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COVID Live Stream Series: Live from Castle Blackamore

May 8, 2020

It’s been a year since I launched the campaign for my new record, Acres. Between a hospital stay, some major life changes, and now COVID, things have taken a bit longer than we had thought.

To be able to catch up, amazing poet Robin Dionne and I decided to host a live stream series from our home that we call, Castle Blackamore. The episodes are hosted live on Facebook and will be uploaded to this page as they happen.

 

 

Episode 1

 

Tune in to catch-up, watch me play a few songs, Robin and I read poems, get a sneak peak at my new music video, catch a glimpse of some album artwork, and hear a couple of songs and poems from some of my favorite people, including:

Haunt the House
John Faraone
Brian McKenzie
Stev DelMonico of The Quahogs
Michael Graham Adamowicz
Evan Gavry
Poet Jeff Danielian
Producer Bruce Pierce from American Bull Studios
Photographer Carly Rae Photo

 

 

Episode 2

 

In the second live stream from Castle Blackamore, Robin and I share songs, poetry, and stories with a few very special guests:

Stev DelMonico from The Quahogs
Evan Gavry / Captain Bunny Dangerfingers
Mary Bee
Gray Bouchard
Writer Fallon Masterson

 

 

Episode 3

 

For the third live stream, not only will be sharing songs and poetry with some special guests, but artist Carolyn Marsden, who is designing the artwork for my record will bring us through her new photography project. Other guests include:

MorganEve Swain from The Huntress and Holder of Hands and Brown Bird
Allysen Callery
Matt Gillooly
Gray Bouchard
Aunt Tina the Pug

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@iambernardjohn
I was pooped on and we’re still going to say tha I was pooped on and we’re still going to say that this went much better than expected.
The countdown is on! The pre-order for the Direct The countdown is on! The pre-order for the Direct to Vinyl Shut-In Recordings ends TOMORROW! Thanks to all who have ordered it so far. If you haven't gotten your order in yet or have no idea what I'm talking about, here's how it works: • You visit the link in bio • You select a song that you’d like me to record from my upcoming album, 'Acres'. • I record a stripped down acoustic version of that song from my own home with a personal message to you • They cut it directly onto a 7″ vinyl for you and mail it to your door That's it. You get the one and only take of the song you choose on vinyl. 1 of 1. Thanks for the support! Can’t wait to record these!
I’ve been sitting on these songs for ‘Acres’ I’ve been sitting on these songs for ‘Acres’ for quite some time now, and I’ve been chomping at the bit to finish the album and share them. @brucethebluegoose and I have been waiting for COVID to lift so that we can put the finishing touches on it. His amazing wife, @erinpierce70 assists in life saving surgeries at one of Massachusetts’ busiest hospitals, so for the safety of everyone, Bruce had made the tough but right decision to shut down @americanbullstudio during the pandemic. Yes, that means delaying the release of the record, but it’s the right move. There are a handful of extra pieces to record, some mixing to do, our mastering engineer is waiting in the wings, and the artwork is all being finalized, so at least we’re using this time to get all of our ducks in a row so we can release when we’re finally able to return to the studio and finish up. With all of that said, I’ve been itching to share these songs somehow. Enter @leestavall in Brooklyn. I’ve teamed up with them for what they’re calling Direct-to-Vinyl Shut-In Sessions. Here’s how it works: • You visit the LINK IN BIO. • You select a song that you’d like me to record for you by August, 4th. • I record a stripped down acoustic version of that song from my own home with a personal message to you • They cut it directly onto a 7″ vinyl for you and mail it to your door Here’s the cool part – THESE RECORDINGS ARE NOT REPRODUCED. No one gets the recording that you have. They do not live on in some other form. You pick a song, I record it for you and only you, they produce one and only one vinyl of it, then it’s gone forever. If multiple folks request the same song, I play and record it as many times as it takes. Now, I know these are all songs that you’re not familiar with as I haven’t released them yet, so I’ve put the lyrics from each song on my website at bernardjohnmusic.com/music. This way you can have some context before you make your big decision! If you place an order as a gift, please be sure to add a note at checkout or DM me! As always, thanks for all of your support, and thanks to @leestavall for giving me a way to share these songs with you! Love, BJ • 📸: @yes.dear
This phone call will forever be etched in the gran This phone call will forever be etched in the granite pillars of my mind. We had just returned from cruising a mistake rental car through a cold New Year’s Chicago. Separating when we landed back home was hard. We spent the entire day at our respective houses sorting laundry, Christmas gifts, and the lifetimes we had lived to find each other on a high wire of chance. We talked that entire day. We painted pictures of all the places we had been, and more importantly all of the places we wanted to see together. You told me again about the profound impact Hemingway had on your life and how you’ve dreamed to see his home in Cuba. You told me the story of the painting that hung there and it’s long, scandalous journey to land @nationalgallery and how you wept seeing it for the first time. In that moment, and the countless moments leading up to it, I knew there would be no other future but you and I. So, in classic “I don’t do things halfway” fashion, I got to work on your wedding gift. It took months, but a stunning and perfect reproduction of Joan Miro’s ‘The Farm’ hanging in our own home (just above the humidor and bar as Hem would have wanted) was the only gift that would do. I love you, you beautiful, hysterical and brilliant weirdo. @yes.dear. • PS - The artist chooses to remain anonymous, but we could not be more in awe of the precision and detail. We will forever be thankful for them.
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COVID Live Stream Series: Live from Castle Blackamore | Bernard John

DIRECT TO VINYL SHUT-IN SESSIONS

As ‘Acres’ has been delayed due to COVID, I’ve teamed up with Leesta Vall Records in Brooklyn, NY to offer Direct-to-Vinyl one-off records of the songs on the album! Each song is recorded only for you and is put on a single 7″ vinyl delivered to your door. To learn more and to pick a song, click the button below!

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