A song celebrating the challenging, therapeutic art of fly fishing and the glorious natural beauty of the great outdoors is the new focus single from Craig Joiner.
Taken from his latest album, ‘A Kind Of Calm’, the idea for the song came to Craig while he and his wife were walking their dog along the course of the River Test, acknowledged and renowned worldwide as the birthplace of fly fishing.
Further inspiration for the song ‘Lark And Grey’ came while Craig was watching a YouTube clip hosted by the very talented fly tyer Davie McPhail, who was demonstrating a fly pattern that he considered to be an absolute must for any aspiring dry fly fisherman. “It was called a Lark And Grey,” says Craig. “As soon as I heard those words the title of a song came floating by. I took out my net and landed it, every pun intended!”
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Released by Molano Music, ‘A Kind Of Calm’ was announced by the focus track ‘The Wedding Day Of Eliza May’, a romantic lament of ‘it should have been me…’ Featuring seven original songs by Craig – two trad arrangements and one cover – the album’s ten tracks combine to carry the listener away on a journey of the mind. “My hope is that my music will help people escape the pressures and the madness of the world we all now live in and provide them with…a kind of calm, if only for a short while,” he says. Craig will be touring to promote the album throughout 2025 and beyond.
Although Craig has forged a career and won repute in the rock arena, folk music has always been his true muse and calling. “As a 15-year-old, I played my first gig, guitar in hands, at the Cellar Folk Club in Hemel Hempstead,” he recalls. “Life and opportunities then led me elsewhere, but here I am again, having travelled full circle. It feels like home and it’s so wonderful to be here.”
Craig released his debut solo album, ‘Art Of Landing’, in 2018 but his incredible journey began back in 1987 when his band Romeo’s Daughter was signed to Jive Records and released their debut album a year later. The self-titled album was produced by the legendary Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange (Def Leppard, The Cars, AC/DC, Shania Twain), spawned a whirlwind tour of the USA and saw the single ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ shoot up the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart there.
Craig repertoire is really eclectic and while his own songs are excellent, he is also a great interpreter of traditional songs such as “Mary and The Soldier” and covers of classics such as John Martyn’s “May You Never” – rest assured that they will both be requested on the night!
This will be one of those evenings that you will remember for a long time, so make sure not to miss it.
