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The Official Richard Digance Website

RICHARD DIGANCE TOUR DATES 2012

Richard's tour dates are almost complete for 2012 and all shows are now on sale with some already sold out so book early to avoid disappointment. The venues vary from the usual major British theatres to smaller folk clubs that Richard promised to make himself available for during the recession whilst we all need to help each other through these dreadful times.

For a full list of shows click to LIVE SHOWS where you will find venues and box office numbers for your convenience. A few more dates will be added but the diary is almost full.

Check out the NEWS PAGE for details of Richard's special birthday show on February 24th, an evening of fun and special guests and family. All welcome but limited tickets so book early

OLD SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH - NEW ALBUM £10 plus £1.50 p&p

Old School Photograph - The Ballad of Johnny Puller - Houses In Between - Don't - Bonnie & Clyde - Say You're Sorry - Plaistow Tune - Charlie The Salmon - Trainspotters (new version) - Chemical Reaction

Released on Richard's birthday, 24th February 2012 - order now to secure a signed and dated copy to be sent on that day

Many people sing, play guitar and tell stories but not many have supported Steve Martin, Robin Williams or played a guitar duet with Brian May of Queen, Richard Digance has.

Richard is also a BAFTA Nominated entertainer and received The Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in 2003 and is featured in The Virgin Anthology of Songwriters.It was Dennis Norden on the ITV programme '30 years of Comedy' who said that Richard Digance trod a unique and dangerous path, telling stories like no other without taking the obvious tried and tested gag route. It's on stage Richard is most comfortable, giving two hours of original material with just a guitar, no support acts, no gimmicks, just one man with a treasure chest of stories collected over 40 years in the music and entertainment industry.

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'Richard Digance is a National Treasure' - Bob Harris

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News

A SPECIAL DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24th 2012

Sherfield English Village Hall, Nr Romsey, Hampshire

Come and join in Richard's birthday celebrations with his family and friends, plus special guests. including Mr Piano Man, Matt Black and Mike Payne, creator of the Tatty Teddy greetings cards

A night of music and fun plus new album launch.

Tickets are very limited due to the small venue and are just £12, so book early by calling Tracey Hollis on 01980 612078

or email rdigance_btinternet.com .......SELLING FAST!!!

If you are travelling from afar Tracey will be pleased to advise on B&B etc in the area

Richard's Letter From Afghanistan is now one of his best-selling albums and he has been touched by the number of members of the armed forces and their parents who have contacted him personally. He has donated the track to various charities.

FROM ANDY HARDING, SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN

Hi Richard,

About 10 years ago when I was about 14 my parents took me to see you at Wycombe town hall and you were brilliant.10 years later I am serving in the British Army and am currently on tour where I heard your song "letter from Afghanistan".I just wanted to say thank you. I think most soldiers would agree with me that you have conveyed many of our feelings perfectly, especially about the England football team!

Anyway with little under a month to go I am looking forward to geeting home to family, friends and eating hot dogs with my old man at the football.Thanks again, it's great to know people are thinking about us and understand what we do and go through.Yours sincerely, Andy Harding

