Steve Knightley and Phil Beer producing the new album now

2012.01.16
Best known as Show of Hands, Steve Knightley and Phil Beer have begun work producing mine and Gemma's new album. It's the first time Steve and Phil have co-produced a record, and naturally me and Gem are honoured. Preproduction began in December with a few days' editing and redrafting with Steve, and this week we've started recording at Phil's place in Devon, where we'll work on the record throughout this year.

Rochester Sweeps Festival main stage gig confirmed for Saturday 5 May 2012

2012.01.15
Following our debut performance at Sweeps last year, me and Gemma will play our first festival main stage when we return to Sweeps this May. We'll also pack two more Sweeps gigs in, at The Two Brewers on the Saturday at 12:30pm, and The Man of Kent on the Sunday at 2pm.

Duo name change

2012.01.12
Having played gigs and put our EP out under the name The Scarlet Jacks, from now on me and Gemma are going to simply play as Greg McDonald and Gemma Gayner. This follows an unusual incident on our way home from Cambridge Folk Club when Ewan MacColl appeared on a flaming pie over the M25 and told us "Scarlet Jacks" was Salford slang for Soviet Russian bearded prostitutes and an unsuitable monicker for a contemporary acoustic roots duo.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival 2012

2011.12.12
Me and Gemma will be at Tolpuddle on July 15 next year - I did once write a Tolpuddle Martyrs song, but dropped it because it came off like a Billy Bragg tribute. Might still revive it, though.

Fatea review: "Expect a lot from this duo"

2011.11.18
Here's Fatea's review of mine and Gemma's first collaborative recording, The Scarlet Jacks EP

The Scarlet Jacks EP on Moorland Roots Radio

2011.11.15
Thanks to Simon Jones for playing a couple of mine and Gemma's songs on his roots music show. We promise to come by the studio the moment we find ourselves north of Watford.

Maverick review: "a force to be reckoned with"

2011.11.08
Here's Maverick's EP review.

Bright Young Folk review: "dramatic, haunting, promising"

2011.10.29
Read Bright Young Folk's review of mine and Gemma Gayner's The Scarlet Jacks EP here

Supporting Kan, Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, Blair Dunlop & Ashley Hutchins this winter

2011.10.24
Gigs coming up with some fantastic folk acts. See the gigs page.

Future Radio interview

2011.10.20
I'm interviewed on Future Radio, talking to David Eastaugh about Tomorrow England and The Dawn Parade - broadcast time tbc.

Moorland Roots Radio interview

2011.09.11
I'm being interviewed on Moorlands Radio's Roots Show this Sunday from 7pm.

Reception for Tomorrow England

2011.09.04
Sometime fRoots, Q and NME scribe Simon Jones has called Tomorrow England "one of the most complete, brilliant albums in years". The album has also had a mention in New York's Village Voice critics' poll of the best albums of this year thanks to US critic Mike Krugman.

Tomorrow England now on itunes & Spotify

2011.08.10
Tomorrow England is now available on i-tunes. Recording it's involved numerous studios, playing with The Levellers, The Pogues and Frank Turner, and the incredible generosity of spirit and fantastic musical contributions of Seymour Patrick, Bob Halliwell, Catherine McDonald, Emily Patten, Dexy K, Matt Anthony and Phil Beer. Thanks to everyone who's been involved.

Cambridge Folk Festival

2011.08.01
The 2011 Cambridge Folk Festival's Club Tent hosted two sets by my new acoustic duo with Gemma Gayner.

Tomorrow England review on Spiral Earth

2011.04.14
Read Emma Hartley's review here.

Liberty Waltz single released

2010.11.29
The Liberty Waltz single is officially released today, November 29. Thanks for the advance airplay Tom Robinson on BBC 6music and John Kennedy on XFM.

Times interview

2010.10.20
There's a short feature on Liberty Waltz in today's Times. Link to follow if it becomes available online without pay wall subscription.