Proceeds of Gypsy Farm’s latest release, GF012 – Tape Feed, Vol 1, have secured over 1,146 meals through donations to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization networking with around 200 Food Banks throughout the United States.
This of course, was made possible, not only by Feeding America’s excellent farmer-food bank relationship, but by you, the listener. Thank you for your support!
Tape Feed, Vol 1 is a cassette that features exclusive tracks from Vincas, Sea Of Dogs, Old Smokey, The Humms & many more.
With a digital version included, the tape is currently available & proceeds of all purchases will be donated to Feeding America!
After last year’s successful donation to the local food bank, we staffed our producer Willie Shears with the task of assembling years worth of various recordings from deep within the Gypsy Farm vault into a tangible compilation for your enjoyment but also, the benefit of Feeding America, a nonprofit organization networking with 200 food banks.
The result is Tape Feed, Vol: 1. Each limited edition cassette is a direct, real-time copy of the original hi-fee-fi-fo-fum master recordings and even include a digital download to boot.
With appearances by Old Smokey, Vincas, Nate & the Nightmares, the Humms, Sea of Dogs, Sweet Auburn String Band, 432 Sessions, Pine Tar Rage, Koko Beware & the Haunted Head.
Shears’ selection of GF recordings span a whole decade from 2010 through 2020, and all in all recorded at GF-HQ with the exception of Nate & The Nightmares – Everyday recorded live at Georgia theatre in 2014 while opening for Charles Bradley.
With exclusive tracks like Vincas – Phantasma (Live at Gypsy Farm) and the traditional bluegrass arrangements of 432 sessions – Buffalo Skinners (Jed & Harry Clark, Cory Walker & Jeff Partin) you can rest assured that it’s going to be an eclectic sum of tracks.
Enjoy Tape Feed, Vol 1 and simultaneously help deflect hunger, food waste & climate change by donating to the local food bank.
“It was so hot out there”, said Willie Shears [producer], echoing the perspiration of a group that had gathered in the studio on that scorching afternoon at Gypsy Farm.
“But you know” Shears continued, “it just wouldn’t have felt right, recording a song like This Heat in the comfort of air conditioning”.
Uncle Goo
Indeed, when This Heat debuted on radio last year, local country music disk jockey ‘Porkchop’ was quick to point out the atmosphere stating: “Creepy steel guitar & haunting vocals! I didn’t think it was possible to get chills because of a song about the heat.”
– Michael “Porkchop” Branch / WLHR 92.1
Uncle Goo / This Heat is available on Cattywampus!!! (2019 / Gypsy Farm Records)
Old Smokey
In related news, long time GF veterans and psychedelic-folk-dream-team, otherwise known as “Old Smokey” (Jim Willingham), have reissued their first ep, Weeping Willow, and made it available for the first time online, thanks to John Fernandes’ Cloud Recordings label.
The ep was Gypsy Farm’s fifth release (GF005) having since gone out-of-print but is available now digitally, via bandcamp.
GF005 / Weeping Willow / Old Smokey
“Sounds as if it were originally featured on “The Wickerman” Soundtrack (1973), but some how, rather found itself reincarnated, falling through the laws of time and landing on your turntable, here in this strange modern world.” – WJAY review of Old Smokey [2013]
The Humms
Rounding out our scope of all things in GFR news, pre-orders are now live for the long awaited album by The Humms. The sophomore effort, titled Vampire Hours, marks the return of original founding drummer, John Bleech, among other special guest appearances and is due out September 29th with a special advance release for Record Store Day at select locations in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Ohio and Kentucky.
“This new release from The Humms yanks the listener from the ghoulish psychedelia of ‘Lemonland’, thrusting them deep into a depraved and possessed saloon in 17th century Transylgeorgia, spinning through violent and resplendent waves of dusty, mescaline-dipped Mai Tais, screaming for the life they once forgot, shadow boxing the vampire they’re afraid to admit they are.”
— Jared Cobb, The Peacock Observer
The Humms promotional video
Along with the announcement, came a weird video collage, seemingly composed of old footage from the GFR archives, accompanied by a soundscape, with a rhythm not unlike that of some defunct Maytag dryer.
The audio has yet to be confirmed as being any part of the album’s track list. [UPDATE: The song title is “Fangs”]
Pre-order The Humms Vampire Hours on 12″ vinyl and get a digital download of the record, including the first single “Lady Low”.
Earlier today, the cassette sector of Gypsy Farm released a statement claiming their machines are “fired up” and running momentarily to produce a “super short-run” follow up to 2018’s now out-of print compilation album, Rock and Raw.
The first volume was an even shorter-run tape release, only circulated privately among the bands involved and friends.
Rock and Raw: Vol. 2 is packed with past and current artists of the label roster and comes loaded with the newest single out from the Humms unreleased album, Vampire Hours.