Live Shows

JULY 2012

13- Ely Folk Festival, Cambs

14- Wold Top Festival, nr Scarborough

15- The Mill, Sonning- 0118 969 8000

20- Hertford Theatre - 01992 531614

21- Lechlade River Folk Festival- 07806 519053

22- Garrick Theatre, Lichfield - 01543 412121

23- Lazyacre Country Club, Shrewsbury- 07885 576080

27- Folk on the Coast, Bognor Regis- 07751 594285

31- Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn - 01553 765565

AUGUST

07- Mundesley Festival, Norfolk

08- Bluebell- Hempstead Nr Saffron Walden - 01799 599199

23- Bridport Arts Centre

25- Rhythm Festival, Biggleswade

OCTOBER

05- Bristol Rotary Conference

07- Lowther Pavilion, Lytham

11- Lights Theatre, Andover - 01264 368368

12- Pavilion Theatre, Worthing

13- Pontins, Devon tbc

19- Playhouse Theatre, Harlow

26- Seend Community Hall, Devizes - 01380 827041

NOVEMBER

18- Woodville Rooms, Gravesend

21- Bishop Auckland Town Hall - 01388 602610

24- Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton

2012 PERFORMANCES

JANUARY 2012

28- Central Theatre, Basingstoke 01256 418318

FEBRUARY 2012

10- Nottingham Playhouse - 0115 9419419

11- Forest Arts Centre, New Milton - 01425 612393

12- Orchard Theatre, Dartford - 01322 220000

16- Jagz Music Club, Ascot - 01344 878100

17- The Theatre, Chipping Norton - 01608 642350

18- Palace Theatre, Redditch - 01527 61544

24- Birthday concert, Hampshire, see news page

25- Newton Village Hall, Rugby - 01788 572313

26- Palace Theatre, Southend - 01702 351135

MARCH 2012

01- The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury - 01295 279002

02- Palace Theatre, Newark - 01636 655755

03- Goodmayes Hospital Charity Concert - 07858 212106

04- Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage - 01438 363 200

08- Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich - 01603 620 917

09- High Barn, Gt Bardfield, Essex - 01371 811 291

10- Medina Theatre, Newport, IOW - 01983 527020

11- Darwen Library Theatre, Blackburn - 01254 706006

12- Tudor Folk Club, Chesham - 07771 727943

14- Laxey Institute, Isle of Man - 07624 428917

15- Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, IOM -07624 428917

16- Douglas Charity Dinner- private event

17- Hunsley Acoustic Club,Elloughton, Hull 01482 665656

18- Pool Hall, Macclesfield - private event

22- Bishops Stortford Folk Club 0780 554 2837

23- Savoy Theatre, Monmouth 01600 713036

24- The David Hall, South Petherton - 01460 240340

25- Rose & Crown Theatre, Walthamstow- 07710 179531

28- Baldock Folk Club, Orange Tree, Baldock 01767 683583

29- Kings Somborne Music Club, Nr Romsey 01794 389192

30- Bourne Folk Club, Boscombe, Salisbury - 07596 833797

31- Aslackby Village Hall, Nr Peterborough - 07740 832750

APRIL 2012

01- Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston - 01205 363 108

06- Hartlepool Town Hall - 01429 890000

07- The Maltings, Berwick Upon Tweed - 01289 320999

08- Crail Community Hall, Fife - 01333 450572

11- Camberley Theatre - 01276 707600

12- Millfield Theatre, Edmonton - 020 8807 6680

14- Acoustic Routes, Cambridge - tickets acousticroutes.co.uk

15- BIC Bournemouth - Rotary Conference

19- Swan Theatre, High Wycombe - 07494 512000

20- Itchen Abbas, Winchester

21- St Nicholas Church, Berden, Herts 01279 777674

22- Queens Theatre, Hornchurch - 01708 443333

24- Memorial Hall, Lechlade- 07806 519053

26- The Factory, Porth, Rhondda Valley - 01443 687080

MAY 2012

02- The Stables, Wavendon, Nr Milton Keynes

03- Centre Stage, Bournemouth- 01202 707498

04- Finedon Community Centre, Northampton 01933 398377

06- Charity event, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

09- Dorking Folk Club - 07885 484509

12- Bramford British Legion Club, Suffolk - 07718 074200

13- Cromer Folk Festival- Cromer Pier - 07854 132099

18- Touchline Music Club-Hullbridge, Essex - 07775 761406

19- Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe - 01724 277733

25- Spa Pavilion Theatre, Felixstowe - 01294 282126

27- Pavilion Theatre- Exmouth- 01395 222477

JUNE 2012

01- Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate - 01843 221791

02- Birdwell Academy, Barnsley - 01226 744442

03- Grand Theatre, Lancaster- 01524 845230

05- The Ship, Leigh on Sea - 01702 715111

08- St George's Theatre, Gt Yarmouth - 01493 846325

09- Tivoli Theatre- Wimborne- 01202 885566

15- Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield - 01246 345222

21- Chipping Sodbury Town Hall- 01454 852978

22- Westhoughton Golf Club, Nr Bolton - 01942 671995

24- Wyvern Theatre, Swindon- 01793 524481

29- Square & Compass, Ilminster - 01823 480467

30- Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay- 01803 328385

Explore

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Discography 2

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PRESS INFO - 40 YEARS ON THE ROAD

