Jon Orpheus

Jon Orpheus (long term pseudonym) returned to the NW music scene in 1990 when he became promoter and dj at the now legendary 'Shack' in his then home town Oldham. He formed a band 'Gouranga' that never left the rehearsal room before splitting up and later had a spell in the band 'Boom Mantra' which enjoyed just one, albeit well received gig at the Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. Formed psyche-folk band 'Dove-Stone' with Helena Rainbow, Steve Love and David Jenkinson in 2000. Following Dove-Stone's split the following year Jon and Helena continued as a duo awhile before Helena took a break to get into motherhood again. Orph continued to hone his skills at a number of plug-in acoustic nights and folk clubs in the East Manchester area whilst also learning production skills on the hoof when making his first solo album 'Multidimensional Orpheus'. In late 1999 Orph teamed up with long time friend and multi-talented musician LS Dean to form 'Electronic Voice Phenomena'. Work on this project has been ongoing since then, four albums on and a fifth in the pipeline, EVP have honed their skills to great critical aclaim and have been likened by reviewers to all time greats like Pink Floyd, The Orb, Steve Hillage and Shpongle. At the beginning of 2007 in his 50th year on Earth, Orph began a new promotion hosting 'Acoustic Eclectic' held every Wednesday at Q Inn in Stalybridge, Cheshire. The weekly gig has attracted a large number of quality local musicians and a good size crowd with a second weekly night 'Eclectic Live' started on 14th October at the famous Witchwood venue. Problems at the venue meant a rethink and Eclectic Live is set for relaunch on Saturday 2nd February at a new venue 'The Grotton In The Hollow' in Oldham. Orph and Helena are again working together in the band "In The Hills" along with percussionist Iain 'RedHat' Taylor - and several gigs have already been successfully played, not least at the main stage at The Northern Green Gathering in August 2007 with an expanded line up. More gigs are in the pipeline! January 2008 and Orph has now started work on a new project of traditional folk material with a twist, under the title of 'GhostSong'. The opening track 'The Rolling Of The Stones' is currently the first track the player. Watch this space for more!Orph's other Myspace pages can be found at:-www.myspace.com/ghostsongmusicwww.myspace.com/electronic voicephenomenawww.myspace.com/acousticeclecticwww.myspace.co m/eclecticlivewww.myspace.com/inthehillsmusicwww.myspace.com /infinitevoidstructureLife continues! John Orpheus & Friends will be playing at the Northern Green Gathering near Rippon, North Yorkshire from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th August 2008