06 Jan 2012

2011 has been an exciting year at John Wright Music - a year of discovery, planning and finally a brand new album!  A big thank you to all who have purchased Empty Chairs and thanks too for your lovely messages and positive comments.

If you haven’t yet purchased a copy of the CD, you’re missing a treat. This is an album which is full of surprises and demonstrated how John could so easily move from the traditional to the contemporary. It really is a MUST for your JW collection.

And now the question for 2012 is – is there anything left?  Well, yes there IS but you’ll have to keep checking the website to find out!! There are still recordings we know you will love to see and hear, so please keep popping onto the website for news.

Plans for 2012 also included an up-dated website and we hope to finally join the 21^st century with downloadable tracks and albums.

22 Nov 2011

Thanks to every one for showing your enthusiasm about the new CD ‘Empty Chairs’.
 It is wonderful to see that John’s music is still touching so many people and even gaining new fans.

However, due to the demand for the CD a few orders have ‘slipped through the net’ and some people have not received their albums. We apologise for any delays and would ask that you get in touch if there is a problem with your order and we will rectify this as soon as possible. Please make sure that your emails are sent to: sales@johnwrightmusic.co.uk.

Thank you very much and we hope you have all enjoyed the new CD!

Grace Duxbury
John Wright Music

02 Nov 2011

The brand new John Wright CD "Empty Chairs"....

.........has now been released! 
Dedicated to the memory of John and to friendship, the album has already received a speedy and heart-warming response from fans, new and old alike.

‘Thank you for this fantastic album.’
‘It’s fabulous to hear these new tracks. Well done.’

. . . . . . just a sample of the comments we have received from recipients of pre-ordered CDs.

Empty Chairs features some beautiful tracks which could have been ‘lost’ or remained undiscovered forever. Songs like the poignant title track by Don Mclean which was recorded in somebody’s lounge! Or the soulful opening track When This Old Hat Was New recorded at Fellside Studios in the early 90s. Even John had forgotten about this one!

We’re sure everyone will find something to suit on this album which encompasses John’s amazing musical ability to move from the traditional to the contemporary with consummate ease.
And don’t forget, whether you order one album or 10 (!) the postage and packing still remains at £2, even if you include music gifts from the on-line gift shop. Christmas is coming!

02 Oct 2011

The brand new John Wright CD "Empty Chairs"....
.........now has a release date fixed at 1^st November. 
You can still pre-order it in the eShop, but I'm afraid you are now too late for the "free postage" special deal. Congratulations to all of you who were quick enough to take advantage of this offer!

17 Sept 2011

The brand new John Wright CD "Empty Chairs"....
.........has been delayed. We are as disappointed as you, but we are in the hands of the manufacturers in these matters.
We have therefore extended the 'free postage + priority delivery' of the cd until the end of the month. Apologies for the disappointment.

11 August 2011

Dutch Folk Choir, 'Rolling Home'.............
.......................... are to make a return visit to the UK next month and will perform a moving tribute to John as they work with film from their 2007 sell-out musical show on stage.
38 members of 'Rolling Home' from Sneek in Friesland will make this nostalgic trip, to present a unique programme to audiences in Barnard Castle, Coldingham and Liverpool. They will appear from Friday September 16th to Sunday September 18th respectively.

The Choir will be supported by local band 'Lacewing' at Barnard Castle and by old friends 'Real Time' at Coldingham.

The Liverpool gig forms part of the Hope Street Feast and the trip will be entirely self-funded.

A fantastic prize of a mini-cruise for two people from Newcastle to Amsterdam courtesy of DFDS will also be up for grabs in a bumper raffle at each event. Please visit  www.dfdsseaways.co.uk  for more details of these unforgettable weekend treats.            

Tickets for the Barnard Castle concert can be purchased from the website Shop,  by post or in person from Galgate Newsagents, Galgate, Barnard Castle. For postal orders, please telephone Barbara on 01833 637330 or 07712 043568. Advance tickets will cost £8 each. Tickets bought 'on the door' will cost £10. 

So, hurry along. Seating is limited and the last visit by Rolling Home was 'standing room only'!!

25 July 2011

A brand new John Wright CD.........
.............. is to be released in September featuring recently discovered tracks that could have been lost forever!

The poignantly titled 'Empty Chairs' album represents months of painstaking detective work, a little luck and some expert engineering by our team of JW devotees and will be available to order on-line from Monday September 26.

The 9-track album gives a nostalgic glimpse  of John's early work, taking us back in time to the history of the Scottish Borders to the love songs of today, demonstrating John's mastery of a cappella singing to his command of a choir and the ease in which he switched from traditional to contemporary genres.

Tangle with the idea of songs which sprang to life from the lyrics of such bards as 'the Etterick Shepherd' James Hogg to the brilliance of 'American Pie' icon Don McLean, and you get some idea of the breadth of the material on this new CD.  The full listing can be viewed on the Discography page.

The album will be priced at the usual cost of £13 + £2 post and packing, however, you can beat the rush, save some money AND receive an advance copy by placing your order NOW!

We are offering free postage and early delivery on orders made by Thursday September 15. No postage will be charged on orders received by that date and all UK deliveries will have a guaranteed delivery date of Saturday September 17. EU and rest of the world deliveries cannot be guaranteed but will be sent out on the same day as UK orders.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to be among the first to receive your copy of 'Empty Chairs'  by John Wright.

19 July 2011

Breaking News .......... 

Dutch Choir 'Rolling Home' are to make a much-anticipated return visit to the UK in September and will appear for two nights only in Barnard Castle and the Scottish Borders.

