Bob Dylan once said folk music should be “romantic, egalitarian and revolutionary”, and that pretty much sums up singer/songwriter Gavin Hammond’s approach to his craft.

“I’d always wondered what kind of album Bob Dylan or Nick Drake would have made if they’d had a laptop,” says Hammond. “So, when I arrived back in London late one summer, I decided to find out. A DJ mate had asked what my tunes were like, so I just put up a couple of mics and went for it. It was straight DIY.”

These accidental, one-take recordings became the basis of his new album 8 Weeks, 11 Days, 12 Hours & 45 Minutes… A mixture of sweet harmonies, mellow guitars, lo-fi beats, strings and vintage synths were added later in his West London flat.

Born into a creative household in Cambridge to Lawrence Hammond, a writer, and Dona Haycraft, a photographer, Hammond spent much of his youth playing guitar on Granchester Meadows, gate-crashing student parties and going to festivals.

He cut his teeth playing bass in one of singer/songwriter Boo Hewardine’s line-ups (kd lang, Natalie Imbruglia), and later took up an invitation to go to Australia, where he toured extensively. After landing a publishing deal through Universal, he worked as a producer, songwriter and artist; collaborating with acts as diverse as breaks pioneer Darin McFadyen (FreQ Nasty), soap star Abi Tucker (Heartbreak High, Secret Life Of Us) rock legend Rob Hurst of Midnight Oil, and folkies Paul Greene and Dominique Fraissard. Tracks were released through MGM, Village Roadshow and Mushroom records.

He produced his first demo album on a bunch of borrowed recording equipment; then bought a classic 1960s car and, with a bunch of folky friends, began touring solo up and down the East Coast of Australia. They played hundreds of shows a year: college gigs, summer festivals, pubs and bars, house parties, cafes, village halls, you name it; selling CDs, partying and surfing as they went.

For the recording of his first 'full' solo album, Hammond decided to return to the UK. He engineered, produced and co-mixed the entire project, as well as played many of the instruments. The new songs reflect his time on the road in Australia, a return to Cambridge and the meadows, and the start of a new life back in London.

It’s a heartfelt and lovingly-crafted singer/songwriters’ album that sits comfortably among the new breed of acoustic artists such as Jack Johnson, Jose Gonzalez, Damian Rice, Joseph Arthur and Devendra Banhart. Comforting, thoughtful and honest, it’s folk, but with a deliciously gentle electronic edge.

Whether it’s at The Luminaire, The Windmill, The Bedford, The Half Moon, the Bull & Gate, Rock Garden, the Falls Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival or a Sunday residency at the Dog House in Kennington… audiences are falling for the beautiful songs, the intimate performances and what it used to be all about – the music.

"An accomplished and atmospheric debut album"
– Mick Glossop, producer/engineer; Van Morrison, The Waterboys

"Blissful sounds: really moved the crowd; our best festival in years..."
– Amnesty festival organiser/band co-ordinator (City of London)

"A beautiful voice" – Sacha Lucashenko, singer/guitarist, The Morning After Girls

For more, go to: www.myspace.com/gavinhammond or info@gavinhammond.com Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.