News & Announcements

METALFEST, DUDLEY 25th SEPTEMBER 2009

Rob Cott — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:44:36 GMT

Touchstone are delighted to announce an additonal slot in their London to Los Angeles 2009 tour! We have today agreed to play METALFEST in Dudley on the Friday 25th September - timings have yet to be finalised but we anticipate being on certainly after 7pm sometime! The venue is JBs - located at: 15 Castle Hill Dudley, Birmingham DY1 4QF United Kingdom More information can be found at: METALFEST! The band are greatly looking forward to it!!

TOUCHSTONE AUCTION WINTERCOAST CHINA

Mellers — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:38:37 GMT

The China used on Wintercoast has been signed by the band and is now being auctioned on EBAY!

Please go here to take a look and place your bid.

If you want, we can even present it to you live on stage at our next show!

How about that!??

Much Love

Mellend

Touchstone in Classic Rock PROG and Powerplay magazines - August 2009 issues

Rob Cott — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:56:02 GMT

Touchstone are pleased to report some great articles in two superb rock publications just out in the shops for August 2009. In Classic Rock presents PROG magazine - see p17 for an interview by Richard Thompson with Moo. In Powerplay magazine - see p14 for a two-page interview by Chris Kee with Adam; p28 showing Wintercoast as one of the hottest releases - where the album is described as 'a must' - and p56 for a stunning 9/9 album review by Andrew Hawnt.

MELLERS SIGNS WITH SABIAN CYMBALS

Mellers — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:38:39 GMT

Very good news Touchstone have just received confirmation that we are now on the SABIAN Artist Endorsement Program To this end we will be using SABIAN Cymbals live, on stage and in the studio. The first airing of the new setup will be on Sunday at CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL. I would like to personally thank Andy, Mark and the team at Westside Distribution, and Christian at SABIAN for all their help and support, and look forward to a happy relationship with both companies. HIP ...

Ravenheart Music Wintercoast Review 9.5/10!

Rob Cott — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:46:48 GMT

Please see below: (Heavy Right Foot) Reviewed 4th July 2009 Touchstone are a �prog rock with real bite� band from South East England. This is prog rock for people like their music as big, epic and melodic as possible; Within Temptation meets Ayreon, Asia and Porcupine Tree. It is a loose concept album, but each song stands on it own. The prelude features Jeremy Irons and is a suitably epic introduction, leading into the WT like Wintercoast. Highlights for me include the head banger ...

TOUCHSTONE BRIT RESIDENT IN KURZWEIL'S 'ARTIST LOUNGE'

Rob Cott — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:13:58 GMT

Rob is very proud to be the only Brit featured in Kurzweil's Artist Lounge - see: Kurzweil Music Systems: Artist Lounge

Rob would like to thank Kurzweil for all their support to date, and especially for the PC3 keyboard generously provided for RoSFest 2009, when the band were in the States.

WINTERCOAST RECEIVES 9/10 IN USAPROGMUSIC.COM REVIEW!

Rob Cott — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:30:16 GMT

For a well-written, and stunning, review - please see:

USAPROGMUSIC.COM REVIEW OF WINTERCOAST - JULY 2009

'LONDON TO LOS ANGELES' TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

Rob Cott — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:05:33 GMT

As previously announced we have arranged a gig at The Peel in Kingston on the 19th September, supported by the excellent Crimson Sky, and we are appearing at Calprog in California on 10th October. To complete our 'London to Los Angeles' Autumn 2009 tour - we are also now pleased to release the following news : TOUCHSTONE are delighted to announce that DEEEXPUS will be our guests at three of our forthcoming �London to Los Angeles� tour gigs in Autumn. DeeExpus are also playing Cambridge ...

ROB INTERVIEW WITH US STATION , A ROCK & A HARD PLACE, ON YOUTUBE

Rob Cott — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:28:01 GMT

I was recently interviewed by Torch from Rock and a Hard Place US internet station. The show is put out globally 34 times a week and attracts about 15000 listeners. Torch has chosen snippets of the interview and our music and popped into Youtube as a montage with some band shots. Please find it here - it is just over nine minutes: http://www.youtube.com/user/rockhardtorch I was chatting away with Torch for about fifty minutes and frankly we could have gone on and on. He is ...

TOUCHSTONE & MAGENTA CHRISTMAS PARTY!!

MooBass — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:37:33 GMT

Hello Everyone!! TOUCHSTONE �and very special guests MAGENTA, are delighted to announce a very special Christmas party concert at The Peel, Kingston upon Thames, on Saturday 19th December 2009. � MAGENTA will be kicking off the evening with a special full rendition of their "Classic Rock Top 50 Prog albums ever" album, 'SEVEN', followed by a full set from TOUCHSTONE, closely following on from the second of their two appearances in the US this year, at CalProg. There will ...