The Choir will be working with film of John on stage, taken from the 'Going Celtic' musical, and will include an extensive repertoire sung mainly in the English language. They are a great bunch of lads and are making the trip in memory of their good friend and colleague - John Wright.

Tickets will be on sale very soon in the on-line Shop and at various outlets in Co. Durham and the Borders. Alternatively, they will also be available by post. The dates to remember are Friday September 16th, Barnard Castle, and Saturday September 17th, Scottish Borders. Please support this event as the lads will be funding the trip entirely from ticket sales and their own pockets!!

Watch out for more details HERE!

22 June 2011

Today would have been John's 64th birthday.

This seems to be a fitting date to launch the extra section to the on-line shop mentioned last time - the unusual music gifts, which were so popular in the Barnard Castle shop. You can now browse our virtual shelves for gifts to delight the discerning music lover in your life, such as clocks, jewellery, key rings, greeting cards, stationery, mugs, mouse mats even socks. Take a look here .

To celebrate its launch, everyone who purchases an item before the end of July will be entered into a prize draw. The winner will receive a framed photo portrait of John valued at £80.00!

24 April 2011

Due to countless requests from fans, John Wright Music and Fries folk choir Rolling Home are proud to present Going Celtic with John Wright, John's first role in a musical show which won accolades throughout northern Holland.

Due to the runaway success of the Choir's first musical, John played to packed theatres every night, gaining thousands of new fans along the way. Indeed, just before his death, John's popularity in Holland was at its height, leaving his new fans and Rolling Home family stunned when he so tragically left us.

However, John's rich musical legacy lives on and, if you missed the musical, then here's your chance to enjoy the show first-hand in your own home.

Although the narrative of the show is in the Fries language, the plot is very easy to follow and the majority of the songs are in English. Simply order in the usual way from the on-line shop for just £15.

John Wright Music is also delighted to announce that the unusual music gifts, which were so popular in the Barnard Castle shop, will soon be available on-line. You will soon be able to browse our virtual shelves for gifts to delight the discerning music lover in your life, such as clocks, jewellery, key rings, greeting cards, stationery, mugs, mouse mats even socks. Keep checking back here for the on-line launch!

23 Feb 2011

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all those friends who sent messages on the anniversary of John's death (February 7th). They are valued and very much appreciated. (The Book of Remembrance will remain open for a while longer). 

Of course, we still have John's amazing legacy of music which continues to be in demand in the UK, mainland Europe and America. This means, however, that stocks of certain items are running very low.

The albums 'Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes', 'SongDance' and 'That's the way Love Is' are now virtually sold out. Just a few copies now remain and are only available by post. Meanwhile, we're offering you the chance to stock up on 3 of John's most popular CDs by offering them at a reduced price for a limited period only.

'Dangerous Times', 'The Gypsy Life' and 'Requests 1' are now available for £10 each plus p+p.

Meanwhile,watch out soon for details of special performances of the Rolling Home Folk Choir from Sneek, Holland, who are coming back to the UK by popular demand.They will be appearing at venues in the North East and North West later in the year and will be working with film of John on stage. A treat not to be missed. More news will be announced when details have been confirmed and tickets will be available via the on-line shop.

03 Feb 2011

...........Almost 3 years since John left us..........

We hope you enjoyed the "Chisel Hill" page on your way here. (If you came directly here from a bookmark you can go back a step by clicking here). 

For the next few days the original Book of Remembrance will be reopened for those wishing to browse or add a new comment. Click here

09 Jan 2011

Happy New Year to everyone. We hope you have had a happy and peaceful Christmas and a great start to 2011!

Just a reminder about our special offer of a free Fries Om Utens disc with every order made before January 31st. The period has been extended due to adverse weather conditions both in the UK and Europe. Don't miss out!

Please note that the Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes album has now sold out! It will be some time before it is available again, so please be patient. The Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes Tribute Concert DVD is, however, STILL available. Featuring some stunning and moving footage of John himself, the DVD features many of the singer-songwriters whose songs are so familiar to any John Wright fan.

There are a plans in the pipeline at the moment for more John Wright gems, so please keep checking the website for further details.

Have a fantastic year!!

03 Dec 2010

Christmas is coming and everybody is looking for that little gift for someone special. Well, look no further because we’ve got a few ideas for you AND a free gift into the bargain!! 

A gift of a John Wright CD or DVD should make any music lover happy at this time of year and we’re so confident that your present will be a hit that we will also include a free copy of Fries Om Utens with every order made by December 31st 2010. Fries Om Utens is the 3-track CD that John made as a tribute to the people of Friesland, Holland and the title track is sung almost entirely in the Fries language. But whilst the words may be unfamiliar, the tune most certainly will not, for this is the Fries version of Dougie MacLean’s classic Caledonia. 

Also featured is a beautiful interpretation of the Donovan hit Catch the Wind which adds a real Christmassy feel to the whole production. 

So whether you’re buying for someone you love or just wanting to complete your John Wright collection, here’s an opportunity to get two for the price of one!! 

******* Owing to the bad weather and postal delays this offer has been extended until 31st January 2011 *******

14 Oct 2010

Long Hellos . . .  Short Goodbyes – the Tribute DVD – is now on tour in Germany!

Featuring dramatic footage of John filmed in the Scottish Borders and in Holland the double DVD is a three-and-a half hour music extravaganza featuring many favourite ‘John Wright songs’, performed by the original artists.
John’s former musicians Pete Abbott and Gregor Borland – now touring as ‘Other Roads’ – have taken the double DVD on their German tour which includes many of the towns on John’s former schedules.
John’s widow, Barbara, had previously travelled to Holland to launch the DVD with Fries folk choir ‘Rolling Home’ – see photos. She was accompanied by David Jones, concert compere and producer of the DVD.  

