It was but a short while ago when we gave you the good news that Ian A Anderson’s biography was going to be issued in 2025, now swiftly into our Inbox followed full details of not only the book but how you can get a copy whilst earning yourself other IAA related goodies. Everything you need is set out below in Ian’s usual flowing prose. Do yourself a favour and get yourself in line for his story, it’s bound to be one of the books of the year.
“Huge thanks to everybody who has pledged/ pre-ordered the book so far, and to Kickstarter who spotted the campaign and have highlighted it as a ‘Project We Love’. I was absolutely astonished and thrilled when it zoomed past the target in just under 24 hours, so now I’m looking forward to how many more pre-orders it can rack up before it closes on 14th February. Keep sharing it with friends! We definitely have a book! Now that it has hit the target, it means that it has become possible to take pledges for overseas delivery as well. This couldn’t be done before, simply because it was impossible to predict demand and from where. The high postage costs to some zones would have been counted into the project target receipts, messing with the overall budget. Now that it’s funded, that ceases to cause any problems. By the way it’s possible to come back in and change your pledge at any time before 14th February.
For a long time people have been urging me to write ‘the book’, and after the lockdown de-motivation times I finally got to it. Traditional publishing routes can take a while, and as this year marks the 60th anniversary of my first paid gig, I’m impatient to get it out there. So, since in my music career I’ve managed to stay independent down the decades after early experiences with major labels, why not publish independently too? Now that this Kickstarter is successful, it has covered the print and distribution costs of this first edition and refunded the initial outlay I’d already made on research, design and proof copy printing. It will cover the costs of review copies, this fundraiser and a little promotional campaign, and allow for a small initial extra sale stock. Subsequent paperback print runs will thus be clear of all start-up costs. So keep pre-ordering here: it’s your chance to get a signed first edition before this project closes on 14th February.
ALIEN WATER is a 320 page US Trade size (6″ x 9″) book including 16 pages of photographs. Generally a paperback, there will also be a limited first edition of hardback copies, specially printed as reward choices for this Kickstarter. The cover design is by noted Stroud artist (and Boss Morris founder) Alex Merry. There is also a PDF version, probably of interest to overseas readers who may find shipping costs too high. Initially we had to limit physical copies to UK-based supporters, because of high and zone-complicated postage costs overseas messing with the target budget, but now that the campaign is successful the books are available to pre-order internationally (though unfortunately not the book & CDs package due to diverse and complicated customs regulations.)
It may be easier to tell you what this book isn’t. It’s not an academic work with footnotes about traditional folk music, blues, or what got called ‘world music’ and it’s not going to help you with any definitions of such creatures. Nor is it an attempt at complete histories of those movements. Rather, it’s a long and winding tale with tangents, spinning off from one person’s life spent ‘doing stuff’, deeply embedded in many aspects of those often below-the-radar ‘scenes’ where those musics were played, developed, promoted and enjoyed over the past six decades. Stories, observations and overviews from that tall bloke wading in the shallows. The Kickstarter page gives a lot more CV!”
Should you need further convincing…..
” Ian A Anderson has always been lurking in plain sight at the vanguard of musical change, from folk blues, to British trad, to world music. As musician, producer, editor and now memorist he was there and has a unique insight to share with us.” Joe Boyd (noted producer, author, self-made eminence gris.)
“It’s hard to think of anyone who has done more for English folk music, and other great musical styles from around the planet, than Ian A Anderson. He is probably best-known as the creator of the much-missed fRoots magazine, but also a musician who has played in a batch of great bands, a record company boss, a concert and festival promoter, and broadcaster. Above all, he’s a workaholic music enthusiast with remarkably fine eclectic taste and a generous spirit all too rare in the industry. All of which is reflected in his bravely honest, sometimes pained, entertaining account of a unique career, the story of a fascinating life.” Robin Denselow (veteran journalist – the Guardian/ BBC TV Newsnight – and author.)
“Ian A. Anderson is a rare bird: he edited the much-missed Folk Roots for many years. A prolific concert promoter and recording artist too. You cannot flummox this man. Fairly recently he returned to solo gigs after 45 years. I mean, that is amazing. He’s bloody good too. His is a musical life well lived, and this is a book well worth reading.” Linda Thompson (songwriter, great voice of folk rock, world’s best interviewee.)
“Beatnik record-buyer, hippie troubadour (who played the first Glastonbury!), 40-year magazine-publishing evangelist … a highly valuable personal account of our folk and roots music story by the man who’s met all its leading lights.” Mark Ellen (writer, broadcaster, serial publishing entrepreneur – Q, Mojo, the Word etc.)
“Ian A Anderson was both promotor and protagonist as folk music renewed itself and world music rose to prominence. This is a tale of traditionalists, folk-punks and griots, of the clash between authenticity and commerciality, and one man’s crusade to bring great music to a new audience.” Billy Bragg (bard, author, punk rocker turned born-again folknik.)
Now do you believe us? The book? Essential. So say all at Spiral Earth. Go to it….
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alien-water/alien-water
www.ianaanderson.com
