Firstly, and most importantly, big gig tomorrow (Tues 6/6) at Pizza Express Live Holborn! Tickets here;

https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/daniel-mcguinness-will-purdue-blank-face

So unfortunately I had a few setbacks with releasing a single, and have also decided to keep performing just under my own name, as things were getting a little confusing when changing it if playing as full band. It’s often said that the beauty of being unknown is you can keep mistakes without many people noticing, which is true if not a little brutal!

However I’m really gearing up for a big year on the music front, starting now. I’ve really found that obsessive nature again so definitely going to try and channel that consistently. So if you have any good ideas for gigs, even just ideas in general (a good friend suggested a music video for a certain song), send them my way, all ears!

Outside of the music front there’s quite a lot going on, it’s been a topsy turvy (do people still say that?) year so far, so perhaps that’s why I’m running so much towards making music. It really is great having an outlet, especially when you have to manage emotions at both ends of the scale, there’s been some really fantastic things, some big opportunities that never were, and just lots of change.

I’ve just got back from a trip to Ireland with the football team and what a music scene, I already want to go back. In Dublin, we went to see a band called Kind (alt rock, with two lead singers and beautiful harmonies) at the sound house who were absolutely brilliant, and a great venue as well. We also went to be best / worst night club of all time (coppers), and went for a very mid 2000s combo of Smirnoff ice and tequilas, which I’m probably still hungover from now.

Some of the (musical!) talent around was at such a high level, including Ol’ Times (classic rock) in Galway with one of the best busking sets I’ve seen, definitely worth checking out.

It’s great that it’s still such a part of the culture, so would definitely like to tour there next year, which I actually had planned for summer 2020, but you know…

It’s made me think about raising my own standards a bit as well, so I’ve been beavering away on a new acoustic set, and extremely excited to start performing it, there’s a few more covers in there but I’ve tried to knit the whole thing together in a very personal way.

(Ps oh our football team won, Forza Wimbledon Sporting Club!)

So tomorrow is a pretty gig for me on Tuesday at Pizza Express Jazz Cafe Holborn, it would be absolutely fantastic if you could get to this one. Amazing sound there, pizza, and a really beautiful venue so should be a fantastic night. Big thanks to Jamma for getting me on that one. Details of this one!

https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/daniel-mcguinness-will-purdue-blank-face

Huge thanks for supporting my dreams!

Will

So, some new music then!

I’ve had the strangest thing the last 18 months or so, basically we made the music I always dreamt of, and then…the crash.

It’s one of the few problems in life in recent years that I haven’t been able to move past, just the feeling of not being able to go again, like dipping a toe in cold water before heading off in the opposite direction.

However, my friends and I have made some music I’m incredibly proud of, and the time of it sitting in some cloud is over.

Part of getting past this inertia has been to change my name as such, so rather than releasing under my name, the project is called Like Ribbons. Part of that has been to put together a fantastic band, who are really starting to find our feet with a gig and festival under our belts now. It also means we can do more on the design side, and I really want to play around with some clothing.

We’ll be heading to The Bedford, Balham on Thur 11th May for a headline set, then on Tues 6th June we head up to North London for a performance at the Pizza Express Jazz cafe. Both fantastic venues, especially for sound quality, and both will bring you excellent pizza while you watch us!

The Bedford tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/live-at-the-bedford-tickets-540158026197

Pizza Express tickets:

https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/daniel-mcguiness-will-purdue-blank-face

Big thanks to Jamma Music for hosting us for both of these.

I’m planning on putting out a new song every six weeks (indefinitely), and we’re going to start with Fading Light (YouTube May 1st, streaming mid May). It’s a song about the kind of feelings I was describing at the start of this, the feeling of can you go again, or has something changed and been lost forever?

Where do you run?

Where do you run and hide?

Out in the wilderness of the second best,

Am I chasing a fading light?

In the meantime, I would both love it and appreciate it if you could either,

A - Book a gig ticket?