The Choir travelled to Newcastle two years ago to take part in the Journal Tyne Theatre concert which featured a cavalcade of top names from the world of British folk music. 
Fans from other parts of the world, however, need not head for Germany to buy the DVD for it is now on sale in our on-line shop, along with most of John’s back catalogue. 

Pictures from the Holland launch (see previous new entry):
Click a thumbnail to enlarge.

22 Jun 2010

We are delighted to announce that the long-awaited DVD has finally arrived and will be launched in Holland at the weekend!!

 ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ is, of course, the recording of the star-studded concert held in Newcastle to pay tribute to John’s life and music, and it is only fitting that the DVD comes during the week of his birth date – June 22^nd.
The DVD features a host of names from the top-drawer of contemporary folk music who recreate many of their own songs which were recorded and performed by John.
The guest list includes Allan Taylor, Steve Knightley, Keiran Halpin, Julie Matthews, Thom Moore, Robin Laing, Ray Hearne, Brian Willoughby, Troy Donockley, 38 members of the Dutch Shanty Choir ‘Rolling Home’, and members of various JWB line-ups including Maartin Allcock, Joe Wright, Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland, Fraser Speirs and Dave Walmisley. 

Of course, the double-disc package just wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from the man himself and fans will not be disappointed, as John is featured in many parts of the recording. 

Produced by concert compere David Jones and with sound engineered by John Weatherby – Sound Sense – the DVD will be launched on Saturday with a sneak film preview plus songs from members of ‘Rolling Home’ in the choir’s hometown of Sneek, Friesland.
The celebrations will start at 8 pm and anyone who would like to attend is asked to telephone Dave Tearney (0031) 515419302 for details.

 And if you can’t make it, then ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ will be on sale in the on-line John Wright Music Shop from Monday June 28^th. The double DVD costs £18 plus £2 p+p.

14 Feb 2010

Overwhelmed by the response.........

Last week's anniversary of John's passing was remembered by so many of you !

All of the messages of support to Barbara were much appreciated, and the many messages added to the Book of Condolence remind us how much John meant to so many people.
The video clips on YouTube continue to be very popular, especially Caledonia/Fries om Utens (over 33,000 hits) and Hold On (over 25,000 hits).

You can watch these clips and many others here.

Also a great idea submitted by Heather Kenyon. Heather suggests:

 "It is now 2 years since Johns untimely departure, so wouldn't it be great if all those who loved his music put in requests to radio programs for one of his songs to be played. Then maybe he will become as famous to the whole of the UK as he was to all those who knew him previously.
Come on everybody, get those requests in to National Radio."

How about it?

07 Feb 2010

It is now two years since we lost John.

For most of you the passing of time will have softened the shock of his sudden departure and you all have your own memories - they will always be with you, as will John's music.
Those closest to him still feel a huge sense of loss, but they find comfort knowing that John is still in your thoughts.

You can still read the Book of Condolence. It can be found in the Contacts area  here.
 If you wish to leave a message, please do so, but all messages are checked before inclusion, normally within 24 hours. (This is to avoid spam.)

24 Dec '09

 Thank you for your e-mails, for checking into the site regularly and for visiting, and buying from, the on-line shop! (Hope you have a John Wright CD in YOUR Christmas stocking this year!!) 

You may remember that it was John's dearest wish that if something should happen to him, we should continue to promote his music. Placing and keeping music in front of the general public, however, is no easy task but if you’d like to help us promote John’s work there are various things you can do.  

Most fans will no doubt have all the available CDs and DVD but how about buying something for a friend? You could also start a dialogue on one of the many music discussion boards which are all over the internet, or how about sending a request to a local or national (Radio 2) radio station to play one of John’s songs? It helps when contacting anyone about John’s music to mention the website. John’s songs cross many boundaries and are not strictly confined to the folk genre. He was not one for pigeon-holing his music and believed his songs would appeal to a cross-section of music lovers. So why not get involved and see what you can do? 

There is a saying that people can have very short memories. Let’s all help keep John’s memory and music alive by trying to spread the message of how great a singer he actually was. YOUR help could make all the difference.

And now to the elusive DVD!! We are still hopeful that the recording of the tribute concert to John in Newcastle will be available in the early part of 2010. We were expecting the DVD to be completed much earlier but circumstances beyond our control have conspired to push the date further and further back. However, work is still carrying on and as soon as a likely date emerges, it will be announced on the site immediately. Please keep checking for up-dates.

Congratulations are due to ‘Other Roads’, namely Pete Abbott, Greg Borland and Dave Walmisley, formerly John Wright’s Band. The lads enjoyed successful tours of Germany and the Netherlands in autumn 2009 and launched their first band album The Angel’s Share. A mention must be made of the beautiful song written by Pete in memory of John Shepherd of the Song. The 12-track album is available from the boys’ website www.other-roads.com.

In turn, thanks must go to the organisers abroad who supported John for around 15 years, helping him build the audiences in Germany and Holland, and contributing in a major way to the smooth-running and success of the tours. Thank you to Thea and Volker Woern, Ilona Welder and Sigi and Bernd Uhrig in Germany and Dave, Greet and Nina Tearney in Holland, who are now continuing their hard work and support for Other Roads.

And so finally, on behalf of Barbara and her family,

John Wright Music would like to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.

09 Sept '09

Following up the previous news, John’s daughter Kate completed the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge 2009 on Sunday 7^th September in 36 minutes.

