For two weeks in a row Dlugokecki have been NUMBER 1 in the South Coast Chart with our new single ‘The Optimist’. Thank you to all those who voted, this is amazing! Keep voting now!
https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/south-coast-music/chart/
Victorious Festival & The Big Bike Bash 2021
Blessed by the best weather and sunshine ever in the history of Festivals, we graced the Book.Events Stage at Victorious last weekend. Playing on the same day as Royal Blood, Nile Rogers, Supergrass and (one of my all time favs) Cast! Photos: Steve Spurgin
I also got to play the awesome Big Bike Bash. Due to a problem on the motorway, yours truly had to strum until all the other bands turned up. Amazing night. Photos: Aidan Hampson Photography.
It’s bloody ruddy great to be back! Love Ben x
The Social Distancing Tour 2020
When the ‘Come Find Us’ Tour was shut down due to social distancing rules and my family had to self-isolate due to Lily having a bad cold there was only one thing to do - go on tour. But this time, of my own home - using the WORST picture of me I could find!
We were all still in a bit of shock about the situation, and this tour happened as the lockdown was introduced! Every night over 100 people tuned in to see me perform with Mary (my fiance) and Katy (Marys sister) pretty much mucking about. It was a very special set of shows, not at all polished, an absolutely absurd - but right for the time and we like to think it made a few people happy. Katy did an incrdible job with the set design, Mary opened some drinks and kept an eye on the social media posts while James Wills built an entire website. We had support acts each night - Tom Vamos (twice), Dan O Farrell, a bagpiper and Davey Anscombe! The whole thing was just silly and fun. It also in Marys words ‘Killed an Evening’.
Each night we had incredible friends, family, strangers and fans tune in and send us over a two thousand comments. We got some pics as well…
We were lucky to get some media attention. The press were all over us! We appeared on the Daily Echo website and Yahoo News!
I was interviewed for BBC Radio Solent! Hear below!
and then we were featured on the news on BBC South Today!
After the tour we planned to do a follow-up tour, but we decided that we had a great enjoyable time doing the first social distancing shows and that was it! Less is more. But you never know! Never say never! Watch all the shows on our YouTube channel!
Oh we also did a trailer for the last show of the tour which always makes me laugh….
'Forevermore' - Dlugokecki write song for Naomi House Childrens Hospice & Jacksplace
I was approached by my friend Penny to write a song for Naomi House. I had a song I was working on called ‘Forevermore’ and thought wouldn’t it be awesome to get some of the best singers I know together and record a song together. I met with a great team at Naomi House led by the lovely Lucy Gray. Together we put a team together, including excellent cinematographer Laurent Metrich, to create the song. Using Tim’s outstanding producing skills we set out to make the song, recording it all in one day at The Railway in Winchester. Aidan from the band got his friends (and Saints FC players) Danny Ings and Jack Stephens to play guitar on the track. Aidan also provided outstanding photos of the day. Laurent’s video (below) was fantastic. Read more about that here from the Daily Echo Website: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18326259.saints-players-danny-ings-jack-stephens-naomis-house-jacksplace-forevermore-project/
We then released the song, raised over £900 from donations alone and we will see how the song sells and streams. It was an honour to record with the many many singers, a fun experience and I’m very proud of the song! We made the local news!
Read more here: https://www.naomihouse.org.uk/support-us/fundraise/forevermore
Come Find Us Tour 2020 finishes early!
So… the coronavirus put a stop to the ‘Come Find Us’ Tour, our most ambitious tour to date. We still managed to get a sold out show at The Railway in Winchester, alongside shows at Bursfest 2020, Portsmouth (Jags) and Southampton (The Brook). We were excited about playing the songs live but we will use the time to write a new album! Sending love to everyone! Ben x
New Dlugokecki Tour 2020
To support our new album and while we write the follow up, we’re off to play some of our favourite places!
'Come Find Us' Tour Dates 2020
THURSDAY 13TH FEB - Jags at 119, PORTSMOUTH
SATURDAY 29TH FEB - BURSFEST, BURSELDON
THURSDAY 5TH MARCH - The Brook SOUTHAMPTON
FRIDAY 13TH MARCH- The Railway Inn, WINCHESTER
THURSDAY 19TH MARCH - The Bedford, LONDON
SATURDAY 28TH MARCH - Portsmouth Guildhall
SATURDAY 28TH MARCH - Winchester Discovery Centre
SUNDAY 5TH APRIL - Jags@119, PORTSMOUTH
FRIDAY 1ST MAY - Chaplins & The Cellar Bar, BOURNEMOUTH
SUNDAY 17TH MAY - The Cavern Club, LIVERPOOL
New Album 'Come Find Us' out now!
