American recording artist, Dean Friedman, best known to UK &
Ireland audiences for his classic hits, ‘Lucky Stars’, ‘Lydia’,
‘McDonald’s Girl’, ‘Ariel’, and ‘Woman of Mine’, embarks on a 40+ city
concert tour, running 20th April thru 20th August, 2017, and featuring
appearances at the Brighton Fringe Festival (6th May), Great York Fringe
Festival (22nd July), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (10 thru 21 Aug – not
14,15) and including a 2-night run at The Pheasantry [Pizza Express],
London (26, 27 May).Friedman’s tour coincides with the release of a brand new fan-funded album – his first new album release in seven years. Says Friedman of the, as yet, untitled album, “I’ve always tried to paint pictures in my songs, with words and music. Recording in a studio, turning the songs into an album, allows me to add color and shade and texture to those sonic portraits and aural landscapes.” The new album, currently in production, has a projected release date of 15th July, 2017.
In
addition to his familiar radio hits, album releases and touring,
Friedman composes and produces music soundtracks for TV and film,
including the music to the hit Central TV series BOON and NBC’s Eerie
Indiana. He’s also published a respected tome on the art and craft of
songwriting titled, ‘The Songwriter’s Handbook’ (The Artists League),
based on the ‘Songwriting Workshops’ and ‘Songwriting Masterclasses’
he’s conducted at universities and music conservatories around the
world, including L.I.P.A. (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts).This year marks Friedman’s 14th appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where in addition to his regular concert runs, he’s written and produced several hit children’s musicals, including ‘Smelly Feet’ – a children’s musical that really stinks! This summer, Friedman will premier a new kids musical titled, ‘The Legend of Finn McCool’ – a silly tall tale of giant proportions. The show is based on a beloved Irish folk-tale about Ireland’s mightiest giant, Finn McCool, and tells the story of how the Giant’s Causeway came to be built.
Friedman has faced his share of controversy in recent years: The Merseyside band, Half Man Half Biscuit released a best-selling EP containing a track entitled, ‘The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman’, which went to #1 on the UK Indie chart; a claim which Friedman vehemently denies, ‘I’ve never even met Nigel Blackwell’s mum!’. Friedman extracts his revenge on his recent CD, ‘Submarine Races’, in the song, 'A Baker's Tale', the hitherto untold story of Nigel Blackwell's dubious origins.
Though Friedman's single, ‘McDonald's Girl’, was officially banned by the BBC for mentioning the name of the well known fast food restaurant in its chorus, the irrepressible pop song has been covered by a number of contemporary bands including top-selling, Canadian group, Barenaked Ladies (WEA), and The Blenders (Universal), whose version soared to #1 on the national airplay charts in Norway. With the advent of YouTube, video versions have gone viral and finally, thirty five years after the song was banned by the BBC, the McDonald’s corporation officially licensed the song for a national TV/Radio campaign, confirming the song as a pure pop phenomenon.
One of Friedman's recent tours was almost cancelled when it was announced that his tour sponsor www.goldenseeds.co.uk would distribute packets of cannabis seeds to the first ten people that purchased CD's at each of Friedman's gigs. The controversy was only resolved after Friedman promised not to distribute the seeds within 50 yards of the venue premises. (click to see Songwriter's Cannabis Controversy).
Friedman will be performing solo, on guitar and keyboards, featuring songs from throughout his 40 year recording career, including familiar radio hits, ‘Lucky Stars’, ‘Lydia’, ‘McDonald’s Girl’, ‘Ariel’ and ‘Woman of Mine’, as well as selections from his newest album. Discover what legions of devoted fans have known for years - the sophisticated, funny and profound work of a master songsmith.
Tickets to all of Friedman’s tour dates, as well as his CD and book catalog, can be purchased direct via www.DeanFriedman.com.
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