Ghost Stories Launch - Friday 31st October

Neil's new album 'Ghost Stories' (a collaboration with Michael Beiert and Anne Taft) will be launched at 8pm at St Bride's Church, Catharine Street, Liverpool on Friday 31st October.

'Ghost Stories' is an atmospheric continuation of Neil's 2004 album 'Night Sketches'. The music is evocative of the night with its dreamy atmospheres and haunting melodies. On 'Ghost Stories', added to Neil's moody and introspective classical guitar playing, are soundscapes by German electro-acoustic composer Michael Beiert and soaring wordless vocals by soprano Anne Taft.

'Ghost Stories' is presented in a number of short 2-4 minute movements which are segued together by an ongoing soundscape to form a seamless musical experience which takes the listener on a journey through the course of the night into the following dawn.

An emotional experience, the music from the album is to be presented throughout 2008/9 in a series of concerts and multimedia events which will vary from performance to performance in their inclusion of experimental film, visual arts, contemporary dance and narration - the aim being to open the work up to collaboration from all fields and to fully explore the scope and atmosphere of the music by immersing the listener in its impressionistic sound world. The album will be played live in its entirety at the launch event.

Admission to the launch is by guest list - those planning to attend should contact Neil at info@neilcampbell.org.uk to be added to the list. Admission is £5 and guests will be given a copy of the new CD on admission. As St Brides is unlicensed, guests are advised to bring their own drinks.

Neil Campbell and Friends at The View 2 Gallery

On Friday 1st August at The View Two Gallery, Mathew Street, Liverpool (next to The Grapes pub) Neil Campbell will present a special acoustic evening featuring sets from distinguished songwriters Alister Said, Stuart Todd and Jeff Jepson.

The evening will also feature a set from Neil and Nicole - this will be their first gig together as a duo in over a year, and will feature a special guest performance from Ragz who has recently been collaborating with Neil on some new songs.

The evening will start at 8.30pm and admission is £3.

Ghost Stories, Night Sketches - Visions, Impressions and Manifestations

'Ghost Stories', a new work by Neil Campbell, created in collaboration with electro-acoustic composer Michael Beiert and soprano Anne Taft, will be given its first performance on Saturday 5th July in the intimate environment of the Domino Gallery (Upper Newington, Liverpool).

The event, starting at 8.30pm will feature other music for solo guitar from Neil along with some other special musical contributions from guests, Guitar ace Mark Wilson and Celtic Harp legend Stan Ambrose. The evening will culminate in the performance of the new work.

'Ghost Stories', a musical exploration of the night in several short movements for classical guitar, electronic and ambient sound-scapes and wordless female vocals, is planned as a forthcoming CD release this year.

Admission, which will include a bottle of wine, is £10. Please e-mail Neil at info@neilcampbell.org.uk to advise if you plan to attend (as spaces will be limited), or alternatively contact The Domino Gallery on 0151 707 0764 for more details.

Neil Plays in Sicily

At 10pm on Friday June 27th at Kursaal Tonnara, Vergine Maria, Via Bordonaro, 9, Palermo, Sicily, Neil will be performing as part of Francesco Di Fiore's HGW Project - see Kursaal Tonnara's web site for more detail. The project, which is broadly based on the work of HG Wells and comprises visuals, narration and music features Francesco Calabria - live vocal inserts, Delia Calo - narrator, Neil Campbell - guitar, electronics, Valeria Cimo - voice, percussions, Mario Crispi - ethnic winds, Francesco Di Fiore - piano, electronics, Valeria Di Matteo - video art and Danilo Rispoli - live electronics.

As part of his visit Neil is planning to play some solo guitar gigs, one of which can be confirmed here as taking place at 10pm on Wed 25 Jun 2 at Kursaal Kalhesa, Foro Umberto I, n°21, Palermo

Neil is delighted to be playing in Sicily, very much thanks to the help of Francesco. Please check out Francesco Di Fiore's web site and myspace page for more information about this immensely talented pianist and composer.

Neil Campbell Interview at The Argotist

An interview with Neil features in the latest Argotist on Line series of interviews with songwriters on songwriting. The full selection includes interviews with such luminaries as Steve Harley, Ralph McTell, Richard and Linda Thompson, Eddie Reader, Kate Rusby and Carol Decker (from T'Pau)! The interview list features Liverpool contemporaries Stuart Todd, Ragz, Helen Seymour, Jennifer John and Rachael Wright. Through a growing series of such interviews the Argotist site aims to explore the relationship between the art of poetry and that of song writing as related and unrelated art forms. Neil's interview can be read here

Campbell Todd Play Final Farewell Gig

On the evening of Saturday 26th April Campbell Todd will play their final gig at the Zanzibar, Seel Street, Liverpool as part of 'Olde Time Religion'. They will be playing as a band, with Mark Brocklesby (drums) and Andy Fernihough (bass) - two musicians who have ably and generously supported them over the years with their talent and their time.

Prior to and immediately following the release of their new album 'Campbell Todd' last year, Stu and Neil played a number of local gigs, the highlight of which was the launch of the new album at the View 2 Gallery, Liverpool, where they were joined by a stellar cast of local acoustic musicians.

Stu and Neil thank everyone who has supported them across their seven year history. They will both continue to work individually on various musical and artistic projects. You can purchase their CD 'Campbell Todd' at CD Baby and you can hear tracks and find out more about Campbell Todd at their myspace site

The Neil Campbell Collective Play at The Launch of Sonica Music Web Site

The NCC will be playing at the launch of the new Sonica music web site at Bumper (Hardman Street, Liverpool) on Thursday 3rd April from 9pm. Also playing that evening will be The Great Northwestern Hoboes, The Mojave Collective and The Grand Architects.

The web site Sonicaonline.co.uk enables artists to sell their tracks using advanced new media technology. Musicians can register with Sonicaonline.co.uk free of charge and start selling their music instantly by uploading tracks and allowing web users to purchase and download their material. Unlike sites like MySpace.com, artists using Sonicaonline.co.uk can name their own price for music they sell through the site as long as it's more than 25p per track. Many of Neil's solo tracks and the NCC's first album '3 O'Clcok Sky' are available for mp3 download at the site.

Robbie Welsh, Managing Director of Sonicaonline.co.uk and former music student at Liverpool University, said: "The music industry is experiencing very exciting times thanks to the advances in new technology. Artists are able to get their music heard in lots of different ways, it's no longer just about signing to a big record label."

"There's a wealth of musical talent in this city and it's rather fitting that we're launching during our Capital of Culture year. Through Sonicaonline.co.uk, we aim to help local artists enhance their profile and enable them to start earning money from their talents."

For further information about Sonica you should contact Robbie Welsh on 07522 460 929 or e-mail info@sonicarecordings.com