Occupation 11 – Sitting Comfortably?

One of the first ideas of the Occupation shows that was by having to do a show each and every month the pressure would lead me to do new and interesting things.

Two of the highlights for me so far have been the improvised spoken word pieces on Occupation 3 and 7. The first time accompanied by free improv artists Gail Brand and Mark Sanders and the second time with my own band, The Long Parliament.

I decided to stretch this idea into an experimental of story telling. I will write pieces for the night and ask musicians to provide improvised backing. I will perform the three or four spoken word pieces that have appeared on my records previously.

I will also perform the more story based/narrative songs from my back catalogue. So it isn’t totally an evening of prose.

The special guest is special, honest.

Tickets Here. http://www.wegottickets.com/event/268532

9th May 2014
The Vortex
11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ
www.vortexjazz.co.uk
Doors 8pm
£12 Adv

www.hefnet.com

@DarrenHayman
@VortexJazz
@ThePopside

Darren Hayman’s Occupation is a series of monthly shows at The Vortex, Dalston. There will be a mix of sets showcasing different albums, themes and special guests. This is not your standard indie gig:

“I love gigs. I hate gigs.

I want to play live and I love what shows can be, but I’ve found myself frequently stifled by the limitations of my career. I can’t play the plush, seated venues and I can’t experiment with a string section or play 20 minute opuses.

My music was born in the sticky floored rock venue. I like the sticky floored rock venue but I have had a hankering for something different recently. My own taste has veered towards free improv and jazz and although it’s hard to imagine that music influencing my own I do love the culture of live music in this genre.

Long sets, sometimes two, comfortable venues and a reverence and respect for the event and the moment; less talking, less cameras, more dynamics, less microphones.

I wondered if these would let an indie rock interloper amongst their ranks. My show at the Vortex back in last November was successful enough to make me think of playing a monthly residency there.

The idea is that each show is themed. I don’t want to go the whole predictable route of playing complete albums, but rather group, types of songs together for different evenings. Experiment, sometimes play two sets, sometimes have unlikely guests. I will be playing with members of my bands from through out my career as well as old friends like the Wave Pictures and Allo Darlin.

The Vortex is a beautiful venue. I’m trying to do something different; something, smaller, prettier. I hope you can come.”

Occupation 10 – Singles Night

My career as a singles artist has run on a completely different parallel to my album career. In recent years I have preferred to release seven inch singles with songs that don’t feature on the albums.

Consequently if you were to look at my run of singles you would get the impression of a completely different artist. Certainly songs like Calling Our Your Name, Old Man, have never been performed live.

I plan to do the songs standing up. I will have a tight three piece. We will rock.

Support comes from Chris T-T. I’m pleased to have him playing with us. A ferocious, intelligent, political talent. He should be headlining really.

Tickets Here. http://www.wegottickets.com/event/263359

18th April 2014
The Vortex
11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ
www.vortexjazz.co.uk
Doors 8pm
£12 Adv

www.hefnet.com

@DarrenHayman
@VortexJazz
@ThePopside

Darren Hayman’s Occupation is a series of monthly shows at The Vortex, Dalston. There will be a mix of sets showcasing different albums, themes and special guests. This is not your standard indie gig:

“I love gigs. I hate gigs.

I want to play live and I love what shows can be, but I’ve found myself frequently stifled by the limitations of my career. I can’t play the plush, seated venues and I can’t experiment with a string section or play 20 minute opuses.

My music was born in the sticky floored rock venue. I like the sticky floored rock venue but I have had a hankering for something different recently. My own taste has veered towards free improv and jazz and although it’s hard to imagine that music influencing my own I do love the culture of live music in this genre.

Long sets, sometimes two, comfortable venues and a reverence and respect for the event and the moment; less talking, less cameras, more dynamics, less microphones.

I wondered if these would let an indie rock interloper amongst their ranks. My show at the Vortex back in last November was successful enough to make me think of playing a monthly residency there.

The idea is that each show is themed. I don’t want to go the whole predictable route of playing complete albums, but rather group, types of songs together for different evenings. Experiment, sometimes play two sets, sometimes have unlikely guests. I will be playing with members of my bands from through out my career as well as old friends like the Wave Pictures and Allo Darlin.