Kate is giving all the money raised to Diabetes UK, the largest charity in the country dedicated to the treatment and care of people with diabetes and the search for a cure. The total raised is nearly £900 and the extra from Gift Aid could take the final total over £1000. 

Congratulations from us all on such a magnificent effort !

If you intended to donate but forgot, there is still time to do so at: 
 http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Wright/

02 July '09

To celebrate John’s birthday this year, his 30-year-old daughter Kate signed up for the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge 2009 which takes place in Hyde Park, London, in September.

The Adidas challenge is Britain's biggest women-only run and raises vast sums of money for a host of charities each year. Kate plans to give all the money she raises to Diabetes UK.
Celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, Diabetes UK is the largest charity in the country dedicated to the treatment and care of people with diabetes and the search for a cure.

Says Kate: “It’s been just over a year since my Dad died and this year I wanted to do something meaningful to celebrate his birthday. My Dad was one in a million and it was ridiculously unfair for a horrid thing like diabetes to cut such a full and interesting life so short."
“I ain't no runner, so this is going to be a tough old thing for me to do. If readers can spare any money at all, no matter how small the amount, it would really mean a lot.”

If you would like to donate or check out Kate’s progress simply follow the link

 http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Wright/

 Well done Kate and good luck with the training!!

19 June '09

 To mark John's birthday on 22^nd June, a reminder of how he is best remembered...

....on stage singing to his friends.

12 Apr '09

 We are sorry to announce that the John Wright Music shop in Barnard Castle will close this week.

 Barbara, John's widow, opened the shop last year on his birth date, June 22^nd , both as a tribute to John and as a way of helping fulfil one of his ambitions. However, a combination of the economic climate and Barbara's continued ill-health has forced her to make the decision to close the doors.

"When we came to live in Barnard Castle, John said he would love to open a shop here. We talked about it a lot but he was so busy with the music that we never had time to consider it seriously," said Barbara.

"After John died I felt it was something I could do for him and also to help support our family. However, it was the worst possible time to open a new business both with the recession and my health problems."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans who have travelled to support the shop, some from as far afield as Germany and Holland!" 

 Meanwhile, Johns albums and DVD will still be available via the on-line shop and please watch out for news of the DVD from the Newcastle tribute concert  Long Hellos . . .  Short Goodbyes  which should be available later in the year.

07 Feb '09

 It is now a year since we lost John.

This is just a short message  -  you all have your own memories and they will always be with you, as will John's music. At this poignant time, you might also have a thought or a prayer for those closest to him when he left us - their sense of loss is just as great as it was a year ago.

If you wish to leave a message, the Book of Condolence is still open and can be found in the Contacts area  here.
Unfortunately the "spammers" have found it, so all messages are checked before inclusion, normally within 24 hours.

**Added 9 March: The Book is now closed, but can still be read.**

12 Jan '09

 We have now reached the point where the Band have completed all outstanding bookings. 
I am sure that you will be pleased to hear that they are definitely staying together, and will be performing as

Other Roads

You can find out more by visiting their own website at www.other-roads.com

Keep checking back there as there will be lots of news and extra concerts added in the near future.

After John's tragic passing in February last year an on-line Book of Condolence was opened so that his friends could leave a record of their feelings and memories. It was a great source of comfort at the time and read by many thousands of people throughout the world.
As we approach this sad anniversary many of you may wish to look back at the Book, or possibly add a message.
The Book is still here and can be accessed from the Contacts & Links page. Unfortunately the 'spammers' have found it so messages left are not now added automatically. They are "moderated" and either added to the Book or deleted. We try to do this quickly but it may take a day or two.

10 Dec '08

 As the final concerts of 2008 approach, John Wright Music would like to take this opportunity to thank all the folks, both in the UK and abroad, who have turned out to support the Band and helped John’s music live on.

Despite the most difficult of circumstances, the Band has fulfilled as many commitments as possible and has been thrilled at the response. Audiences in turn have been delighted at the performances and have been impressed at how the boys have made it all work. The dedication of Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland and Dave Walmisley ensured that the European tours and the later UK gigs were outstanding tributes to ‘the boss’, whilst Joe Wright and Fraser Speirs did a fantastic job earlier in the year, stepping in to contribute their own talents and support when needed. Pete, of course, had a tremendous task learning lyrics to so many songs in such a short time. He also stepped up to the plate to ‘front’ the Band and take on much of the organisation. Well done Pete!

A highlight concert-wise was, of course, the special tribute night to John at Newcastle – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’. Again we thank all the artists who took part – Allan Taylor, Kieran Halpin, Steve Knightley, Julie Matthews, Thom Moore, Ray Hearne, Brian Willoughby, Robin Laing, Maartin Allcock, Troy Donockley, John Wright’s Band and the 38-strong Shanty Choir from Holland, Rolling Home.
Compere and stage manager for the evening was Dave Jones. Dave did a brilliant job and had done much to help with the organisation beforehand. Thanks again Dave, it wouldn’t have been possible without you.

The main question we’ve all been asked is "So what happens now?"

Well, the website will continue and so will the Band. The personnel will remain the same – Pete, Greg and Dave – but the name WILL change. There are a couple of suggestions in the pipeline but if anyone has any bright ideas, please get in touch!

Pete and the guys will have their own website in the future. Meanwhile watch this space for more details.

 So, if you’re within travelling distance, please support John Wright’s Band at the last two concerts – Playhouse 2, Shaw in Lancashire on Friday 12^th and the Auld Cross Keys, Denholm, on Saturday 13^th  (Contact details on the "Concerts & Tours" page).

