English progressive folk music from Spitdust

Welcome to the magical world of Spitdust

2010-10-29T09:09:00.003+01:00

Spitdust is a collective of progressive folk and rock musicians based in Hampshire, England. You'll find information and updates on our musical projects here along with track previews from our current album 'Rabbit Skin'. You can preview tracks from 'Rabbitskin' via the reverbnation audio player on this page.

We hope you enjoy listening...

Please drop us an EMAIL if you would like to get in touch.

Spitdust performing at the Eastleigh Music Festival

2010-05-27T19:45:00.024+01:00

Come along to the Eastleigh Music Festival on Saturday 10th July - Spitdust will be performing at around 5pm. Visit www.eastleighmusicfestival.co.uk for more details.

Rabbitskin CD's now available

2010-02-20T19:39:00.002Z

We've finally received a limited batch of mastered cd's of our debut album 'Rabbitskin' which are now available to purchase. Rabbitskin CD's can be purchased via Paypal using the Buy Now button on this page.

Alternatively, don't forget you can purchase a digital version of this album via our Amazon and iTunes links.

Second album recording sessions to begin soon...

2010-02-15T19:20:00.002Z

We've recently compiled a working blueprint for a follow up album to our 2009 release 'Rabbitskin'

The new album, tentatively titled 'Rosemount', is comprised of some completed tracks and a new batch of songs that have been slowly maturing over the last few months. The overall sound of this new collection is rooted in the folk music genre with the addition of some more up tempo rhythm lead songs and a continued focus into traditional instrumentation combined with an experimental progressive sound.

If you'd like to have a listen to works in progress and some of the new songs we've earmarked for our next project, jump over to our reverbnation pages and have a listen to tracks such as 'In May' 'My Little Eye' and 'Spinning Top' for a taste of things to come. We're also planning a YouTube based cover of a track by an American artist named Linda Perhacs who released just one amazing LP entitled Parallelograms in the early 1970's, we'll post it here when we've completed it, don't forget to visit our YouTube homepage to see other videos we've posted previously.

In the meantime be sure to check out our intermediary release created predominantly by Paul and Ros titled 'Tooth & Claw' which is available to preview and purchase via this link.

Thanks to all for the continued support!

Tooth & Claw - Limited edition EP Now Available.

2010-01-10T12:04:00.005Z

We've recently completed an EP titled 'Tooth & Claw' that's now available to purchase on CD only via our myspace pages, click this link to visit the site and listen to previews of this release. You can purchase the EP via Paypal at the same link should you wish.

New Video - OverRun

2009-12-16T15:53:00.005Z

Taken from the forthcoming album "Rosemount"

The Cellars - Southsea, Oct 24th 2009

2009-11-01T17:30:00.003Z

'Rabbit Skin' - Now available on Amazon & iTunes

2009-10-28T14:41:00.000Z

We're pleased to announce that our current album release 'Rabbitskin' is now available to purchase on Amazon - we invite you to preview the album on our player located on this page, to purchase a digital copy of 'Rabbitskin' simply click on either the Amazon - BUY NOW link below to visit the Amazon store or alternatively click the iTunes - BUY NOW link to visit our iTunes page.

Rehearsals

2009-10-14T10:45:00.003+01:00

New Video - Flutterbye

2009-10-04T19:17:00.006+01:00

A music video for the song "Flutterbye" created and edited by our good friend Leigh Hooper. To view in High Quality on YouTube - Click here

In the New Forest...

2009-09-28T18:31:00.002+01:00

New video - Bunny Lane

2009-09-05T15:24:00.025+01:00

A music video for the song "Bunny Lane" from our new album Rabbitskin

'Rabbitskin' - album mastering completed

2009-08-30T12:48:00.005+01:00

We're pleased to announce that the mastering process has been completed for 'Rabbit Skin' the mastering was done by our good friend Peter J Croissant at his Grand Master Audio studios in Southampton - we're very pleased with the results. A digital version of the album has been submitted for online mp3 distribution and we'll add links as soon as it's available, we're also working on getting CDs and artwork ready for postal distribution as soon as possible.

Railway Inn - June 18th

2009-06-23T18:11:00.005+01:00

Thanks to all who came to see us supporting Ella Edmondson at The Railway Inn in Winchester on the 18th, we had a great evening and enjoyed performing a selection of new tunes from our forthcoming album 'Rabbit Skin'. We'll be back at the Railway Inn to support 'Arbouretum' on 28th July. Thanks to Ken for the photograph. Hope to post more pictures soon.

Rob Hampson

2009-04-20T12:38:00.006+01:00

We're thrilled to have started recording drum tracks for our album with the talented Rob Hampson.. the sessions so far have been excellent and you can hear a few new versions of forthcoming album tracks right here via our audio player.

Ros Mizen

2009-03-17T21:42:00.008Z

Paul Charisse

2009-03-01T10:48:00.007Z

Dan Little

2009-02-23T20:09:00.009Z

An introduction to British Folk Music

2009-02-03T19:02:00.003Z

Here's an interesting potted history on the commercial origins of British Folk Music...

A music movement that arose in the late 1960s, British Folk is characterized by the incorporation of blues, jazz and lofty poetics into the straightforward folk canon. The male/female harmonies and group virtuosity of '60s artists Fairport Convention and Pentangle are fine examples of the ensemble work often inherent within British Folk, and the use of mandolin and dulcimer has never been uncommon in this, arguably the most organic of musical styles. Beginning with the intricate fingerpicking of Bert Jansch, and later progressing to the overt politics of Billy Bragg, British Folk also encompasses the experimental Singer-Songwriter bent of Nick Drake and John Martyn. Respectively, Drake's and Martyn's records Bryter Layter and Solid Air together reflect the jazzy arrangements and stark introspection usually affiliated with British Folk.

