RED SHOES are one of the featured artists on a new Fatea Showcase Session. This one is called "Duo's", and includes our song "My Father's Green Beret", written by Carolyn Evans. As a FREE DOWNLOAD you get a total of 18 songs all by different artistes. Available to download as of August 1st 2008.
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk.
To read our latest review on FolkWords - Click on the link below
FolkWords Review - March 2008
HISTORY -
A long, long time ago in the days of jangly guitars and paisley shirts, a young folk singer called Carolyn auditioned a guitarist for her band. Mark passed the audition, and within weeks fired the other members apart from the young folk singer. Enlisting the help of a friend on bass - Derek - with added help from drummer John, RED SHOES was formed in the Autumn of 1983.
As the first band to be called RED SHOES, due to Carolyn's obsession with the "Wizard of Oz" - the 4-piece set about carving out a name for themselves on the local live circuit in Birmingham. With the help and support of local radio stations, DJ & Journalist - Mike Davies, Pop writer - Paul Flowers, a Clive Gregson produced demo, and with their first single, "All Fall Down" released on their own label, they started banging on the doors of London's A&R Depts. Drummer changes along the way - Mark "Wombat" Mullen replaced John, only to be replaced by Nick Millward.
It was around this time that interest was coming from American College Radio Stations, thanks to Howie Klein in San Francisco; culminating in Mooncrest offering the band a deal in 1987, releasing Sandy Denny's "By the time it gets dark", satisfying a long held dream for Carolyn to sing one of her favourite songs.
In 1989 the band retired, with Mark and Carolyn getting married and having two children. Nick went on to play with Kenny Ball and Derek filling bass slots with various local groups (he is now performing as a solo acoustic artist). Mark and Carolyn kept on writing, and the band reformed in the mid-90's with Bert Priest on drums, lasting for a short period.
Fed up with lugging huge amps, cabs, pa's and trying to squeeze into leather trousers, Carolyn and Mark took up their trusty acoustic guitars and now perfom as a duo under the name RED SHOES. Playing 'round your way sometime soon, but while you're waiting you can find us on You Tube. Looking forward to going back into the studio with invited guests and friends, the future is looking bright . . . . .
At this moment in time - January 2008, we are constantly writing new songs, the latest demo's being placed on our MySpace player. These are home-recordings which we feel catch us in our most pure form, not big productions, but they are true to us as songwriters & singers.
Artwork "Fallen Angel" was painted by the talented local artist Bobbie Cook, who's work captures a true inner spiritual beauty. Many thanks to her for allowing us to use it.
Check out the RED SHOES myspace (www.myspace.com/redshoes1) for a new set of their folksy home demos that include a cover of the trad Quiet Joys of Brotherhood alongside new numbers Only A Fool, the Dennyish excellence of Celtic Moon and Carolyn’s moving, angry My Father’s Green Beret, a stark number about her war hero father who contracted MRSA in hospital, sung to just daughter Megan’s piano accompaniment.
Mike Davies - Brum Beat February 2008
Below you'll find our 1987 Video of us performing "By the Time it Gets Dark". Recorded at BBC Studios, Pebble Mill, Birmingham as a promo video. This was back in the days before we had our kids, still wore Paisley shirts, could still fit into skinny jeans, and didn't have to rely on bleach to cover up the grey - Ah heady days indeed!
A new homespun video recorded on April 30th - Carolyn, Teddy & Mark. Singing a new song "Kind Words", written together during Teddy's stay with us. Inspired by Shaza and her special friendship to all of us - Three people, two guitars, Chardonnnay and Grolsch - Happy times, hope you like - mistakes an' all!!
