A tribute night to Michael Hurley featuring appearances by: 
Mary Hampton, Plainsmith, Rachael Dadd & Oak Choir, Spice Rack, herbal tea & Henry CS, Katie Euliss, DJ Miss Fishguard, Oriana, Fred, Frances & Charlie + wonderful others. 

+ rare Michael Hurley films and artwork curated by Eric 'Mississippi Records' Isaacson 
+ an Open Mic Slot 
+ hot brews from The Tea People.

We gather to listen, watch and sing the songs of the late, great singer/songwriter Michael Hurley aka all kinds of Smock. Doc Smock played music and drew cartoons and released records from the sixties until 2025, when he passed. Alot of us miss him madly but his continuity of patten are there in his art. Micheal took the folk songs influences of the diasporic Turtle Island troubadours and stealthy snuck them into the 21^st Century with grace, wit and oodles of his own mystique, fables and a wild keen eye for the small and cherished details of life.

“Championed by outsiders, loners, stoners, eggheads, and marginal-culture nuts of all stripes, Hurley still seems to imagine himself as working inside the general blues/folk continuum, but that’s mainly because he’s so deep into his own weirdly personal universe he can’t see the forest for the trees.” - Byron Coley / Arthur Magazine / 2013

Now Hurley is a one-of-a-kind-kinda-Cube-Microplex-pin-up too, of sorts, worn close to our collective hearts. In the Cube he has inspired hundreds of small flowers to be pinned to piano strings, loose bar-room dancing, honey in tea and illegal slap ups. He was dearly loved and so tonight many of his unique songs will be covered, translated and transformed by a whole bunch of wonderful musicians. Be witness and participant and make some wishes under The Proposal Tree. What is this tree? Well it's the tree Michael sings on, when he recorded a short film for the Cube back in 2013. It lived in Hurley's backyard and it is hopefully still there now.

The artists contributing to the night come in all kinds of beguiling hues and will perform Hurley numbers in their own style and cadence. 

'Mary Hampton' is rooted in a love of traditional music and explores the subtle and sometimes surreal region between folk song and art song.

'Plainsmith' is Rozi Plain and Neil Smith. Rozi played w/ Hurley at the Cube back in 2012. She sings beautiful songs. Neil is in The Brackish and This Is The Kit and has 'that' guitar tone.

'Rachael Dadd & Oak Choir' Rachael found inspiration, warmth and homeliness from the music of Michael Hurley when she first moved to Bristol to persue music 22years ago. The charm of his home recordings encouraged her to get on and make and release her own DIY home recordings. Now she’ll be revisiting some of her favourite Michael Hurley songs and re-arranging them for her choir.

'Spice Rack' is a D.I.Y. punk performance art duo and sometimes DJs, whose core sound is drums and voice, Spice Rack is 'Pam Rose Cott' & 'Dan Johnson'. With a freshly achieved chainsaw license and a reconnected achilles tendon, Spice Rack will share an extra-special tribute set to the folk legend.

'herbal tea and Henry CS' dream up music together (and apart) and what a blissful DIY folk sound they make. So pleased they are here.

'Katie Euliss' began her career in New Orleans, where she played wash tub bass and piano in the streets and clubs of the French Quarter. 

Four friends, singer 'Oriana Melissa', singer/guitarist 'Frances Herbert', singer/guitarist 'Charlie Purse' (Franny and Zooey) and bassist 'Fred Purse' step into the playful, strange and wonderful world of Michael Hurley to honour his legacy. ‘Here’s to the music that carries us through’ and the moments of connection that make it all make sense.

'DJ Miss Fishguard' once promoted MH at The Cube and provided the funky armchair boogie-woogie to get folk dancin' in the bar. They are back with records aplenty

You can play a Michael Hurley song too! We have a Open Mic spot for 3 or 4 audience members. Each solo Open Mic'er gets 2 x free drinks. Bring your voice and instrument with your ticket.

Amongst all the songs are films and pictures kindly gifted to us from Hurley's immense archive. Eric from Mississippi Records has been a long time friend and associate of Michael and is currently shifting through his stash uncovering all kinds of artworks. Some will be on show tonight. Eric wrote this: “Deep down Michael knew he was one of the greatest songwriters of all time. He didn't strut and crow about it, but he knew it was true. Michael believed that songs had great value and could change the world, so he worked hard at his craft.” 

At this occasion, at The Cube, we gather to carry on the good work and sing songs to the world, making our own proposals and so forth.

Until then Keep Veepin'