The third in a batch of three new Dan Russell-related albums is called "Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There" and is performed by The Creek.

The album has been over two years in the making - recorded at Peach Paradise Studios, Corston Fields, Bath, between October 2009 and May 2011.

The Creek - Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There - Tracklisting

GUARDIAN ANGELS Russell/Hooper
ROUND THE RIVER BEND Russell/Wilson
WIND OF CHANGE Russell/Baxter
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Russell/Hooper
CRUISIN' Hooper/Leaper
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER Hooper/Russell
ONE AND ONE IS LOVE Russell
CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW Russell/Hooper
ALISON JANE Hooper/Russell/Hares
DEEP BLUE OCEAN EYES Hooper/Russell
KID FROM L.A. Russell/Hares
THE FLUFFY OUTSKIRTS Russell/Hooper/Collins/Colonel

For full album details and to hear several of the songs click here.

The second in a batch of three new Dan Russell-related albums is called "The Longest Ride" and is performed by Brothers From Venus.

Brothers From Venus - The Longest Ride - Tracklisting

FREE SPIRIT Russell/Hares/Henneberry
GRITTY CITY Russell
CAMERON & CLEGG Hares/Russell/Henneberry
SOME PEOPLE Russell
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING? Hares/Russell/Henneberry
MODERN MAN Russell
URINATION NATION Hares/Russell/Henneberry
FRIENDS Russell
GALILEO DRIVES HIS LIMOUSINE Hares/Russell/Henneberry
COATHANGER MAN Russell
SHE AIN'T READY TO GO HOME Hares/Russell/Henneberry
KING OF THE WORLD Russell
THE LONGEST RIDE Russell/Hares/Henneberry

DAN RUSSELL Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
DAVID HARES Electric & Acoustic Lead Guitars, Bass Guitar, E Bow, Loops, Effects
SEAN HENNEBERRY Drums, Percussion

Produced and Recorded by Dr Far at The Hermit Studio, Fishponds, Bristol, Spring 2011.

In contrast to the beautiful music of the Creek, this album is a collection of older Dan Russell protest and social comment songs. GRITTY CITY, SOME PEOPLE, MODERN MAN, FRIENDS, COATHANGER MAN, some spontaneous rants over Dave and Sean's avante garde musical outpourings. CAMERON & CLEGG, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG?, URINATION NATION, SHE AIN'T READY TO GO HOME - two surreal and cosmic journeys - GALILEO, THE LONGEST RIDE, and a solitary love song called KING OF THE WORLD.

The album is brilliant, powerful and disturbing in equal measure! Always listen to it in the sunshine and surrounded by happy friends. Never listen to it in the dark and on your own unless you wish to plummet into complete insanity!

After months of not hearing from Dan Russell and The Creek Family, it is fantastic to finally announce the arrival of 3 new albums from those intrepid travellers in music and time! Many rumours had abounded. After the release of the Little Creek album, "Happiness to Venus" at the tail end of 2010, perhaps the whole Creek Family had indeed taken a one way trip to the Goddess of Love's home planet, Venus!

But if that was so they have arrived back on Planet Earth with a vengeance! Three amazing albums, all quite different, and different from each other too. Read on for details of the first of these three albums. More information on the other two during the next few weeks.

The Creek - Tales From A Distant Shore - Tracklisting

YOSEMITE JIM Russell/The Colonel (Vocals by DAN)
DISTANT SHORE Russell/Hooper JULIE
WITCHITA LINEMAN Webb DAN
ONE AND ONE IS LOVE Russell DAN/JULIE
CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW Russell/Hooper DAN/JULIE
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH Stills JULIE
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER Hooper/Russell DAN
DON'T WORRY BABY Wilson/Christian JULIE

DAN RUSSELL Lead & Harmony Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
JULIE COLLINS Lead & Harmony Vocals
DAVID HOOPER Piano, Mellotron, Synthesiser, Strings, Drums, Percussion, Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals
THE COLONEL Piano, Fender Rhodes, Organ, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals

Produced and Recorded "live" by Dr Far at The Cross Hands, Fishponds, Bristol, Spring 2011.

A wondrous album, recorded "live" by the mysterious Dr Far (a Venusian, perhaps?), at a place called The Cross Hands on the little known planet of Fishponds, where no fish or ponds exist, as far as we know. The album includes the 4th recorded version of Dan's most popular and danceable song, YOSEMITE JIM, with wonderful Bruce Hornsby style piano from The Colonel, hence the co-credit, a wonderful version of DISTANT SHORE, wonderful Eagles style harmonies in the bridge, with gorgeous descending strings, hence Hoops co-credit.

There are 3 wonderful versions of ONE & ONE IS LOVE, CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW and LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER (all included on the new studio Creek album) and 3 cover versions, Stephen Stills LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH, the Beach Boys DON'T WORRY BABY and Jimmy Webb's WITCHITA LINEMAN.

Dan says "Witchita Lineman is my all time favourite song, and I felt very emotional singing that one! Dave and Colonel did amazing arrangements for strings and piano on that song and on Don't Worry Baby... those guys are geniuses!" Indeed heartbreakingingly brilliant stuff from the 2 keyboard wizards, and beautiful lead vocals from Julie and Dan on this album!

Phew! Dan Russell had one hell of a rollercoaster ride throughout the month of April and bleeding into May! Dan takes up the story: "I got a phone call at the end of March from a very good friend, Robin Hill that our mutual very good friend, Dave Hiscox, was very ill in hospital with a brain tumour! He said it was hopeful that they could operate if it was benign.

Unfortunately, as the days unfolded and we entered April, it was disclosed that Dave not only had the brain tumour, but he also had lung cancer and cancer of the liver, and there was nothing they could do for him. I was absolutely devastated, and full of regret too. I had spent Boxing Day with him, but for one reason or another I hadn't seen him since then. Dave was one of my greatest and dearest friends, and certainly my oldest friend.

