The Week the World Went Weird

“Biff, boom, crack, party’s still going 6 in the morning” I have absolutely no idea why this line, from an old fave rock group I can’t even remember the name of, popped into my head, but ….

No it’s not!!

Nobody is partying this week, last week or for the foreseeable future.

So - Born in a Barn Studio locked the doors last Wednesday, on a last ditch run to the studio to collect a few essentials like printer, CD presser, a few random instruments & drums, but the thing that really made me realise this was real was turning the fridge off and unplugging it. I honestly don’t think I can remember a time when the fridge has been turned off - ever - like since December 1995 when I first connected it so we could have fresh milk in our tea as we began laying the foundations to build the studio! That fridge has done some time!! (OK - I might have upgraded it at some point - can’t remember!!)

So - that’s it for a while - no more studio sessions.

No more parties/filming/rehearsals/editing/mixing/mastering/sleeping or just cleaning - nothing!

Coronavirus has stopped many businesses in their tracks, but something tells me BB Studio will bounce back. It’s in my blood to make it happen - things can go on in the background and I won’t give up hope that at the end of this peculiar pandemic there will be one hell of a party at BB - anyone who has been there, knows me or is just looking for somewhere new, will be welcome.

For now tho’ - PLEASE follow government advice & stay at home - don’t push the limits - don’t be a hero.
Stay safe to protect the NHS and keep your hands clean!!
Musicians - do some practice.
Singers - do some practice.
Drummers - hell yeah do some practice!!

Practice 2m/6ft self-distancing too & give the elderly a fair shot at getting their necessities before you.

Oh - here’s a tip - if you have a bidet, now’s a real good time to start using it!!
Ciao4now!

New Single Released by Danny Ansell & Co.

What a milestone - December 1st 2019 the date that Danny Ansell & co. released their 1st Single.

‘Satellites’ is now available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Spotify & other platforms.

The band was formed around March time and has had a complicated year. The sad loss of guitarist Steve Madden was a curved ball nobody was ready for, but “the stone must roll on” and after a string of successful gigs in and around Coventry including some headline action, the band have held strong, completed an album of brilliant material & decided to release this song right now in December, before the winter festivities set in.

Please follow one of the links and buy a copy (there’s unlimited copies!) &/or buy one for a friend - better still pass the link on to friends. It’s a big 1st for all the band in many ways and it would be great to see the song do well, ahead of the album release loosely planned for end of February 2020.

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/satellites-single/1489954445

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Satellites/dp/B0829FGNBK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=danny+ansell+and+co&qid=1575558026&sr=8-2

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Danny_Ansell_Co_Satellites?id=Bjev5tfcj5avukrgn6c2eadlq5i&hl=en

For further information about the band please visit Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/dannyansellmusic/

A lot changed this year

Every year the studio will be upgraded somehow, be it a room makeover or new software upgrades or changes to the function of a room.

This year it’s been a bit of everything from new road signs to H&S certificates and cushions!

Since joining the band I’ve needed more equipment for live gigging again, as well as a refurbished drum kit of course, plus the Live Room has to accommodate me playing again and the band generally, so new stuff had to be done to that room - we spend a lot of time in there!

The outside has been a focus too, with the slight thought of global warming bringing better weather it seems kinda sensible to put some focus on the outside areas - this started by re-laying the patio and building up from there - now we can do BB BBQ’s - awesome.

So - let’s not bore you reading this - here’s some pics of the fun.

Of course if you fancy booking a session, get in touch - https://www.BorninaBarnStudio.com or call Roger direct on 07956 624376 - or pass this to someone you know - cheers.

3 months have passed - what happened?

As I sat down to write a new post here, I looked at the last post noticing it was all about the video launch for my new band with Danny Ansell. So much has happened in the last 3 months there’s been little chance to think. (see pics below)

I had forgotten a little about the complexities of being in a decent working band but working with Danny has seen more happen in around 6 months than any band I’ve been in before. I worked out recently that it’s the 9th band I have played in, but we have gone through way more in this band already.

It was in March that I met up with Danny and we recorded a rough demo to Lemonade Wage. Danny’s cousin Steve had recommended that I contact Danny earlier in the year and that there may be potential there to work together. Soon after this initial meeting I introduced Danny to Paddy the Bass and we put some backing to the track. When Steve heard the track he was chuffed and soon added his electric guitar parts. It was Steve who had originally written the track about 20 years ago and it’s been a favourite song of mine since I first heard it sometime in 2004. A band was born - nobody knows quite how, but things started to roll quickly after this and we began rehearsing hard as Danny announced he had loads of festival gigs lined up. Game on.

Sometime soon after this we were hit with the news that Steve had cancer and would be receiving treatment and I think this probably drove the band to be even more determined. We had a set rehearsed good enough for support slots and we made the video to Police at the Door as a promo insight to the band.

Sadly Steve didn’t make it through the Summer and on August 31st passed away quietly in hospital. We shared the stage at many great festival slots that Danny was getting asked back to every time, with headline gigs being offered. So, the following month leading to Steves funeral was a turbulent time for us all. The funeral itself was an amazing day with a massive turnout as Steve was so well known in the local music scene.

So this is why there’s been no new posts on here recently. RIP Steve Madden - a local legend & great friend.

October has come around fast and we have been rehearsing and recording quite a bit when we have had the chance. There’s 9 great songs recorded already with most mixed/mastered. I’m confident that by the end of next week we will have the complete album and this will be made available asap.

On Friday 25th October we are headlining the Empire in Coventry which is arguably Coventry’s biggest venue and hope to play a couple of new tunes at this event for the local fans.
Info about this gig best checked here: DannyAnsellMusic

To those that don’t know about songwriting and recording, it takes a lot more time than most think - especially when the material is sensitive. Dan writes the songs and brings them to rehearsals and we play them till they feel right, then record. I’m lucky I can spend the time on the recordings and believe me they are all really well written songs with purpose to them all. I take my hat off to Danny!! The album is looking to be a collection of old and new material, some with Steve on of course. Big shout to Paddy the Bass who has knitted the band together nicely with his solid bass-lines and endless patience! The stone rolls on, but it’s gone through some bumps and corners.

Below are some pics taken with Steve from local gigs/soundcheck moments.

Police at the Door - Danny Ansell & co.

Thank you to everyone who has viewed our video!
Since launching this promo video with my new band Danny Ansell & co. we have seen a fantastic response to it. In just 4 weeks it’s almost topped 10,000 views on Facebook. It’s been a great time this last month with 5 gigs with Danny including Cov Uni Square One, Coventry Motofest, Godiva Festival, 2Tone Stage outside the Cathedral before The Specials play tomorrow night and Coventry Jagfest Saturday. Plenty more festivals lined up thru Danny as well - well he has been doing it for over 10 years - what a pro.

Watch the video here of go to Danny’s music page:
https://www.facebook.com/dannyansellmusic/