Richard Digance is known as one of the great folk entertainers of the 70s and 80s. His evergreen career has been acknowledged through numerous awards within both the music and entertainment industries, from a BAFTA Nomination as a TV entertainer to a Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He has supported Steve Martin in the USA, Robin Williams at The London Palladium and is included in The Virgin Anthology of Songwriters for his important contribution to British comedy songwriting. When presented with the Gold Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters he was described as someone who for half a century has travelled the world with just a guitar and an immense collection of stories gathered through his own experiences. That kind of says it all.

As a poet Richard's works are included in The Oxford University Press anthology of British Poetry, used in the Feardon Teaching Aids publications in the United States and as English Literature syllabus material in British Columbia, Canada.

He has survived all trends with his two and a half hour one-man show, his summer festival appearances in the UK, the United States, Canada and Dubai, his cruise work and television appearances.He is both an accomplished musician, rated by many as one of Britain's greatest acoustic guitarists, inspired by his good friend Ralph McTell, and an entertainer who many younger comedians claim as one of their major influences. Garry Bushell, in The Sunday People, listed Richard Digance as one of the Magnificent Seven of British Comedy along with the likes of Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse, a wonderful tribute indeed. On his own ITV Saturday-night show Richard has played guitar with Queen's Brian May, The Moody Blues, Status Quo, Chris deBurgh, Juan Martin, Marc Cohn and Elkie Brooks.

Richard Digance gained a BAFTA Nomination for TV Entertainer Of The Year in the late 1980s and in 2003 received the Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for his services to live music. He is one of Britain's top comedy and music attractions, a rare performer in that he's respected by comedians for his original material and by musicians for being an accomplished acoustic guitarist. His loyal following confirms his wide appeal, from the younger generation attracted by both his guitar playing and the fact he has inspired many modern-day performers, to the super-loyal who have followed Richard since the time he had his own ITV series and even further when he started out in folk clubs. He is listed in the Virgin Encyclopedia of Music and his poems are used as teaching aids by Fearon Publications in the USA and by The University of British Columbia in Canada. In recent years he built a further following through his regular appearances on Channel 4s Countdown.

However, Richard Digance does not rest on his immense reputation. In the last two years he has broadened his appeal, firstly by proving to be one of Britains most sought after cruise entertainers and secondly by returning to his musical roots through major festival appearances. He has worked with a multitude of world-class artists; Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, Elton John, Steeleye Span, David Essex, Jim Davidson, Supertramp, Elkie Brooks and Tom Jones. His TV specials for ITV ran for a record 11 years and on these shows he played guitar with Brian May, Status Quo, The Moody Blues, Buffy St Marie, Juan Martin, Marc Cohn who wrote Walking in Memphis and Chris de Burgh on his way to being a major artist in his own right

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ABOUT RICHARD DIGANCE

Richard Digance was born in West Ham, London on 24th February 1949. The family moved to Blaney Crescent, East Ham, shortly afterwards and it was in East Ham where he went to school, firstly at Vicarage lane Primary School and then to Thomas Lethaby Secondary Modern. He left school with only 4 GCE O'levels and so, realising the error of his ways, paid his way through night school, holding down 2 jobs at True Form shoe shop and as a shelf stacker at Safeways. He gained 2 A level passes in English Literature and Modern British History and moved to Glasgow where he went to Reid Kerr College in Glasgow.It was in Scotland he discovered folk music, becoming friends with John Martyn, which led to him returning home to London, becoming an animal ambulance driver with the PDSA whilst learning to play guitar to a decent standard.

