Experiencing British culture - Oddsods style!

If you thought Cumbria was a long distance for Oddsods fans to travel to see the boys in action, how about Ethiopia? Here are four guys who travelled from that country to enjoy last Sunday's Oddsods and Friends session at the Denbigh Arms in Monks Kirby, leafy Warwickshire.

To be accurate, they were academics who were visiting the UK as guests of the University of Leicester, but a chance to experience 'music for a rare old time' was one highlight on their itinerary that they didn't want to miss!

They've promised to let us know if they can set up a tour of Irish bars in their own country. (Isn't there an Irish bar in every part of the world?)

Good to see Rob Halligan and most of Dark Island joining in with the regular 'And Friends' for another great night.

Dancing in the Albany

We have some new photos on the website. These are a few candid shots from last Friday's gig at the Albany Club, Coventry - our first time there and yes, they're having us back! Good to see some of the audience on their feet dancing - and of course Mick the Fiddle couldn't resist joining in!

Two members of the audience heard about the gig on our website and travelled down to see us from Cumbria. It was surprise for old-timer 'Sods, Simon, Paul and Pete who were in the 1996 line-up that spent a few days in the Lake District to 'rehearse' and ended up gigging in the Cumbrian village of Millom. Two of the locals, Richard and Jean saw us there and decided to relive the experience 11 years later by driving down to Coventry. Nice to know we have such dedicated followers ... or perhaps they couldn't believe what they heard the first time!

Also on the website - we now have a link to our new mailing list. If you'd like occasional news snippets and updates in your inbox, sign in.

Positive PR for the 'Sods

Wanna be a music promoter? Just follow our example.

The 'Sods are featured in this month's edition of glossy public relations magazine, Behind The Spin. Written by Pete - whose daytime job is teaching journalism and PR to university students - the article describes a new course in music promotion that Pete has put together. His experience in promoting not only this band, but also other artists, concerts and festivals, has given him plenty of examples to discuss with his students and fellow tutors.

News of the article is featured on the course website at the University of Central England in Birmingham. If you want to read the article itself, follow this link and you'll be able to download a pdf file.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Our MySpace page is a great source of reviews and feedback from people who listen to the audio samples.

The latest comes from two talented young musicians from Canada, called The Old Time Fiddle Kids, who commented:

Like your songs, they make us think of drunk sailors and pirates.

Yo ho ho - eat out your heart Johnny Depp!

Meet the proud Grandad...

He might be the youngest member of the band, but Simon is the first to have achieved the status of grandparent.

His daughter Joanne gave birth to baby Georgina Lapworth on Tuesday 23rd Jan 2007. Georgina weighed in at a healthy 7lb 8oz.

Simon's plans for his grandaughter's future...? 'She's going to spoilt rotten!'

Meanwhile he's now been appointed as the Court Steward at the Coombe Abbey Medieval Banquet, near Coventry. He's performing there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night this week and then on a regular rota.

Here's hoping that Grandad can keep up with the pace!

Remastered and re-packaged

Our second album Shenanigans has been re-released.

The remastered version of the live recording of our Brinklow in 2000 (when Nigel Ward was on the fiddle!) is now available, thanks to our current fiddle-player, Mick Shaler beavering away in his studio in Warwick.

Copies are available at our gigs - or order a copy now by sending a PO/cheque for £11 (for CD and postage), payable to Karisma Music, to 4 Walkers Terrace, Ansty Road, Brinklow, UK, CV23 0NQ.