Told ya we were coming out on tour! It’s a co-headline with our pals The Middlenight Men, whose new album ‘Issue 2’ has been highly playlisted (in my house, at least). Who’s going to be on first, who’s going to be on last? I don’t know yet. But we’ll be both be doing long sets and it’ll be well worth getting down nice and early.
Don’t hang around on tickets, because these are all small and wonderful independent venues, and it would be great for our small and wonderful bands to show them that we are capable of selling them out.
Dates are:
Fri 24 May: Wolverhampton KK’s Steel Mill – ticket link
I’m really chuffed to announce my new covers project that I’m planning on peppering 2024 with. In 2023, I had some really strange and slightly turbulent times, and – as ever – music was there to patch me up. I threw myself into a fairly aimless project where I decided to record some covers for an EP, and – as ever – I took it way too far and found myself really enjoying it.
The aim was to do some versions of songs that I’d really loved throughout my life, partly to pay tribute to them, and partly because… well, as a songwriter I’m always trying to up my game, and I thought that getting ‘under the hood’ of some of my favourite tunes might teach me a bit about writing and how those songwriters came up with those ideas and pieced them together.
It was a wonderful learning curve that taught me a bunch of stuff as well as took my mind off a bunch of other stuff. There’s FOUR of these ten-track albums coming to you over the course of the year. The first video came out last week, my cover of the classic ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ by Bob Dylan, which you can see here:
So I’m dead excited to share them all with you RIGHT NOW over on my Bandcamp page https://chriscatalyst.bandcamp.com – and, as it’s Bandcamp Friday, for today only ALL of the profits go direct to the artist without any commission.
It’s called ‘Chris’s Kitchen Disco: Vol. 1’ and the first one’s tracklist is:
1. Subterranean Homesick Blues (originally by Bob Dylan)
2. Call Me (originally by Blondie)
3. Up The Junction (originally by Squeeze)
4. Hungry Like The Wolf (originally by Duran Duran)
5. Life’s What You Make it (originally by Talk Talk)
6. Cornflake Girl (originally by Tori Amos)
7. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (originally by Rachel Stevens)
8. Crazy (originally by Seal)
9. If I Can Dream (originally by Elvis Presley)
10. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (originally by The Smiths)
This is no acoustic album – this is full-bore full-band versions of loads of my favourite songs, some of which you’ll be very familiar with, and some of which you won’t.
Thanks for ALL your support in 2023… here’s to a load more fun in 2024. Speaking of which, tour dates anyone? Coming soon.
I’ve got a new album all ready. It’s done and it’s dusted and I’m currently waiting for the CDs (which land next week) and the vinyl (which land on the 26th Sept).
It’s comfortably my favourite thing I’ve ever done. It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make – eclectic but with a pop heart. An outlandish but hi-fi production. With world-class artwork from my pal Rich Jones (for Turning Rebellion). I honestly think this is a career-defining record for me. And I hope you do too.
Pre-order begins RIGHT NOW over at https://www.musicglue.com/chriscatalyst. Keeping it simple for this one, with a CD, a STRICTLY LIMITED lobster-red 180g vinyl with lovely matt sleeve, and a handsome shirt designed by Dusk aka @unholyclergy.
The first 250 signed vinyl sold will come with a FREE sticker of the t-shirt design!
Release date is Friday 6th October 2023. UK will have their orders by then, rest of world will follow shortly after.
AND to kick it all off, here’s the first of four promo videos, made by my pal Paul Morricone. This is a song called Emergency.
PLEASE share the video about – you lot are my PR company, my record label, my mates. And we rely on our mates during these weird times. THANK YOU as ever.
Do stick about – things are about to get VERY interesting…
I’m so so chuffed to let you all know that my David Bowie covers/tribute/labour of love album ‘Waiting In The Sky’ is AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW. Actual release date is Friday 7 October, and physical copies should be shipped to you by this date (if you are in the UK/Europe).
There’s a gatefold CD, an amazing blue-blue-electric-blue vinyl (with download code) and a ChrisBowie/RoseBowie t-shirt for streamers or people who just like my face. (Or Rosie’s.)
Features twelve of my favourite Bowie numbers from right across his career.
Plus the first 500 orders (or so) will get a couple of free stickers.
It’s Kaleidoscopes release day! I’ve been banging on about this for weeks, so I won’t take up any more of your time than I need to, except to say that this is my favourite record I’ve ever done! I know I always say that, but that’s the nature of always trying to better yourself!
On lovely 180g vinyl, in an amazing die-cut sleeve, as well as CD (with a similar sleeve). Along with the last few shirts – don’t hang around, because these won’t be re-ordered.
If you want to buy the digital version, it’s available over at:
These two places are the best place to buy it directly from me, cutting out the middle… person.
The first 1000 bought from me come with an EXCLUSIVE ‘zine with stories behind the songs, a chat with some of the other people involved, and a really nice picture of my cat. There’s a few left but they won’t be around forever, so do get cracking.
NOW would be a good time to buy this… I am in with a REALLY good chance of a chart position here, which would be excellent for press etc, so if you fancy it – do it! And if you’re into it, please share it around. That’s how we spread the word.
