Now we are putting the finishing touches to the show in Culturlann, Belfast on Sat 12th May 2012, 8-10pm. Tickets are £5 through WeGotTickets.com. Mama Kaz is supporting me and we are also showing Lost Commandos (6mins) as part of the visuals.

Photos by Jim Corr

Joby’s album is self-produced and self-financed with help from online crowdfunding. Generous people from across Europe and as far as Canada who saw the value and potential of the project have pitched in to secure the last stage of the process. Not only does the music reflect a journey, but the creation of it was indeed a journey in itself.

“The album is a play on my personal growth and the conflict which raged around me in my youth. I hope it provokes some thoughts around the subject… Conflicts don’t always occur in the outside world, but also occur internally. We don’t always know what is right and we struggle for the answer that, sometimes, just isn’t there.”

On this journey with him has been his co-conspirator, artist and cultural entrepreneur, Sophie Rasmussen, originally from Denmark. Along side the album they have developed an idea of Fox’s which led to the production of the short film Lost Commandos – This film is like a never-ending cycle; Entrapment in a situation of which you are not the master, caught in a mindset. Where End of the War offers a resolution; a positive ending, Lost Commandos does the opposite. Together they offer a reflection on the many complexities of conflicts.

Both the album and film, released under their joint artistic banner of SOJO, are a comment and tribute to life, love, war and peace and all the strange scenarios that humanity dishes up. It is about the absurd situations we can all wind up in – unwillingly and willingly.

This work, masterly written by Fox, will in years to come be a defining piece of the times we live in now – a cathartic experience for us, and one of hope and inspiration for future generations.

Fox’s musical heritage, enourmous energy and professionalism is carried through from his Good Vibrations teen-band The Bankrobbers in ’79-’81 to the international fame of Energy Orchard, of which he was the main catalyst. He penned their hit single Belfast. This song has for many of his generation become the unoffical anthem of his hometown, and Terri Hooley’s favourite song.

The single of the album, I Love You is available through the online launch from 1^st Feb 2012.

End of the War is available for download from the usual online stores from 1^st March. The cd can be bought from www.jobyfox.com. Lost Commandos will be released with the launch of the album tour in May 2012.

Last night at the Mayor’s chambers I expected it would be full of people I wouldn’t have anything in common with, but to my surprise I knew half of the people in the room, and most of them were people I had shared a little something with somewhere a long the way. It pleased me! There was a good down-to-earth open and easy atmosphere. This is Belfast in 2011. A more relaxed place, not all pomp and ceremony – a million miles away from the hopelessness of the past. And we have a mayor who is 26 years old… That’s great!

Playing ‘Belfast’ last night was a moment for me to afford myself a wry smile and a wish that
I could pass the feeling back to that 17 year old lad: ‘wee Joby Fox’, who loved his city so much he wrote a song about it!

End of the War, is the title track of my first solo album – The album is  a play on my personal growth and “The Troubles” which raged around me in my youth. I hope it provokes some thoughts around the subject of conflict.

Conflicts don’t always occur in the outside world, they also occur internally. We don’t always know what is right and we struggle for the answer that sometimes ‘just isn’t there’

Understanding the principles of cause-and-effect is something I became interested in growing up in the troubled streets of Belfast. There was even a term “tit for tat killings” which took hold in the local vernacular. It seemed there was some natural law which was playing out – whether that was so or not. The thought captivated me and led me on a journey into the soul.

Have a listen to the main album tracks here for a flavour of what is on the cd I’m releasing on 3rd May 2012…

JOby

Joby is performing with the Inishowen Gospel Choir in the historical Berry St Presbyterian Church,  Bank Sq, Folktown Belfast.  As part of the main events at the Belfast Fringe Festival 22nd – 24th Oct 2010  he will be performing a 45 mins set and then perform his well loved song ‘Belfast’ amoung others with the Inishowen Gospel Choir. He will also be performing songs from his forthcoming album End of the War.

The performance will take place Saturday 23rd Oct at 8pm in Berry St Presbyterian Church, Folktown. (You’ll find the entrance at the side of Castle Court) Doors open 7.30pm. Coffee and tea available. Price: £7

I was approached by the Belfast Media Group to perform at the New York – New Belfast Conference, 9th & 10th June. I was delighted to be asked to perform! Going to New York was on the agenda for some time before the release of the album, End of the War.

I’m hoping to get out and perform as much as possible. I’ve got a few gigs and meetings lined up, but I’m still very much open to offers to perform at the moment. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t finish the final edit of Lost Commandos beforehand – it would have been a great opportunity to showcase my other passion as a film maker.

Hi, I’m gigging the next couple of weeks in Belfast and Derry.

I’ll be doing a few songs with a cello player in St George’s Market, Belfast as part of the Fashion Week.

Then performing with my band in the Errigle Inn Tuesday 30th Mar. Hope to see you there, it’s going to be a good night! Nick Scott on bass and Peter McKinney on drums. Support by Sons of Robert Mitchum and slam poet Seamus Fox.

Friday 2nd April I’ll be heading up to Derry with Seamus Fox (slam poet) to do a gig in Cafe del Mundo.

Joby performed alongside Midge Ure, in-the-round on the last day of the songwriters’ festival in King’s Head. Superb gig! Great atmosphere! Midge Ure was a gentleman!

Joby went to London in 1985 and formed Energy Orchard. He managed to land them a 5 albums deal with MCA in 1988.
It was Energy Orchard’s first single ‘Belfast’, written by Fox that really kicked off the band’s career. They worked hard and toured the first album “Energy Orchard” extensively in UK, Europe and North America over 3 years till Joby eventually left the band in 1991. Read the FULL STORY here...