All that remains to be said is thanks again for your support, for continuing to visit the E-shop and for all your good wishes.

On behalf of Barbara and her family and the Band, John Wright Music would like to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.

21 Nov '08

 Tour of Germany:

A resounding success! That was the verdict on the John Wright’s Band recent tour of Germany and a massive THANK YOU is sent to all the audiences and organizers who supported the ‘boys’. 

It was always going to be ‘different’ and audiences weren’t quite sure what to expect. However, everyone agreed that Pete, Greg and Dave did a fantastic job – a job of which John would have been immensely proud, so much so that organizers were eager to book again for 2009.

The tour also included a concert in Poland - a first for JWB. Again this was an overwhelming success and plans are in hand for repeat performances.

Tour of Holland:

Last weekend, the ‘boys’ started a two-week tour of Holland starting at Sneek on Saturday 15th. As in Germany they are receiving a fantastic reception. If you are able to get to one of the remaining concerts they would love to see you there.

Tour of UK

To finish the year, the Band have a 'mini-tour' to visit John's (and their) friends and supporters in the 3 areas of the UK that were always special to them.:

North East England - Newton Aycliffe

North West England - Shaw

Scottish Borders - Denholm

Details of the 3 venues and contacts are on the 'Concerts & Tours' page.
Please note that tickets are already selling fast for the Denholm concert, so it has been moved to the function room in the Auld Cross Keys.

We all hope to see you at one of these events.

03 Oct '08

  Tour of Germany imminent . . . 

The Band are making their final preparations for their tour of Germany. They will be loading up the bus and trailer and catching the ferry early next week so that they are ready for the opening concert in Coburg on Wednesday. 
The boys are looking forward to making this a memorable series of concerts for all of our friends in Germany. Please support them if you are able.
This tour will also include their first concert in Poland - see Concerts & Tours page for details.   

23 Sept '08

  Sound clips now added to  "Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes" 

The clips are linked from the track listing on the Discography page. As usual they are of reduced quality to keep the file size down - enjoy!
(To hear all tracks at full quality, you need to go to the e-Shop and order your copy now).

15 Sept '08

  Oh what a night! 

The performers, the audience, the organisers all agreed that the celebration concert – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ – was an outstanding success and a fitting farewell to the man to whom we were all there to pay tribute – John Wright.
Despite horrendous weather conditions outside, there was certainly a sizzling atmosphere inside The Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle on Friday September 5th.
Artists and fans travelled from all parts of the UK – England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The popular Rolling Home Shanty Choir had, of course, flown in from Holland, and members of the audience had also journeyed from the Netherlands and Germany. It was certainly worth the trip!
Undoubtedly, John would have been totally ‘fazed’ by the response from fans and the generous words offered so freely by the songwriters and artists, but he would also have regarded the evening as an unbelievable honour.

The programme for the evening was unique, from the first few bars of John’s favourite tune – ‘Midnight Walker’ played by Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and Maartin Allcock on keyboard – to the rousing finale of ‘Black Clothes’ led by writer Robin Laing, joined on stage by a host of the performers.
Folks were intrigued and delighted to hear the versions of some of John’s recorded material, delivered straight from the original songwriters – Julie Matthews with ‘Blue Old Saturday Night’, Ray Hearne ‘Calling Joe Hill’, Allan Taylor ‘Some Dreams’ and ‘Close to the Edge’, Kieran Halpin ‘Walk Like a Champion’ and ‘Making Up the Miles’, Steve Knightley ‘Come By’, Thom Moore ‘San Carlos Water’ and ‘Sligo Down to Spain’, Pete Abbott ‘Windy Harbour’.
Each artist also performed songs they felt had relevance to the evening and Kieran Halpin introduced a new composition, ‘So Long John’, written shortly after John’s death. 
John Wright’s Band, consisting of Pete Abbott, Joe Wright, Gregor Borland, Dave Walmisley, Fraser Speirs and guest Brian Willoughby performed two superb sets delivering many of those favourite ‘John Wright songs’. The Band also performed the title track of the commemorative album – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ – now available on the website E-shop.
The Rolling Home Shanty Choir proved a real ‘hit’. Fronted by John’s Dutch agent Dave Tearney, the Choir sang songs from the musical show that featured John last year and were ‘accompanied’ by him on film. They also sang with great friend Allan Taylor who has a long association with the Choir.

Everyone agreed that the setting of The Journal Tyne Theatre was perfect. The world’s oldest working Victorian theatre offered a warm, intimate setting and added a lovely touch of old-fashioned romance to the occasion.

Of course, there were certain people there to make sure the evening went like clockwork – John’s close friend and sound engineering maestro John Weatherby of Sound Sense PA, who together with Graham Brotherston from Glenfarg, did a fantastic job.
Compere for the evening was again another close friend , David Jones, who not only helped to mastermind the whole event but made sure that just about everything went according to plan – a huge job performed brilliantly!
Projecting images and filming the show was a great bunch of guys headed by David Lucas and David Newton from Road Ahead TV. The lads put an enormous amount of work into the project and we’ll hear more about that at a later date.

Meanwhile, massive thanks again to the audience, to the artists, to those who sent their good wishes, to the Theatre and to everyone involved who helped to make ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ a truly memorable occasion.

Thank you most of all to John for providing us all with such a wealth of beautiful music and such a host of deep and lasting memories.

Below are a small selection of the photographs taken on the night by photographer Denis Dunning, and reproduced here with his permission.
Clicking a thumbnail image will open it in a new window.
You can see more by visiting www.denisdunning.com

29 Aug '08

Only just a week to go now until the star-studded Newcastle concert and the launch of the new CD – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’.

