POKE Records

04/08/2025

NEW ALBUM RELEASE

Double Vision - Brian Heywood

Throughout Brian Heywood's music career he has created - and performed - a wide range of music styles. In fact, one reviewer described him as a 'musical polymath'.

Ever since he started recording his own music, he's been creating instrumental pieces ranging from folk and jazz rock to more 'off the wall' pieces like the final track on this album, which is also the title track Double Vision - which was inspired by Brian Eno's Generative Music concept.

The tracks on this album were created between 1985 and the end of the century and mainly original compositions with a small number of traditional folk tunes and one Baroque arrangements thrown in.

This is essentially a historical complilation and features -

Brian Heywood - lead vocals, electric guitar and guitar synth
Sara Hack - German flute
Tiberius James - whistles & border bagpipes
Saskia Tomkins - electric and acoustic violins
Donna Whitlock - percussion and kit drums
Graeme Harrison - electronic kit drums

This album is only available via Bandcamp

12 track album

30/06/2025

The new release - Peace of mind - has hit the streets on the digital world...

Check it out 😎

http://pokerecords.com.au/new/

Purchase Peace of mind Song by Brian Heywood

17/06/2025

Next release...

28/01/2025

Brian Heywood - (re)Draw the line
Original Single - Release Date: 14th Feb 2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, few artists possess the versatile talents that define Brian Heywood. A masterful guitarist, captivating vocalist, and prolific songwriter,

Heywood’s musical journey has taken him across continents and genres. From gracing the stages of grand festivals in outback Western Australia to enchanting intimate indie clubs in London, Heywood’s presence is felt deeply wherever his music touches the air. Originally hailing from Sydney, Australia, Heywood's latest single, (re)Draw the Line, is set to be released on February 14th, 2025, offering a refreshing take on the intersection of life's complexities and personal growth.

With influences ranging from Richard Thompson to Redgum's Hugh McDonald, Heywood's sound in (re)Draw the Line harks back to the edgy guitar of New Wave and Indie Rock genres, cutting through the techno hiss of current pop music. The track was meticulously recorded in North London and completed on the East Coast of Australia, weaving together the threads of Heywood's musical evolution. (Re)Draw the Line serves as an upbeat anthem for those seeking clarity and empowerment in a world filled with uncertainty. Heywood's musical polymath skills shine through in this single, promising a captivating listening experience for
audiences worldwide.

Spotify pre-save - http://pokerecords.com.au/new/

29/11/2024

Just under four weeks till Christmas!

It's time to set up your festive play list.

Here's a seasonal song from Hey wood & Moore...

Headin’ Home (for Christmas) takes a light-hearted look at the migration of the population from one end of the country to the other on Christmas Eve. It has been described as an ‘up tempo foot-tapper’ and ‘something that put a smile on your face’ which is undoubtedly Heywood & Moore USP

This track has appeared in the Australian Country Radio top 40, Sky TV and was short listed for the BBC Radio 2's Christmas Playlist.

Purchase Headin' Home (for Christmas) single by Heywood & Moore

04/11/2024

Here's a link to POKE Records' first CD release back in the mid 1990s.

The 'Dusk till Dawn' album was by Nightwatch (which later transmogrified into MoonDance Ceilidh Band).

Reviews...

"...what truly sets them apart is a real adventurous spirit ..." Rock ‘n’ Reel.

"Approaching everything they do with vigour and boundless energy, the superb production job on 'Dusk Till Dawn', their latest album, really does them credit and allows the band's instrumental prowess to shine." - Rock 'n' Reel.

