This year Romania have decided to recognise Witchcraft as a valid occupation along with such nonsense jobs as embalming and driving instructing. 2011 will be the year of the red neck.

We've had a great year. Played some amazing gigs and finally have the album ready to go. After two attempts at mastering and two pressings, we now have the album done and will be starting the promotion next week. It looks and sounds great.

My other band Marble Valley also have a new album out next year so looks like it's going to be busy!

To celebrate the new year here is a video of the last Pavement gig ever in Argentina. They finished by playing a Marble Valley song and got all the crew (who happen to be Marble Valley members - Andy, Beige and Remko) on stage to play. Thanks to pavement for asking Horse Guards Parade to support them in Glasgow and at ATP and let's hope for a bigger and better 2011!

The albums above show what I have been listening to the most this year. There have been some amazing releases and these only show a small selection of the great and varied delights from the past twelve months.
Caribou, Best Coast, Beach House and Tame Impala probably made the greatest impression on me. All stunning, exciting and beautiful records. I don't think I would have guessed that any of those bands would feature so highly on this list if I would have had to guess at the end of last year.
Gonja Sufi, and Flying Lotus showed great invention while Panthe du Prince made a great album for the snow. The Gyangs album is amazing, Field Music is very well done and Isobel Campbell surprised me with a beautiful album that is very listenable.
there have been so many other good albums this year as well. I really liked Lindstrom and Christabelle, Vampire Weekend, Sun Araw, Avey Tare, Shangaan Electro, Deerhunter and there have been great compilations from Woodsist, Brownswood and Soundway. What more can you ask for?

Had to cancel last Saturdays gig at the Enterprise in Camden after a blizzard marooned us on the M1 for 12 hours. It will be rearranged for the new year.
As it's the end of the year here is a list of the gigs we've done so far from 2008 to 2010.


25/05/08 Springboard Festival @ The King Billy Cottingham (acoustic)
18/02/09 The lamp Hull
28/02/09 Playtime The Royal Oak Chorlton Manchester
17/03/09 The Adelphi Hull supporting Skeletons and the kings of all Cities
24/03/09 The Sesh @ Linnet and Lark Hull
25/04/09 Club NME@ The Welly Hull
22/05/09 Buffalo Bar London
31/05/09 Springboard Festival @ The King Billy cottingham
18/06/09 Alexanders Chester
11/07/09 DIY High 5 @ Adelphi hull
18/07/09 The Crescent Pub Salford
26/07/09 Raw Talent session BBC radio Humberside
09/08/09 The Big Chill Festival Eastnor Castle Ledbury
28/08/09 Leeds festival
29/08/09 Reading festival
13/09/09 Freedom Festival Hull
25/09/09 Acoustic Session gardenofearthlydelights.com
26/09/09 acoustic support to Howe Gelb Adelphi hull
15/10/09 acoustic support to Gravenhurst Adelphi hull
19/10/09 Adelphi hull (acoustic)
20/10/09 acoustic support to Jarvis Cocker Adelphi hull
22/10/09 acoustic session Simon Mayo show BBC radio 5 live
31/10/09 Idioteque @ the subculture Leeds
21/11/09 The Cluny Newcastle
28/11/09 The Shakespeare Sheffield
06/12/09 Camden rock london
01/05/10 lamp Hull with Marble Valley
02//05/10 Stereo York with Marble Valley
5/05/10 Barrowland Glasgow supporting Pavement
14/05/10 All Tomorrows Parties curated by Pavement
30/05/10 Springboard Festival @ The Railway Cottingham
10/06/10 Adelphi Hull
12/07/10 acoustic session BBC Leeds
15/07/10 Adelphi Hull (acoustic)
05/08/10 Night and Day Manchester
09/08/10 History Centre hull (acoustic)
27/08/10 Lamp Hull
15/09/10 Pozition Hull (acoustic)
01/10/10 Windsor
09/10/10 Night and Day Manchester
15/10/10 Bay Horse Hull (acoustic)
25/11/10 Adelphi Hull (acoustic)
12/12/10 Ringside Hull

Field Notes is a great brand who make notebooks. They seem to be getting more popular, and have just released a new colour.

Field Notes: Making of Balsam Fir from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.