Gary Miller Songs

Well, well, well - what have we here! Whilst tidying up and sorting through all the merch stock and archives, exploring boxes, suitcases, and bags, hidden away in various cupboards, loft spaces and other nooks and crannies, what should I come across but a treasure trove of various back catalogue CDs plus a few T-shirts, all previously sold out and thought to be gone for good.

If anyone wishes to avail themselves of certain rarities and/or plug some gaps in your collection, now's your chance! I've put everything up for order via my official Whisky Priests Bandcamp Online Shop (all at very reasonable prices), so if you're interested, head over for a browse: HERE.

Here's a comprehensive list (with quantities) of all that I've found (please note - I don't expect there to be anymore after this - this is the final count)...

Whisky Priests CD's:

The First Few Drops [1994 Reissue Version] - 12 copies

Bleeding Sketches - 7 copies

Life's Tapestry - 2 copies

Live on Radio Heemskerk - 1 copy

A Few Drops More - 2 copies

"Here Come the Ranting Lads" - Live! - 6 copies

Other CD's:

Mad Dogs and Englishmen ('Side project' featuring Gary Miller & Glenn Miller with Joseph Porter of Blyth Power - Going Down with Alice - 1 copy

Gary Miller - DLI EP - 9 copies

Gary Miller & Ferryhill Town Band - The Durham Light Infantry [Single] - 4 copies

T-Shirts:

"Out on the town all night with the Ranting Lads" (all Small/Children's Size) - 5 copies

Please note - all to be sold on a strictly "first-come first-served" basis.

Finally - just to let you know as well - we're now down to about the last half dozen 'Bloody Well Everything!' Box Sets

Happy browsing!!

Helen and me finally got bored with endless housework and admin at Whippet Lodge today, so we decided to take a break and do something completely different and this is the result!! I'm sure you can all relate to this during these frustrating Lockdown days. Hope you enjoy this bit of an interlude (first take, no edits - warts and all! - oh, and just to correct a slight mistake due to a slip of the tongue - it's Black Agnes, not Black Angus!)...

Thanks again to everyone who tuned in to my debut Live Stream this week and further thanks to everyone who conrtibuted to my "tip jar" and/or bought merch from my Bandcamp Shop (The Whisky Priests Reunion Merch is now in extremely low supply - e.g. only about half a dozen copies of the Box Set left and about 4 T-Shirts, etc). It's all very much appreciated and every little helps (especially as I am needing to raise funds towards new recording sessions, etc).

I feel that I have kick-started something special with 'The Belle Vue Sessions' and am planning to continue them on a regular (maybe fortnightly?) basis.

With that in mind, I am aiming to make each one a unique experience by coming up with a particular 'theme' for each one in turn. For example (and in no particular order), here are a few of the ideas I am currently considering...

1. 'Mad Martins' - a selection of songs from my epic 50-track box set, relating the story of the notorious Martin Brothers, William, Jonathan and John, over 3 separate sessions - one session per brother. These historical figures are each so intriguing, humorous, tragic and fascinating in their own right that a single session for each would be barely enough time to do each of their individual stories justice - but I would be excited to put it all across in a trilogy of condensed 'one man shows'.

2. 'The Butcher Baronet' - a teaser of songs from my epic Folk-Rock Opera based on the intriguing legend of John Duck, known as "Durham's Dick Wittington". Who was this mysterious character really? Was a he good and benevolent figure or a dark self-serving soul? Can we ever really know? - This would be a kind of 'World Premiere!'

3. 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' - songs from my project focussing on an incredible range of unique individuals, each with their own fascinating story to tell of their experiences in The Durham Light Infantry throughout its 200-year history.

4. 'Northern Grit (The Good, The Bad And The Greedy)' - some songs from the project I collaborated with Helen on about individuals/characters from North East England who, through fortitude and determination, have made a lasting impact for better or worse (e.g. Mary Ann Cotton, Peter Lee, Catherine Cookson, Joseph Skipsey, George Stephenson, etc).

5. 'Reflections on War' - songs from my 2010 album.

6. 'The Whisky Priests' - a selection from the band's back catalogue.

7. 'The Big Picture' - a 'teaser' selection of new and unrecorded songs with a personal theme that may (or may not) appear on my new band's debut album.

8. 'Odds and Sods' - a selection gathered from various other projects, oddities, etc.

So, lots of potential options, to see us through the cold, dark winter nights (and let's face it, does anyone really not expect the current Lockdown to be extended throughout that time?).

What do you think? All and any feedback welcomed.

I'm also available for private (reasonably priced) online concerts via Zoom or Skype - you choose the songs! If anyone's interested - just get in touch!

In the meantime, look out for details of 'The Belle Vue Sessions No.2' coming soon!...

I've now uploaded a video of "The Belle Vue Sessions No.1" in its entirity (just under 1 hour in length) to my YouTube Channel.

This is a recording made with an external camera, of my Facebook Live Stream of 12th November 2020. It was therefore filmed from a different angle to the Live to Facebook version (which was streamed through the internal camera on my computer).