CD + MP3 Download: https://dlugokecki.bigcartel.com/product/come-find-us
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0Mxz1mviFibjZGyWvoBgKe?si=8EdbmD9kTke8KpkcArA6Mg
YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l1yPVpH2e-lqxmH5AJk2QuLD3dZP7xM-s
Bandcamp: https://dlugokecki.bandcamp.com/album/come-find-us
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dlugokecki/e/B001LI9HFO
iTunes/Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/dlugokecki/64155133
Dlugokecki play Sofar Sounds Southampton
Dlugokecki got to play the incredible Royal Victoria Country Park Abbey as part of Sofar Sounds. This was an incrdible fun gig in a unique location. Thanks for having us and it was great meeting the other acts!
New Album - Come Find Us - Out now!
After playing numerous summer festivals - including Victorious, Isle of Wight and Armada - we sold out our album launch show at the newly refurbished Southampton ‘Gods House Tower’ on the 22nd of November as part of our official launch of our first album in over six years entitled ‘Come Find Us’.
“It’s an album about the search to find out who you are” Ben says. “It’s about finding hope, confronting fear and finding what you need. This collection of future global smash hits is a testament to a time in my life where I was really finding out who I was for the first time. When I started writing songs I was just a boy, then I suddenly had all these life experiences and age. What came out of that time was this album. It’s optimistic, and we all really need that now. It’s a journey”.
Dlugokecki have been lucky throughout their musical endeavors, but have always managed to miss out on the big time. They have supported Snow Patrol, David Gray, Passenger, The Proclaimer’s and even LuLu.
“Lulu invited me for dinner. I turned her down because I really wanted a Kebab I saw on the journey to the venue! Reason 432 why we are not famous!”
2019 has been one of their busiest for the band. In May the band headlined the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool to a capacity crowd. The band released 3 singles including their 3rd single called ‘X10’ where their video was recorded in one take on the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway. They recently played at Southampton Striker Danny Ings birthday party and even got to perform after Starsailor on Love your Tent stage at the Isle of Wight Festival.
The new album comes after years after a lyrical wilderness as Ben had a break from songwriting.
“I stopped writing songs a while back – they were just becoming repetitive and around the same theme. 3 years not one lyric came out of me. My brain was saying take a break from it – my songs then were just meh. When I came back to writing, it was like welcoming back an old friend. Writing and then playing your songs live, hearing that others relate to it – it’s simply the best feeling ever. Now the songs just won’t stop coming”.
The Tower was once a gateway to the city and has gone through extensive restoration work. The album can be bought from this website and can be streamed from all major platforms.
Dlugokecki play the Acoustic Stage at Victorious Festival 2019
After playing Isle of Wight, Swanfest, Netley Music Festival & Armada Festivals’ I finally got to bring out the band for the penultimate show of our summer tour, Victorious Festival. We played the Acoustic Stage to a glorious crowd, excellent weather and had one of our best ever shows. Thanks to all who came and supported us, and we’re glad the new songs are going down well. We will be announcing more news about our album over the next week. Love Ben x
Photos by Mary Steele.
New Single & Tour - 'X10'
NEW SINGLE & NEW TOUR DATES
Sat 18th - The Cavern Pub, Liverpool
Sat 18th - Cavern Club Liverpool
Fri 24th - Pews Bar & Courtyard, Guildford
Sat 25th - Portsmouth Guildhall
Sat 25th - Winchester Discovery Centre
Our 3rd single from this era ‘X10’ taken from our forthcoming new album is out out on the 17th of May in the usual places.
We are heading back to Liverpool in May to play the Cavern Club and the International Pop Overthrow Liverpool. We will playing two sets one on the legendary Cavern Club stage and one at the Pub over the road. We are also playing two shows in one day for ABC Concerts where anyone can bring their families. I’ll also be heading back to my hometown of Guildford to play some originals and covers at the venue of my second ever gig, Pews!
Loads of details coming and I can’t wait for you all to see the new video.
Lots of love, Ben x
Ben features on the K&A Podcast
I had the absolute honour and joy to be asked to be interviewed for the K&A podcast. Aidan and Karl were kind enough to trash Travis, give me free beer and ask me a ton of questions. A fantastic podcast, a great catch up and it’s FREE.
How to listen to the podcast:
1) Search for 'K&A Podcast' on your favourite iTunes/podcast app. There's more than one though, so keep an eye out for our profile picture.
2) Directly through our website: http://aidanhampson.co.uk/ka-podcast/
3) Using the RSS feed: http://aidanhampson.co.uk/ka-podcast?format=rss
Archive Review from Logo Magazine
A review of Archive by Dlugokecki from Alan Downes, Logo Magazine
It’s too early to speak of a career renaissance, but there is definitely an air of renewal around Dlugokecki. Prompted perhaps by the release of Archive, a select career-overview spanning over fifteen years of recordings, it feels like the exercise of selecting these songs has encouraged a look inward and resulted in a revitalisation. That is now however, and this release is all about then, and how we got here.
