Rob Dunsford

Singer/songwriter Rob Dunsford is based in Mid Wales & Shropshire. A late-developer, Rob only started taking his music-making seriously in the past few years and has been pleasantly surprised by the warm reception his music has received. His melancholy songs examine the human condition – in particular love, lust and loss.

Latest tracks by robdunsford

Early in 2009 Rob's music caught the attention of the Wonder Stuff's Miles Hunt who invited Rob to contribute three songs to a compilation album called 'Shared' which was released in the Summer of 2009 to great reviews from the industry and public alike.

Support slots all over the country and appearances at SolFest, Workhouse Festival and Sheep Music Festival followed and have exposed him to wider audiences.

In 2010 Rob was asked to submit a cover of a Townes Van Zandt song for inclusion on a benefit/tribute album. The album was released late 2010 and features other Townes songs covered by Boo Hewerdine, Shane Macgowan, the Magic Numbers and Devon Sproule (among many others).

Rob is currently busy working on his debut album and preparing for a busy Summer of gigs and festivals.

Upcoming gigs!

Recent gigs

19 Nov 2011 Slow Boat Sessions - Ikon GalleryI'm playing this event at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, tomorrow night with EL Heath and a host of other lovelies. I'll be playing one or two of my own songs too. £5 entry (with a free CD). Doors open...

30 Sep 2011 - 1 Oct 2011 'Shared' Festival - Half Moon, Putney, London CANCELLED 30 Sep 2011 - 1 Oct 2011 'Shared' Festival - Half Moon, Putney, London CANCELLED Sadly, this event has been cancelled....

25 Sep 2011 Sunday Live gig in the SquareI'm playing at 2pm in the Square, Shrewsbury as part of the 'Sunday Live' event in aid of Cancer Research. There will be several bands playing including Babytwin (who I also play with).MkZeroBabytwinL...

Latest news

RIP Bert JanschPosted on 05-10-2011
Very sad to hear of the mighty Bert Jansch's passing. He's one of many great guitarists who inspire me and, indirectly, helped me choose a Yamaha LL11 as my main guitar...

Impromptu video of 'Time to go home'Posted on 23-09-2011
My friend Adam Beresford-Browne kindly made this video of me performing my song "Time to go home" at his house recently....

TV Interview with SparkTVPosted on 23-09-2011
We were interviewed by the lovely chaps at SparkTV after our set at Good Weekend Festival. I had no idea I sounded this posh...

Album available from Rough TradePosted on 28-06-2011
Don't forget you can purchase the Townes Van Zandt tribute album I appear on along with Michael Weston King, Boo Hewerdine, Devon Sproule, Shane Macgowan, Stan Ridgeway, Peter Case, Danny and the Cham...

Rob joins Babytwin!Posted on 08-06-2011
I'm really happy to be able to tell you I've joined the most amazing band - Babytwin. They've been established for a few years now but I've been practicing with them for a few weeks and we've already...

Shropshire Star feature about 'Shared 2'Posted on 23-04-2011
Open-mic sessions at a Shropshire pub have proved a real inspiration for musicians Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls. Blame the locals at the Horseshoe Inn, deep in the heart of deepest South Shropshire....

Shared Festival at Half Moon, PutneyPosted on 04-04-2011
Miles Hunt as booked the Half Moon, Putney in London, for 3 nights which will see most of the Shared family including myself (+ some special guests) playing from the 30th September to 2nd October 2011...

"Welshpool (Collected) Vol 1"

I've got a song ("Time to go home now") on a brilliant new compilation album featuring acts local to Welshpool. Eric Heath accompanies me on my track and has one of his own tracks on the album too. 13 tracks in all. Perfect stocking-filler at only £5 - pre-order your copy now!

...this CD gives people a chance to get a taste of the wealth of music that is being made in Welshpool and things can only get better with a second volume already in the works for this summer.

"Riding the range"

Riding The Range album sleeve

"The music of Townes Van Zandt is provocative, melancholy, soulful and soul-searching. It aches, it tells stories. Townes wore his heart on his sleeve. His songs - and the effect he had on people - gave him a disparate band of followers around the world.

This compilation has been carefully created by fans and admirers of Townes Van Zandt. 99p from every sale goes to benefit the QE2 Activity Centre and all of the artists involved have contributed their track for free. Phil Oates from the Centre and singer songwriter Michael Weston King masterminded the project and invited the artists to contribute, the result is breathtaking and there's even a very rare Townes' tune – written by Michael too."

Dave Henderson, MOJO magazine

The Magic Numbers - Quicksilver Dreams of Maria
Michael Weston King - Marie
Danny And The Champions Of The World - For The Sake Of The Song
Dan Michaelson - I'll Be Here In The Morning
Peter Bruntnell - Second Lovers Song
Boo Hewerdine - Lungs
the Mighty Stef featuring Shane MacGowan - Waitin' Round To Die
Johnny Dowd And Billy Cote - No Place To Fall
Stan Ridgway And Peter Case - If I Was Washington
Jeb Loy Nichols - Flyin' Shoes
Shannon Lyon - If I needed you
Jason McNiff And Songdog - Mr Mudd and Mr Gold
Tom Ovans - Loretta
David Wrench And Henry Priestman - Snake Song
Jackie Leven - Townes At The Borderline
Danny Schmidt And Carrie Elkin - Rex's Blues
Rob Dunsford - Two Girls
Devon Sproule - Turnstyled, Junkpiled
Jeffrey Foucault - Nothin'
Townes Van Zandt and the Calvins - Riding The Range

Order your copy

You can order a copy directly from the Centre by sending a cheque or postal order for a minimum of £10 plus £2 p&p. You can pay more if you wish!

You can buy it more cheaply at Amazon & elsewhere but buying it direct from the Centre means that the QE2 Activity Centre gets a better return - and, lets face it, that is why all these fine artists have contributed their time & talents.

Cheques should be made payable to QE2 Activity Centre and sent to Riding the Range, QE2 Activity Centre, Manor Farm Country Park, Pylands Lane, Bursledon, Hampshire, SO31 1BH, UK.

"a tribute album bound for glory and our year end top ten ... consistenly excellent, even breathtaking"

coverlaydown.com

"Thoroughly recommended"

Ralph McLean, Radio Ulster

"Shared"

Shared album sleeve

"Rob's songs truly are extensions of his personality. The three songs he chose to record for this album embody the same intelligence, humour and curious confessional nature that are immediately apparent when you sit down to share a pint with him. Mo & Bob Macauley had often rhapsodised to both Erica and I of Rob's performances at the Horseshoe Inn and when we finally saw him play we fully understood their enthusiasm.... I've seen him silence an audience far too many times to consider him anything less than a true songsmith"

Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff)

The Waiting Song - Dirty Ray
Dashboard Therapy - Rob Dunsford
Witchcraft - Timothy Parkes
Oars In The Water - Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls
You're My Heaven - Matthew Derrick
Like A Child Again - Wayne Hussey
The Rain Song - Dirty Ray
Don't Go To The Other Side Of The World - Rob Dunsford
Looks Like Rain - Timothy Parkes
The Sum Of Us - Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls
Head Up, Chin Down - Matthew Derrick
Tower Of Strength - Wayne Hussey
The Mermaid's Song - Dirty Ray
Millionaire - Rob Dunsford
Holes - Timothy Parkes
We All Go Down Together - Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls
Not On My Cloud - Matthew Derrick
Trail Of Scarlett - Wayne Hussey

Listen to my sampler below