We had met in 1969. I was introduced to him by a mutual friend, Chris, and I distinctly remember the 3 of us playing hide and seek on that first meeting. I was 13 and Dave was 12. We quickly struck up a great friendship and indulged in our first mutual interest, playing football. Ironically scrambling under the gate of Keynsham Cricket Club and using the perimeter fence as a goal, and taking turns at shooting practice.

By 1970 we soon put a 11 a side team together, calling ourselves Bath Road Wanderers. It included my brother, Martin, Dave's brother, Alan, John and Andy Harrison, Jonah and Simon Jeffrey, Clive Williamson, Alan "Pog" Wilkinson & John Morgan - it was a helluva team and we lined up in the famed 4-2-4 1970 formation as such.

1. Andy, 2. John H., 4. Martin, 5. John M., 3. Alan, 8. Pog, 6. Simon, 7. Jonah, 9. Dan, 10. Dave, 11. Clive.

We played a few games - it was the time of The World cup in Brazil, and we played with the flamboyant style of the host nation and won our first game 12 - 2! The scorers were...Dan Russell 3, Clive Williamson 3, Jonah Jeffrey 2, Dave Hiscox 2, Alan Wilkinson 2.

In September 1970 Dave and started watching Bristol Rovers, getting a lift with Geoff Martin and his son Steve, Phil Morris, Phil Bennett and Ray Spearing - it was a big car! We enjoyed watching the Gas getting promoted in 1974, 1990 and 2007!

In 1972, on recieving my first cassette recorder I recorded lots of Beatles albums from Dave's L.P.s. In 1974 I went on the famed boat trip to Lundy Island with Dave, as captured by my song of the same name, elsewhere on this website.

In 1980 I started playing 5 a side football with Dave and Robin Hill, Richard Rivers, Mike Hope, Kevin Bromwich, Andy Walters and Ian Johnson - again we had a great side, and in the 80s, with his dark bushy beard and long hair Dave had the appearance of the great Brazilian star of the time, Socrates! I retired from playing in 2004, due to an injury, but Dave carried on playing right up until he became seriously ill. I have really put the weight on since I stopped playing and Dave, bless him, said there was no way I could play again until the weight had been greatly reduced!

Over the years Dave and I have watched a lot of great bands together - Jethro Tull, Bootleg Beatles, Pretenders, Squeeze, to name a few. And it was lovely when Dave finally got to see Paul McCartney for the 1st time last year, a lifelong ambition of his. Which brings us back to this Rollercoaster April.

On my Dad's 96th Birthday, April 16th, I visited his grave with my brother and his wife Jill, and then went and spread my Mum's ashes round a tree overlooking the River Chew. Mum had passed on in March 2009 and seeing her ashes greatly upset me. It was like she was back and then gone again!

On Monday April 25th I had the absolutely wonderful news that my very first grandchild, Sofia Katherin, had been born in Liverpool, the home of the Beatles, to my son, Lol, and his Italian wife, Daniela. She weighed 7 pounds and 2 and a half ounzes, and is absolutely beautiful!

On the following Saturday, the 30th April, my great friend David Hiscox passed away at 6.30am. At 5pm that very afternoon our beloved Bristol Rovers were relegated! Dave was a quiet and reserved man, a man of great kindness and wisdom and a wonderful dry sense of humour. He played trombone and was a great steam train fan. At his funeral, over 90 people were there and not enough seats for everyone at the service. Such a popular and lovely man. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and none of us can believe he has gone! So very sad....but thank god we all knew him!"

After a long silence, I am pleased to announce that The Creek are still going strong and the 2nd album, Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There, is now completely recorded and being mixed. I have also great pleasure in confirming the line up still remains the same: Dan Russell, vocals & acoustic guitar. Julie Collins - vocals, Colin Palmer - piano, fender rhodes, organ, vocals, David Hooper - strings, syntheser and vocals. More news soon!

Dan is absolutely delighted to announce the release of "Happiness To Venus" by Little Creek. As mentioned previously, this is a project formed by Dan and David Hares, who had time with The Creek as lead guitarist until he had to leave the band a few months ago, due to other committments. This is a collection of 10 songs, many co-written, and produced and recorded at The Hermitage, Dave's studio situated in Fishponds, Bristol.

The album is supplemented by some excellent snare drum and percussion work from Sean O'Hara, Dave's drummer in one of his other bands called Printz. Dave's daughter, Nicola, has supplied a beautiful painting as artwork for the album, and Dave's son, who plays cello, played bass on the song "Everything to Me." Many of the songs are a distinct departure from Dan's usual West Coast influences, especially the songs where the original music seeds were supplied by Dave.

Dan says: "Dave and I are really pleased with the album. Dave's influence has brought an avant garde feel to the songs we co-wrote, shades of Captain Beefheart even, and there is a distinct "otherwordlyness" about these songs, especially Mother Nature Coughed, and a real bluesy feel on Up The Creek!" A full review of the album will be aired here at a later date.

Little Creek - Happiness To Venus - Tracklisting

1. BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (Russell)
2. CINDERELLA (Russell)
3. UP THE CREEK (Hares/Russell)
4. THE MEADOW GARDEN (Russell/Hares)
5. EVERYTHING TO ME (Russell)
6. MOTHER NATURE COUGHED (Hares/Russell)
7. BABY, IT'S TRUE (Hares/Russell)
8. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (Russell)
9. HAPPINESS TO VENUS (Russell/Hares)
10. SWEET DREAMS SWEETHEART (Russell/Hares)

Dan reports on The Creek's recent coalition with The Colonel's (Colin Palmer) covers band 'Undercover': "It was what could be only described as an "interesting" experience! The original agreement was that Julie and I were to help out on 4 social clubs gigs in the Bristol area. As it turned out it was only two as the guys have now found a new female singer to handle all the songs.

After playing no more than 20 songs during a normal Creek gig, to be singing 32 songs on the first gig, and then a mammoth 42 songs on the second gig, was a whole new experience for Julie and I. Julie was a real trooper....she sang 21 leads on the first show and a mammoth 29 leads on the second! I had the relatively easy task of 8 leads on the first and 10 on the second.

