Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

There can't be many rural villages which can boast four bands, a record label and a recording studio but the East Devon village of Tipton St John (population 1,200) is one of them.

Among the local musicians is Andy Ward, who features in three of the bands and has his own recording studio.

He plays lead guitar in Noise Annoys Simon, and does the drum sampling and production for Fat Battery.

Some Beans is his solo venture and in January 2009, he released a debut 12-track CD entitled Fear and Loathing in Tipton St John.

Andy Ward is hoping to release another CD in 2009

"The title is obviously a joke," explains Andy. And so is Some Beans, which comes from a scene out of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ series, Blackadder: "It's from the one where Blackadder is trying to teach Baldrick how to count.

"He says: 'If I have two beans and I add another two beans, what do I have?' And Baldrick replies: 'Some beans.'

"I was a kid at the time, but it stuck with me."

His CD of songs was put together during 2008, and he is already working on a follow-up release in 2009: "This first CD is experimental really," said Andy. "I had all these songs and I decided I had to put them out there."

Andy was formerly in Bristol-based act The Fondas and also goes by the alias, Andy Fonda.

He admits some of his earlier songs sound reminiscent of Stone Roses singer Ian Brown: "There is an element of that in some of the early songs, but on the new songs I'm recording, my voice is higher.

The name Some Beans comes from a Blackadder scene

"I'm about six or seven tracks into a new set which takes things on quite a bit."

Andy plays all the instruments and does the programming himself. He's hoping to carve a career in the music industry: "I've always been keen on doing music, ever since I could walk really.

"I'd like success with my own act and I'd like to do some producing at my recording studio."

No More Wine was released as a single from the Fear and Loathing CD - you can listen to it using the audio link.

The CD is available from Pop Noise Records, which was set up by Tipton St John singer-songwriter Simon Bishop.

Visit the Some Beans website for more information about Andy's music and gigs.