WINTERCOAST NOW ON iTUNES

Rob Cott — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:53:11 GMT

For those who prefer to download - we are pleased to announce that you can now find the new album in the iTunes store under:

Music/Rock/Touchstone/Wintercoast

or just type in 'wintercoast' into the search bar, press enter and there it is.

WINTERCOAST RELEASED 1ST JUNE 2009

Rob Cott — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:09:27 GMT

Wintercoast is officially released tomorrow. It can be bought via HMV or Play.com or Amazon - but - in order to support the band, we would encourage you please to buy via the band on their website: www.touchstonemusic.co.uk You can pay via Paypal, and we can assure you that you will receive excellent service! We can also announce that it will soon be appearing on iTunes. Thanks to all for your support and please spread the word!

SILHOBBIT review

Rob Cott — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:42:45 GMT

Please see: http://www.silhobbit.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=45 Thanks to Charlie for this very enthusiastic review, kind - and honest! - words and (as ever) entertaining slant!

TOUCHSTONE TO PLAY AT CALPROG 2009!!

MooBass — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:09:17 GMT

Hi everyone! We are very proud to announce that following on from our debut appearance in the US at RoSfest 2009, we are now confirmed to be playing at CalProg 2009 to be held at: The Center Theater Stage Whittier Community Center 7630 S. Washington Avenue Whittier, California 90602 Please see the "Touchstone On Tour" thread for more info. Cheers, Moo xx

WELCOME TO NUMBER 100 ON THE FORUM - IT'S...

Rob Cott — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:31:19 GMT

Our good friend from the Peel - TWANG!! Welcome Twang to our cuddly little forum. You rock massively, sir - Touchstone also love the Peel and are looking forward to September's gig! Twang - we'll buy you a pint! My word, this forum is almost going to be in long trousers at this rate...maybe when we get to 500...!

Wintercoast Pre-Orders Shop - now closed

Rob Cott — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:15:41 GMT

Please note that no further pre-orders are being taken by Lycan Media for Wintercoast.

Stock is now being sent to agreed distribution channels, and the album is due for release on the 1st June.

The band would like to pass on a big 'thank you!' to everyone who pre-ordered. Your loyalty and faith in us is massively appreciated. We hope you love the album and enjoy the free autographed artwork!

TOUCHSTONE TO HEADLINE PETERBOROUGH BEER FESTIVAL - 27 AUGUST 2009

Rob Cott — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:14:00 GMT

Touchstone are proud to announce that they will be headlining the Peterborough Beer Festival on their 'Rock Night' - namely Thursday 27th August. The festival attracts some 6,000 festival-goers each year; is supported by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and is the second biggest beer festival in England. Details of the venue and timings can be found on http://www.peterborough-camra.org.uk Rob Cottingham, who was born in Peterborough, commented: "This festival has all ...

A GOOD FRIDAY FOR TOUCHSTONE!!

Rob Cott — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:36:02 GMT

A GOOD FRIDAY FOR TOUCHSTONE! Touchstone are delighted to announce that Good Friday 2009 will indeed be a very Good Friday for the band. The track Zinomorph (radio edit) from the band's soon to be released brand new album Wintercoast is to be featured as Classic Rock magazine's Track of the Day on www.classicrockmagazine.com/features . You can download this track free of charge from Good Friday onwards! Please access the ...

First Airing Of A New Album Track!!

MooBass — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:35:50 GMT

Howdy!

Just to let you know that there is a brand spanking new track from our forthcoming album Wintercoast, now available for your pleasure, on our my space site www.myspace.com/touchstonemusicuk

Enjoy

Moo xx

CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL 6th - 9th AUGUST 2009

Rob Cott — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:21:54 GMT

We are pleased to announce that we will be playing the Cambridge Rock Festival on Sunday 9th August, supporting one of our favourite bands, Asia, who are headlining. This will be an exclusive gig, as it will be the first gig in the UK where we will play new material from our new album, Wintercoast, after it's launch. We will not be playing any other UK gigs prior, so ask that as many Touchstone fans as possible turn up to support us and the festival organisers! For further details, ...

JEREMY IRONS TO FEATURE ON TOUCHSTONE'S NEW ALBUM, "WINTERCOAST" - PRE-ORDER NOW!

Rob Cott — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:23:53 GMT

JEREMY IRONS TO FEATURE ON TOUCHSTONE'S NEW ALBUM, "WINTERCOAST" - PRE-ORDER NOW! TOUCHSTONE are proud and highly honoured to announce that the internationally-renowned actor Jeremy Irons is making a very special guest appearance on their new album, Wintercoast, due for release around the end of May. Jeremy Irons has won a raft of high profile awards, including an Academy Award� (Oscar) for Best Actor, a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, ...

THE NEW ALBUM - A QUICK UPDATE!