It was a lot of fun singing songs that I had never sung before, or couldn't even imagine singing ever! Some songs I absolutely loved singing Ace's "How Long", "Johnny B. Goode", Creedence's "Up Around The Bend", "Back In The U.S.S.R.", "I Saw Her Standing There", "I Feel Good" and Stealer's Wheel "Stuck In The Middle With You", songs that I had never sung in the presence of my own company, never mind in front of a bunch of athletic, all dancing 60 and 70 year olds!

At each of the two gigs 2 seperate ladies, in their 70s, came up and asked Julie and I if we knew the song "Sex On Fire"! On both occasions I felt very scared indeed! The comperes at these places are equally as scary! They announce the band really quickly and the lights go out and you have to start playing! I went to sing the opening lines of the one song of mine that we were performing on the second gig and I realised that the compere had used my mike to announce us and then promptly switched it off!

The coalition has now been disbanded, but it was a fun and quite financially rewarding experience. The Creek is now back to being the core of 3 again, Dan, Julie and Colin, and our next gig booked is a new venue for the band - 'Number 41', 41 Stokes Croft, Bristol, on Saturday 23rd October, 2010."

Well, if the Government can do it, then so can your favourite local band. The Creek have formed a coalition with Colin Palmer's covers band, Undercover! Dan explains the events leading up to this momentus decision: "Colin recently suggested that an experienced bass player would add to our sound we have now in the band. He suggested Paul "Bev" Guard, who is currently playing with well known local band, The Carrot Crunchers!

Bev came along for a try out with us, and we hit it off straight away. Bev is a real character and loved our stuff and my songs, and he played lead guitar on Top Of The Pops back in 1971, on the Edison Lighthouse number one hit Love Grows Where My Rosemary Grows! Meantime, the lead singer in Colin's covers band left, and with 4 high-paid bookings in September to fulfill, he asked if Julie and I could come and sing lead vocals with them for those gigs. So Drummer Gordon Caines and Lead guitarist Mark Thomas got together with the four of us and magic was in the air!

We have had 2 fabulous rehearsals as a 6 piece, with some amazing 5/6 part harmonies already. With the forthcoming gigs, 35 songs are required, so I am more than happy with that as long as we can still perform at least 12 of my original songs at the gigs. Exciting times, and cash at last for my art!"

New Band Line Up

Dan Russell - Lead & Harmony Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Julie Collins - Lead & Harmony Vocals
Colin Palmer - Keyboards, Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Mark Thomas - Electric Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Bev Guard - Bass Guitar, Electric Lead Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Gordon Caines - Drums, Percussion, Harmony Vocals

We are thinking of a number of names for the coalition, please vote now! Possibilities include Undercover Of The Creek, Sister Ju and The Creek Brothers, The Joy Of Six, etc...

Further to the last update, Dan explains what is happening with the proposed forthcoming 18 track album: "At the time of the split with Dave Hooper and Jon from the band, there were 11 songs more or less "in the can", with just a few elements still to record on some of the songs, mostly vocal harmonies, some bass lines and some drum tracks. Despite the split, Hoops has kindly offered to continue in his role as producer of the album and is willing to complete it, with the kind assistance of Little Creek guitarist, David Hares.

The work will be completed at the Hareman's Hermitage studios. This is great news, because none of us want to see the fantastic potential of this album lost forever! So the plan is to release the virtually completed 11 songs as one album, and the remaining 7 songs as the next album, which I am going to attempt to produce myself on my new 16 track digital studio. I bought it a little while ago from founder Pacific Groove member, Steve Orchard, and he said it was high time I put it to good use!"

Meantime Dan's duo project with Dave Hares is progressing really well, and is sounding very different from The Creek's usual California sound, and is very exciting. And ironically this could well be the first of the 3 albums to be released. Creek fans have had a long 30 month wait for more product after the excellent first album, and it is Dan's intention that all 3 albums will be released before the end of 2010.

Here are the tracklistings, with composer and lead vocal credits for all 3 albums.

Little Creek - Happiness To Venus - Tracklisting

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK - Russell/Hares DAN
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR - Russell/Hares DAN
MEADOW OF LOVE - Russell/Hares DAN
HAPPINESS TO VENUS - Russell/Hares DAN
MOTHER NATURE COUGHED - Hares/Russell DAN
UP THE CREEK - Hares/Russell DAN
BABY IT'S TRUE - Hares/Russell DAN
CINDERELLA - Russell/Hares DAN
EVERYTHING TO ME - Russell/Hares DAN
SWEET DREAMS SWEETHEART - Russell/Hares DAN

The Creek - Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There - Tracklisting

GUARDIAN ANGELS - Russell/Hooper/Dixey DAN & JULIE
ROUND THE RIVER BEND - Russell DAN
WIND OF CHANGE - Russell/Baxter JULIE
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - Russell/Hooper DAN
CRUISIN' - Hooper/Leader JULIE
DEEP BLUE OCEAN EYES - Hooper/Russell DAN
ONE & ONE IS LOVE - Russell DAN & JULIE
CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW - Russell DAN & JULIE
ALISON JANE - Hooper/Russell/Hares DAN
KID FROM L.A. - Russell/Hares DAN & JULIE
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER - Hooper/Russell DAN

The Creek - Fall Off The End Of The World - Tracklisting

CALIFORNIA DREAM - Russell DAN
DISTANT SHORE - Russell JULIE
SAN FRANCISCO - Russell DAN & JULIE
KING OF THE WORLD - Russell DAN
BABY BE HOME SOON - Russell DAN
SECOND SUMMER OF LOVE - Russell/Collins JULIE
FALL OFF THE END OF THE WORLD - Russell DAN & JULIE

There has been much turmoil in the Creek the last couple of months, and the upshot of it is that David Hooper and Jon Ash have left the band! Dan takes up the story: "It is with great regret that both Dave and Jon have left the band. Out of respect for them both I will not air the reasons why hear, but suffice to say they won't be returning."

