Ali Friend

Alastair Bruce Friend (known as Ali Friend) is a British musician, composer and record producer. He is perhaps best known for his work with Beth Orton, and was a founding member of British trip-hop band Red Snapper. Friend now plays bass in British 3-piece folk band Clayhill, along with guitarist Ted Barnes and vocalist Gavin Clark. Clayhill released their debut album, "Small Circle" in 2004, and have released 2 E.P.s and a further L.P. "Mine at Last" in 2006. Throughout the summer of 2006 they toured with Mercury Music Prize winners Gomez and Beth Orton, on both the 1st leg of her UK and 2nd legs of her U.S. tours.

Friend also tours with British-based composer and violist John Metcalfe, a former member of the band the Durutti Column.

In 2004, Friend appeared in the special Christmas concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London as one of Aqualung's special guests. In the same year the Clayhill song 'Afterlight' was used in the soundtrack of acclaimed thriller Dead Man's Shoes. Their cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want is featured on This is England, also directed by Shane Meadows.

Trivia

One track on Beth Orton's 2002 single release, Concrete Sky, "Ali's Waltz" is written for Ali.

Discography

Appears On

*"Lie Down And Stay Calm – 8Up" ( Soul Jazz Records ) - 1994
*"Live From The Milky Way – Heather Nova" ( Work Records ) - 1995
*"Reeled And Skinned " - Red Snapper ( Warp Records ) - 1995
*"Maybe An Angel "– Heather Nova ( Big Life ) - 1995
*":4 – Galliano" - ( Talkin' Loud ) - 1996
*"Prince Blimey" - Red Snapper ( Warp Records ) - 1996
*"Fut! – Obo" ( Tush Records ) - 1996
*"Dig Your Own Hole" – The Chemical Brothers ( Virgin Records ) - 1997
*"Trailer Park" – Beth Orton ( BMG ) - 1997
*"Diamond Loser – Obo " ( Shadow Records ) - 1998
*"Four Songs So Far " – Beth Orton ( Heavenly Records ) - 1998
*"The Contino Sessions" – Death In Vegas ( Concrete Records ) - 1999
*"Making Bones " - Red Snapper ( Warp Records ) - 1998
*"Our Aim Is To Satisfy" - Red Snapper ( Warp Records ) - 2000
*"It’s All Good " – Beth Orton ( Keep Diggin’ Records ) - 2002
*"It’s All Good – Mixed Compilation " - Red Snapper ( Keep Diggin’ Records ) - 2002
*"Dream Soldier" – Des'ree ( Epic Records ) - 2003
*"Pass In Time "– Beth Orton ( BMG ) - 2003
*"Red Snapper"- Red Snapper ( Lo Recordings ) - 2003
*"Seed – Afro Celts" ( Virgin Records ) - 2003
*"The Other Side Of Daybreak – Beth Orton" ( EMI ) - 2003

External links

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ali+Friend Ali Friend at Discogs
]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Red+Snapper Red Snapper at Discogs
]
* [http://www.myspace.com/redsnapperofficial Red Snapper Myspace]
* [http://www.matadorrecords.com/red_snapper Matador Records]
* [http://www.clayhillmusic.com/main/index.php Clayhill official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/clayhill Clayhill Myspace]
* [http://www.thisisenglandmovie.co.uk// This Is England official site]
* [http://john-metcalfe.co.uk/musicians.html John Metcalfe official site]