We suggest you grab a take out pizza, open a bottle of Chianti and read the article.

Enjoy, it’s been a long time coming!

Tomorrow he is off to off to talk to children and play the blues at a school in Douglas, Isle of Man courtesy of ace violinist and music teacher Katie Lawrence.

Then, later in the week, album track sessions for Philip Swan (courtesy of Scott Clark), Richie Moore (courtesy of Phil Reynolds of Small Bear Records) and Truman Falls for Stereoscout Records.

Cool beanz, thank you Emily!!

http://player.vimeo.com/video/35197549

He will be playing one new track from the forthcoming album with a cool line-up consisting of Noah Egelnick on drums, Steve Rowe on bass and Chris Glaister on Keyboards.

The Big Wheel Blues Band, The Bus Pass Blues Band and The Loose Crew are also performing!

Tickets available from Peter Norris Music and online.

You can listen now (around 50 minutes long), or download to play at your leisure.

We hope you enjoy the show, and dont forget to tune in to 97.2 FM (Isle of Man) on Saturday the 7th and 14th January at 1800 (GMT). For the world outside the Isle of Man you can of course listen online.

For updates on more shows why not join their page on Facebook.

The two shows will be broadcast on January 7th and 14th. The first show will feature their best of 2011 and the second a prediction of great bands of 2012.

We have seen the selections and can tell you, it’s not what you would expect.

Of course there will be plenty of informed comment and detailed analysis of the tracks and bands!!! So, don’t forget to tune in on 97.2 FM (Isle of Man) or listen online and join their page on Facebook.

The show runs from 6-9pm (1800-2100 BST) but will be available to ‘listen again’ from the Manx Radio website.

As you can see we will soon be announcing the release date of ThirtySix on vinyl plus more details on the collaboration with Andy Otten for his ambient dance album due out early next year again on vinyl!

Simon is currently in the studio writing ‘Broken Hearted’, the follow up the the critically acclaimed ThirtySix.

We will of course keep you up to date with progress and the release date!

Image again courtesy of the very cuddly Phil Kneen.

“Guitarist, singer and writer Simon Campbell has been in the music industry since the 1970′s when a student, as a member of various bands and also an in-demand session man. In 2008 he relocated to the Isle of Man and became involved in the flourishing Manx music scene, leading to this, “ThirtySix”, his first solo offering.

Campbell is a tasteful player and very good singer, and the 12 tracks here are all self-penned, bar lyrics from Michael Brabbin on one track, and vary from out-and-out rockers to some Steely Dan-tinged tunes and blues influences. The album was recorded at the quaintly titled Gracieland Studios, near Rochdale, which are partly-owned by Lisa Stansfield, and produced by Campbell and Stephen Boyce-Buckley.

The opening “I Like It Like That” is a driving rocker with some powerful guitar work and tough vocal, and is followed by the funky “Preacher Of Love” . . . again in with a rocky feel and with some sweet wah-wah guitar from Campbell. The excellent “Misgivings” seems very inspired by Messrs. Becker and Fagan from Steely Dan, with its jazzy tinges and lovely brass and keyboards and again fine guitar playing.

The slow blues of “Still Got Time To Be My Baby” takes the pace down, with again lovely performances from his fellow players . . . too numerous to mention here . . . and the man himself; “Brother” is a melodic rocker that rides on a nice guitar hook, before another swerve on the short and swirling folky instrumental “As Beautiful As You”, showing his equal prowess on acoustic guitar . . . it’s reminiscent of Gordon Giltrap at his peak.

Elsewhere “Give Me The Reason” has a nice smooth groove to it; “Island Of Rust” ups the pace again and is another driving rocker, with the emphasis on melody again. He returns to Steely Dan territory again for the fine “Let It Roll”. The atmospheric and stripped down “All I Have Left” ends the album, just Campbell’s plaintive and emotive vocal and acoustic guitar for most of the song with an electric climax . . . a lovely end to an enjoyable release.”

Grahame Rhodes

He commented: “I first heard Truman Falls a couple of years ago and fell in love with the songs. Simon Rea is a fantastic, world class songwriter and I am delighted to bring a new dimension to the arrangements. He wanted a mix of really old school and very modern ambient sounds, so along with my usual array of conventional guitars, delays and reverbs I will be introducing for the first time my MOOG E1 and 1956 Gretsch Electromatic D6 Console guitars. I am looking forward to the gig and hopefully the tour next year!”

Hear the new songs and arrangements on Saturday November 19th at The Institute, Laxey. Tickets £10.00

Photograph of Simon Rea (aka Truman Falls) by award winning Phil Kneen.