Don’t forget that this is a unique opportunity to see so many of Britain’s top artists and singer-songwriters performing on one bill, all helping to celebrate the life and music of ‘the song-writers’ singer’ they admired. 

The new 15-track album will also be available at the Concert and is a ‘must’ for fans – new and ‘old’.

The album contains live tracks previously unreleased on CD and features three beautiful poetry readings by John, illustrating his lifetime love of language and the poetic art.
The music accompanying the poems is played by great friends Allan Taylor on guitar and Wendy Weatherby on cello. It was specially composed by Allan after he had had listened to John’s readings. The poems are a real ‘jewel in the crown’.

The remaining tracks are songs old and new. 
When John released ‘Requests’ in 2007, he had included some of the live Vredenburg DVD recordings by demand. People who had bought the DVD asked for these later versions of earlier songs in CD format.
It had been John’s intention to make more of the remaining tracks available on CD. This should have been ‘Requests 2’ scheduled for 2009! Here they are on this new album.

Complete with a full-colour 16 page booklet, the cover contains photos of John through the years. It is a beautiful, commemorative issue and one which we believe would have made John proud.  

The album – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’ – will be available to purchase via the on-line shop and mail order following the Newcastle concert. 

If you still haven’t got tickets but are planning to attend the Newcastle event -- Friday September 5^th -- pre-ordered purchases need to be completed as soon as possible. It is now best to do this direct with the theatre by visiting www.thejournaltynetheatre.co.uk. Tickets will also be available on the door.

 Tickets can also be purchased for the ‘Rolling Home’ concert in Barnard Castle on Saturday September 6, when the Dutch Shanty Choir will be appearing with guests Terry Coyne – formerly of the JW Big Band – and members of John Wright’s Band. 
They will be available on both Friday and Saturday evenings.
The venue is the Glaxo Sports and Social Club, Barnard Castle, DL12 8TD, just off Harmire Road and the concert starts at 8 pm. Tickets are £8 and all the money raised will be helping the Choir fund their trip to pay tribute to John, both in Newcastle and in John’s hometown.
Please get along there if you can.

02 Aug '08

Edinburgh Fringe Festival details:

John Wright's Band will be appearing at the Acoustic Music Centre at St.Bride's as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Pete Abbott, Joe Wright and Dave Walmisley will be on stage at 9 p.m. on Friday 8^th August. Please get along to support the guys at this special Festival event. Full details can be found at

www.acousticmusiccentre.co.uk  or simply telephone the Box Office 0131 226 0000. 

The Acoustic Music Centre is situated at 10 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11 2DY.

23 June '08

John Wright Music open for business!

The long anticipated High Street store was opened yesterday, which would have been John's 61^st birthday.

The contact address for JWM has now changed to:

John Wright Music
20 Market Place
Barnard Castle
Co. Durham   DL12 8NB

Telephone and email contacts remain the same.

Opening days and times will be confirmed here as soon as possible.

If you are in the area please call in to see us. 

An introductory speech was given by Dave Jones, followed by the official ribbon-cutting by Vin Garbutt (accompanied by his typically humorous comments!), and the boys posed for photographs in front of "the Boss". See pictures below.

17 June '08

Lots of snippets of info to keep you all up to date...........

John still at No. 1!

You must all have been voting on the RTN website every day! Incredibly, the Windy Harbour video is still number 1. (see previous news items.)
Please continue your daily visits to http://www1.omropfryslan.nl/TV_Klipkar+.aspx and see how long we can keep it there.

Last Sunday, the end of the Friesland International Marathon was marked by a simultaneous broadcast of "Fries Om Utens" live, on radio and on television. Some members of "Rolling Home" took part in the race - remember you can see them at Newcastle on September 5^th or in their own concert in Barnard Castle on September 6^th. Tickets for this concert can be bought or reserved by phoning (01833) 638826. 

The opening time for the John Wright Music shop in Barnard Castle has been put back a little until 1pm on Sunday June 22^nd, John's birthday. Vin Garbutt will perform the opening ceremony, then the shop is officially open for business. In addition to John's merchandise, the shop will stock albums and songbooks from an expanding range of independent artists, plus music related gifts and accessories.
Many artists are keen to support the venture, and the shop already has stock from Vin, Beth Neilson Chapman, Allan Taylor, Maartin Alcock, Terry Coyne, Colin Henderson with many more on the way.

John Wright merchandise, although available in the e-shop and the Barnard Castle shop, is now also being distributed in shops across Holland.

Some of you may know that last year John asked Dave Walmisley to join the band. Unfortunately he was unable to do so then, but has now joined the line-up for coming tours. Dave is a well respected singer songwriter in his own right and formerly a member of the highly successful "Risky Business". You can welcome Dave to the 'family' at Reeth, North Yorkshire on Friday night or Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham on Saturday - see "Concerts & Tours" for details.

Many of you have expressed a hope (a prayer?) that there existed some unreleased recordings of John's singing. We can now confirm that a number of songs were recorded but not used on "Gypsy Life" or "Requests". Also some songs remained without the addition of the instrumental tracks. This is now being done, so there is indeed enough material to produce one final John Wright album. It will be no surprise to learn that it is to be called "Long Hellos . . . . Short Goodbyes". The album will be on sale only at live concerts and in the Barnard Castle shop from September 5^th . It will not be added to the e-shop until December.

05 June '08

John still at No. 1!