"I thank them both for their great service to the band and we wish them well in their future endeavors. The band has quite literally been put through the hoop and nearly left in ashes, but the remaining 3 of us are strong and determined to carry on. The paddle has been retrieved!"

After six months of an unchanged 5-piece line up, there has recently been a change - one in, one out, so to speak! Colin Palmer, a.k.a. "The Colonel", ace keyboard player with The Barry Walsh Band, has joined The Creek, while ace lead guitarist, Dave Hares, has decided to leave.

Dan Russell takes up the story: "It is with great sadness to announce that Dave has decided to leave the band, but because of other commitments he decided to make his decision. But the good news from my point of view is that Dave and I have decided to collaborate on a new recording project as a duo, possibly to be named Little Creek, which I am very excited about as I think it will be quite an experimental sound that we will produce."

Meantime, a short while ago Dan came across Colin at an Open Mike run by fantastic singer songwriter Barry Walsh. Dan again: "Colin was playing some lovely subtle keyboards with Barry, and also adding some harmony oohs, and I thought "This man is Creeky!" And sure enough after talking to him I found out he was a huge Beach Boys fan, and I asked Barry if I could approach him to play with The Creek, and he said yes!

Dave Hooper, our drummer and keyboard man, was very exited about having a second keys man because he could see the possibilities, as I could, of the multi-layered keyboard songs that we had co-written for the new album, being brought to life in a "live" setting. Colin made his debut at the 1st Three Tuns gig, and also possesses a lovely baritone voice, and is filling the role in the 4-part harmony stack that John Baxter used to fill, i.e low to high - Colin, Dan, Julie and Dave. Colin is a great guy too, calm and collected."

Just before the commencement of the recording of the brand new The Creek double album, Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There, the band have parted company with John Baxter and Steve Harris. Out of respect for them both, the reasons for their leaving will not be aired here.

The good news is that David Hares, a fantastic electric lead guitarist, has joined The Creek. Dave is a really nice guy, a very creative player, with lots of wonderful sounds at his fingertips, and a good friend of Dave Hooper, and has played with him for many years in many bands. Welcome Dave, you are the final icing on The Creek cake.

Dan Russell has completed work on a new solo album called Forever Child. Dan takes up the story: "This is a brand new bunch of songs that have been written for or inspired by the love of my life, my beautiful Alison. They were recorded and produced at The Coach House Studios in Clifton, Bristol, by an excellent young producer called Lee Chaplin. I am very thrilled and happy to get this very personal album out there and Alison said she had never even had a song written for her before, and to have a whole album written about her and our love was simply wonderful!"

The album tells the story of their love and that sometimes love takes a very long time! The couple first met 42 years ago in the Summer of Love, in High School, at the tender age of 11 years old. After both leaving school at the age of 16 they didn't meet again until the Summer of 2008... 36 years later, and promptly fell in love! Truly a wonderful and amazing love story!

Dan Russell - Forever Child - Tracklisting

ROUND THE RIVER BEND - Dan Russell
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - Dan Russell
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK - Dan Russell
THE MEADOW GARDEN - Dan Russell
HAPPINESS TO VENUS - Dan Russell
SWEET DREAMS SWEETHEART - Dan Russell/Alison
MY GIRL NEXT DOOR - Dan Russell
DEEP BLUE OCEAN EYES - Dan Russell/David Hooper
KING OF THE WORLD - Dan Russell
BABY, BE HOME SOON - Dan Russell

Dan Russell - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

Following the recent gig at the Seven Stars, Bristol there was a shock announcement from bassman Jon Dixey that it was his intention to leave The Creek after the September gig at The Blue Lagoon. Dan Russell picks up the story: "We were all very shocked and upset at his sudden announcement, and when I told my girlfriend, Alison, she burst into tears! She said it was because he has been, and is, a great friend to me, and had gone with me to Dorset to look at my brand new mobile home, which I now have, and had also been at my Mum's funeral back in March."

"On the ride home from the gig he told me to please find a replacemnet, and he would take time to show his basslines to the new man. This is just a great example of the wonderful kind nature of the man, and why we all love him! Jon explained his reasons to us. He is a fantastic father to his two sons and as they were now both in their mid teens, he wanted to be able to spend the maximum time possible with them before they find their independence from him. Also, he is in a band with his girfriend's father, who is not very well at the moment, and wants to spend maximum time with him as well."

"During that journey home drummer Dave's brain cogs had been whirring meantime and not long after my return I had a text from him telling me about a guy called Jon Ash, a bass player who he worked with and who would love to be in a band. With typical Creek efficiency I said let's give him a go! A few days later Dave arrived with Jon Ash and we set about showing him some of the songs. Dave has a brilliant musical ear and was showing Jon the basslines that Jon Dixey used, and he picked them up very quickly, considering he had only been playing bass for a few months. His style is very different, influenced by New Order and Joy Divison, and positively attacked and pulled at the bass strings, and I immediately christened him 'Longbow', and could imagine him sending an arrow into the heart of an annoying heckler at a gig!"

"At the next rehearsal both Jons were present and it now seems that Jon Dixey will remain with the band on a part time basis to to do any gigs he can and also to train Jon Ash as well. Kind of a squad system! Really good news!"

After a three month break to wander the prairies, we are delighted to announce that Creek founder member Geronimo Peru, aka John Baxter, is returning to the band! Dan picks up the story: "John asked me to meet him for an open mike recently and shortly after he arrived, he asked if he could come back. He said that he really missed the band and the comradeship of The Creek, and had simply needed a rest to recharge his enthusiasm for music. It was fantastic news and we are so happy to have him back, with everything that he brings to the band."