We’re having an online listening party tonight (Friday 2nd April) over on Twitter, at 9pm UK time, 10 EU, 1 LA and 4 NY. The hashtag to use so we can all follow it is, simply #kaleidoscopes. You can ask me anything, I can fill you in on some fun stuff about the songs, and so on. It’s always good fun, and depending how drunk I get, I’ll hop on Instagram Live afterwards for a chat too.
There’s also an online gig on Sunday 4th, usual place at https://www.youtube.com/ChrisCatalystMusic – no donations this time, but if you want to ‘pay what you want’ then please buy a copy of the album on Bandcamp or iTunes or whatever, if you’ve already bought it, in lieu of the usual ‘pay what you feel’ thing. If you haven’t bought it yet, what are ya waiting for?!
Last but not least, I am doing a tour with my new pals (and fellow DIY noiseniks) Massive Wagons in September. Dates are on the gigs page!
THANKS AS EVER FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY AT THE MOMENT!!
I am SO proud of this record, and what it represents. I’ve been a ‘professional’ musician for 15 years now, and this is the culmination of a lot of working, learning, listening and playing. It’s my favourite bunch of songs yet, and my favourite production (Dave Draper is a bit of a genius) yet.
(I know I always say that… but that’s the nature of trying to progress and better yourself with each go.)
It comes out on Friday 2nd April, but the pre-order starts NOW… there’s shirts, CDs and – for the FIRST TIME – I’ve done a vinyl, which really has to be seen to be believed. It is, of course, on heavyweight 180g vinyl, in black (because, on consultation, it apparently sounds the best, which is the point, right?), with an AMAZING die-cut sleeve. Have a peep over on the shop page.
The CD has a similar die-cut and also contains all the lyrics.
There’s a shirt too, if you are a streaming person but still want to show/wear your support.
All are designed by my magical friend Rich Jones for Turning Rebellion.
And the first 500 purchases that come direct from me will come with a free full-colour ‘zine packed with stuff about the record, stories behind the songs and a chat with some of the other people involved in the album.
I’m aiming for a chart position with this one, as that’ll be GREAT for press, so we’re doing it properly and all orders will be posted out to arrive (more or less) on the release date. It happens to be a Bandcamp Friday too, so it’ll be available to download there.
I’m REALLY excited for you all to hear this album, the response to the first few tracks has been so positive and amazing, and I can’t wait to get it out there. It’s a real journey through my mind and my record collection, both of which are sometimes quite interesting places to be.
THANK YOU as ever for your support and THANK YOU for coming with me on this ride.
It’s about the visceral and cathartic process of making art. Featuring Jason Bowld on drums, Dave Draper producing and AshTV Music Video making the video. And LITTLE ME (‘one of this generation’s quietly brilliant songwriters’ – Classic Rock magazine) on everything else. Please spread it around if you are into it. That’s how we do it these days. Thank you. X
It’s called Make Good Art and it stars my new mate Neil Gaiman on lead vocals… kind of.
It was recorded with Dave Draper at The Old Cider Press (Worcs) and Chris’s House Studios (Leeds… obviously). Mastered expertly by Dave too. James Hamilton on trumpet. Mad Gallica on gospel choir. And the MIGHTY Jason Bowld on drum duties. Everything else by me.
Video by Oly Edkins for No Focus.
It’s a call-to-arms for doing the best we can with what we’ve got in difficult times. Let’s have 2021!
This is the first song from the long-awaited follow-up to Life Is Often Brilliant… it’s called KALEIDOSCOPES and it’ll be out in April. Pre-order will kick off in March.
In the meantime, you can still buy the facemasks and my ‘Very Best Of Quaran-Tour’ album over at my shop.
PLEASE spread this around as much as you can – I know I can rely on you. THANK YOU!
And welcome to what is – fingers crossed – the FINAL part of the ‘Quaran-Tour’. The home straight, if you will. With a vaccine speeding its way around lots of octogenarians and heading towards us all, it seems as good a time as any to launch my EXCLUSIVE AND UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE, EVER new DOUBLE CD:
‘The Very Best Of Quaran-Tour’.
With 24 tracks, that’s almost TWO HOURS of acoustically-arranged artisan… art. This CD contains no less than SIX exclusive tracks that will never be available ANYWHERE ELSE.
You can also get your hands on TWO exclusive new face coverings – one ‘Q-Tour’ and one Eureka Machines design.
As with everything on the Quaran-Tour, 50% of all profits go to charity, and this time, it’s going to Cancer Research – a cause which has surely touched all of our hearts and lives over the years. The lightbulb design on the EM one was by one of our own, the fabulous Vicky Peck, who we tragically lost on Christmas Day 2020 from the bastard cancer. So I thought it was the best possible charity to remember her by.
Hope you get behind this as much as all the other stuff I’ve done over the past year or so. Together, we have raised over £12,000 for a host of amazing charities – it would be amazing to push this up further, maybe even to £15,000.
As ever, there are special bundles with mega discounts, so go have a look. The CDs are with me NOW and the face coverings should be with me in a couple of weeks, so expect it all to land with you by the start of February (slightly longer if you are further afield, but the postage to America is back to a reasonable rate, so shouldn’t take forever this time).
Hey hey, lots been going down!!