The Windy Harbour video is still number 1 on the RTN website. (see previous news items.)
Please continue your daily visits to http://www1.omropfryslan.nl/TV_Klipkar+.aspx and see how long we can keep it there.

The John Wright Music shop in Barnard Castle will open at noon on Sunday June 22^nd, John's birthday. The celebrity invited to perform the official opening is local superstar, Vin Garbutt !

29 May '08

North East snippets:

The re-scheduled concert at Frosterley Village Hall near John's home (see Concerts & Tours for details) is on Saturday evening (May 31^st). The boys hope to see many of their friends there.

John and Barbara's long-planned shop in Barnard Castle is almost a reality! The planned opening date is June 22^nd, John's birthday. The shop will stock merchandise for many independent singers and musicians, music supplies, music related gifts, etc. More details soon, or listen to a Radio Teesdale interview with Barbara on Thursday June 5^th at 6pm. If you live locally tune to 102.1 or 105.5 fm, otherwise listen on the web either live or as a replay at www.radioteesdale.co.uk 

Tickets for the September 5th concert Long Hellos . . . . Short Goodbyes are selling fast. If you want a good seat, book now!
The Dutch shanty choir Rolling Home will be doing an extra concert of their own the following evening in the Glaxo Social Club in Barnard Castle - more details later.

19 May '08

We can make John No. 1 again!

 John's Windy Harbour   video clip has been re-instated on the "Viewers' vote-in" on Dutch TV station RTN. To cast your vote (1 per day) go to http://www1.omropfryslan.nl/TV_Klipkar+.aspx and click the 'purple splat' labelled ‘Stim hjir’. If you need an explanation in English, a fan from Holland has kindly sent us the following translation:

Now you know how it works, let's see how long we can keep John at No. 1.
If you want to watch the full video of Windy Harbour, you can download it here, but it is a huge file so be patient. You might prefer to save it to your computer so that you can watch again. (HELP)

A couple of reminders:

The re-scheduled JWBand concert will take place on Saturday May 31^st at Frosterley Village Hall,County Durham. It would be good to meet North-East fans at a venue so close to John's home. Tickets are now on sale and are available on-line via the Shop page. See Concert/Tours page for more details.

New stock of "Dangerous Times" has now arrived. It will be re-instated in the E-shop as soon as possible.

14 May '08

Voting has now closed for John's ' Windy Harbour ' video clip on Dutch TV.
Apparently, three weeks is the maximum for anyone to stay in the vote. John and the Band held the No.1 spot for the whole three weeks – a great tribute to John and also to songwriter, our very own, Pete Abbott.

 Of course Pete is now singing his own com position at JWB gigs. Concerts are going very well and it is heart-warming to experience the fantastic support that so many organisers and audiences are offering up. The love and high regard in which John was held is evident up and down the country and on mainland Europe .  

Already tickets for the Newcastle concert in September are being snapped up by British and Dutch fans and at least two UK clubs are organising coach parties!  If you can help advertise the event, please download the advert from the website and display it at your local venue. It promises to be a fantastic celebration of John's life and music.

 The JWBand concert planned at Frosterley Village Hall,County Durham, in March has been re-scheduled and will now take place on Saturday May 31. Tickets are now on sale and can be bought on-line via the Shop page. See Concert/Tours page for more details.

08 May '08

John is Number One !!

 Great news this week from the Netherlands where John is holding poll position on television with a recording of ‘Windy Harbour’.
John and the Band are being featured twice daily on Fries TV .Over the past three weeks viewers have been asked to vote for their favourite recording from a number of video clips. So far, John has beaten all of the opposition but more votes will be needed weekly to keep him ‘top of the pops’!!

If you would like to register a vote, simply visit http://www1.omropfryslan.nl/TV_Klipkar+.aspx. When you get to the page, click on the purple splat shape which says ‘Stim hjir’. Apparently you can vote every day. So get those fingers clicking and let’s keep him up there!!

 Tickets for the special concert in Newcastle are selling well. The earlier you book, the better the seats! 

A brand new album featuring previously unrecorded material and some special surpises will be available at the concert. The album – ‘Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes’  -- will only be available on-line or mail order from December. 

The Book of Remembrance has moved to the Contacts area. You can still view or add messages from there.

01 May '08

"Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes" details: 

A star-studded galaxy of Britain’s top songwriters will pay tribute to John at the unique Newcastle concert to celebrate his life and music.
The list of performers includes Allan Taylor, Steven Knightley (Show of Hands), Kieran Halpin, Chris While and Julie Matthews, Ray Hearne (BBC Radio 2 Ballads), Robin Laing, Thom Moore and former Strawb guitarist Brian Willoughby.
A special performance will also be staged by Troy Donockley (Barbara Dickson Band) and former JW Big Band member Maartin Allcock. Those of you who bought a copy of ‘Fries om Utens/Caledonia’ will no doubt recognise Troy from the amazing playing of the uilleann pipes on that CD.

Of course current members of John Wright’s Band will pay their own special tribute to ‘the Boss’. The line-up will include Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland, Joe Wright and Fraser Speirs.
And crossing the channel will be John’s favourite choir – ‘Rolling Home’ – fronted by John’s Dutch agent Dave Tearney.

The concert – ‘Long Hellos ……….Short Goodbyes – will take place on Friday September 5^th at the Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. Tickets are now available from the theatre box office 0844 493 9999, by visiting http://www.thejournaltynetheatre.co.uk/, and also from the John Wright Music on-line shop.

Seating will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis – the earlier you book, the better the view – and....

 John Wright Music has secured some ‘prime’ seating for the first 100 people to book on-line.

Tickets purchased from our E-shop will be postage free but please allow 14 days for delivery.

