Independent artist plays Exeter

David Ford, Exeter Phoenix, Sunday 25th October, 8pm

Between 2001 and 2004 David Ford’s first band, Easyworld, had steady chart success both in the UK and Japan before a heated argument on the tour bus about the genius of Tom Waits led to David deciding he couldn’t possibly work with anyone who didn’t ‘get’ Tom!

Without a band or a record deal, David bedded down in his Eastbourne flat for the Winter of 2004/5 and set about recording his debut solo album, ‘I Sincerely Apologise For All the Trouble I’ve Caused’. In the autumn of 2005 it was independently released on ‘The Magnolia Label’ and to accompany the release David filmed a one shot video of the album’s key track ‘State of the Union’.

The wonders of the internet meant that in a series of very creative coincidences this video was seen by Donnie Lenner, who was then the President of SonyBMG in New York.

Within a week of Mr Lenner seeing the video David found himself playing to a rarefied mix of powerful music business people in the East Village and being invited to dinner with Bruce Springsteen; an invitation David had to refuse as he had a plane to catch! That plane took David to Texas where he was the buzz act of Austin’s 2006 SxSW music festival.

Now it’s three years later and David Ford finds himself exactly where he feels most comfortable; operating once again as an independent artist, untroubled by chart expectations and commercial pressures and yet lauded and supported by his committed and significant global fan base.

His second album, ‘Songs for the Road’, was selected ‘album of the year’ by The Sunday Times, Word Magazine and World Café (USA) in 2007 and his third collection of songs is scheduled for release in October 2009.

David is touring the UK in October and November 2009 to promote the new album and will be heading back to the States in March 2010.

As Word Magazine recently wrote; “David Ford is the eternal thrill of a young man going way too far and yet pulling it off!”

Tickets cost £6 and are available from Exeter Phoenix.