"We played four songs, including John's FOLLOWING YOU and COLOURS, and it was wonderful to be singing with the boy again, and to hear that wonderful blend of our voices once more. This coming Saturday, the 18th July, we will be at the Yate Talent competition playing at 12.25, and performing just one song - COLOURS. Wish us luck! The prospect of The Creek as a 6-piece band, with 5-part harmonies, Beach Boys style, two acoustic guitars and one electric, Eagles and America style, is incredibly exciting. With this line up now we have the capability of endless musical possibilities! Amazing"

Following the shocking and sad departure of John Baxter from The Creek we can announce that the band have found lead guitarist and singer Steve Harris, and he has joined the band very recently. Explains Dan: "Even while John was still with us we had many times discussed the idea of bringing in an electric lead guitarist to give our sound a bit of balls, but after John left it seemed now sensible to make that step as I was now the only guitarist in the band. So after advertising in the trusty Trade It for a lead guitarist who can sing harmonies and was into the Beach Boys, along comes Liverpudlian Steve Harris!

Steve, who is now the baby of the band at the tender age of 34, came along for an audition a few weeks ago and immediately he clicked with us. On a tiny little amp he played some superb and subtle lead guitar on my songs and even suggested a few cover songs by his 3 favourite bands that we could do... The Beatles, The Byrds and The Beach Boys, and sang lead on a Gene Clark song called Feel A Whole Lot Better, showing himself to have a really nice high tenor voice. He really liked my uptempo originals like IT DOESN'T MATTER, RUN AWAY and FLOWERS IN A WARM WIND but was less keen on the ballads, but we feel we will win him round on those too!

At the first audition he sported a John Lennon style 60s electric guitar, but at the second meeting and at the 7 song debut performance of the new line up at the Cross Hands in Fishponds last week he brought along his Roger McGuinn style Rickenbacker 12 String elecric guitar. The evening was amazing, and the instinctive 4 part harmony vocal blend between Julie, Dave, Steve and myself was incredible especially bearing in mind Steve and Dave had never met before that evening! The crowd were whooping and hollering after every song and they begged us for an encore, which Steve sang lead on and as far as I know the rest of the band had never played or sang before.

We have found a real diamond in Steve and his natural wish to harmonise the 3rd has meant that I have reverted to singing my lead vocal lines on my songs and taken the strain off my voice. The future is very bright!"

The Creek - California Dream - Tracklisting

GUARDIAN ANGELS Russell/Dixey DAN/STEVE/JULIE/DAVID
CALIFORNIA DREAM Russell/Hooper DAN
KID FROM L.A. Russell DAN/JULIE/STEVE
CRUISIN' Hooper/Leader JULIE
ONE & ONE IS LOVE Russell DAN/JULIE
WIND OF CHANGE Russell/Baxter STEVE
ALISON JANE Russell/Harris DAN
DISTANT SHORE Russell JULIE
DEEP BLUE OCEAN EYES Russell/Hooper DAN
SECOND SUMMER OF LOVE Russell/Collins JULIE
BEST WAY TO GET OVER SOMEONE Russell DAN
TINY FEET Collins/Hooper JULIE
YOUR LOVING CUP Russell/Rundgren DAN
SAN FRANCISCO Russell DAN
CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW Russell JULIE
FALL OFF THE END OF THE WORLD Russell/Hooper DAN

The band are currently working on the second Creek album, and are hoping for a late Autumn release. The 16 track opus has a Summer and Californian feel, with a few exceptions and consists of the remaining songs that were earmarked for the Road To California album back in 2002... GUARDIAN ANGELS, KID FROM L.A., ONE AND ONE IS LOVE, WIND OF CHANGE, DISTANT SHORE and SAN FRANCISCO, plus West Coast tinged songs CALIFORNIA DREAM and CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW, written in 2004, a Dave Hooper compostion, the Brian Wilson tinged CRUISIN', the first song written by Julie Collins about her new grandson, Max, called TINY FEET, a Dan Russell/Dave Hooper co write called DEEP BLUE OCEAN EYES, and a Steve Harris/Dan Russell song ALISON JANE.

Shock News! Geronimo Peru, aka John Baxter, has left The Creek! Dan Russell (Friendly Buffalo) tells the story: "We are all sad and upset that our good friend and co-founder of the band, John, has decided to leave the band. John cited that the musical direction that the band was now moving in was his primary reason for leaving. I believe a new song I co wrote with Crazy Snare, Deep Blue Ocean Eyes, was probably the catalyst. It is a dreamy, keyboard based piece, with very little rhythm, and we all love the track, except John.

John's fantastic songs are very earthy and folk based, and I could tell that our recent forays into soul, jazz and prog rock stylings was, as he put it about the new song, "Not my cup of tea". He also told me that he found vocal harmony sessions a bit tedious, and the thought of working on a brand new album, when the first album has only just been released, was something he couldn't put his heart into. I also suspect that the so far non recognition of the debut album was very disheartening for him, like all of us.

I am sure John and I will do some open mic thing in future as a duo, but as he put it, he felt he had taken things as far as he could with the The Creek and it was now time to move on. He told us that he greatly valued the friendship of Julie, Jon, Dave and myself, and that it had been a privilege playing with us. It has been a priviledge playing with John, and I still stand by the statement that his song Colours is one of the greatest and most moving songs ever written. We will miss your infectious enthusiasm and optimism, John, and we wish you luck in everthing you do in the future. Creek On, Brother John!...

The Creek are playing an album launch night at the Blue Lagoon, Gloucester Road, Bristol next Friday, 6th March. The band will be onstage at 9.30pm and playing a 15 song set - the entire album plus 5 great cover songs in their own unique way! Singer/songwriter Mike Ashdown will be playing a support slot at 8.45pm. The 10 track 'It Doesn't Matter' CD is on sale on the night for a special price of £7.

Dan's new 10-piece band The Creek will release their debut album in August 2008. Titled 'It Doesn't Matter', the CD will feature 10 tracks. See below for full track listing and information.