Ben Dlugokecki fashions tales of love, loss and isolation – classic singer-songwriter fare – but within these sagas he manages to infuse copious amounts of joy. From that friction springs a sense of mystery that demands attention, and so you listen a little more closely, and an hour later you discover yourself an hour older, and a little bit wiser. There is real depth to these songs, they are shadowy and, occasionally, surprisingly demanding, and yet they are radiant, demanding repeat listening. That, of course, is what separates great music from the throwaway fare of the top 40.
It is easy to trace the arc of Ben’s journey here, from the raw optimism of his earliest recordings through to today’s full-band productions, the result, surely, of close observation of the bands with which he has shared a stage: Snow Patrol and David Gray among them. There will be no lazy comparisons here though, because they would be inappropriate; no, what Dlugokecki has honed through his years of experience is an ear and an eye. An ear for melodies that push against his lyrics, and an eye on what his audience is reacting to, giving them more of what they didn’t even realise they wanted. If you’re looking for a way in, the rapturous ‘Save My Soul’ is the place to start – Ben knows it too, it’s the opening track.
So here we are in 2018, a chapter is being drawn to a close with the release of Archive, and yet it isn’t the end of the story. Part two, if I may call it that, begins with the release of the current single ‘The Bliss’. It’s an effortless progression, not a diversion. The sense of elation is vivid, the joy more alive, and there’s drama here too. Live, it’s an anthem in waiting, and a springboard to greater things. It’s not on the album though, so that’s two records you’ll need to buy, and buy them you will.
THE BLISS - SINGLE & VIDEO OUT NOW!
Download / Stream our new single NOW. If you SHARE the video you will recieve a piece of the original artwork from the video when you attend a Dlugokecki show in the future. Thank you & enjoy, it was a pleasure making this!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xcXtcx_F83Q
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2yK9Flz
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PGoZaq
Deezer: https://bit.ly/2QXoVmB
Buy our Greatest hits: https://dlugokecki.bigcartel.com/
Video
Artwork by Mary Steele
Animation by Mary Steele & Ben Dlugokecki
Editing by Ben Dlugokecki
Music
Written by Ben Dlugokecki
Performed by Ben Dlugokecki, Tim Jackson, Aidan Hampson, Boyd, Lottie Cuthbert & Stu Brewer
Produced by Tim Jackson
Mixed and Mastered by Glen Nichols
The Brook - 12th October (Supporting Stu Larsen)
I'm playing a short opening set for my friends Stu Larsen & Natsuki Kurai. These guys are simply amazing live and it's a privilage to open the show for these guys. Please arrive early to catch me, ticket details are below. 7.30pm start.
£11 Adv / £13 Door / Age 18 And Up (14+Accompanied)
Tickets:
https://the-brook.com/event-details/8392455/stu-larsen-natsuki-kurai/
Putting the Tracks in Front of the Train - Dlugokecki (Archive Dlugokecki)
You can our pre-order the CD at https://dlugokecki.bigcartel.com. All out on the 15th June 2018!
See us live
15th June - Pews Bar & Courtyard, Guildford
16th June - The Talking Heads, Southampton (with Coast)
28th June - Jags at 119, Portsmouth
29th June - 93 Feet East, London
4th August - Vicky Park Music Festival, Main Stage 1.30pm
Archive & Archive+ released on 15th June 2018
On June 15th 2018 we release ARCHIVE (CD) and ARCHIVE+ (Download/Streaming). These collections of songs feature all our favourite recordings including our singles ‘Save My Soul’, ‘We are Loved’, ‘Too Many Borders’ and ‘Putting the Tracks in front of the Train’.
The ARCHIVE (CD) includes a 14-page booklet detailing the timeline of the band and over 100+ photos. With every order of the CD before the 1st of June you will receive a free badge, keyring and signed ARCHIVE artwork print.
The ARCHIVE Track-listing:
Save My Soul
We Are Loved
Too Many Borders
Strobe Light
Putting the Tracks in front of the Train
Right time / wrong time
Set in Stone
Shine On
Calm before the Storm
48
Barricades
Hope Song
A heaven to believe in
You Don’t own me
Impossible Speeds
Ocean
All Stations
Insecure
Pre-order the CD here: http://dlugokecki.bigcartel.com/
ARCHIVE+ (Download/Streaming) is an epic 50 song collection of Dlugokecki songs that includes 10 recordings from our ARCHIVE live performances from The Vestry, Southampton in 2014.
You will be able to pre-order the download soon.
The Dlugokecki trio will also be performing in June to coincide with the release. Catch us live here:
June 15th - Pews, Guildford
June 16th - The Talking Heads, Southampton (supporting COAST)
June 28th - Jags, Portsmouth
June 29th - 93 Feet East, London
We are also releasing weekly videos of our 'Archive' concert for the next few months. Please help us out by sharing these videos!
Thank you for your continued support, much love!
Ben Dlugokecki, May 2018