The Vortex is a beautiful venue. I’m trying to do something different; something, smaller, prettier. I hope you can come.”

Boy, Look at What You Can’t Have Now / Outside Looking In – 7 Inch Single

A limited edition seven inch single on Deep red vinyl with download code.

Darren and Emma used to be in the worst two named bands in the history of UK indie.

Darren met Emma in Sheffield and told her he was suspicious of a band who all wore hats. Then her band all put hats on and went on stage.

They started a friendship based on short scale basses.

Darren started writing a song and thought the melody in the chorus sounded like something Emma might write and sing. To avoid legal action he asked her to sing on it.

During the recording session they aspired to make the record sound as much like Bryan Adams and Sporty Spice as possible. If it doesn’t sound like that, then they’ve failed. That was their only objective.

Emma told Darren it was the best guitar playing she had ever heard in her entire life. Ever. Bar none.

There’s a video too, where they both play cat’s cradle beside canals. The video is less like Bryan and Sporty.

There are rumours that Darren and Emma are now making an album of duets.

Full artwork featured on both sides…

BUY THE SEVEN INCH HERE…


Or buy the downloads from Bandcamp

Buy the downloads for just a couple of quid here…

Valentine’s Day Cards

I wrote out 120(ish) Valentine’s cards for members of my audience the two Valentine’s show’s tonight and tomorrow.

I tried to photograph every card, greeting and envelope but I probably forgot some.

Tomorrow is sold out but ticket’s remain for tonight. I am doing a love song from every album in order!

See all the cards here Valentine’s Day Cards

Occupation 9 – Rockets

In Hefner I wrote a song about Alan Bean, the fourth man on the moon.

In 2011 I held an exhibition of paintings about animals and people in space with Robert Rotifer, Sarah Lippet Paul Rains and Duncan Barrett.

We also made a CD on which I sung two songs about the Russian Space Dogs.

Around 2005 I tried to write and record 12 songs about each of the astronauts who walked on the moon. I wrote seven of them.

My own label ‘Belka’ is named after one of the first two dogs to go into earth orbit and return alive.

Several other song of mine like The Protons and the Neutrons use the imagery of the cosmos.

I want to bring all of these themes and songs together in one show on the 14th march at the Vortex.

Usually live I use stringed, folky instruments but I am also known for using electronica. For this show I’m going to bring some of my synthesizers and old analogue drum machines. It will be a treat.

Support comes from the famous comedian Robin Ince. Who knows about Space.

Friday 14th March – http://www.wegottickets.com/event/257492
With Robin Ince

The Vortex
11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ
www.vortexjazz.co.uk
Doors 8pm
£12 Adv

www.hefnet.com

@DarrenHayman
@VortexJazz
@ThePopside

Darren Hayman’s Occupation is a series of monthly shows at The Vortex, Dalston. There will be a mix of sets showcasing different albums, themes and special guests. This is not your standard indie gig:

“I love gigs. I hate gigs.

I want to play live and I love what shows can be, but I’ve found myself frequently stifled by the limitations of my career. I can’t play the plush, seated venues and I can’t experiment with a string section or play 20 minute opuses.

My music was born in the sticky floored rock venue. I like the sticky floored rock venue but I have had a hankering for something different recently. My own taste has veered towards free improv and jazz and although it’s hard to imagine that music influencing my own I do love the culture of live music in this genre.

Long sets, sometimes two, comfortable venues and a reverence and respect for the event and the moment; less talking, less cameras, more dynamics, less microphones.

I wondered if these would let an indie rock interloper amongst their ranks. My show at the Vortex back in last November was successful enough to make me think of playing a monthly residency there.

The idea is that each show is themed. I don’t want to go the whole predictable route of playing complete albums, but rather group, types of songs together for different evenings. Experiment, sometimes play two sets, sometimes have unlikely guests. I will be playing with members of my bands from through out my career as well as old friends like the Wave Pictures and Allo Darlin.

The Vortex is a beautiful venue. I’m trying to do something different; something, smaller, prettier. I hope you can come.”