{"artistName":"Rick Ford","artistId":66747,"artistDefaultImage":"https://artist.radioairplay.com/airplay_pictures/pictures/000/853/187/8345bd5bbb10ff4cb43f8fe61ab85b11_300.png","srcset":"//artist.radioairplay.com/airplay_pictures/pictures/000/853/187/8345bd5bbb10ff4cb43f8fe61ab85b11_sm.jpg 50w,//artist.radioairplay.com/airplay_pictures/pictures/000/853/187/8345bd5bbb10ff4cb43f8fe61ab85b11_md.jpg 80w,//artist.radioairplay.com/airplay_pictures/pictures/000/853/187/8345bd5bbb10ff4cb43f8fe61ab85b11_lg.jpg 200w,//artist.radioairplay.com/airplay_pictures/pictures/000/853/187/8345bd5bbb10ff4cb43f8fe61ab85b11_300.png 340w","artistBio":"\u003cp\u003eRICK FORD \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSINGER, SONGWRITER AND STORYTELLER\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick Ford lives and writes in the remote wilds of the English Peak District with his partner Claire and their dog Barney. After leaving his day job as a lawyer in 1999 he immersed himself in writing and in music and the first album of his own songs, Smoke and Mirrors, came out in 2008.  Among other reviews Maverick called it the work of an ‘… authentic outlaw spirit… which balances a robust roots framework with delicacy and wistfulness where it really counts.' Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine called it ‘... an album brimming with unpolished gems.' and Americana UK said of the album that it was …’enticingly dark stuff…’ \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis second album, STILL, came out in January 2010. Americana UK called it a ‘marvellous ballsy album with catchy melodies, hooks and riffs galore.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘Still’ is full of colourful tales of love and loss, nature and wilderness, and everything inbetween. It’s great homegrown folk music as it should be. A genuinely lovely album...’\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eR2 Rock ‘n’ Reel in May/Jine 2010 said of STILL that Rick Ford is ‘One of those rare singer-songwriters who is wholly convincing in his ragged-edged country, folk and blues idiom. Alongside the country blues of batten Down the Hatch’, there’s a touch of Crosby and Stills here, a flash of Eric Andersen there (particularly in the delivery of the stompin’ Fallin’ Blues) and the shadow of Dylan flitting in and out of the picture. This latter is most apparent in the dream narratives of a handful of tracks, such as opener Endless Trail, which growls its visionary part-apocalyptic, part- humorous tale across pumping drums and rough hewn guitar. A fine collection from the wide open spaces of the Peak District.’\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick plays and sings in the pubs and clubs of North Staffordshire either on his own or with his band The Careless Lovers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick is also a novelist. His first novel, Quest for the Faradawn was published in 1982, became an international best seller and, apparently!!, has acquired the status of a cult classic. The other two books in the Faradawn trilogy, Melvaig’s Vision and Children of Ashgaroth were also best sellers – Melvaig was entered for the Booker Prize and Ashgaroth reached number 8 in the Sunday Times bestseller list.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmongst other reviews the Manchester Evening News called Faradawn ‘… a sensitive, exciting and engrossing novel which puts the author among the first rank of contemporary English novelists’ ; Publisher’s Weekly said …’that the author’s artistry has created a parable for our time’  while the B.B.C. World Service called it ‘A remarkable and compelling story with massive dimensions which combines great lyrical charm with universality and timelessness… profoundly moving.’ \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo find out more about Rick’s books and to listen to his music and songs \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eplease visit www.rickfordsongwriter.com\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThanks for listening…\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                           \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                                                                                \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRICK FORD \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSINGER, SONGWRITER AND STORYTELLER\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick Ford lives and writes in the remote wilds of the English Peak District with his partner Claire and their dog Barney. After leaving his day job as a lawyer in 1999 he immersed himself in writing and in music and the first album of his own songs, Smoke and Mirrors, came out in 2008.  Among other reviews Maverick called it the work of an ‘… authentic outlaw spirit… which balances a robust roots framework with delicacy and wistfulness where it really counts.' Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine called it ‘... an album brimming with unpolished gems.' and Americana UK said of the album that it was …’enticingly dark stuff…’ \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis second album, STILL, came out in January 2010. Americana UK called it a ‘marvellous ballsy album with catchy melodies, hooks and riffs galore.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘Still’ is full of colourful tales of love and loss, nature and wilderness, and everything inbetween. It’s great homegrown folk music as it should be. A genuinely lovely album...’