It has been a bumper start to 2019 when it comes to releases, but I have received a few messages from people struggling to keep up, so here’s the lowdown on what has been released and why.

On January 1st I released two brand new CDs. The first, ‘Headscarves & Hurricanes’ is an album of songs telling the story of Hull’s fishing industry and the Hessle Road community which supported it, set against the backdrop of the 1968 Triple Trawler Tragedy and the subsequent campaign by the Headscarf Revolutionaries which went on to become the most successful UK civil campaign of the 20th century.

Inspired by reading Brian W. Lavery‘s book on the subject, this album contains eleven songs including collaborations with Rebekah Findlay and Commoners Choir and you can get that on download or CD here:

https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/album/headscarves-hurricanes

Alongside that I released an 8-track extended EP called ‘The Past Won’t Last Forever’ containing collaborations with the Hatfield Brigade and Rebekah once more. That one is only a fiver and you can bag it here:

https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-past-wont-last-forever-ep

As if that wasn’t enough, 6th March saw the release of the crowdfunded special edition re-issue of ‘Never Be Defeated’, my album telling the stories of the Hatfield Brigade back in 1984-85 and released to mark the 35th anniversary of the Miner’s Strike. Now a 2-CD set, this package contains the original album on disc one plus my other mining songs and the Hatfield Brigade recordings, plus a very special closer from former miner Mick Lanaghan.

I crowdfunded this to keep it 100% independent of me financially, meaning every single penny raised from sales of both CD and download go to the community whose stories it tells. Half to the DN7 Hardship Fund for people struggling to make ends meet in the former pit villages of South Yorkshire, and half to the Save The Hatfield Main Headgear Campaign, looking to build a vital community resource from the old pit head and inspire generations to come.

The music is one thing, but the beautiful 16-page booklet designed by Kevin Pearson makes the whole package pretty stunning, and you can bag yours safe in the knowledge that your money will be put to immediate use here:

https://joesolothehatfieldbrigade.bandcamp.com/album/never-be-defeated-special-edition

And lastly, we will be unveiling the long-awaited monument to Hull’s 10 International Brigade volunteers on Saturday March 16th at midday outside Guildhall; and to mark the occasion a very special ‘Hull Memorial Edition’ of ‘No Pasaran’ has been commissioned.

Essentially this is for family members of those 10 heroes of the city, but a strictly limited number have been put on sale for people who want one as a souvenir. It’s the original album in a cardboard overlay, but it looks stunning thanks to Kevin and is well worth adding to the collection here:

https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/album/no-pasaran-hull-memorial-edition

So that’s the music.

I’ve also released four ‘Album Sleeve T-Shirts’ featuring the sleeves of ‘No Pasaran’, ‘Not On Our Watch’, ‘The Future Needs Us Now, and ‘Never Be Defeated’. These are £12 each plus postage and you can bag them here:

https://joesolomusic.bandcamp.com/merch

Complicated, maybe, but there’s loads of music new and old and I’ll be on the road all year ramming it down your throat.

Would appreciate your support with it all.

Thanks
Joe