when we started putting nights on at the sailing club, the name at the top of our list was, the genius that is - Mr Ian McNabb...
So we are extremely proud to announce that the man himself will be joining us on the 3rd June, on his Utopian tour, playing classic Icicle Works tracks as well as songs from his stunning critically acclaimed solo albums...
In 1981 Ian formed The Icicle Works with Chris Sharrock (drums), and Chris Layhe (bass and vocals).
They quickly gained a following through their debut single release, Nirvana, and extensive live performances up and down the country.
The Icicle Works became part of the Liverpool renaissance movement of the eighties, alongside acts such as Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, WAH!, Heat, OMD, Black, Dead Or Alive, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Lotus Eaters, and China Crisis.
They signed to Beggar’s Banquet records, and under the guidance of Martin Mills scored a top 20 hit with Love Is A Wonderful Colour in the U.K ; and top 40 placings in the U.S, Canada, and Europe with Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream), with their eponymous debut album.
The Icicle Works achieved top 40 placings in the UK for all four of their albums - The Icicle Works, The Small Price Of A Bicycle, If You Want To Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Songs, and Blind - until they split up in 1988.
nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-a-to-k/artists-i/icicle-works/
Muff Winwood signed Ian to Epic records in 1989, paying a buy-out fee to Beggar’s Banquet; but Muff’s insistence on using The Icicle Works name, (with new musicians Roy Corkill and Zak Starkey) when the original band had ceased to be, caused friction, and after one disappointingly received album, Permanent Damage, Ian was dropped from Epic’s roster.
Ian began a collaboration with his friend and previous Icicle Works producer, Ian Broudie - a number of songs featured on subsequent Lightning Seeds records, which became hugely successful.
Ian signed to Andrew Lauder’s new imprint, This Way Up, in 1992, which yielded 3 albums : Truth And Beauty (which Ian had recorded at his own expense by remortgaging his house), Head Like A Rock, which was recorded in part with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse in L.A and subsequently nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 1994, and Merseybeast - the latter 2 albums achieved top 30 placings; the first was heralded as “One of the best records released in Q magazine’s lifetime”.
This Way Up records ceased to be in 1997 and Ian found himself without a deal once more, so accepted an invitation to join his friend Mike Scott (The Waterboys) on bass guitar for a lengthy European and Japanese tour.
Ian self financed another record in 1998, A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf Of The Emotional Party, which featured Danny Thompson (John Martyn, Nick Drake amongst others) on upright bass. They toured together that Autumn to promote the record.
At the end of the decade Ian released the live disc Live at Life, recorded over two nights at Liverpool’s Life Cafe.
Ian then joined The Waterboys on keyboards for a European tour. When this was completed, Ian accepted Ian Broudie’s invitation to record on ‘The Barge’ - Pete Townshend’s studio which Broudie was currently renting, moored next to Pete’s Eel Pie complex. The resulting album - Ian McNabb - saw a return of Ian’s love of guitar driven pop/rock and was released on Sanctuary Records in 2001.
louderthanwar.com/ian-mcnabb-icicle-works-frontman-and-one-of-our-premier-song-writers-give-dave-jennings-an-update-on-another-busy-year-for-him/
Ian briefly played bass guitar in Ringo Starr’s band in 2002.
Throughout the 00s Ian released a further 5 solo albums : Waifs And Strays, The Gentleman Adventurer, Before All Of This, How We Live, and Great Things - all self financed and issued on his own Fairfield Records imprint to a small, dedicated fan base.
All albums were supported by extensive touring.
In 2009 Ian unleashed his autobiography Merseybeast which has become something of a cult classic amongst the rock fraternity (Peter Buck of R.E.M contacted Ian recently to tell him that he’d only just discovered the book and loved it!) - it has since been released as an audio book, narrated by Ian himself.
So far this decade, Ian has released Little Episodes, Eclectic Warrior, and Kruggerands - harder rocking albums which both feature the band Cold Shoulder ; Respectfully Yours (a long promised album of cover versions), Star, Smile, Strong, which features collaborations with Prof. Brian Cox, a co-write with Ralph Molina (from Crazy Horse), and the unexpected return of Icicle Works drummer Chris Sharrock (who had gone on to work with The La’s, World Party, Del Amitri, Dave Stewart, Mick Jagger, Robbie Williams, Oasis, and both Liam and Noel Gallagher in their solo endeavours), and most recently Our Future In Space, which once again features Cold Shoulder, and the song Aquamarine co-written with R.E.Ms Peter Buck.
