A Carlisle musician is set to go on his biggest tour yet, as his band reignites with a fresh outlook and big plans for the future.
Jonny Foster will, with his rock band Hardwicke Circus, visit most major UK cities on a tour starting this November.
He said the tour is a celebration of all the work they’ve accomplished in recent years and will follow a tour of South Africa and the release of a live album featuring music recorded at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London.
It will be the first time the band tours an African country and was preceded by an unprecedented tour of Czechia and Italy, the latter two thanks to a connection he made with a promoter in a hotel.
READ MORE: Carlisle rock band Hardwicke Circus confirm December tour
Their most recent major performance was on the main stage of Kendal Calling this year, a festival the band has performed at several times at varying degrees of prominence.
This year they took it as far as they could go, with their saxophonist taking to the sky in a cherry picker.
“In every gig we do, Jack (saxophonist) is a madman, all saxophonists are insane in the best way possible," said Mr Foster.
“When we show up Jack is always gagging to climb up something or mount something.”
His eyes then set upon the beckoning cherry picker.
“We thought, cool, it’ll be five metres in the air, but they put a harness on him and a helmet and before we knew it, he was well above the height of the main stage, it was incredible to watch.”
A video of him doing it was shared on the Kendal Calling Facebook page and amassed 300,000 views.
Despite the worldwide attention and illustrious tours, the band always seems attached to their Cumbrian home, performing at Carlisle venues and Kendal Calling regularly.
“It felt special to play Kendal Calling; we always went there as kids, it’s one of those festivals that inspires you to do music yourselves, and it feels like a real full circle moment having performed there for so many years,” Mr Foster explained.
Coming from playing the small stages and grafting to get their music heard, to now where they’re in a position that, while far from stardom, is one which many aspiring musicians would kill to be in, Jonny decided to start a grassroots record label in the city.
Alternative Facts records will have an official launch this September, and in preparation, they’ve been recording songs for many local artists.
“Being a band from Carlisle, and from the North especially, there’s a lot of good music that’s underappreciated because there isn’t the means for exposure.
“Geographically and financially, resources have been stripped in the North and it’s very difficult for young groups and aspiring songwriters to get their voices heard.
“We’ve taken on a very independent approach – we’re not going to chase someone else’s dream; we’re going to form it in our hometown of Carlisle and we’re going to set up a record company that shines a light on the local talent.”
The band have lined up limited seven-inch vinyl record releases for a number of local contributors. Mark Carruthers, a former marine soldier in the city, wrote a song about legendary fell runner Joss Naylor.
“We recorded it and just a few days in, Joss Naylor died,” Jonny explained.
“We’re going to release it on the record label, it’s Cumbrian through and through.”
READ MORE: Tributes paid to Cumbrian legend, fell runner and farmer Joss Naylor
Also featuring on that track is the conductor of the Carlisle Orchestra, playing the violin.
“There’s another band called Antics from Wigton, they went to Nelson Thomlinson school which we also went to, who we’ve been recording with.
“And we’ve got another guy, Jonathan Musgrave, who has played in another Carlisle band called Rubakai.
“In doing this we’ve discovered the weird and wonderful array of massive talent in Carlisle.
“It feels like a real natural progression from going from an aspiring band to getting this music heard.”
It will still be demanding work, but any band wanting to make it can simply make it happen.
This is certainly the case for Jonny and the band who work full time, give up birthdays and family events, and never settle down.
He explained: “I’ve never had the ambition to settle for average.
“There’s this growing tide of thought that everything you create in the world is good, but Tom and I, who are writing prolifically every day, are just trying to move things forward.
“It’s very hard to arrive at steel-eyed objectiveness but that’s what it requires, and nowadays, not just for northern bands, there isn’t a foundation for any bands to break through.
“Record companies aren’t signing groups; they’ll promise you the world and dump you months later with a rack of debt.
“It’s a negative spiral and we’ve never wanted any part of that.”
Jonny said the label launch party will happen at some point in the middle of September, but a set date and venue haven’t been decided yet.
At the event each artist will be able to perform, playing a couple of songs, and in the meantime, he is encouraging other local artists to get in touch.
Still not done with work, Hardwicke Circus is currently recording its third album.
“We’ve got over 70 songs that we’ve got to whittle down to the best 15 to record.
“It’s a positive time, we’ve gained such a positive momentum, and there’s a great camaraderie among us.
“It feels fresh and new, the group has the right atmosphere.”
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