Or

B - Subscribe to my YouTube in prep for Fading Light

https://youtube.com/@likeribbonsband

Huge thanks, this is my absolute favourite thing to do and it’s amazing how supportive people can light the spark.

Will / Like Ribbons

Hi,

So exciting times ahead on the music front. After a period of soul searching and working out what I want to do with it, I’ve got some news! If you’ve been following me online you’ve probably seen a lot more modelling and less music (though that’s been great fun too, Eurostar in Amsterdam and Guinness being highlights so far!).

For me the actual part where you’re creating something is the absolute best mentally, when time stops and you have something that you’re really proud of. 

I’ve just decided to do lots of the parts I really enjoy and see what happens this year, though bizarrely that already seems to be paying off. In the last 48 hours I’ve got a couple of great offers, rewriting some lyrics and a great gig for this month, so it seems there’s been a shift of some sort. 

I absolutely writing songs at home with the cat, playing music with friends, doing interesting gigs and film photography. So that’s pretty much what I’m going to spend a lot of time doing this year, and it would be great if you could join the journey! 

All of the above will now come under a new name…so introducing….

Like Ribbons! Follow us @likeribbonsband https://www.instagram.com/likeribbonsband/

I’ve put together a band of wonderful people, and so now have some friends to join me for the live side of things this year (Chris, Lu, Toby and Lawrence…let’s go!). We’ve been building up our set at a brilliant studio in Cobham.

There will be new music in the next couple of months, however if you’re too excited to wait until then, why not come and see us at a gig? 

Sat 28th Jan - Eel Pie Club Twickenham supporting Dexter Flew 

https://www.ents24.com/twickenham-events/the-cabbage-patch/dexter-flew/6650422 

Thur 9th Feb - Half Moon Putney supporting Bessie Deakin

https://tickets.halfmoon.co.uk/events/d26855cf-9af1-4aae-a266-445d937bf26e

Finally I’m really getting into my photography, and if anyone knows of any actors, musicians or creative types that want some photos on film, please connect them and I’d be happy to try and set up a free shoot.

Here’s to an exciting 2023!

Thanks,

Will 

So April flew by! It seems to when you’re having fun, or moving in this case!  

There’s been a fair bit of change my end, including leaving London further behind and moving into the countryside - I live in a barn now!

It’s stunning and I’m already feeling calmer and more outdoorsy, and spending a lot more sitting and staring out the window (see picture!). I think it’s going to be really great for making time to be creative. Also now detached so can crank that amp up! 😇

Lois the cat is so happy, with a little garden to watch the birds and some stairs to go crazy on, so everything is good here. 

On the music front, I’ve been finishing a lot of stuff, and then biding my time waiting for the right to time to release and really get back out again. 

However the new songs are really my best by far, so I am going to release the first track this month. It’s called Missing Piece and I can’t wait for you to hear it, you can hear a sneak peak with the lyrics below. 

We’re going to shoot the video in an abandoned air field, and all of this will be out on Friday May 27th…can’t wait! The song was also recorded on a barge in North London so there’s been some pretty interesting locations with this one. 

Please do listen and share, the amazing thing with social media is you never know who might be watching, so it really does help.

They’ll be some merch and hopefully some exciting things going on with it so please do stay tuned!  

Will

missing piece

It’s getting late,

It’s after dark,

And you’re a million miles,

From where you say you are,

And I’ve given blood,

I’ve given time,

I must be out of my goddamn mind,

I’ll sit down by the riverside and wait for you,

Like I always do,

You’re a missing piece, 

A missing piece of me,

And so it ends,

Then it begins,

It was written down,

But never sent,

And I’ll walk it back,

Right to the vine,

I must be out of my goddamn mind,

I’ll sit down by the riverside and wait for you,

Like I always do,

You’re a missing piece, 

A missing piece of me,

And I can’t eat, 

And I can’t sleep,

Until you’re here.