The Creek - It Doesn't Matter - Tracklisting

TITLE - Composer(s) - LEAD VOCALIST(S)

IT DOESN'T MATTER - Buffalo - FRIENDLY
FLAMING FIRE - Peru/Buffalo - GERONIMO/FRIENDLY/JULIELLA
INDIAN SUMMER - Buffalo - JULIELLA
CHIEF - Peru/Buffalo - GERONIMO
YOSEMITE JIM - Buffalo - FRIENDLY
RUN AWAY WITH ME - Buffalo - FRIENDLY
HIGH TONIGHT - Peru/Buffalo - JULIELLA/GERONIMO
LOVE TAKES TIME - Buffalo - FRIENDLY
COLOURS - Peru - GERONIMO/JULIELLA
FLOWERS IN A WARM WIND - Buffalo/Peru - JULIELLA

After months of silence, the artist formerly known as Dan Russell has emerged as... The Friendly Buffalo! In addition to the new name, he is also sporting a new 10-piece band called The Creek.

Friendly explains: "Over the last few months The Creek has played 23 gigs (see list below) across North Somerset and the West Coast, and the band has expanded from a 5 piece to a 10 piece. We basically don't give a damn if we are dividing a £100 gig fee between 10 or 5 people... It's a tenner or a twentier! We are all in it for the long haul - 10 souls who really believe in the sound and direction and the whole new universe that is The Creek. We are going somewhere special with this!"

The Creek [Mk3] - Band Line Up

Friendly Buffalo - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Geronimo Peru - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Juliella Fitzcollins - Vocals
Nat King Dixey - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Shaggy Atkins - Keyboards, Bongos, Percussion
Hairless Hippie - Electric Lead Guitar
Chandler C Mills - Snare Drum, Vocals
Jez Jackson - Djembe, Vocals
Anna Kuznier - Violin, Vocals
Elinor Rugby - Flute, Vocals

A self-titled debut E.P. has been recorded and is ready for release, featuring the songs Yosemite Jim, Chief, Colours and Love Takes Time. Full details to follow in due course.

The Creek - North Somerset And West Coast Tour 2007/2008

2007
Stanton Court, Stanton Drew - Oct 16th
Hush Hush Bar, Cotham - Nov 1st
Oppo Bar, Clifton - Nov 22nd
Hush Hush Bar, Cotham - Dec 6th
Nova Scotia, Hotwells - Dec 10th

2008
Butchers Arms, Bishop Sutton - Jan 5th
Clocktower, Clevedon - Jan 20th
Claremont Vaults, Weston - Feb 3rd
Clocktower, Clevedon - Feb 10th
Waggon & Horses, Clevedon - Feb 16th
Stanton Court, Stanton Drew - March 9th
The Laurels, Draycott - March 30th
Richmond Springs, Clifton - April 4th
Somerset House, Clifton - April 8th
Waldegrave Arms, East Harptree - April 18th
Somerville Club, Ashley Down - May 1st
Waldegrave Arms, East Harptree - May 16th
Somerville Club, Ashley Down - May 22nd
Blue Lagoon, Bishopston - May 27th
The Grapes, Clifton - June 24th
Mayor's Arms, Temple Meads - June 27th
The Grapes, Clifton - July 3rd
Wheatsheaf, Corston Fields - July 27th

"Hi everyone, just a few words to confirm the news of Dan's departure from the band he founded, and to give my perspective on things. I will agree that many of our recent rehearsals focused more on a few select songs and rehearsing them over and over, but the term "overperfectionism" is a bit strong and somewhat unfair.

I prefer to think of our rehearsals as through preparation and investment of time in refining material to the best of our playing abilities. Rehearsing a song 6 times in one session is nothing compared to what many of the pro bands do... we just wanted to focus on quality as well as quantity within the limited time we can devote. To do that takes patience. Yes, it can feel like waiding through treacle but that's the hard work that needs to be done... there are no shortcuts or quick fixes. We all are proud of what we do and all want to do the band justice.

The band will honour it's March and April committments under the Pacific Groove banner. We will perform the songs we've given our time to with pride. After that, out of respect for Dan, Pacific Groove will draw a line in the sand and come out under a new name and new website.

Finally, I would like to thank Dan for my two-and-a-half years with Pacific Groove, and wish every success with The Creek. Wish you well and every happiness. An end of an era! We wish Dan well!" Rob W.

Hot off the Press! Dan Russell has decided to leave his own creation, Pacific Groove! Almost 6 years ago to the day the Groove was formed by Dan and Steve Orchard. Dan explains: "I was just not enjoying rehearsals anymore. A kind of overperfectionism has been creeping in recently, and I was starting to hate some of my own songs because we would rehearse some of them 6 times a session! I am a free spirited, instinctive musician, and some of the guys in the Groove come from a more technical, almost scientific standpoint, in their approach to the songs.

Neither way is wrong, but over rehearsing songs kind of squeezes the soul out of them, in my opinion. I wish the guys well. They are all great characters, and very talented musicians. I have told them to carry on with the name 'Pacific Groove' if they wish, and to use my songs for the March and April gigs, and then bring in some covers and Steve's songs, if they wish."

News of a new Dan Russell project has just come in! Here is Dan to spill the beans: "After the departure of John Baxter from Pacific Groove, John and I continued to jam together, as I really like the guy and his great, quirky songs. Then slowly the germ of an idea of putting an acoustic band together for the purpose of playing Open Mikes, and eventually playing some gigs came to fruition.

John Dixey (bass) and Simon Sweet (drums) showed interest in the project and are now on board as and when they can, and also ex Groover, Chris Hales (keyboards) has joined, as well as excellent female vocalist Julie Collins. It is a totally different sound to Pacific Groove, which is leaning more towards rock these days, and I would like to re assure everyone I am not leaving the Groove.

I enjoy the sound that both bands make and I now feel blessed that I have TWO shop windows for my songs now, and I can only thank everyone for their continued love and support in both projects... Happy Christmas!"

"John Dixey has settled very quickly into Pacific Groove, and we are all very pleased... no... over the moon with his work.

