08/09/10 - New videos and plans
Hello good people, just to let you know that my friend and very talented guy Mr Scott J Miller has made a couple of great videos of my recent outing at the Wickerman Festival. You can find them both here in the 'songs and videos' page, so please do indulge, thank you.
Otherwise, well, the end of the summer festivals season is always a pretty grim sign of the arrival of autumn, closely followed by winter (that's me just showing off my knowledge of seasons now). Up here in Perthshire we are already wearing big fleecy jackets and bonnets in September (well, I am). Gigging duties will settle down a little bit because I'll be recording a new album. Something very upbeat and suitable for party time when the sun is shining again. A few bits and pieces live will still be done throughout however, either on my tod or with the glorious reappearance of the 3 WISE MEN with Martin Stephenson and Bruce Morton. Look out for the show coming to you and, if you don't see it coming soon, just you come to the show.
Anyhow, I hope everyone is well and remembers to be happy.
23/08/10 - Edinburgh Fringe show
On Monday 23rd of August I decided to do a little show at the Fringe. Why? Non lo so! (I have no idea). It's at the lovely Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride's (venue 123), which as far as I can remember is near the Haymarket station. I've called the gig "Put good knickers on and go into town" because I'm planning to play that particular album from start to end, unless you come and want to hear something else instead. The gig starts at 9,30pm and will last 1 hour. Fringe gigs are not very flexible so after the hour I will have to pack up and buggar off. Nevertheless, it is a Monday night so that's just as well, because we all need our bed. Hope you can make it: I promise it will be fun.
10/08/10 - Summer Festival thanks
Many thanks to all the people who came to see me at the Wickerman and Belladrum Festivals in the last couple of weeks. What a great time we all had, eh... It's amazing the happiness a pair of wellies can bring! Everyone bopping around and singing along. I've got a couple of excellent videos of the Wickerman out soon. Next stop the Edinburgh Fringe and then the blink-you've-missed-it British Summer will be over, so better get back playing inside. No date as yet for the Flying Trapeze record but the will be a Barbaraville compilation getting out before that. I've very nearly got enough for another album then and whilst red tape gets sorted I'll get back recording in October and November. You all take care. Statemi bene. Ciao.
(Oh, here's a wee phote from the Wickerman)
07/06/2010 - Next Album brewing
The new album will be called Roberto Cassani on the Flying Trapeze and will come out on the coolest Record Label in the world: Barbaraville Records.
Barbaraville is a fantastic concept put together by the wonderful Martin Stephenson. I am proud to work with amazingly talented, truly lovely people like Martin, and also to be label-mate of other unique, splendid artists, such as the Daintees, Helen McCookerybook, Eliza P, Ally McLeod, Jill Hepburn, Davey Cowan, and of course the one-and-only Martin Stephenson himself.
Here's what the cover will look like, drawn as marvellously as usual by Helen McCookerybook.
23rd April - Three wise men approaching
On Saturday 15th May 2010, I will join Martin Stephenson and Bruce Morton for a show I'm really looking forward to: The "Three Wise Men" concert in Glasgow. Martin and I will provide songs, whilst Bruce will provide chat and comedy. The famous Accies Club is the perfect setting for the event, promoted by the lovely Alan Hendry of "Sounds in the Suburbs".
30th March 2010 - More Album News!
The new album release is getting closer. And I am very excited. The title will be 'Put good knickers on and go into town'.
I've decided to put the whole thing out on CD only, like the good old times, before the internet. Only a 'thinner' version will be available on iTunes. Why? I would like people to get the physical CD in order to promote the lovely cover artwork by Helen McCookerybook and the photos inside by Scott J. Miller. The CD will be packaged in environmentally friendly card and will only cost you a fiver (at gigs or on this website. Probably more online or in shops 'cause they add their bit!) Here's a wee sneaky preview of the cover drawing by Helen:
17th March 2010 - Album News!!
The new Roberto Cassani album is in the making. Recording is now complete and getting mixed in Inverness by my good pal Dave Sidley. All the studio tracks were recorded by Dave at his Music Shed. There are also some live tracks in there from the recent gig at the Kircaldy Acoustic Music Club (aka The Polish Club).
Anyhow, hope you are all well.
13th March 2010 - Martin Stephenson: what a great artist and what a lovely guy!
Met Martin Stephenson today, with whom I will do a few gigs in the next few months. I already knew he was a marvellous performer, but an absolute gem of a guy he is! A real gent and an person who has the rare gift of making people happy. Looking forward to a healthy collaboration with Martin.
20th February 2010 - Goodbye Nessmp3
The brillant online music community of Nessmp3.com is no more as of today. The founders Kev Scanlan and Dave Sidley and their long time collaborators Retro Smith and Sheep called it a day, simply because all good thigs come to an end. Nesspm3 was a very influential music community for a while, especially in the north of Scotland, where they gave many young bands a great opportunity to get out of their bedrooms and onto big stages, such as the Belladrum Festivals. Nessmp3 was also very good to me, producing videos and supporting the Roberto Cassani thing up north. It is sad to see Nessmp3 go, but I know I have made friends for life.
7th January 2010 - Live recording of
THE BLOODY FOREIGNER'S GUIDE TO SCOTLAND
Ciao again, my new project THE BLOODY FOREIGNER'S GUIDE TO SCOTLAND will be recorded live in a gig at the Polish Club (aka Acoustic Music Club) in Kirkcaldy Thursday 7th January under the watchful recording ear of Nick Low of Demus Production. The effort will then hopefully end up on the radio, but I'll keep ya all posted. Be good now, cheeriebye.
1st December 2009 - SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT AND BBC
Hi folks, the gig at the Scottish Parliament (or at least its first half) went out last night on BBC Scotland on the great Iain Anderson's show. to listen again, just click www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074hkv and listen to the 30/11/2009 programme.
1st December 2009 - BURNSONG, what a week!
I had the best week ever with my burnsong pals, locked in a house in Dumfries and Galloway, in the middle of nowhere, with great food, industrial amounts of booze and especially 10 fabulous songwriters and 3 magical musicians. Thank you Alec Hodgson, Emily Elbert, Andy Tucker, AJ Roach, Fiona MacKenzie, Mari claire lee, Nnuala Kennedy, ZiggY Campbell, Yvonne Lyon, lisa Rigby, Joe Bennet, Chris Blanden, Blair McMillan and Super-Ted; love you guys!! Thanks very much to Jenny and Gordon too. Final special thanks to Ronnie Gurr for making it all happen.
27th October 2009 - BURNSONG WINNER
Roberto Cassani is a winner of the 2009 international BURNSONG, which celebrates songwriting in the 'vein' o the great bard Robert Burns. In the year of the Homecoming, the Burnsong winners will perform at the Scottish parliament to mark the Homecoming Finale.