\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick plays and sings in the pubs and clubs of North Staffordshire either on his own or with his band The Careless Lovers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick is also a novelist. His first novel, Quest for the Faradawn was published in 1982, became an international best seller and, apparently!!, has acquired the status of a cult classic. The other two books in the Faradawn trilogy, Melvaig’s Vision and Children of Ashgaroth were also best sellers – Melvaig was entered for the Booker Prize and Ashgaroth reached number 8 in the Sunday Times bestseller list.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmongst other reviews the Manchester Evening News called Faradawn ‘… a sensitive, exciting and engrossing novel which puts the author among the first rank of contemporary English novelists’ ; Publisher’s Weekly said …’that the author’s artistry has created a parable for our time’  while the B.B.C. World Service called it ‘A remarkable and compelling story with massive dimensions which combines great lyrical charm with universality and timelessness… profoundly moving.’ \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo find out more about Rick’s books and to listen to his music and songs \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eplease visit www.rickfordsongwriter.com\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThanks for listening…\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                           \u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                                                                                \u003c/p\u003e","musicPath":"/music/Rick+Ford","playStationPath":"/stations/267538981/play","stationId":267538981,"bioPath":"/music/Rick+Ford/_full_bio","similars":[{"musicPath":"/music/James+McMurtry","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/c45/c45a0032a46825bed19552cc7d10a739_md.jpg","artistName":"James McMurtry","artistId":8582,"station_id":113322481},{"musicPath":"/music/Warren+Zevon","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/f97/f97a136254a44958935a1fb97f4c8bdc_md.jpg","artistName":"Warren Zevon","artistId":2064,"station_id":113288341},{"musicPath":"/music/Kris+Kristofferson","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/8c1/8c122e910e58d66525a2a3c08ea84559_md.jpg","artistName":"Kris Kristofferson","artistId":2649,"station_id":261222033},{"musicPath":"/music/Eric+Clapton","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/489/489fbdd8f863c9ab9558a9f5e4ab2d03_md.jpg","artistName":"Eric Clapton","artistId":380,"station_id":113263733},{"musicPath":"/music/Steve+Earle","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/b89/b8976d8a697a9a25268b3a605fcc4c4f_md.jpg","artistName":"Steve Earle","artistId":2448,"station_id":113267730},{"musicPath":"/music/The+Band","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/c81/c817ccad637cf714ad87c3c6866cb1ed_md.jpg","artistName":"The Band","artistId":2450,"station_id":113264713},{"musicPath":"/music/Guy+Clark","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/b37/b376e917cb0136b583dbdfe2718be546_md.jpg","artistName":"Guy Clark","artistId":5254,"station_id":113296812},{"musicPath":"/music/John+Prine","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/647/647af1bbc6247efe62681836cb4789d2_md.jpg","artistName":"John Prine","artistId":7616,"station_id":113272639},{"musicPath":"/music/Tom+Waits","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/253/253950fd6105eb51c28009e9e6865e8c_md.jpg","artistName":"Tom Waits","artistId":790,"station_id":113285199},{"musicPath":"/music/Bob+Dylan","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/93c/93cde2e42ffab286546f2c0b4485b25a_md.jpg","artistName":"Bob Dylan","artistId":194,"station_id":113265564},{"musicPath":"/music/Calexico","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/837/837d8991380359dff36c5e8feadac5a6_md.jpg","artistName":"Calexico","artistId":243,"station_id":113283830},{"musicPath":"/music/Woody+Guthrie","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/051/051d6cb6d7eb5acabd89b4af119fd947_md.jpg","artistName":"Woody Guthrie","artistId":2043,"station_id":113277557},{"musicPath":"/music/Bruce+Springsteen","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/22e/22ef179f01fe28ea4bb39e5a71ea5445_md.jpg","artistName":"Bruce Springsteen","artistId":223,"station_id":113268200},{"musicPath":"/music/Chris+Knight","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/682/6828f0ce7ee69b2f8a2441092ef44dea_md.jpg","artistName":"Chris Knight","artistId":12617,"station_id":113302899},{"musicPath":"/music/Johnny+Cash","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/248/2482c969c45c0f18a48ebe056b65bfa2_md.jpg","artistName":"Johnny Cash","artistId":477,"station_id":113263686},{"musicPath":"/music/Leonard+Cohen","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/fc5/fc5cbf5e17914533da4f7b647606216e_md.jpg","artistName":"Leonard Cohen","artistId":498,"station_id":113268494},{"musicPath":"/music/Nick+Drake","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/566/566113b4bf8af107a306dce62551a83d_md.jpg","artistName":"Nick Drake","artistId":574,"station_id":113289384},{"musicPath":"/music/Uncle+Tupelo","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/504/50408dc9c17b0545c5a1fdb1ee401633_md.jpg","artistName":"Uncle Tupelo","artistId":1676,"station_id":113347581}]}