He became influenced by Ralph McTell, now a dear friend, and he made his paid folk club debut at The Bus, Stratford, a compact folk club in a double decker bus, and then The Central, Barking Road, East Ham.

His parents, both from Canning Town, East London, are both deceased. His mother Doris had various jobs, his father Len worked as a lorry driver for Ford Motor Company in Dagenham. His mum bought him his first guitar, an Eko Jumbo, and he progressed to a Levin before buying his first sacred Gibson SJN. Richard now plays a Martin D28 on stage and a Takamini in his home recording studio.

Richard has two daughters, Polly and Rosie, and the three of them are a very close-knit unit. His sister Jill lives in Southend and his brother Leonard lives in Vancouver, Canade. Richard lives in Wiltshire, has a dog called Jess, loves going to pubs, fishing, painting and writing.

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TELEVISION

Richard Digance began his TV career on Sound of The City for Thames TV, produced by Richard Newman, in the early 1970s. This debut appearance was followed by The Old Grey Whistle Test and then the Today programme. The Whistle Test was his only BBC TV appearance except for appearing on The Ronnie Corbett Show years later and then link-man for BBC2 coverage of The Cambridge Folk Festival. He then became a regular contributor on The 6 o'clock Show with Michael Aspel. He had to wait over a decade to be given his own show.

His first own TV Special was for Thames TV 'A Dabble With Digance' and featured newsreader Carole Barnes. After the success of this special he was signed to TVS in Southampton after being a studio warm-up act there for Matthew Kelly and this first series of six programmes screened on Thursday nights. He also filmed a pilot 'The Three Busketeers' featuring himself, Chris Barrie who went on to star in Red Dwarf, and Adrian Hedley. At this time he still continued as a studio warm-up act for The Des O'Connor Show. He was also appearing regularly on late night shows for Tyne Tees TV with Gillian Reynolds.

Richard left for London Weekend Television under Greg Dyke and filmed numerous Saturday night TV Specials for ITV. His guests included Brian May, Elkie Brooks, The Moody Blues, Marc Cohn, Buffy St Marie, Joe Pasquale, Juan Martin, Julia Fordham, Chris de Burgh and many others. An additional series with Jim Davidson 'Wednesday At 8' made him a popular guest during this period from 1985 to 1995. His guest-spots are almost endless; Surprise Surprise with Cilla Black - The Gloria Hunneford Show - The Jim Davidson Show - Des O'Connor Show - Live From Her Majesty's - Live From Piccadilly - Summertime Special with Michael Barrymore - Live From The Palladium with Roy Orbison - The Comedians - Magpie - Celebrity Snooker and Fish o'Mania with Steve Davis - Pebble Mill At One - Saturday Night At The Mill - That's Entertainment with Kenny Everett and Julian Clarey - Crosswits - The Tom O'Connor Show - The Parkinson Show with Tommy Steele and many more. He received a BAFTA Nomination as TV Entertainer Of The Year.

Appearances on TV Specials included HRH The Prince of Wales Princes Trust Galas at The London Palladium with Elton John and Robin Williams - All At Sea, again before HRH The Prince of Wales - Christmas Eve Forces Special from The Berlin Wall - The Zeebrugge Disaster Concert at The London Palladium with Bernard Manning

In the next decade he made two series for Carlton Westcountry TV visiting villages in a Morris Traveller and using locals as guests. This took up two years and then he became a regular contributor on Channel 4's Countdown. He is the fifth most regular guest in the history of the show.

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RADIO

Richard currently presents on BBC Radio Devon and his 2010 shows have proved to be a great success. Richard Digance began his radio career with the BBC; Stop The World with Bernard Braden and then Francis Matthews was followed by numerous BBC series of his own including Animal Alphabet, The Richard Digance Show, Digance Does It Locally, again continuing the 'Down Your Way' trend of recording national radio shows in village halls. He worked for the BBC for 11 years before joining London's Capital Radio, firstly as a folk presenter and then a light night DJ on Midnight Special. His other series for Capital included Sunday Funday, R2D2 school quiz and as a special feature music interviewer during which he interviewed Arlo Guthrie, Joni Mitchell and other big names in music. He became a qualified radio producer at Elstree and began producing children's programmes for independent radio.