For those interested in the genre, here is a list of British folk music artists that have inspired us over the years...

Albion Band Ashley Hutchings
Bert Jansch
Davy Graham Donovan
Fairport Convention
John Martyn
John Renbourn
June Tabor
Linda Thompson
Martin Carthy
Nick Drake
Pentangle
Peter Bellamy
Ralph McTell
Renaissance
Richard Thompson
Roy Harper
Sandy Denny
Shirley Collins
Steeleye Span
The Incredible String Band
The Strawbs

If you like this site, buy us some flowers!

Spitdust at 'The Lantern Theatre" Romsey

2008-12-14T10:53:00.004Z

More Guitarviol pics

2008-11-23T19:28:00.006Z

The new Spitdust guitarviol is being used to sell Togaman guitar's latest acoustic design. Jonathon took some great snaps of it before he sent it off. Click below to see the pics -

Link

Guitarviol finshed - this is the guy who designed it...

2008-11-20T01:47:00.006Z

After a close shave with a raging fire in the Californian hills (the guitars maker: Jonathon, lives in Sylmar and had to evacuate with his family a week ago.. taking all his worldly possessions plus luthering supplies with him!) the guitarviol is finally finished. And it sounds rather lovely. Here's a clip he posted on his regular slot playing it -

spitdust video

2008-11-19T18:36:00.005Z

The film maker and friend of the band Chad is making a video for the song "Spidust". His gone all out using Super8mm film to get an old world feel and he's filming it in the deserts of California. He has a blog on the project here:

Chads 'Spitdust' - Super 8mm Cinematic project blog

Guitarviol update...

2008-11-12T09:19:00.004Z

Here's the latest on the guitar viol. Just awaiting the final "rub-out" and strings and saddle to be fitted. The finish has been quite challenging, as it's being done like a traditional viola with shellac french polishing. Which is by all accounts a massive job (but keeps the natural acoustics of the wood much better than varnish) Only a week or so left now and i can start using it on the album. My violacaster (bowed tele with flat wound strings and stupidly high action) will be heading for the cupboard. (or at least get a lighter set of strings and go back to being a country blue grass twanging machine.)

Mike - on support tour with Marillion

2008-11-07T19:10:00.005Z

We'd like to wish Mike the best of luck on his forthcoming support dates with his other band sinestarproject, who will be supporting Marillion on dates from their forthcoming tour.. dates as follows:

UK Dates

14th November @ the Manchester Academy
15th November @ the Bournemouth Opera House
19th November @ the Forum LONDON

Netherlands Dates

22nd November @ Ijsselhal, Zwolle
23rd November @ 013, Tilburg
24th November @ Vereeniging, Nijmegen

Tickets are available here.

Classical Diva

2008-11-02T18:15:00.010Z

Spitdust's lead singer Ros "Ratbear" Mizen has been following her other (paid) musical path recently performing as a soprano with the Fareham Philharmonic:

Much applause and giving of flowers was had by all. Well, mostly by Ros. Hopefully she won't be too successful, so she can stick around slumming it with us. There's no way they'd let her play the shaker egg live anyway...

www.rosalindmizen.com

Black Cat Bone

2008-11-02T17:39:00.006Z

So, Spitdust music is appearing in another short film by tallchadfilms Black Cat Bone. The track "Rattymoan" appears in the very first scene. Plus, for extra excitement, all the additional sound design is provided by Spitdust's very own Paul Charisse or "Wotty" (that's me.. i'm writing about myself in the third person like some kind of psychotic loon) Plus some splendid additional music provided by occasional Spitdust guest keyboard wizard Paul "ZAP" Zimmer.

	Black Cat Bone - 2008 (2008) 11 min 720p
	Just finished post production. An odd story of secudtion and scrabble. www.tallchad.com/film.htm

Guitarviol latest

2008-11-02T17:28:00.007Z

More news on the guitarViol. Nearing completion now. Just waiting for final antique paint job, assembley and tuning. Then it's off by air freight from LA to rainy old Romsey town, UK and the new Spitdust album. Looks too nice to use live, or play.. or even look at... step away! (still got the orginal taggers on it - look!)

check out his amazing crossbreed guitar/violins below

http://www.togamanguitars.com/

Love Me Tenderized

2008-11-02T16:05:00.003Z

Here is a link to information about the first movie soundtrack to feature music by Spitdust (end credits).
Paul has recently finished working on the soundtrack to a second film (Black Cat bone) by the same director - due to premier in the US soon, we'll post more information on this soon.

'Love me tenderized'

'Lately' - New work in progress

2008-11-01T12:21:00.003Z

This is a rough sketch of a track called 'lately' that we're developing for the forthcoming album...

Lately (demo) - Click the play button to listen

Selling Out - Demo

2008-11-01T11:50:00.004Z

This original demo was put together from a sketch by Dan and Paul - it's since undergone a radical change and we've worked it into something quite different.. we'll post a demo of the transformed version sometime soon.

Selling Out (demo) - Click the play button to listen

In the studio

2008-10-30T16:20:00.003Z

Left to right - Paul, Dan, Mike, Ros.

The GuitarViol

2008-10-29T20:41:00.008Z

We're eagerly waiting for Paul's GuitarViol to arrive... he's currently bowing a Fender telecaster on a few numbers, the guitarviol should introduce a fantastic new sound to our recordings when added to our ever growing arsenal of instruments... the image above is the actual handmade guitar viol we're waiting for... here's a link to the designer of this instrument.. Guitarviols Homepage