Donovan toured in 2005, I saw the Hexagon, Reading gig and it was outstanding, opening with his daughter Astrella.  Beforehand, Paula and I met 'Gypsy' Dave Mills, who had flown in to surprise Donovan the night before Donovan's birthday.  Dave also signed the copy of '64' for us.  The gig was well worth going to and Donovan should really be back up there with the McCartneys and Geldofs of the 2005/6 scene.  Donovan is just as relevant!!

October has seen the long awaited, in depth Auto-biography: "The Hurdy Gurdy Man". (i got mine from www.amazon.co.uk ).

Most of his back catalogue is re-released, with a box set (3cd +dvd with more rarities).

Donovan has been busy promoting both book, back catalogue and "Beat Cafe" (new album), plus "Try for the Sun" 4 disc Box Set.This set includes a 40 minute DVD of Donovan with the "Open Road" musicians on his yacht in the Greek isles.

I listened to him on BBC 6music, Virgin(razor cuts programe) and  Don Maclean's BBC Radio 2 sunday morning programe.

 

Stuart Maconie; BBC Radio6music

I missed Vashdi Banyan (I think 3 songs), unfortunately, and joined the broadcast just in time 7pm-ish (29/10/2006-UK time) to hear Donovan(guitar + vocals) with Vashdi and Tom Mason (accoustic Bass).

The vocals were clear, strong and precise as was the instumentation.

The Bass added very much to the early songs like the opener "Catch the wind" - which was beautifully sung. Followed straight after by the sing-a-longs "Mellow Yellow" and "Colours". Then in a new (for me) in this form/arrangement "Young girl blues" which seemed excitingly complicated but execututed with seasoned playing.

After the news break-with a stuttering guitar (and Donovan encouraging the audience ) with "it's coming...for all the witches out there!" : "Season of the Witch" -again a wonderful version, played and sung so well!

Then with Vashdi (having caused laughter joking he'd forgotten the words but still knew most of his songs, including with "children at heart" the song "Voyage of the moon (Hms Donovan album track); 1st verse sung by Donovan, 2nd Vashni -(beautifully!) then finishing by duetting together-Brillient ! For me history in the making!???

Then finishing the 10 song set with audience clapping heartily along with "Sunshine Superman"

I suspect this is available for the whole programe download/playback on BBCRadio6music website. Great to hear Donovan on British radio !!! Well Done!! 

It has helped that Donovan's fellow 60's traveller Bob Dylan has had several 40 year celebratory programmes on BBC tvplus the "Folk Britannia" series. Donovan appearing several times in these.Some  of these you can listen to on Donovan official site which has been revamped superbly.

I recently watched news items plus a 35mm film featuring Donovan, children and an "old fashioned picture book" annimation featuring the charactors from the cover of "HMS Donovan" album.

And his gig at the meditation (Maraharishi) event.

An advertisment for Irish cider features a well known Donovan song on "Talksport" the UK based radio station covering the 2006 World cup (great to hear!!!) with tv advert version later folowing in 2006.

 4 more of his songs feature in adverts in the USA- all great to further Donovan listening awareness worldwide!

 

Donovan is to do furthering his activities in 2006and 2007.

We hope to attend the 12/4/2007 Donovan gig at Basingstoke Anvil.

"Gypsy" Dave Mills has been with Donovan in most of the activities so far - he normally sculptures and lives on an island  off Greece.

It's good to see him! 

In 2009 Gypsy Dave also joined Donovan tv programme with Mike Read "An hour with Donovan" -most of which can be seen on youtube-there is some interesting material on youtube at present including Hyde Park '69, NME pollwinners 1965 and a video track "Narvana Bannana" which is fun!