We’re pleased to report that our lovely label Real World are re-releasing the first Spiro album Pole Star on 8th September.  The album was recorded back in the winter of 1996-7 in the former BBC Studios Christchurch in Bristol by Portishead engineer Rik Dowding.  True to the Spiro tradition it was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, and on lovely analogue gear and onto tape. You can hear a track here https://soundcloud.com/realworldrecords/spiro-the-sky-is-a-blue-bowl   and pre-order a copy here https://realworldrecords.com/release/636/pole-star. In celebration of the re-release we’ll be playing tracks from Pole Star on our Autumn dates. There might also be a sneak preview of a couple of tracks from the new album we’re currently writing, out in Spring 2015.

We’ll be appearing with a singer for the first time ever at the QEH this Friday. It’s Mojmir Novakovic of Croatian alternative rock band Kries, as part of the Bridges Festival to celebrate 35 years of fRoots magazine. Also appearing:

– Eliza Carthy meets Greek lafta player and singer Martha Mavroidi.

– Welsh harpist Catrin Finch duets with Senegalese kora master Seckou Keita.

– Songwriter Chris Wood heads somewhere imaginative with veteran multi-instrumentalist Ben Mandelson.

– Fast-rising singer Olivia Chaney teams up with pedal steel maestro BJ Cole

– BBC Folk Awards-nominated English singer Lisa Knapp and her producer partner Gerry Diver collaborate with Chis Morphitis and Katina Kangaris from London-based Greek-Cypriot band Mavrika.

October 28th sees the release of The Vapourer , a new mini album featuring Moog synthesiser arrangements by Adrian Utley of Portishead together with a new studio track and three live tracks  recorded at WOMAD festival.  More details soon.

Thanks to all at the Wild Mint Festival in Russia last weekend, excellent stuff. And thanks also to the Nest Collective for a great night on Saturday in London. Next stop Croatia.

Thanks to the excellent Pound Arts Centre in Corsham for making us so welcome last night, and to the lovely audience who sacrificed the Eurovision to come and see us. Corsham is very beautiful.