My Darling Clementine cancels Hugh's Room gig, playing home show on Sunday

UK country/soul duo My Darling Clementine will be playing Andrew's Place in Toronto on Sunday (April 6) at 2 pm. 

My Darling Clementine Live at Andrew's Place

Sunday, April 6 at 2 pm.

Doors at 1:00 pm.  $40 donation per person suggested. 

Reservations and details: avb1964 <at> yahoo <dot> com 

Don’t miss the highly anticipated Toronto return of My Darling Clementine, the critically acclaimed UK country-soul duo of Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish – the British George & Tammy! What began as a homage to the golden era of country duets with their 2011 award winning debut "How Do you Plead?" My Darling Clementine have now released six albums, played over 100 shows around the world and won numerous awards. Their most recent album, 2020's “Country Darkness” a collaboration with keyboard genius Steve Nieve best known for his work with Elvis Costello & The Attractions. My Darling Clementine's show at Hugh's Room matinee show slated for Saturday was cancelled by the venue but undeterred, the duo will be coming to Toronto this weekend, playing an intimate home show at Andrew's Place on Sunday (April 6) where they'll be showcasing songs from their forthcoming new album, as well as many fan favourites from their impressive catalogue, and will also include a mini set of the "songs of Elvis Costello." Note: a donation of $40 per person is suggested and all proceeds will go directly to My Darling Clementine. Before the show and during intermission, free drinks (beer, wine, pop, juice, water) and snacks will be provided. If you like, feel free to bring some of your own baking / snacks to share.

A must-see performance that Americana-UK calls “Spectacular,“ while Uncut Magazine wrote "King and Dalgleish have re-invented the country duet - the mingling of these two voices is just heavenly."

For more information about My Darling Clementine, visit their site right here. Watch a BBC performance of "I Felt The Chill" right here and check out a few clips including a great version of the Elvis Costello/George Jones classic "Stranger In The House" below. 

Happy Birthday Michael Weston King!

Raising a glass to Michael Weston King with My Darling Clementine's update of "Stranger In The House" followed by Elvis Costello's performance with George Jones. 

Michael Weston King releasing new album The Struggle

Michael Weston King is joined by Steve Nieve & Jeb Loy Nichols on his new album, The Struggle, out April 1st via Cherry Red. 

Here's the scoop...

A musical departure for Michael Weston King from his My Darling Clementine day job of the past decade, The Struggle is a pure singer/songwriter album, rooted in the late ‘60s / early ‘70s and inspired by artists and writers such as Mickey Newbury, Jesse Winchester, John Prine, Bobby Charles, Jim Ford and early Van Morrison.

Michael Weston King is one of Britain’s most prolific troubadours within the world of Americana/country, both as a solo artist and with country duo My Darling Clementine. Back in the day, he was the leader of Alt country band The Good Sons; his songs have been covered by the likes of American folk icons Carolyn Hester and Townes Van Zandt.

Recorded Spring 2021 in a remote studio in mid Wales, this self-produced recording of new original compositions (including two co-writes with old friends Peter Case and much missed friend and collaborator Jackie Leven) was very much a collaboration with wunderkind engineer/musician Clovis Phillips. Mixing took place at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield with Michael’s long-time collaborator/ producer Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker).

Guests on this new album include Steve Nieve (keyboardist, Elvis Costello & The Attractions), Jeb Loy Nichols and British jazz trombonist Barnaby Dickinson, along with Michael’s wife and musical partner Lou Dalgleish, and their woodwind-playing daughter Mabel Dalgleish-King.

Michael will be touring the UK, Europe and the US with My Darling Clementine from February 2022. Each show will encompass a short solo set, during which Michael will perform songs solely from ‘The Struggle’. He will also be playing a few selected solo shows in 2022 accompanied by Clovis Phillips, his collaborator on the new album.

You can pre-order Michael Weston King's forthcoming album The Struggle via Cherry Red Records right here. Check out Michael Weston King's song "The Final Reel" recorded for the Jackie Leven tribute album The Wanderer. 

Watch My Darling Clementine's video for "The Crooked Line"

Check out the version of Elvis Costello's "The Crooked Line" by My Darling Clementine bolstered by Farfisa fiend Steve Nieve. 

 

Midweek Mixdown: Martin Belmont's Guest List

Sit back for two hours with guitarist Martin Belmont (of Ducks Deluxe & The Rumour) playing a typically well-chosen set of tunes on The Guest List #29. 

My Darling Clementine release Still Testifying June 2

My Darling Clementine preview Still Testifying with The Rizdales at London's Aeolian Hall April 19. Listen to Eugene below. 

My Darling Clementine @ Mohawk Place (Buffalo), Monday

It might be time for a road trip since My Darling Clementine isn't playing Toronto on this tour.

See My Darling Clementine @ The Dakota tonight

My Darling Clementine's How Do You Plead? album will be issued by Redeye on Sept. 4

 
LINKS
site http://www.mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk/
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Daytrotter session

How many music execs does it take to hear a hit?

My Darling Clementine's Michael Weston King and Lou Dagleish

While those in charge of struggling record labels like to blame their financial woes on illegal downloading, the real reason many are facing difficult times has more to do with a fundamental lack of vision and what people in the music business call "ears."

It's difficult for well-compensated executives to admit this but the majority of those who have signing authority simply wouldn't know a great recording if they heard it. And even if someone still working for the label did, they're now too scared to pull the trigger for fear of their capital investment wouldn't be instantaneously profitable.

Take for example the illuminating case of My Darling Clementine, the inspired male/female country duet project of UK singer/songwriter Michael Weston King and his wife Lou Dagleish. Their impressive debut disc How Do You Plead? (Drumfire) has received rave reviews across the board from venerable print publications and music blogs alike and continues to get the sort of BBC support that's very unusual for something with a twang. Yet so far, King still hasn't been able to curry any label interest in a North American deal. Everyone he's corresponded with has apparently shrugged off the offer of a finished album that's already been critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic. "Thanks, but no thanks."

That might be understandable if Americana mainstays like say Bloodshot, New West, Lost Highway, Sugar Hill or Rounder already had their own top-selling male/female duet acts that could write, record and perform their own material but the fact is, they don't. Moreover, even if you put aside that radical duets concept, the sophisticated level of compositions, arrangements and musicianship on How Do You Plead? puts My Darling Clementine's debut ahead of 90% of those labels output over the past decade.

It makes you wonder what other great Americana talents U.S. major indies have foolishly slept on – well, apart from The Walkabouts, Dylan LeBlanc, The Rizdales, Caitlin Rose, The Pining, Alela Diane, Scotty Campbell, etc.