Ealier this year Kevin and his daughter Galen made a very special recording together of the Ayers classic Girl on a Swing. Originally recorded in 1969 this is the same year that Centrepoint was set up as a charity to help London's young homeless. The track joins others originally recorded in 1969 and now rerecorded by a number of contempory artists for an album called 1969: Key to Change which is to raise money and awareness for Centrepoint's work.

More information on this project can be found HERE where there is also a link to buy the album as a digital download or indeed to buy Galen's and Kevin's contribution as an individual track -- the very first time father and daughter have recorded together; and as Galen embarks on recording an album of her own material it is hoped that Kevin might leave the river bank and travel to London to join her in the studio again.

To find out more about Galen and her music please visit the following links:

Galen Ayers, FACEBOOK

Galen Ayers, BLOG

Galen Ayers, TWITTER

The Unfairground is now available as a gatefold album pressed on 180gm virgin vinyl. It is beautiful! Specially mastered for vinyl the audio is absolutely amazing. Checking around on the internet it seems the best deal can be found at cdwow where it is listed at 14.99euros. If you can, ordering it via your local record shop is ideal.The label is music on vinyl (MOVLP002) -- Barcode: 8713748980023.

Edition prints on high quality heavy weight matt paper of the Original artwork used for the Unfairground gatefold are available. Numbered and signed by the artist out of an edition of 20 For info: timshepard.co.uk There are also prints of the work commissioned by Paul Weller for the gatefold of his album 22 Dreams, out of anan edition of 11.

Dr. Dream and Other Stories, Sweet Deceiver and Yes, We Have No Mananas have been re-mastered at Abbey Road by Peter Mew and will be each released on March 30 2009 by EMI with bonus session tracks and 8 page booklets designed by Phil Smee with sleeve notes by Mark Powell.

As a perfect companion to the above is the CD release What More Can I Say on Mike and Miki King's label Reel Recordings. Kevin Ayers listened to this recently discovered collection of his private demo recordings and out-takes, and found them to be a refreshing reminder of a musical innocence, unique to the nineteen seventies. Much more than nuggets from a golden era, these song demos remain compellingly personal in their simplicity, and sit alongside sunny instrumentals featuring friends David Bedford, Mike Oldfield, Archie Leggett and Robert Wyatt. Of special note is the fourteen minute private demonstration for the Doctor Dream suite, a stunning 'audio letter' synopsis with acoustic performances and wry commentary.These beautifully recorded reel-to-reel tapes are an indispensable portrait of an artist as a young man.

A 4cd box set -- Songs For Insane Times, An Anthology 1969-1980 is available from EMI. Mastered by Peter Mew the 4th CD features a never before released 1973 concert recording from Queen Elizabeth Hall which has been mixed by Paschal Byrne at The Audio Archiving Company from the original 8-track master tape. There is an extensive booklet designed by Phil Smee with previously unpublished photos and sleeve notes by Mark Powell.

Baby Come Home and Walk on Water, both from the critically acclaimed new album The Unfairground are available as a double A side 7" vinyl -- numbered limited edition and sleeved in heavy weight art card.

Kevin was a special guest at the opening of the exhibit Explorations psychédéliques en France at Le CAPC Musée D'Art Contemporain de Bordeaux on the 29 November 2008. Late in the evening he surprised everyone there by suddenly asking for a guitar and jumping up on stage where he gave an impromptu performance of Decadence accompanied by Sonic Boom.

Nevertheless.........Many people have written in wondering when Kevin might venture out again and tour. Never having been a big fan of life on the road and always terribly nervous to stand before an audience, Kevin is these days even more reluctant to go and get himself out there. "I would rather go fishing than join in the race" remains his view on all this. And so it is.