DAVE COUSINS of STRAWBS is calling his first ever U.S. solo tour, STORIES AND SONGS because he is a storyteller. He is supporting two albums. SECRET PATHS is due in March, and features Melvin Duffy, who played steel guitar with Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker and Zucchero. His other recent release is THE BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT, his second solo album in his nearly 40 years of recording. BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT features the talents of the professionals who make up the impressive Blue Angel Orchestra. The infectious enthusiasm of this grouping shines through, giving the album very much a band feel, which is astonishing given how little they have so far played together.
Dave is making this tour a very intimate showcase, singing and playing his acoustic guitar. His friend Ian Cutler, who plays violin on THE BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT, will be supporting Dave in concert. Ian portrayed the young fiddle player in the horror cult film THE WICKER MAN.
THE BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT features ten brand new Cousins’ songs. Guitarist Miller Anderson guests on the album, as he did on Dave’s 1972 album, TWO WEEKS LAST SUMMER, which continues to sell well to this day. The rhythm section comprises Chas Cronk of Strawbs on bass, with drummer Chris Hunt who played for many years with Lonnie Donegan.
Dave Cousins has been the leader and main songwriter of Strawbs from the release of the band’s first album (STRAWBS) in 1968 on A&M, to the present day. In the 1970s the band was at its peak with major chart albums GRAVE NEW WORLD and BURSTING AT THE SEAMS in the UK, followed by huge success in the USA and Canada with HERO AND HEROINE and GHOSTS. Strawbs sold over 3 million albums in that period and spent 55 weeks on the Billboard charts with seven successive albums in the period 1972-1977.
THE BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT is produced by Chris Tsangarides whose studio is littered with gold discs for albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and many more.
DAVE COUSINS’ “STORIES AND SONGS” SOLO TOUR, MARCH 2008
March       11              Turning Point    Piermont NY
March       12             German House    Rochester NY
March       13             Hugh’s Room    Toronto ON
March       14              Winchester    Cleveland OH
March       15              Kent Stage    Kent OH
March       16             Abbey    Chicago IL
March       18              Shank Hall    Milwaukee WI
March       21              Mersey House    Liverpool NS
March       22             Fire Hall    Mount Uniack NS
Fans can download Dave’s albums, BOY IN THE SAILOR SUIT and SECRET PATHS, and Strawbs catalog at
http://www.pinnacle-digital.co.uk/witchwood/
http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk