January 10th 2013

Hi everybody,
It’s been quiet on the Dawson front during the last year but now I’m finally back with some news and some concert dates to announce.

I almost completed my planned year off the road, though Plainsong’s farewell tour and some shows in North America meant I wasn’t home all the time. It was strange not having to travel anywhere and of course I missed playing live like crazy, but I stand by the decision to step back for a while. I’ve been touring and making music for 37 years now and wanted to take stock of where I fit in the new landscape created by the internet.

Some of you will know that I have a presence on facebook, and we polished up and updated my website (www.juliandawson.com) while I’ve been home, but there are aspects to the way gigs and records are being publicised and paid for now that don’t work for me. I won’t be financing my next recording via kickstarter or asking for money up ahead from my faithful friends and listeners. I love playing live as much as ever and hope that some of you will continue to come out to my shows and buy an album when I make one – in fact, the experience of sharing new songs (and I’ve written a whole album’s worth this year!) and old, both on my own, or with the wonderful Uli Kringler on guitar, means more to me than ever since I’ve had to deal with some health issues.

My private life mostly remains private, but it was a joy to become a grandfather when Arthur Stanley came into the world on May 10th. (see photo: 3 generations of bald heads!)

The Nicky Hopkins book continues to sell steadily in the USA, the UK and still in Germany and I receive lots of letters and e-mails from contented readers worldwide. That is a project I’m particularly proud of and I will be doing more ‘book-readings with music’ in the future.

Despite officially taking a break in 2012, I ended up playing in Canada and Japan and in the coming year I have shows booked (so far) in Germany (lots of upcoming dates), Holland, England and the USA.

I’m grateful for all the years I’ve been able to do this best of all jobs, and specially to all of you who have made it possible through your support and loyalty. Thanks to all of you and a late Happy New Year from Somerset.

I’m really looking forward to starting up again this month. You can see the show dates here, on my website and on facebook. I’ll try and keep the gigs intimate, real and full of surprises. See you there,