On the 10th December 2012 we had some very special guests in Special Collections! In collaboration with the Department of Music, the Bookshop Band performed a selection of their songs and gave a talk about their song writing techniques, transforming the Special Collections reading room into an intimate music venue.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np3L0ABSgTI&feature=youtu.be]

Formed in late September 2010, The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by books, and play them in bookshops. Most of the songs come from when their local bookshop in Bath, Mr Bs Emporium Of Reading Delights, hosts an author evening. The band read the book, and write two songs inspired by it, to be performed at the start of the evening, with the author in the audience.

After the first year of events they had recorded four albums, and quietly released a boxset with them all in. Supported by VINTAGE BOOKS the band went on a tour of independent bookshops around the UK in 2012, also coinciding with Independent Bookseller’s Week. Over this period they have been featured on 6Music, The Today Program, Front Row, BBC 1 News, and The Guardian among others. During 2012 the band have written a further three albums and hope to record them for release in early 2013.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66_HrE2OtnE]

Above is just one of the songs performed last term in the library, and is inspired by Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch.

The event was a great success and enjoyed by all students and staff who attended. Have a look at the Bookshop Band website for more videos and book-inspired songs.