Posted on: March 11, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

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

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