Aidan Jolly profile picture

Aidan Jolly

Quite old, quite bald and proud...

About Me

Aidan Jolly is a singer-songwriter and guitarist.His songs grow out of relationships with communities and places. Much of his recent work has been commissioned, often by people or organisations who want to explore notions of identity or place, or simply to tell stories. In this sense he is a folk or world musician.As well as performing solo he is usually accompanied by Jilah Bakhshayesh (violin and voice) and Martin Milner (guitar and voice). He is also part of Virtual Migrants, a collaborative project with five other artists including film maker Kooj Chuhan and Jilah Bakhshayesh. Their work Terminal Frontiers toured nationally 2004 - 2005, to critical and public acclaim. They recently released 'Exhale', A DVD and CD produced during the tour, available from www.virtualmigrants.com/exhale.He was recently one of twelve artists to win the Songs For Change 2006 competition - see www.songsforchange.com

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/19/2006
Band Website: aidanjolly.com
Band Members: The live band usually has at least Aidan on guitar, symphonie and voice, with Jilah Bakhshayesh on violin and voice and Martin Milner on guitar, flute, voice and percussion - sometimes we also have Lis Murphy on violin and voice and Jaydev Mistry on percussion. (What's a Symphonie? have a look at this address: http://www.luthiers60.freeserve.co.uk/morepicssymphonie.htm) .System Fault is Aidan's first solo CD, featuring guest appearances from some of Manchester's finest musicians including Dave Connally (production), Jaydev Mistry (percussion), Bernie Murphy (vocals) and Jilah Bakhshayesh (violin). It's available from all stores, or you can order it online at www.aidanjolly.com
Influences: ...everyone who's ever had a story to tell in a song, or made a noise about injustice, or who spoke the truth, or stood up for their rights, or who told the politicans and the image makers where to get off....the peasants' revolt, Gerard Winstanley, Olaudah Equiano, music hall, suburban punk, the poll tax riots.....
Sounds Like: “The focus of this album is firmly on the impact this world has on ordinary people & the lives they lead. Quite brilliantly handled & the last track is a fine slab of satire & fitting end to a unique piece of work” 9/10 Hi fi +“ ‘System Fault’ is a grower album, both musically & lyrically, & well worth the listen” **** Rock'N'Reel;"an immensely accomplished product, especially so for a debut singer-songwriter disc. Aidan's extremely capable in both departments, and his work is enviably genre-defying" http://www.netrhythms.com/reviewsj.html#jolly“A very well crafted CD with some great ideas and production by an obviously very talented individual” Music Maker"Passion, conscience, intelligence" - Maverick Magazine;"An agit-folk poet for the masses" - Americana UK;"Fits very well into the folk scene" - Spencer Leigh, On The Beat, BBC Radio Merseyside;"Impassioned, community-centred - [this] powerful set will appeal to the chill-out audience and traditional folk/rockers alike" - Musician Magazine;"Looks like the bloke running the greengrocers - sounds like world music sung by Ian Dury" Manchester Music/BBC Radio Manchester
Record Label: Well Red - Aidan's own independent label
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Fire At The Basement

fire/ smoke/ water damage from the great Northern Quarter fire has temporarily closed the Basement. To find out how you can help visit the Basement Social Centre website: http://thebasement.clearercha...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Fri, 18 May 2007 12:49:00 PST

What is happening to the City Centre?

The Late Room has had a change of management and have hiked the hire charge from £130 to £470! This used to be a great place to play, but unless you're putting on a big night with several bands that p...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 02:53:00 PST

The Kinder Trespass Community Play

I'm delighted to announce that I have been appointed as Musical Director for a forthcoming play celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Mass Trespass of Kinder Scout, a key moment in the fight by ordi...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:14:00 PST

Songs For Change competition 2006

OK, it's been a while since I blogged, but this is worth mentioning:in October I found that me and eleven other people who write songs for these times had been chosen to go up to Edinburgh and perform...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:08:00 PST

CD out now!

hi everyonefirst, the big news - the System Fault CD will be available in the shops from the 7th of August, as I now have something called a 'distribution deal' with a company called Proper. The great...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 01:32:00 PST

the Workhouse Festival

just got back from the Workhouse Festival, in a beautiful valley in the middle of Waleswe played in a solar-powered marquee - at night. how is it done, you might ask...Simon, who makes it all work and...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 03:20:00 PST

Hello from Aidan

Hello to all my friends....just to try out this blog, here are some recent reviews:Selected Reviews (performances, previous work)Impassioned, community-centred - [this] powerful set will appeal to the...
Posted by Aidan Jolly on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 06:55:00 PST