October 2008

Hi there everyone in the web-a-sphere; here's a few lines on how things are doing in Bob Fortune world.

It's been a good year in general for my type of music, with the influence of folk songs becoming well established in the music business.

I have played mainly in the North East this year, where we have many really good folk and music clubs and a very healthy, talented scene.

One or two highlights were the Scarborough Seafest, which was a great weekend (I dusted off my sea-song repertoire); the Black Swan at York; the Cutty Wren, John Taylor's club at Skelton near Saltburn. And the Saltburn Folk Festival was brilliant, as always. I also got a trip to France and one to Cornwall.

My new CD: Thinking Out Loud is finished and out there. The song Blakey Ridge is especially popular in the clubs, and my songs are being picked up by other singers which is very satisfying.

I am signed to Cringe Music Publishing and Red Admiral Records. They keep my stuff out there, so you never know when something will come along — here's hoping.

My aim is to continue singing and writing about the particular identity of the Teesside and Cleveland coast and moors that makes the area and its people very special, and not just an extension of the Newcastle and Durham culture.

The Friends of Redcar Music and Arts that I help to run has also done well this year, providing local audiences with a range of music, much of which was from home-grown acts.

I am looking forward to the year ahead. Plenty of bookings, lots of new songs and the CD doing well would be my ideal. Check out http://www.myspace.com/bobfortune

Cheers everyone,  Bob