Featuring songs performed solo on acoustic guitar, with background and explanations to each of the songs, plus a bit of general chat, direct from the basement of my home in Ferryhill, County Durham, England; here is a list of the songs I played:

1. A Rich Seam

2. Ballad of Mary Ann Cotton

3. Miss Nightingale's Man

4. City of Dreams

5. A Boy's Own Story

6. Bird of Northumberland

7. Albatross and Endurance

(Track 6 - 'Bird of Northumberland' - is one of Helen's compositions)

Hope you enjoy it!...

A huge "Thank You!" to everyone who tuned in last night to my debut Facebook Live Stream - "The Belle Vue Sessions No.1".

I was truly overwhelmed by the phenomenal response and all the lovely comments.

If you missed it live, you can watch it on playback below...

Here's a final reminder that I will be presenting my debut Facebook Live Stream ("The Belle Vue Sessions No.1") tonight at 19:00 UTC. I'm looking forward to it with equal measures of excitement and trepidation but it will be great to share some songs, stories and general crack. Hope you can join me! 

To tune in live: CLICK HERE

I am proud to have been a committee member Education 4 Action since last year (2019). This is something that is very close to my heart and I am involved with a group of wonderful and kind-hearted people giving selflessly and generously of their time and energy. Established in 2013 Education 4 Action facilitates events in the week preceding the Durham Miners Gala. We are a team of enthusiastic volunteers, and like most people from Durham, we have a shared mining heritage.

Education 4 Action, funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), recorded special memories of the Durham Miners Gala, or as we say locally 'The Big Meeting', with 21 men and women from the Durham Coalfield area.

2021 celebrates 150 years since the first Gala of the Durham Miners Association (DMA), which brought pitmen and their families from 180 mining communities across County Durham to Wharton Park, to listen to their leaders and discuss their grievances.

Each July since then, each Lodge, some with their own brass band, parade their colourful banners through the streets of Durham to meet at the Racecourse, pausing to acknowledge their political and local representatives on the balcony of the County Hotel.

In recent years it has attracted huge crowds from all parts the wider Labour and Trade Union Movement national and international and is now acknowledged to be the largest gathering of its kind anywhere in Europe.

The Big Meeting is an important part of our intangible cultural heritage and our labour history. This project records the stories of Durham folk young and old; coming together to meet with friends and family, some to listen to our political leaders, others to just enjoy this wonderful occasion.

You can listen to the memories HERE - Please 'like' the video on YouTube and add comments there too.

Finally, to arrange an interactive event with your organisation and share your own memories contact Education 4 Action [email protected] or c/o Redhills, Durham Miners’ Hall, Flass Street, Durham City, DH1 4BE and we will be pleased to facilitate.

I've now uploaded my recent 10-minute video announcement about officially ending The Whisky Priests to YouTube...

I've also prepared a written statement...

THE WHISKY PRIESTS

It’s been a full two years now since The Whisky Priests ‘Bloody Well Back!’ Reunion Tour. Since then, a lot of people have been asking me if there will be any further Whisky Priests gigs, tours and/or new recordings.

At the time of the tour, there was talk of the possibility of more to come but a lot has happened since then and after a period of reflection, I feel the time is now right to officially announce with absolute finality that there will be no future activity regarding The Whisky Priests.

I founded the band with my twin brother Glenn in 1985, when we were 18 years old, and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. Even during the years that the band was inactive, it was still there with me as a strong presence. But 35 years feels long enough and it’s time to move on and focus more fully on all my other projects.

I am immensely proud of all that The Whisky Priests achieved through good times and bad and I have many wonderful memories to carry with me. Meanwhile, the songs I wrote for the band will still be there as part of my ongoing body of work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved or played a part in contributing to the band’s development and success, in whatever capacity, over the years. I would also like to thank everyone who supported us by coming to gigs, buying merchandise and generally “spreading the word” on our behalf, without which we couldn’t have done all the things we did.

The Whisky Priests Official 'Band' & 'Group' Facebook Pages will remain active as a memorial archive and as a portal for any updates, news, memories, etc., relating to the band and any other relevant projects.

The Whisky Priests Bandcamp Page will also remain for the purchase of digital downloads and any remaining stocks of merchandise, including back catalogue CDs, Box Sets, T-Shirts and Accessories (e.g. Tote Bags, etc.). Please note, however, that stock levels are very low now on all items and once everything is sold, no more will be produced (unless a third party company offers some kind of licensing deal to produce and release it themselves). So this is very much a ‘last chance to buy’ any of the stuff direct before it’s all gone.

You can check out what is still available: HERE

Thanks again for all the memories.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to announcing some exciting future plans soon, including details of my new band 'Gary Miller's Big Picture', new albums and tours, my autobiography, and much more. It's upwards and onwards towards new horizons...

Best wishes,

Gary

I will be premiering a video on The Whisky Priests (official) Facebook Page tonight at 19:00. This contains a major announcement, so please tune in if you are able - Thanks! 

To watch the video CLICK HERE.

I am looking forward to presenting my debut Facebook Live Stream. I've been planning on doing this for some time but for one reason or another I haven't managed to get around to it until now. Anyway, now finally seems like the right time! I hope you can join me for 'The Belle Vue Sessions No.1'. Oh, and if you have a Facebook account, please feel free to 'Share', 'Invite' and generally 'spread the word' - Cheers!

Join me live at 19:00 UTC on Thursday 12th November 2020 - HERE.