Ok, both Ian and Ed are exhausted, and happy, and all sorts of post-festival blues and happiness has set in. But, damn, what a great long weekend in Toronto, where Black Guy Fawkes hosted 87.5% of Cowboy Chords and lead the Economics of Being an Independent Artist panel, and Ed filled in to host the other 12.5% of the open mic and drank many, many beers. Hence the delay in this episode coming out. Fawkes and Friends is going to schedule a few more episodes for the year, and then start back up rested and refreshed in 2025 with some more announcements and some new and returning guests. In the meantime, tour dates:
And speaking of that last show… today, the guys are joined by Beans on Toast, whose 17th album Myths & Legends is coming out on December 1st and is available for pre-order now, and who is also touring the US this month and next. He shares his journey from his early days in Essex, where he grew up influenced bythe Beatles, American country music, and the Wu Tang Clan. He reminisces about his highlights in the American visionary art museum and the differences in festival cultures between the UK and the US. The conversation also delves into his songwriting process and experiences with different genres, including a gangster rap phase and subsequent shift to his current style. Furthermore, he shares insights from his time booking shows at London's Nambuca pub and working with other musicians. The episode rounds off with upcoming US tour dates, favorite American foods, and a light-hearted discussion about favorite American beer.
Beans on Toast isn’t just your average folk singer songwriter - he is a modern one-man band, taking charge of all aspects of his music career, whether it be writing, recording and playing, taking his own press shots, making his own merch and artwork, or shooting his own videos. He is a true DIY artist with true DIY ideals. He's crafted a studio album each year since 2009, and each time he's wandered brazenly into new territory with a diverse range of influences. But the acoustic guitar and his warm hug of a voice is there, dead centre. Each album comes out on his birthday every year, as if giving us all a chance to celebrate what he's learned, what he's felt and feared over 12 months. He assesses his life through music and informs the world he's made it another year. There's nothing average about his insight or his delivery. Once a Beans fan, always a Beans fan – he's not changing for anyone but himself. For tour dates, music, and merch, check out https://beansontoastmusic.com/
For more Black Guy Fawkes, check out Music | Black Guy Fawkes (bandcamp.com)or https://asbestosrecords.bigcartel.com/. He’s also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc as Black Guy Fawkes–spelling is extremely important here and, not surprisingly, he’s on music streaming services as well: Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. You can probably find Ed drinking in a karaoke bar or in the crowd at a punk show. The show also now has a playlist of music from guests that have appeared, and guests who will be appearing, and you can check that out on Spotify as well: Fawkes & Friends: The Playlist - playlist by Ian Robinson | Spotify