Ground-breaking and award winning documentaries, produced by Ralph Bernard, saw Richard Digance make his name as a soundtrack and musical contributor on serious programming, providing the incidental music, title music and song for top documentaries Dying For A Drink, Can Buy Me Love and Down To Earth. All three documentary series won Radio awards. For the BBC he wrote the music for a documentary on Sir Rowland Hill who created the Penny Black for the Royal Mail in the 19th Century. He also became a regular contributor on Start The Week and Newsquiz

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Discography from 1968 For his services to the British music industry Richard received the Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in 2003 and is listed in the Virgin Anthology of Songwriters as a serious contributor of comedy music

So how many Richard Digance recordings and CDs have been released? This is an approximate list but in date order best we can ascertain

1. Pisces (Trailer) recorded at Livingston Studios, Barnet and produced by Bill Leader

2. England's Green and Pleasant Land (Transatlantic) Recorded at Chipping Norton Studios and produced by John Whitehead

3. How The West Was Lost (Transatlantic) recorded at Chipping Norton Studios and produced by Rick Kemp of Steeleye Span

4. Richard Digance (Mercury USA release) re-produced by Folkways America

5. Richard Digance In Concert (Transatlantic) Recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London

6. Treading The Boards (Transatlantic) Recorded at Chipping Norton Studios and produced by Jo Lustig

7. Commercial Road (Chrysalis Records) Recorded at Maison Rouge Studio, Henley and produced by Barrie Barlow of Jethro Tull

8. Live at The QEH (Chrysalis Records) featuring members of Jethro Tull, produced by Hugh Murphy

9. Rosemary McLaren Of The Strand (Transatlantic) single produced by Tony Atkins

10. The Journey (single on RCA) recorded at Marquee Studios, London

11. Tony Hancock (RCA Records) single produced by Trevor Jordan and recorded at Elkiie Brooks' studio in Devon

12. Homework (Coast Records) Recorded at Bark Studios, Walthamstow produced by Kevin Wyatt Lown

13. Richard Digance Live At The Fairfield Halls (Dambuster Records) Recorded at Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Discography 2

14. Digance Indulgence (Dambuster Records) Recorded at Dambuster Studios and produced by Dave Bubb

15. Time Moves On (Dambuster Records) cassette only produced by Dave Bubb

16. Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square (Chrysalis) single with Jon Lord of Deep Purple, produced by Barrie Barlow of Jethro Tull

17. Working Class Millionaire (Transatlantic Records) single recorded at Regent Studios, London produced by Tony Atkins

18. Drag Queen Blues (Conifer Records) produced by John Howard

19. Richard Digance In Concert (Dambsuter Records) recorded Live at High Wycombe, produced by Dave Bubb

20. Richard Digance in Conversation (International Artists) cassette only produced by Bob Voice

21. The Richard Digance Collection ( International Artists) produced by Bob Voice

22. Richard Digance Serious Songs (RD Marketing) Recorded in Lyme Regis, Dorset

23. Drop of Digance (Overdub Records CD recorded at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

24. Guitar Tunes (RD) CD of instrumentals recorded at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

25. A Varied Selection (RD) recorded at Pollysongs produced by Richard Digance and Mark Holmes

26. Finishing Tape (RD) double album compilation on CD

27. Richard Digance Compilation (Write Good) mixed at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

28. The New Richard Digance (Write Good) recorded at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

29. Back On Song (Write Good) recorded at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

30. Past and Present (Write Good) recorded at Pollysongs Studio produced by Richard Digance

31. 60 Antholgy (Plum Productions) triple CD limited edition collection mixed at Spire Studio, Fordingbridge

