Penguins Go Pop

Penguins Go Pop After many years away Penguins Go Pop are close to returning to playing live.
They said it couldn't be done, and some may be hoping that it won't, but we may only be a month or 2 from returning to the Norwich music scene.

So far we have been rehearsing 12 songs,  7  from the PGP back catalogue, 4 of which i co wrote with John Hough, 1 with John and Mark Wyatt, 1 with Mark, and 1 with John Bygrave that John B and i recorded even before the PGP days.
The other 5 songs are songs that i wrote with John Bygrave after PGP, and we released under the name King Penguin as an e.p in the early 2000's.

The current incarnation of Penguins Go Pop includes me Richard Penguin on Vocals and percussion, Mark Wyatt on Guitar and backing vocals, and Andy Mickleburgh on Drums ( we were the 3 members who played in all of the live line ups of the band), along with Andy Butler who played in many of the Penguins line ups on Bass,  and superb new addition Philip Lewis-Jones on Keyboards and backing vocals.

We have been rehearsing on a weekly basis for a short while and hope to be gigging again soon.

John Hough ( Guitar, Bass, Fiddle, Keyboards) who i originally put the band together with ( Mark joined us soon afterwards on bass and guitar as well when he moved into the house we had been sharing in Little Armes Street in Norwich) has been living in Mid Wales for almost 20 years, and has just had his second child and so won't be able to join the reunited line up naturally.

Sadly Claude ( Guitar) who was in the original line up with us died in the early 2000s of a heart condition.

We potentially have about 21 songs ( 2 covers, 2 more King Penguin songs i wrote with John B, 2 more PGP songs i wrote with John H,  2 more i wrote for PGP never fully developed, and one of Mark's songs) and maybe when, and if we get to that stage we may play a complete set by ourselves at some point.
Until then we may well be playing a support slot or with other artists supporting us.

Should anyone be interested keep watching Facebook for more news and soon a new website will be online at www.penguinsgopop.co.uk
I will also broadcast updates on my radio show Acoustic and Eclectic 2-3 pm Sunday afternoons on future radio 107.8 fm around Norfolk and on the net. You can also listen again to the shows by going to www.futureradio.co.uk/acousticandeclectic

Its great fun being a penguin once again
Richard

Richard Penguin News

It has been a busy 18 months since i last updated my news section. Having worked with Andy Butler promoting his concerts, and events, and Karen Tweed's various bands, and projects tours, and new releases i also went on to promote musician Roger wilson, Artist blacksmith Roger Foyster, gaining Television, and full page coverage for him, and press and promotion for 3 tours by The Poozies. I also worked briefly with Bernhard Wagner, and Mooncoin before they sadly took the decision to disband.

In the last 18 months I carried out more promotion for Karen and Andy until the beginning of 2008, and have been working with a wide cross section of musicians, artists, and photographers in the last year. In 2008 i sent out applications to festivals on behalf of songwriters Nobodaddy, and the Klezmer influenced Pinky umbrella who i managed to book into several festivals, as well as carrying out other promotion for them last year, and more promotion, and applications for Pinky umbrella this year. I was brought in to carry out promotion for Electro outfit Vista, and trance duo Milo B and DMP, gaining them quite a bit of coverage for the concerts. Similarly i sent out copies of former Access to music national student of the year Mary Lovett's excellent debut album 'working to a click' gaining airplay, and reviews, and have recently sent out applications to festivals on her behalf. I worked with American folk/country influenced duo Dana and Susan Robinson promoting their 24 date U.K tour last year, and managed to gain 9 reviews of their superb album 'Round My Door', and airplay on 8 radio shows while they were here for their tour. I hope to work with them again. 

In the second half of the year I promoted the Art on the Edge exhibition in Norfolk, which proved to be a great success, an exhibition by 1960s Fashion photographer Ron Falloon in Suffolk(I am hoping to bring it to Norfolk soon), and worked with slovenian Folk musician Jure Tori of the band Orlek, bringing him to the U.K for a series of concerts. I have recently sent out applications to festivals on his behalf. At the end of the year i worked extensively with Grant Davis on his Christmas single 'Bah Humbug! (Merry, Merry, Christmas), and will be working with him on the follow up album. Recently I have been working with the Eastern European influenced Crimson Muses, Johnny Cash tribute act Sun Of Cash, and Klezmer, African, and Jazz influenced guitarist Andy Kirkham attempting to gain bookings at festivals in 2009. I shall hopefully continue to promote their concerts, and new releases throughout the year, as well as many other musicians. I have also been writing, and interviewing on a regular basis for Original Volunteers, a company who organise for people to volunteer abroad. A busy, but very satisfying year and a half.

Equally i have continued to write a monthly music column for the Norwich based Triangle magazine, and in November began broadcasting a show entitled Acoustic and Eclectic on Future radio (www.futureradio.co.uk ) on sunday evenings between 5-6pm. I recently launched a night at Olives cafe, elm Hill, Norwich in January, and February 2009 on the last Thursday night, moving to the last Friday in the month from March, featuring a whole host of very talented musicians/bands to tie in with the show. To find out more about who is playing at the club each month go to www.myspace.com/acousticandeclectic and if you wish to play at one of the nights feel free to get in touch. I am still contributing occasional articles to the Platform show on Future, but not as regularly as before, and hope to contribute again at some point to Rock N Reel magazine, but have been too busy of late.

Should you wish to e mail me- richard.penguin@virgin.net  I hope to hear from you.