The Stables releases specially commissioned album
Adrian McNally in the studio
Recording in The Stables' auditorium
The Stables, producers of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival, has commissioned an album of new songs - Harbour of Songs - inspired by The Lone Twin Boat Project, and produced by the Festival’s Artist-in-Residence Adrian McNally (The Unthanks).
Release date: Monday 23 July on Proper Records
Leading UK music venue The Stables has commissioned Harbour of Songs, a CD of new songs inspired by stories from The Lone Twin Boat Project, for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2012.
Monica Ferguson, The Stables’ Chief Executive and Director of IF: 2012, has invited Festival Artist-in-Residence Adrian McNally from The Unthanks to curate and produce the CD.
The Lone Twin Boat Project is an extraordinary attempt by performance artists Lone Twin to build a sea-faring boat from donated wooden objects where each piece of wood has an individual story behind it.
For Harbour of Songs, Ferguson and McNally have invited a diverse range of singers and songwriters to respond to the stories. The result is a beautifully crafted album which brings together artists including Ivor Novello award-winning and Mercury nominated Villagers, Ivor Novello-nominated Nick Hemming (The Leisure Society), Australian singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko (big in her own country and now making waves here in Europe), rising stars Alasdair Roberts, Hannah Moulette and Raevennan Husbandes, folk legends Ralph McTell and Steve Tilston, internationally successful novelist/writer Nick Hornby, ‘The Bard of Barnsley’ poet Ian McMillan, American singer-songwriting legend Janis Ian, BBC Folk Award nominees Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell, and Guy Chambers - probably Britain's most successful modern songwriter, best known for his work with Robbie Williams.
Adrian McNally: “As curator and producer for this album, it has been a pleasure and an honour to work with these artists, and to be a part of this unique project. With some artists, I collaborated directly, others sent me their vocal and perhaps a guide piano or guitar - the rest was up to me. These songwriters have exercised great trust in allowing me to meddle with their music, for which I’m extremely grateful, and it has been lots of fun trying to find the right musical colours to tell these stories.”
Monica Ferguson: “Commissioning a new album is an exciting development for The Stables and builds on the work we have undertaken over the organisation’s 40-year history to champion music by established and emerging artists. The Festival seeks to engage people with music and sound in unexpected ways and we are delighted that Adrian has embraced the challenge as Artist-In-Residence this year, collaborating with some stellar writers and musicians, and bringing his expertise and judgment to this potent collection of songs.”
The Lone Twin Boat Project’s 30-foot sailing boat - Collective Spirit - will dock in Central Milton Keynes at thecentre:mk shopping centre for the duration of IF:2012 from 20 to 29 July. More information here.
Adrian McNally will be performing with The Unthanks & Guests from the album on Monday 23 July in The Stables Spiegeltent, Campbell Park.
Harbour of Songs is released on Monday 23 July 2012 on Proper Records: www.propermusic.com For more information click here.
Press contacts: Martha Oakes or Sue Lancashire on 020 8854 5460 / 07798 626555. martha@marthaoakespr.co.uk / sue@marthaoakespr.co.uk