32. Father Christmas Save The World (Plum) recorded at Spire Studio and produced by Matt Watk

Gallery

Richard and Rosie

Richard at school

Richard with Aid Endmonson

Richard practicing with Arnie

$Richard on stage at Ilfracombe$ Richard on stage at Ilfracombe

Richard and Brian May

Jess Digance relaxing

Richard with his girls

School football team

Richard in Norway

Richard In Cape Town

Richard at Cropredy

Shop

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RELEASE DATE 24th FEBRUARY 2012 - PRE-ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY NOW, TO BE POSTED ON RICHARD'S BIRTHDAY

How to pay

PayPal for CDs

For information on PayPal please click here .

Please include £1.50 per item for P&P

BOOKS CAN ONLY BE ORDERED BY POST

Mail Order for books

PO BOX 2134, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, SP4 0WX

Cheques made payable to Richard Digance, please include £1.50 per item for P&P.

NEW BOOK- MY WORDS- NOW IN STOCK

£10 plus £1.50 p&p

Please allow upto 28 days for delivery on all orders

01 - The Ballad of Johnny Puller

02 - Don't

03 - Trainspotters

04 - Say You're Sorry

05 - Charlie the Salmon

06 - Houses in Between

07 - Plaistow Tune

08 - Bonnie & Clyde

09 - Old School Photograph

10 - Chemical Reaction

Buy Now

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Back On Song

was £13 now £8 (plus £1.50 P&P)

A collection of songs recorded both live and in the recording studio including his most requested song - Snowmen Only Live Until The Sun Comes Out. This CD also includes 6 new tracks never performed on stage.

Tracks:

(1) Don't Come Round For Me Tonight Bill

(2) The Reason I Failed My G.C.E's

(3) I Still Remember

(4) Ginger Williams

(5) The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe

(6) Snowmen Only Live Until The Sun Comes Out

(7) Very Sorry Liver

(8) Road To Paradise

(9) If You Wanna Get Old

(10) Paul The Crab

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Richard Digance Compilation

was £13 now £8 (plus £1.50 P&P)

This CD is where you'll find the much loved Shirley song plus stage hits Sod's Law and Don't Say It's The End Of The Road. Recorded live and in the recording studio.

Tracks:

(1) Sod's Law

(2) Shirley

(3) Don't Say It's The End Of The Road

(4) Time Moves On

(5) Columbus's Discovery

(6) Train Spotter Song

(7) Chemist Shop

(8) Boy Scout Song

(9) If I Had All The Money In The World

(10) Maurice The Mayfly

(11) The Cornish Fisherman

(12) You Could Have Been The Person In This Song

(13) Until The Fat Lady Sings

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The New Richard Digance CD

was £13 now £8 (plus £1.50 P&P)

Eleven songs including Richard's longest ever song, written about his hero, landscape painter John Constable and some of his earlier material that fans are always asking for.

Tracks:

(1) Give Us A Shove

(2) The Why Questions

(3) Houses in Between

(4) Pub Joke Song

(5) Pelly The Pelican

(6) An Old East End Pub

(7) John Constable

(8) One Thousand Years

(9) Noah's Ark

(10) The Factory Gates Are Closing

(11) Eric The Elephant

Contact

APPEARANCES;

Richard Digance can be booked by contacting us at rdigance_btinternet.com

For all other enquiries please use same email address for the attention of Tracey Hollis.

Or you can write to us;

PO BOX 2134, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, SP4 0WX

Or call us;

Telephone; 01980 612078

Media & Press, Matt Hampton (Tour Manager)

tel; 07769 170245 e-mail; matt_richarddigance.com

Please contact Matt for press and media interviews

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Email:

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Message:

We treat your personal details with the strictest confidence and we pledge not to circulate our database to other commercial users. All details are used for delivery and communication purposes only, and we treat them with the upmost confidence and respect

NEW ALBUM - Old School Photograph. Click here to order

© Richard Digance 2011