Ian still lives in Liverpool, where is he a full time carer for his 85 year old mother. He tours whenever he can, and continues to write and listen to music constantly.
Kristin Hersh...Confessions, Lyrics & Nostalgia by Iman Kakai-Lazell
£25 GBP
An Evening with the mighty Ian Prowse - Live at The Venue - Kendal Fri 19 April 2024
£16 GBP
Return Of The Roughnecks –
The Return Of The Roughnecks… Live! Chameleons (2xCD + postcard set) Limited Edition
ChameleonsVox
£14 GBP
Blindness –
Blindness + Bonus CD - Homeless (2 x CD)
Fred Abong
£15 GBP
Death Of A Society Girl –
Death of A Society Girl
Perry Blake
£12 GBP
TIM QUINN - CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO/ MONSTER MARVEL MEMORIES by Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett
£15 GBP
23 Moochin' About Postcards
£15 GBP
PERRY BLAKE in concert 23RD November - LE BAIXU - Brussels, Belgium
£20 GBP
An Evening With Then Jerico...The Platform - Morecambe
£25 GBP
BIG COUNTRY live at The Platform 40TH Anniversary of The Crossing with very special guests GENE LOVES JEZEBEL & DIESEL PARK WEST
£30 GBP
An Evening With Mark Morriss from The Bluetones 18th May Ruskins Bar Kendal
Sold Out
The Chameleons ~ Strange Times (Black Edition)
£35 GBP
I Know I Will Lose You –
I Know I Will Lose You (CD EP)
Chet Baker & Ennio Morricone
£7 GBP
I Know I Will Lose You –
I Know I Will Lose You (Hand Numbered 10" EP)
Chet Baker & Ennio Morricone
Sold Out
Death of A Society Girl –
Perry Blake - Death of A Society Girl feat Paul McGann
Perry Blake feat Paul McGann
£6 GBP
Dark Mark Lanegan - Postcard set
£12 GBP
The Chameleons '2023 Calendar...
Sold Out
Mark Lanegan ...Confessions, Lyrics & Nostalgia (Limited Edition)
£20 GBP
An Evening with The Bluetones at Arnside Sailing Club - 17th December EXTRA SHOW!
Sold Out
An Evening with Miles Hunt at Arnside Sailing Club 4.12.22
Sold Out
An Evening with Miles Hunt at Arnside Sailing Club 3.12.22
Sold Out
An Evening with LYR - Live at Arnside Sailing Club
Sold Out
California (extended) –
California (Extended)
Perry Blake
Sold Out
An Evening with The Bluetones - plus very special guest...16th December
Sold Out
Kirk Brandon - Confessions Lyrics & Nostalgia
£25 GBP
MONSTER MARVEL MEMORIES by Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett
£18 GBP
An Evening with This Is The Kit & Richard Walters - live at Arnside Sailing Club 27th August 2022
Sold Out
Another Evening With Ian McNabb ~ Live At Arnside Sailing Club...
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AN EVENING WITH MARK MORRISS FROM THE BLUETONES - LIVE AT ARNSIDE SAILING CLUB 18TH MARCH 2022
Sold Out
An Evening with Kirk Brandon at Arnside Sailing Club ~ Saturday 18th June With Special Guest - Tom Bright
Sold Out
An Evening With 'The Phenomenal' Ian Prowse..! Sunday, 3rd April 2022 Arnside Sailing Club
Sold Out
MARK BURGESS SIGNED POLAROID ART
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Moochin' About England, UK
Launched 2011,by Barrow Producer & musician,
Jason Lee Lazell, the world & jazz buyer for Tower Records
(1993-2003) the largest record store in Europe…the critically acclaimed label Moochin’ About has gained admiration from Cerys Matthews,Huey Morgan,Giles Peterson,Jamie Cullum,Stuart Marcone,Johnny Trunk,Robert Elms,Iggy Pop…
... more