John watched us play at The Jolly Sailor back in August and attended his first rehearsal early September. Even though he is only able to attend rehearsals fortnightly due to family committments (quite right too), he makes the most of the time he can devote. He's a great lover of the West Coast genre, which makes life SO much easier.

He is a very fast learner, can improvise on the fly, and practices as and when he can in between his attendances. His style of playing is very jazzy and funky, influenced no doubt by a lot of Jazz Rock fusion. Think along the lines of Stanley Clarke and you get the general idea. His deftness and distinct style of Bass playing is just what we've been looking for and leaves our previous players (with the exception of Ed) very much behind.

Steve Ring left the band back in March to pursue other musical interests. Unfortunately for him these haven't worked as he had hoped and he has been knocking on the Band door for the past two months or so. Dan and Steve haven't always seen eye-to-eye (typical songwriters eh...?!? echoes of Don Henley and Glen Frey me thinks) and at times, has (albeit unintentionally) ruffled a few band member's feathers. In his defence, he doesn't mean to, he's just very direct in putting his points across and is keen to move on with the job. However, Steve has expressed his sincere wishes to bury the hatchet and work with us again.

Okay, that's enough of the "Dirty Laundry" (hmm, a good Don Henley song, worthy of covering sometime) The good and positive things Steve will bring to the band have been mentioned in the 24th March entry but are worth re-iterating: "Steve is a very talented singer, songwriter and guitarist who [will] contribute greatly to the whole band's [current] sound. His keen ear for arrangements and vocal harmonies [bring] a precision to song delivery, both on collaboration with Dan in penning new material and breathing new life into many old favourites".

In closing, Steve's a lovely guy and his musicianship is a welcome addition to the PG brotherhood. We are, therefore, pleased to announce the return of, and a warm welcome back for Steve Ring to the Pacific Groove fold." Robbie W.

Lots of new Pacific Groove and Dan Russell releases are on the horizon. Following the August release of the single Second Summer Of Love, a follow up single of old favourite, Yosemite Jim, re-recorded with the Groove, is expected to be released in October. Also the long awaited second Pacific Groove album, Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There has commenced recording and is hoped to be released early in 2008.

Also a cassette-only album, Freeing In The Rock World, released by Dan in 2006, is to be trimmed down from it's 19 track format to a snappier 12 tracks and will be released on CD under the new title, Flowers In A Warm Wind, possibly by November.

Also, available on request is a brand new DVD release entitled, 'Pacific Groove... Live At The Wheatsheaf'. This contains 6 tracks, and is priced at £4, plus £1 P&P, and is available from this site, as is the current single, Second Summer Of Love, which is priced at £1.50 + P&P.

Pacific Groove - Approaching The Fluffy Outskirts Of Almost There - Tracklisting
TRACK TITLE / Lead Vocalist

CALIFORNIA DREAM Dan
KID FROM L.A. Dan
DISTANT SHORE Rob
LOVE TAKES TIME Dan
GUARDIAN ANGELS Dan
INDIAN SUMMER Rob
MARBELLA SUNSET (Jones) Instrumental
YOSEMITE JIM Dan
WIND OF CHANGE Eric
ONE & ONE IS LOVE Rob
YOUR FURRY CUP Dan (Russell/Rundgren)
IT DOESN'T MATTER Eric
CAUTIONARY GIRL Dan (Russell/Ring)
SECOND SUMMER OF LOVE Dan

(All songs by Dan Russell, except where shown in brackets)

Dan Russell - Flowers In A Warm Wind - Tracklisting

DAM IN MY SOUL
FREEING IN THE ROCK WORLD
FRIENDS
FUNK ALL NITE
PLANET JANET
HARDEST PART OF THE PLAN
COATHANGER MAN
HOPELESS ROMANTIC
MILLENIUM MAN
GENTLE MAN
OCEAN OF LOVE
FLOWERS IN A WARM WIND

(All Songs by Dan Russell)

"Phew. August is a busy time. The revolving door of Pacific Groove just keeps turning. Firstly, and with a real sense of loss and shock and tragedy for us all, is the departure of John Baxter from the band. John's decision to leave was a real heart-render for him and something he had been wrestling with for some time. He felt uncomfortable with the rockier, grittier sound of the band prefers something more acoustic.

I believe John underestimates himself and his contribution immensely and just lost a bit of confidence. His embellishments and subtle guitar work, deft knack for writing simple but POWERFUL and PROFOUND songs, effective arrangements, and ENTHUSIASM added real depth to the collective sound of the band. A real character and jolly nice guy to boot!!! We miss him dreadfully and his absence leaves a bigger hole in the sound than he could ever imagine. John, if you're reading this we're keeping your seat warm for you mate, the door's open for your return.

Secondly, Edd Bateman has relocated to Tavistock. His short stint with PG allowed us to play a return gig at The Wheatsheaf on August 5th, and we thank him for giving us his time. We wish him well on his journey as a Session musician.

Thirdly, a chance meeting and subsequent conversation with an old friend in a local supermarket a couple of weeks back went something like this...

R: "Hi John, how's it going?"
J: "Hi Rob, how are you?"
[A couple of minutes on the usual stuff about families, kids, work etc. Then]
R: "Are you still playing Bass?"
J: "Yes, when I can"
R: [half jokingly] "Haa We're looking for a Bass player"
J: "What kind of music do you do?"
R: "American West Coast"
J: "What's that?"
R: "Think Eagles, Doobies, Steely Dan, etc"
J: "Sounds right up my street... what's the Band called?"
R: "Pacific Groove"

After expressing his interest John asked about any forthcoming gigs. I explained we were playing The Jolly Sailor 25th August. He came along after looking us up on the web and really enjoyed our set. All this has now culminated in the arrival of and warm welcome for John Dixey. I have known John since Infants and Junior School, a kind man with a warm, giving and relaxed nature. He's been working with a practice CD and is aiming to attend his first rehearsal on 10th September." Robbie W.