"Well... A band where 'eclectic' does not mean it collects tunes from the corners of Europe but that it tips its hat to 1970's jazz fusion, picks up the odd classical reference, drifts into a dream sequence or two but one where the returns to folk tunes still do work." - Martin Kiff - Webfeet.

to play check out

Purchase Dusk till Dawn

09/10/2024

Fridge in the fast lane - The Cluster of Nuts Band

POKE Records - PROD001

Originally produced in 1983, the Cluster of Nuts LP "Fridge in the fast lane" was released at the height of the 'new wave' of English Country dance music. The 'Nuts' were one of the batch of exciting new bands that had finally thrown off the shackles of "Steeleye Span" and "Fairport Convention" to produce an exciting new sound. The band was described as "the best of a strong bunch" at the Bracknell Folk Festival in Southern Rag magazine (the predecessor of fROOTS) who also referred to them as the "Buster of Ruts" in their monthly Borfolk cartoon. Over the next couple of years the "Nuts" played at many folk festivals and public dances around the UK. These were exciting times in the UK folk music scene with new bands like Jumpleads, Tiger Moth and of course, The Cluster of Nuts, spearheading the Rogue Folk movement.

The album was well received and reviewed in many folk and music magazines with comments like;

- "... folk music bubbling with ideas and enthusiasm ..." - Southern Rag

- " Worth a spin on anyone's deck" - Hartlepool Mail

The original vinyl Long Playing (LP) record was the first release by POKE Records which was originally set up by the band members to release the "Fridge in the fast lane". The creation, production and promotion of music by bands is pretty common these days but back in 1983 this was quite unusual. After the band split (due to geographical reasons) Brian Heywood took over the label and has continued to release albums and singles.

The tracks have been available online through the usual suspects (Apple, Amazon, Spotify etc.) since 2012 from the original digital masters with the addition of two bonus tracks - one a live recording and the other a track recorded for the original album but not included. The tracks have since been remastered and these tracks are only available from Bandcamp.

See here for the links for download or stream the tracks.

Purchase Fridge in the fast lane

29/09/2024

Here's the latest set of links for downloading / streaming one of our releases. This was the last vinyl record that POKE Records released - four tracks of of post 'new wave' euro folk/dance music which was released in th elate 1980s.

It was also released as a compact cassette

It got a number of good reviews...

"blisters along nicely and conversely flows smoothly in just the right spots..." - fROOTS

"heads down, no nonsense boogie" - Richmond and Twickenham Star

"a bold, bouncy, cheerful collection." - Puddingstone

"First class sound" - Folk on Tap

"...their musicianship is impeccable ..." - Unicorn

27/09/2024

A Glance from a Train - Brad Bradstock is now available for streaming or download.

A Glance from A Train was Brad’s show with Eric Thompson about Wolverton. This also toured the UK and told the story of ‘the coming of the railway to a sleepy North Buckinghamshire village and its subsequent effect on the people who lived and worked there.’

Eric and Di Thompson remember:

"Brad and I (Eric) first met in the Stantonbury Campus / Living Archive documentary plays of the early 1980s. We got on so well together, we decided in 1995 to put together a show telling a story of Wolverton and the railway, A Glance from a Train, drawing on the songs and dialogue in the plays. Over the next five years we performed the show at a number of venues around the country - many great memories of working with Brad on this."

The songs were written for the series of documentary plays which have been presented since 1976 by Stantonbury Campus Theatre Company & The Living Archive Project devised by Roy Nevitt & Roger Kitchen.

Purchase Glance from a train

23/07/2024

Purchase Fool's Gold Song by Brian Heywood

20/07/2024

Purchase Fatal Shore Song by Brian Heywood

20/05/2024

Four Tracks of post 'new wave' euro folk/dance music.
"heads down, no nonsense boogie" - Richmond and Twickenham Star

"a bold, bouncy, cheerful collection." - Puddingstone

"First class sound" - Folk on Tap

"blisters along nicely and conversely flows smoothly in just the right spots..." - Folk Roots

"...their musicianship is impeccable ..." - Unicorn

Release date - June 3rd...

PROD002 - Nightwatch EP

1 - Yellow Hose / Nonesuch - 3:31
2 - Breton Tunes - Gabriel Waltz / En Dro - 4:41
3 - Youngest Daughter / Mod an Elven - 4:46
4 - Devil in the Belfry - 3:05