house and my grandparent’s houses and we'd sit about singing, sometimes 4 or 5 of us. It's not the same as having a record on, live music is organic, it's real, it resonates from your heart and fills the room, your house with energy. Getting your kids singing, it’s amazing; I get my guitar out at home and my 3 year old daughter skips around the room with a ukulele (she doesn't play it in the conventional sense yet..) and my other little girl jumps about nodding her head and grinning, it’s beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I do play a lot of records at home, I always have, but there's something special about creating those sounds yourself and it doesn't matter about the quality, no one cares about a bum note or everyone singing the wrong words, shit I mean, some of those old folk and blues songs have got plenty of different versions so who cares?! But actual live music played in the home is a very special thing and that's why I'm touring my new album in the homes of friends, family, fans and fiend’s of friends, harping back to the days of travelling musicians, minstrels and troubadours playing in people's homes. We've even put it out over the Internet to offer anyone the opportunity of hosting an evening of live music in their home, we got a lot of takers so far, it seems we’ve hit a chord! I’ll be inviting a few friends in here and there to join the fun and play a few songs with me along the way. I’m taking it personally with this record, it’s a very personal album for me so i’m making the live show personal too.

What could be better than a gig in a room full of people you love all having a good time and a good old sing-along? I'm really looking forward to this tour, being welcomed in to people's homes to play for friends, man we're gonna raise those rafters!

.................

If you're interested in getting involved and hosting a night on this tour, email Paul direct at paulmccluremusic@gmail.com you could even get your name on the tour T Shirt!! that's pretty cool, right?

..................

5th August

Howdy listeners...

"my hands are cold, my voice is hoarse, my boots are full of mud and I drove 40 miles in the wrong direction to be here tonight...let's have a good time!"

My opening speech at The Y-Not festival in Derbyshire last night and what a great time we had. A big thank you to all the cowboys and cowgirls who came to the Saloon and really brought the house down! Singing, shouting, cussing and drinking; we had it all. Big thanks to all you beautiful people who bought cds and a big shout to Dave, Graham and their band of merry men for giving me so much ammunition!

It's been a fabulous series of gigs for me over the last month and after Tuesday night at The Musician in Leicester opening for Larkin Poe i'm looking forward to some family time before it starts again on August 26th - Check 'Shows' page for details.

Finally, the album is racing to it's conclusion, 2 more studio sessions in August should see it done and heading for a release this side of Christmas
(perfect Christmas gift for that 'hard to buy for' music fan...)

All the best and see you soon....

McClure out.

3rd July 2013

Howdy Listeners.

All systems go here at McClure HQ with some great show over the next 2 weeks.
This Friday im playing at the Maverick Festival in Suffolk - some fantastic singers on the bill and the sun is set to shine. (7pm on the Peacock Cafe stage) for more info visit here:

www.facebook.com/pages/Maverick-Festival

Tingestock 2013! The following weekend (Saturday 13th)you'll find me in the little village of Tingewick in Buckinghamshire for Empty Rooms Promotions' cracking one day festival of music in association with Clubhouse Records:

https://www.facebook.com/events/416541371777974/?fref=ts
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/211226

...followed by my first solo outing at London's 'Come Down And Meet The Folks' (Sunday 14th) which has switched venues to The Betsey Trotwood for one week only due to building work at The Apple Tree. I'll be opening for Co Pilgrim.

Friday 19th is the start of Truck Festival in Oxfordshire. I'm playing on Friday on the 'Great Western Wiskey Saloon and Blues Kitchen' stage... can't wait. Get your tickets here: http://truck.gigantic.com/truck-festival-tickets/hill-farm-steventon/2013-07-19-10-00-gce/40361a

Then on the Saturday it's back to my neck of the woods for Music On The Launde at Launde Abbey. i'll be opening the event at 4ish, that'll be a lovely day, i'm taking Mrs McClure and the nippers.

Hope to see you at a show real soon, all the best...

16th May 2013

Howdy listeners,

Busy times for Team McClure. Gigs have been going well as I try out all my new songs, had a great time at Madame Jojo's opening for my good friends and labelmates The Cedars as they launch their new album 'Little Copper Still' check out www.clubhouserecords.co.uk for reviews and to buy a copy!

I've been back in the studio this month, and it looks like we're getting close. Most of the recording is done so now we're employed in the laborious task of mixing and mastering, not my favourite part of the process but luckily I have the wonderfull Neil Segrott at Tiny Studios in Leicester to offer his expert ears. Still on for a September release...

This weekend is Wood Festival nr Oxford, a cracking weekend of music and other activities available, I'm on stage Two at 1:50pm on Sunday, bring the wife and family, bring the whole.. kids! (Bob Dylan - Bear Mountain Picnic)

See you soon,

Paul

18.4.13. BRAND NEW SITE!!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to McClure Towers, my new online home. I’ll be keeping you all up to date with regular gig reports, album info, promo news, nights out, days in, thoughts, hopes and ideas and anything else I think might be of interest to the casual observer of my life as a musician.

I hope you find something of interest within.

Paul.

I might just end my first bulletin with a couple of mentions in despatches:

To Clubhouse Records for continued love and support.

To Trevor Moss for taking the wonderful photos of me to be found in the ‘Gallery’ and for creating this smashing website!