A brand new single has been released by Pacific Groove this week called The Second Summer Of Love. Dan says: "It is a celebration of 40 years on from the original Summer Of Love, and until last week we were all singing it to the sky like a mantra to bring the sun out! The continual chanting of 'We are still waiting for the Summer' has seemed to work as we bathe in the August sunshine."

The single is retailing at £1.50, plus £1.00 p & p, and can be ordered through this website. The song is the first record release by the Class of 2007 Pacific Groove. It has a calypso feel in the verses, and a full on anthemic rock, harmony drenched chorus, with a "ba ba" outro reminiscent of the Turtles "Happy Together" and the Association. It's great! Buy it, make it a Number One, and keep the Summer Alive!

Other news... Edd Bateman, a fantastic 22 year old bass player, has joined the Groove on a part time basis at the moment. Originally from Plymouth, Edd is a session player making his way in the big city! He played his first gig with the band at the Wheatsheaf on August 5th.

After a slow start, Pacific Groove warmed up and played a generally well received gig at The Wheatsheaf on the 17th June. The gig was originally intended to be held in a marquee but with the weather proving unreliable we were relocated to the courtyard at the back of the pub. Hurredly rigging a Heath Robinson tarpaulin, the band set up and proceeded to perform two 45 - 50 min sets.

The gig was captured on video by Pete Isaccs, a long standing friend of Keyboard wiz Martin Jones, and Miss Amy Jones, Martin's daughter. Martin also audio recorded the performance and a 5 track DVD is now in the pipeline. Oh yes... it was also Martin's Birthday.

A band rehearsal at Langridge Hall, Landsdown on 7th July was adventurous and loud... and fun, with all the band sparking off of each other as some of the songs, in particular, Wind Of Change, evolved into an improvised jam. Eric was on fire, delivering powerhouse drumming, Simon, inspired by Eric, took his drumming to a whole new level. John and Dan out front providing the steady accoustic guitar groundwork and fine vocal delivery, Martin as ever, reliable on Keys and Robbie was on another planet with Zappa-esque improvisation. Martin's keys on Cautionary Girl - a real rocker, penned by Dan and former member Steve Ring, sounded superb.

Other news... we say farewell to Andy Burak. Andy is a nice guy and a technically competent and methodical bass player, but he feels the musical direction Pacific Groove is going is not for him. We wish Andy well for the future and we hope he finds what he's looking for. Now, is there a Rick Anderson, Tiran Porter, Willie Weeks, Scott Thunes, Kenny Passeralli or Stanley Clarke out there...?

After the departure of Tony Veste a year ago (he was sacked), the role of bassist has been the missing piece of the jigsaw. Finally, after a long search it gives us great pleasure to announce and welcome Andy Burak to the fold, filling this long vacant position.

Andy, a Lithuanian Welshman, is our John Deacon to use a Queen comprison. Quiet, shy (at the moment) and softly spoken he is methodical, meticulous, professional and delivers rock solid foundational Bass playing - just what we've been looking for.

Dan found him by chance, spotting Andy's advert in a music shop whist buying a set of strings. Andy auditioned and we all felt he was the right man. He came on the road after just two rehearsals. We are glad to welcome him on board.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the decision of our dear friend Steve Ring to leave the good ship Pacific Groove. Steve is a very talented singer, songwriter and guitarist who contributed greatly to the whole band's recent sound. His keen ear for arrangements and vocal harmonies brought a precision to song delivery, both on collaboration with Dan in penning new material and breathing new life into many old favourites.

His committment to the band was without question and he was always keen to see the material in the set lists polished and honed before going live. Differences in opinions, approaches and internal politics have, however, culminated in his decision to go. It has not been an easy time as, from a personal perspective, both Steve and Dan are friends of mine and, when all's said and done, both guys do think the world of each other."

"On a positive note, Steve found with the band the courage to come out of his shell and play live. On the two occasions Steve performed with Pacific Groove at the Plantation Lakes near Clevedon, he delivered stunning performances of both Groove material and self-penned contributions. This courage to play live will be, in his own words, something he will forever be indebted to Dan and the band for. He will be missed and we'll have a tough time replacing him. We wish him well and every success in his future projects." Robbie W.

This Thursday, 15th February, Pacific Groove are playing live on BBC Radio Bristol's Trevor Fry Show between 7pm and 9pm. Trevor, a long time fan of Dan's music, has played many tracks from Dan's previous albums on his show, but this will be the first time the two have met. The band are going to air their upcoming double sided new single CALIFORNIA DREAM/DISTANT SHORE on the show, and are expecting to be interviewed by Trevor too!

If you want to see the band in the flesh, they are performing outside the Food Hall at the Mall Shopping Centre in Cribb's Causeway, Bristol. It is part of Radio Bristol's Outside Broadcast Day at the shopping precinct. So put down your shopping and lend an ear!

Within the last month Simon Sweet and Eric Mainstone have joined Pacific Groove. Both are drummer/percussionists. Explains Dan: "Simon's wife, Judie has been caring for my Mum in the care home she lives in, and after hearing my music she told me that her husband played drums and percussion. After a couple of initial get togethers with me he has now come on board. Simon is as sweet a guy as his name suggests and also a very talented computer programmer and designer and he is working with me on the forthcoming album design and accompanying lyric book. Simon is currently playing bongos with the band, but is soon to be getting an electronic kit.

Eric is an old friend of Rob's who came along to help us Groovers move the Waterson household. He is a real character, lives near Salisbury, and builds wooden houses in woods! A very experienced dummer and percussionist, who has also started chipping those extra high harmonies on songs like CALIFORNIA DREAM and DISTANT SHORE. He can sing higher than me, pitching in the 7ths! Five part harmony heaven! Having the 2 percussionists playing together has given a real energy to the sound, Eric playing mini djembe to Simon's bongos at the present time. The last rehearsal was mindblowing! Martin has also introduced some beautiful string and Fender Rhodes sounds to the mix - his strings on CALIFORNIA DREAM are nothing short of panoramic!"