Opening with Bat & The Bears – “Kromp”, an urgent breakbeat style of composition brushed with samples of old gospel choir recordings.
That segues delightfully into the raunchy sludge of distortion that is The Honey Sliders tune “Fucking And Fighting”. This mixtape is sure to liven up the cooler-conversation if played in the workplace.
Vol. 2 is currently unavailable on streaming platforms and may only be purchased via our GF HOTLINE (706-356-5638), email or messaging our social media profiles.
Track listing:
Side A: Kromp – Bat & The Bears Fucking and Fighting – The Honey Sliders Perfect Day – Pine Tar Rage W.I.P. – Richie
Side B: Natural – The Haunted Head Wagon Yard – Shoal Creek Stranglers The Leaking Man – Old Smokey I Hung Myself – Uncle Goo Merry Days – The Humms Recall – The Ice Creams
In other GF related news, we are excited to finally see the release of Ancient Whales: Live at Adult Swim this Friday (May 29th) where ever good music is streamed!
We are ecstatic after receiving the news that Old Smokey’s second full-length album will finally be released today on all streaming platforms. The record titled “Sundowners” was originally recorded throughout 2015 and into 2016 before being shelved indefinitely due to the band going on hiatus later that year.
Then in April of 2019, the album saw limited release through bandcamp before finally being picked up by Gypsy Farm’s online distributor and made available world wide.
“Jim Willingham is a beast of a man, a real-life hero and this all reflects in his modest but powerful approach to songwriting and performing.” – Acousticult
Jim Willingham / Old Smokey
Stream and share “Sundowners” available everywhere today.
Welcome to the strange world of 2016 folks – Following is the latest scheduled GF Happenins for the month of January :
JAN 15th / 40 watt / Athens GA – The fabolous 40 watt is proud to present : OLD SMOKEY, SCOTT SPILLANE and THE ALL CITY CANNONBALLERS at 9pm / $5 / 18+ / EVENT PAGE
Your participation is strongly encouraged as we summon the sounds of hell – beginning this Friday night at the Flicker Theatre in Athens, GA. The establishment is proud to welcome GF veterans Garett Hatch (and his one-man-band extraordinaire), The Shoal Creek Stranglers (performing a peculiar blend of various interest), Pine Tar Rage (Carolina Rock ‘n Roll quartet of souls) with Old Smokey (haunting the musical hairs off of you). 10pm / $5 / RSVP to the official event page
T.S. Woodward and friends (pictured above) earlier this month sinking in an attempt to capture what will eventually become the cover of his upcoming release, planned for 2016. Photo courtesy of Woodward’s facespook – Many thanks to Dominar productions.
Below are the GF happenins for OCTOBER
Oct 1st / Caledonia Lounge– Launch into the month as Atlanta’sown Gringo Star revisits the classic city with our pals Slow Parade and Tedo Stone – Visit the official event page for more details – Show starts at 9:30pm – Athens, GA
Oct 2nd, 3rd and 4th / BRWA Music Fest – Elf Power, Athens Cowboy Choir, Shoal Creek Stranglers, Scott Spillane, Sea of Dogs, Shade and so many more! Tent Camping and other activities. Visit official Event Page for details – this happening is at Camp Kiwanis in Danielsville, GA
Oct 10th / Lavonia Gazebo – Celebrated poet and local resident John W. Williams will host an autograph session for his latest book “A Cup of Warm Words” as Zeke Sayer provides musical entertainment from 10am-11am at the Gazebo in downtown Lavonia, GA
Oct 16th and 17th / Mountain Hitchin – The Shoal Creek Stranglers are off to the South-East end of Appalachia this weekend to croon a lovely couple into holy matrimony for all eternity. Our highest congratulations to Ashlie and Andrew! – Asheville, NC
Oct 22nd / Salem Community Center– Sponsored by the Salem Branch/Oconee County Library presents TheDrovers Old Time Medicine Show performing at 7pm in Salem, SC
Oct 23rd / The Optimist – It’s the infamous return of the Midnight Stranglers performing various renditions of rock and roll treasures from 7-10pm while you sample some of the towns finest seafood cuisine. We wholeheartedly recommend the lobster roll – Atlanta, GA
Oct 30th / Flicker Theatre – Join us for a fabulous evening of music from Old Smokey, Pine Tar Rage (from the upstate of South Carolina), The Shoal Creek Stranglers special electrified setand a solo performance by Garett Hatch. For more details visit the official event page – Show starts at 10pm / $5 – Athens, GA
Oct 31st / Flicker Theatre – Prepare for a night of ghoulish delight summoned forth by our ole friends LOS MEESFITS along with ANTLERED AUNT LORD and JOWE HEAD (of Swell Maps – all the way from England!) Visit the official event page for more details – Show starts at 10pm – Athens, GA
Gypsy Farm Network 