New review of Beau - "Live in Lichfield"...

Many thanks to Geoff Wall (at SIIYE) and Brian Hinton for this review of the recent “Live in Lichfield” vinyl from Fruits de Mer Records.

Appreciated, guys!

Beau - "Bonfires Of The Soul" - RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED...

STOP PRESS: We now have the release date and cover for the brand-new Beau album for 2026!

 “Bonfires Of The Soul” will be released by Cherry Red Records on Friday 8^th May, just in time for my 80^th birthday!
 
Much more soon!

New Beau “80th birthday celebratory album”...

 

Some excellent STOP PRESS news!

Cherry Red & I have just agreed arrangements for release in a few months’ time of my new Beau “80^th birthday celebratory album”.

Much more info to come, but I can at least confirm the title of the new set; “Bonfires Of The Soul”.

You heard it here first! Stay tuned…

"Live in Lichfield" review...

This rather nice review – translated from the original German – of the recent “Live in Lichfield” EP was published a few days ago on the Vanbauseneick website.
 
Many thanks to Matthias Bosenick.
 

***

 

Beau – Live In Lichfield – Fruits De Mer Records 2025

Published on October 14, 2025

 

By Matthias Bosenick (October 14, 2025)

Playing his twelve-string guitar alone, Beau, alias Trevor Midgley from Leeds, performed some of his folk songs at the Lichfield Festival in 2012. This was the first gig promoted by the Fruits De Mer label, and the label is now expressing its gratitude by releasing four tracks from this performance on eight-inch vinyl. Beau also gained notoriety because, in 1969, he was one of the first artists to release on Dandelion Records—John Peel's label.

 

Listening to this recording, you'd imagine yourself in a pub: English-style folk, performed solely on guitar, in a restrained but emphatic mid-range voice—the classic guitarist who accompanies drunkenness, you might think—but Beau doesn't bring infectious, participatory music here. His songs are reflective, internalized, in typical English style, with what feels like an endless number of verses—which isn't true—and accompanied by a crystal-clear guitar, which he pushes into the background of his vocals as needed or energetically brings to the fore as a focal point. Although he doesn't generate any ostentatious gimmicks, he doesn't simply strum the instrument either. Beau demands that you listen, and the audience obeys enthusiastically.

 

Lichfield, West Midlands, Staffordshire—you have to be familiar with that area, and that's not even close to Walton-on-Thames, where the Fruits De Mer label is based. That's where Beau, now 79, performed 13 years ago. The man is not that well known on the continent, although his 1969 single "1917 Revolution" was the second release on John Peel's Dandelion label. The song sounds not dissimilar to those on "Live In Lichfield", and there is a certain consistency to that.

 

However, his obviously best known song, "The Roses Of Eyam", was recorded in 1975 under the alias John Trevor and only released it in 2007. Today it is available via Cold Spring Records, the industrial neofolk label. Cherry Red is the other label that is concerned with his oeuvre, a more wavy environment. Now the psychedelic artists Fruits de Mer, and despite the various genres, his music has changed nothing: simply a man with his twelve-string, singing English folk songs.

"The S Factor" of 5th October - now on Mixcloud...

For those who missed Steve Wood’s rather fine “The S Factor” show of 5^th October on Mrs Yarrington’s Radio (in which he included “Today Began A Thousand Years Ago” from “The Way It Was” LP); the programme’s also now playing out on Mixcloud. 

Check it out and enjoy!

Beau on Mrs Yarrington's Radio...

Friends addicted to the excellent Mrs Yarrington’s Radio don’t need me to tell them about “The ‘S’ Factor” with Steve Wood!

 
However, in tonight’s 9pm show, I’m reliably informed Steve will be playing a song of mine, recently featured on the Fruits de Mer “Beau – Live in Lichfield” EP! 

The even better news is the show will have a repeat outing at 4pm tomorrow afternoon (Monday). 

Take it from me; an hour of splendid music is guaranteed!

"Influences" Radio show - chat audio...

For those who didn’t catch Chris McGranaghan’s “Influences” show on Lionheart Radio last Wednesday night, they’ve just posted the “chat audio” from the show
 
This is just an edit of the audio – no music – so there are a couple of linkage abnormalities. But it might be of interest.
 
Thanks as always to Chris; and enjoy!

"Influences" radio show on Mixcloud (with Part 1 of the Beau interview)...

Many thanks to Chris McGranaghan of Lionheart Radio for all the chat and plays on his last night’s “Influences” show. 

Aside from my shy and retiring self, there were some truly memorable tracks (including my old label-mate, Bridget St John). 

Thanks again, Chris!

Beau on Lionheart Radio...

I would humbly draw to your attention Chris McGranaghan’s “Influences” show, tonight at 8pm on Lionheart Radio. 

You won’t want to miss this! A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

"Beau - Live in Lichfield" - SOLD OUT!

I’m sincerely sorry to those who are now missing out, but all copies of the Fruits de Mer “Beau – Live in Lichfield” EP and signed poster have now been sold.
 
Many thanks as always for your support!

"Beau - Live in Lichfield" - some good news...

It’s great news Fruits de Mer Records have sold out of the “Beau – Live in Lichfield” EP through pre-order, prior to its date of release (today!).
 
I’m told the disc was way over-subscribed, and that therefore there have been quite a few disappointed fans and collectors out there.

There is however SOME GOOD NEWS!
 
I do have a VERY small personal supply of these 8-inch lathe-cut discs; also the signed A3 reprints of the original gig poster.
 
It has to be on a first come, first served basis, but I am offering two packages (UK only, I’m afraid):
 
Package One is the EP and poster exactly as sold by Fruits de Mer (i.e. £15.00 + £2.00 shipping).
 
Package Two is the EP and poster, plus a signed copy of “The Way It Was”, the original Ritual Echo Records LP the gig was set up to launch. Package Two will be £25.00 + £5.00 shipping.
 
Please email me at cjtmidgley@gmail.com to reserve your package or to enquire about availability.
 
Good luck, and many thanks to those who’ll shortly be receiving their copy from FdM. I hope you enjoy it.

Beau - "Live in Lichfield" SOLD OUT; however...

As you’ll see from Fruits de Mer’s website, the limited edition lathe-cut EP “Beau – Live in Lichfield” is now SOLD OUT!
 
However, there might be a small crumb of comfort next week for at least a few of those who were unlucky in the draw.
 
Keep watching this space…

Beau on Lionheart Radio...

Something for the diary!
 
On his Lionheart Radio “Influences” show last evening, Chris McGranaghan announced his next two shows (respectively on the 17^th September and 1^st October) will feature parts one & two of an extended Q&A we’ve recorded over the last week.
 
With music and chat totalling around 45 minutes, it’s beautifully timed to coincide with the release of the Beau “Live in Lichfield” EP, due out from Fruits de Mer Records later this month.
 

So, bookmark this link for the first helping at 8pm on Wednesday 17^th September. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

Lionheart Radio plays "The Way It Was"...

Many thanks to Chris McGranaghan for playing “The Way It Was” (from the original vinyl album of the same name) on his Lionheart Radio show last evening.

Much obliged, Chris!

Register for the "Live in Lichfield" ballot!

The “register for the ballot” at Fruits de Mer Records for the new Beau, lathe-cut, “Live in Lichfield” EP is now open! It’ll be available on 15^th September.
 
UK or overseas, email fruitsdemer7@hotmail.com to get your name in the hat! 

Good luck!