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2008

The year begins quietly with Amity and Mark stateside for January and Pete and Rowan (occasional Bride accordian guest star) becoming parents in February. However, a semi-acoustic show in Whitechapel (minus Pete on paternity leave) in mid-February, with Southern Tenant Folk Union, provides an ideal way to get back into the saddle for the new year.

The full line-up are back together by the beginning of March, for a whirlwind trip out west, incorporating two memorable shows at The Wild Hare Club in Hereford and headlining the Hot Burrito club's first birthday bash at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

With the semi-acoustic mini-album 'Greetings From Abney Park, N16' mixed, mastered and on sale exclusively from Good Friday at shows and Hackney Gazelle events, Morning Bride launch the new recording at Walthamstow Folk Club, north-east London, mid-March. Their first fully-electric show in London so far this year, and another over-attended success in a hidden enclave of musical activity. Despite being an unofficial release, rave reviews of the mini-album begin to surface, including Plan B magazine.

Spring
Much of April is spent rehearsing and fine-tuning new material for upcoming shows, the first of which - another Hackney Gazelle 'international exchange' special - sees the band return to The Lion in Stoke Newington, north London for an early May show with Sean Riley & the Slow Riders, Portugese purveyors of dark blues / americana. Filled beyond capacity, the band unveil several new songs and kick-start a busy late spring / summer schedule. The show receives a rave review in The Independent, labelling the performance 'astonishing'.

May continues with two recording sessions in Ealing, west London, with Morning Bride working through the night of the 15th, followed by the band's first open-air show of the year at The Butterfield Green Fair on Sunday 18th; the second recording session is completed on the 25th.

Summer
June sees Morning Bride playing five shows, at home and abroad. A headline slot at Barden's Boudoir on the 5th is followed by the band's appearance at this year's Stokefest on the 8th, playing to a home crowd in warm sunshine. Back to Barden's in Dalston on the 19th, for a 'Tripping In The Country' clubnight performance, before flying to Denmark at the end of the month for two shows with Homesick Hank, Danish americana legends; the first in Copenhagen, the second at the Kildemose Festival on the beautiful island Fyn.

The band play their fourth outdoor festival in July, this time heading west for the 2000 Trees Festival in Gloucestershire, playing to an overflowing Leaf Lounge and taking the stage by storm. A busy summer continues with two consecutive and equally memorable shows, back in their home neighbourhood, in mid-August. The N16 Fringe Festival sees Morning Bride playing a fully-electric show in the beautiful 12th century St. Mary's Old Church on the 15th, followed by a semi-acoustic performance in the cathedral-like St. Mary's New Church on the 16th, in support of folk legend Martin Carthy.

Autumn
A long overdue return from the band's Irish comrades Noland Folk in mid September involves three consecutive shows together in north and east London, on 19th, 20th & 21st. The first is a fully-electric, triumphant return to Walthamstow Folk Club; the second, a Hackney Gazelle Special at Maggie's Bar, Stoke Newington (with a stripped-down Bride consisting Amity, Mark & Jim); and an acoustic show (with Mark & Amity) at the Pangea Project, Stamford Hill.

September continues with another welcome return to a legendary night, The Wild Hare Club in Hereford. The band headline in the ballroom of The Green Dragon Hotel, with support from Mary Epworth & the Jubilee Band; another memorable evening in the English countryside. A Sunday daytime show in Camden Town's Proud Gallery for the Best Laid Plans team follows on the 5th October.

Winter
The touring schedule continues into the winter with a variety of shows across the country. A trip up north for two very different shows in early November sees the band playing The Rose & Crown, a fisherman's pub in Mark's home village of Flamborough on the Yorkshire coast - local press coverage ensures the tiny, cosy venue is over-subscribed and the Bride's performance lasts several hours into the following morning.

The following day sees the band travel further north to the Scottish border and Chillingham Castle, for an invitation-only performance on this infamous, medievel estate.

Back in south-east England, and the band welcome Gringo Star (Atlanta, Ga.) to London as part of their UK tour a fortnight later; a show at The Swan in Clapton is again bursting and memorable. The following evening and both bands play together again at The Bassment in Chelmsford, as GS's tour closes in style.

Two more low-key shows before the end of the year follow, with a special fundraiser for Luc'zade in Stoke Newington in early December, and the band's solstice party at the Carpenter's Arms in Whitechapel on the 19th.