You can download the official advertising poster here. (Be patient, it's a large file).

For anyone who wants to make a weekend of it, ‘Rolling Home’ will be appearing in concert on the Saturday night – September 6^th – in Barnard Castle, John’s hometown. More details of that event will follow soon.

The Book of Remembrance has moved to the Contacts area. You can still view or add messages from there.

10 Apr '08

"Long Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes" is to be the UK tribute concert. 

It's official! The date and venue have now been set for a concert to celebrate John's life and music. The tribute will be staged at The Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle , on Friday September 5^th. A star-studded line-up of some of the UK 's leading contemporary singer-songwriters has already volunteered to perform and the final bill will be announced very shortly. Meanwhile, please put the date in your diaries and keep checking back for further details coming soon.

 Audiences in the UK and in Holland have already turned out in their hundreds to show overwhelming support for Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland, Joe Wright and Fraser Speirs – the current members of John Wright's Band. 

It was John's dearest wish that if 'something should happen to him', Barbara should continue to promote his music and his Band. To that end, the JW team have worked non-stop to ensure that as many concerts as possible would still take place.
In the main, organisers have been incredibly supportive, and 'diamonds' like Ann Green from The Clarence, Blackpool , John Taylor, director of Saltburn Festival, and Brian Prior, Guisborough Folk Club are only too keen to provide 'testimonials'!!

 The village hall at Teviothead – a particular poignant event – was packed to the rafters and the 'boys' finished the concert after two standing ovations from John's former neighbours and many personal friends. Pearl and Jock Dalgleish did an amazing job, determined that 'the show must go on'. Pearl is already taking bookings for the Christmas concert in Denholm!

The concert held in Sneek, Holland , on Easter Monday – a double-bill shared by John Wright's Band and Shanty Choir 'Rolling Home' – was a complete sell-out and extra seats had to be added. This made a bumper crowd of almost 400!! Although the afternoon concert was tinged with a great sadness, it was a dignified event. Both the Choir and the Band produced a gig to remember and the whole room was on its feet as the concert ended with a mega-version of 'Black Clothes'!

 The next John Wright's Band concerts will take place at Darlington, Rhyl and Birmingham on April 24, 25 and 26 respectively and the line-up will be Pete Abbott, Joe Wright and Fraser Speirs. Please see Concerts and Tours for further details.

09 Mar '08

"The John Wright Story" will be broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire's music programme "The Drift" on Thursday 27^th March at 9:05pm.

If you are in North West England you can listen on 103.9 FM, 95.5 FM or 104.5 FM.

If you cannot receive their transmission, you can listen on-line - go to www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire and click the Radio Lancashire link for "Listen Live". You could also click the link for "Listen Again" to hear the programme up to a week after the original broadcast.

This programme is a "must" for all of John's fans.

06 Mar '08

Tickets for the "In Memoriam" concert in Sneek, Holland (Monday 24^th March) are selling fast therefore ticket sales in the e-Shop will cease on Monday March 10^th. If you want to reserve your seat this way you must do so before Monday!

26 Feb '08

*************************************

The "In Memoriam" concert in Sneek, Holland (Monday 24^th March) is proving very popular with tickets selling fast across Europe, including the UK. We are therefore reserving 50 tickets for sale in the e-Shop so that you can reserve your place before setting out on a long journey. 
Any UK fans  wanting to attend this special concert can contact info@johnwrightmusic.co.uk for details of travel and accommodation deals.

                                               *** Note: Start time is now 1400h ***

The volume of orders through the e-shop has been exceptionally high. Please be assured that your custom is very important to us, and with some extra help we hope to clear all outstanding orders in a couple of days.  

21 Feb '08

John's funeral took place on February 14th in his hometown of Barnard Castle. The service was attended by his family and close friends who thank everyone for respecting their wish for privacy at this sad time. Barbara would also like to express her deep gratitude for the hundreds of cards and messages of sympathy and support that the wider 'John Wright family' has rushed from all parts of the globe. To thank everyone personally would be an enormous task but she wants everybody to know that she has read ALL the messages to date and has been strengthened by each and every one.

 Official concerts to celebrate John's life and music are being organised both for the UK and in Europe. Details will be announced as they become available but the arrangements will take a little time. We thank you for your patience.

It was John's dearest wish that his music would continue, and the 'boys' and Barbara are prepared to honour that commitment. Therefore John Wright's Band will be appearing at many of the venues in the original gig list. All organisers will be contacted as soon as possible and the Concerts & Tours page will be updated daily. Keep checking to see where concerts are confirmed or added.

People are still adding tributes, memories and messages to the book of remembrance. 

Click here to View the Book

Click here to add a New Entry.      (Please avoid the "&" symbol in your message).

08 Feb '08












   Added
12 Feb '08

It is with great sadness that we give you the news of John's passing.
 After feeling unwell John was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, but the doctors were unable to save him and he passed away peacefully yesterday.
John touched the lives of thousands across Europe, he will be remembered by us all through the wonderful legacy he has left us in his music. 

If you would like to share your message or memories with us please do so. Those close to John are very appreciative of these tributes.

Click here to View the Book

Click here to add a New Entry.      (Please avoid the "&" symbol in your message).

                 ***** John's funeral arrangements are now in place *****
                                             It is to be a private service.
                 His family thank you for respecting their privacy at this sad time.

However, John Wright Music will be arranging a series of official tribute concerts later in the year where the wider John Wright community can gather with some of his contemporary musicians to celebrate his life and music. Details will be posted on this website as soon as possible.

Archived News (from happier times)