Rob Cott — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:23:20 GMT

Sorry we've been so quiet of late. We really have been up to our necks in it on this new album. Lots of hard work - early mornings/late nights etc -sharing of rehearsal files etc etc. The good news is that the first step we are good to go for - which is the upload of all the track structures, click and guide tracks and indeed the bulk of my keyboard parts, which I've prepped up in my own home-based studio. Yep - after all that hard work, I'll turn up to the recording studio next Weds ...

TOUCHSTONE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Rob Cott — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:29:33 GMT

We have had a fantastic year, starting off with the Best New Band award at the Classic Rock BOTY awards in January. Amongst many things, we've toured the UK; been featured in Classic Rock magazine twice, and been asked to play the US next year. Behind all of this we have families and friends who are massively supportive, and are the unsung, unseen heroes of it all. This brief message is to say a big thank you to all of you who have supported us so generously in 2008. It is you who ...

GEOFF BARTON INTERVIEW - CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2008

Rob Cott — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:09:48 GMT

Touchstone are delighted to announce that in the November 2008 issue of Classic Rock magazine there is an "Introducing" feature about the band, written by none other than the inestimable Mr Geoff Barton - known worldwide for his incisive reviews and encyclopaedic knowledge of all things rock. The Classic Rock magazine is a globally-recognised publication with a circulation of some 70,000 per month. The band met Geoff for this interview at Classic Rock HQ after a photoshoot ...

ROB COTTINGHAM RECEIVES KURZWEIL ENDORSEMENT

Rob Cott — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:20:10 GMT

A little bit of pre-Xmas cheer...for me! See Press Release content below...it goes on a bit, but Kurzweil wanted to know all about me and the band, and spread the word. Which is nice. TTFN Rob PRESS RELEASE 1/12/08 Rob Cottingham, founder, lyricist, vocalist and keyboard player of the UK-based rock band TOUCHSTONE is delighted, and indeed proud, to announce his endorsement by none other than the historically-renowned Kurzweil Music Systems, based in California, ...

BIG THANKS + NEXT GIGS!

Rob Cott — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:12:35 GMT

Just a quick note on behalf of the band to say a massive thanks for all your support during our UK tour while we were suporting It Bites. The audience reaction was fantastic - way beyond what we expected and indeed slightly humbling. So - please keep it up and support us at our up and coming gigs - next one is this weekend! 11 Oct 2008 19:30 Robert Arkenstall Centre with BREATHING SPACE Haddenham, Cambs, East 21 Nov 2008 19:30 The Marlboro with HANGING DOLL Ilfracombe 22 ...

Saturday 15th November 2008 CRS Gig in Wath, Nr Rotherham CANCELLED

Rob Cott — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:15:51 GMT

Please note the above gig has been cancelled. Sincere apologies to any fans who had hoped to see us up there. After the recent tour around the UK and with a few gigs left we will go 'quiet' for a while on the live gigging front as we focus on writing Album Number Two. We also have some other mini-projects on the go, which we'll tell you about as and when we get them close to fruition! TTFN, Rob

SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER GIG ANNOUNCED in ELY, CAMBS

Rob Cott — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:12:38 GMT

For those who are not registered and can only see this News section (words courtesy of Moo): "We have had confirmation of a gig in aid of raising much needed funds for the Cambridge Rock Festival, or Rockinbeerfest, 2009. We played there in July, it was a fantastic event, very well organised, a very professional set up and a great line up of bands. We've been asked to do a gig to support the event next year, which we're delighted to do. We'll be joining Breathing Space for ...

Lydney Town Hall 7th October gig with It Bites - cancelled

Rob Cott — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:57:38 GMT

Mindful that non-registered users cannot see what's occurring in the forum but can see this: Please note that the Tuesday 7th October gig at Lydney Town Hall, Gloucester supporting It Bites has been cancelled. Refunds available from http://www.lydneytownhall.info/ Apologies about that - out of our hands.

Blog Critics Magazine Article by Jeff Perkins 12/8/08

Rob Cott — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:18:08 GMT

See

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/08/12/221439.php

A Nifty Fifty!

Rob Cott — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:39:09 GMT

Welcome to BlazingSaddles123. Having just set this little forum up over three weeks ago courtesy of our wonderful friend, Hippy Dave - we've just hit 50 forum members. Not bad for a bunch of reprobates (us - not the members!). Thanks to all for your support and please spread the word.

Message for Newbies/Lurkers/Interested parties

Rob Cott — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:58:08 GMT

Just a quick note to say to any interested parties who want to get 'into' the forum proper, once you register, then you get full access to all topics, and can join in the 'cut and thrust' . Not only is it fun, but it is - of course - free to register. If you don't register - no problem, but you'll just have access to this 'News & Announcements' section. Hope that helps.

POWERPLAY MAGAZINE REVIEW 8/8

Rob Cott — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:59:23 GMT

Stunning 8/8 review of Discordant Dreams by Powerplay magazine.

See in News or Press section of our website http://www.touchstonemusic.co.uk

TTFN

Rob