Roger Askew grew up in Nerwcastle in a household filled with music and musicians. His Dad was a fine pianist and clarinet player who also dabbled with double bass and Roger and his sister Joy were exposed to music live, and from record at an early age.

The siblings formed bands together, gigging around the North East of England. Joy then moved to London and eventually New York and

Roger joined Newcastle band Arbre making two albums and several singles with them at the end of the seventies, regularly touring the UK with occasional forays into Europe.

1980 saw Roger relocate to London, various tours, sessions and gigs followed, whilst Roger also found himself working more and more on other peoples’ recordings as engineer or producer. A series of sessions with Joe Strummer brought his name to the fore and a couple of years of intense recording led to studio work with artists as diverse as Eternal, Stereolab, Wilko Johnson, Liberty Horses, Peggy Seeger and Nicola Hitchcock.

In 1986 Roger was tempted back on the road with London band Bliss.
Their first EMI album sold well in italy, Germany and South America and three years of recording, touring and TV appearances followed.

After a sell out tour in Brazil the band split and Roger started recording songs that would become his first album Scarab Moon.

Roger grabbed studio time where he could aided by former Bliss cohorts Paul Sirett and Chris baker and fitted the recording of ten new songs around his work performing with or producing artists such as Eleanor Shanley, Guo Yue, Spikedrivers, Brian Kennedy and Christy Moore, whose King Puck album earned Roger a platinum award.

Scarab Moon was well received, gained a few radio plays and went down well at gigs, but already the seeds and songs for a second album were being planted.

Roger teamed up with double bass player Olly Blanchflower to record Big Fire, an album of fine songs and some wonderful playing. Even more radio play, some good reviews and a host of well received gigs gave Roger and Olly the chance to play to appreciative audiences all over the UK.

And where now on this journey? the third album is released, and Roger and Olly along with the other musicians who make up ‘The Restless Acoustics’ are preparing to take these new songs out and do what they do best... play the music.
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