 | What, you may ask, is Raising Steam? Raising Steam is, of course the festival that never was. It was scheduled to take place in Reading in September 2013, but unfortunately the universe conspired against it. Of course, a little thing like that was never going to stop festival organiser, author and DJ Steven C. Davis. |
Raising Steam was always intended to raise funds for Steven's favourite charity, New Futures Nepal. Having visited Nepal on several occasions, Steven has witnessed first hand some of the poverty and the difficulties that people there face. New Futures Nepal are of the same mind, aiming to empower disadvantaged children and adults in Nepal.
So Steven decided that if there wasn't going to be an actual festival to raise funds for the charity, then he would make sure there was a virtual one.
In 2014, the first Raising Steam download launched, containing 22 tracks for a paltry English fiver. It featured tracks from each of the artists who would have played at the festival - including two songs my former band, Crimson Clocks. It also included a downloadable PDF virtual-festival programme to tell you more about the acts, the charity, and the festival that never-was.
In 2016, Mr Davis did it again. The Raising Steam 2 download featured 20 tracks for the paltry fiver, plus, as before, bonus tracks and items (such as another Crimson Clocks track).
And now, in 2017, the third Raising Steam download/ virtual festival is upon us. This time it's a monstrous 27 tracks long, and includes two of my solo tunes. Poor Jenny has been out since October 2016, but Yellow Eyes is currently available only via the Raising Steam III download.
As ever, all the artists have donated their work free of charge, and all proceeds go to New Futures Nepal. And there are some stonking artists on there. Nathaniel Johnstone. The Hare and The Moon. Valentine Wolfe. Feline and Strange. Napier's Bones, Heathen Strangefellow, Dark Sinfonia - basically, I could list them all, since they're all that good. But just take a look at the poster.
So why not treat yourself to some fabulous music for only a fiver, and sit back smug and contented in the knowledge that in treating yourself, you've done a good deed for charity! (And get the others while you're at it, if you haven't already...)
You owe it to yourself, you really do.
So Steven decided that if there wasn't going to be an actual festival to raise funds for the charity, then he would make sure there was a virtual one.
In 2014, the first Raising Steam download launched, containing 22 tracks for a paltry English fiver. It featured tracks from each of the artists who would have played at the festival - including two songs my former band, Crimson Clocks. It also included a downloadable PDF virtual-festival programme to tell you more about the acts, the charity, and the festival that never-was.
In 2016, Mr Davis did it again. The Raising Steam 2 download featured 20 tracks for the paltry fiver, plus, as before, bonus tracks and items (such as another Crimson Clocks track).
And now, in 2017, the third Raising Steam download/ virtual festival is upon us. This time it's a monstrous 27 tracks long, and includes two of my solo tunes. Poor Jenny has been out since October 2016, but Yellow Eyes is currently available only via the Raising Steam III download.
As ever, all the artists have donated their work free of charge, and all proceeds go to New Futures Nepal. And there are some stonking artists on there. Nathaniel Johnstone. The Hare and The Moon. Valentine Wolfe. Feline and Strange. Napier's Bones, Heathen Strangefellow, Dark Sinfonia - basically, I could list them all, since they're all that good. But just take a look at the poster.
So why not treat yourself to some fabulous music for only a fiver, and sit back smug and contented in the knowledge that in treating yourself, you've done a good deed for charity! (And get the others while you're at it, if you haven't already...)
You owe it to yourself, you really do.
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