Ritchie Blackmore And Candice Night On Investing Outside The Mainstream Via Blackmore’s Night
Over the course of about the last 20 years, as it’s become more and more difficult to monetize recorded music, curating a unique experience has become crucial for artists seeking to engage their audience.
Blackmore’s Night was far ahead of that curve.
Following his run as co-founder of one of hard rock’s most influential group’s, Deep Purple, guitarist, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Ritchie Blackmore tied together some of his more diverse influences in rock group Rainbow.
While widely known as one of rock’s greatest guitarists, Blackmore also took lessons in classical guitar, and Rainbow incorporated elements of his leanings toward the baroque and pop music that was a bit more anathema within the hard rock realm.
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Candice Night chipped in on lyrics and backing vocals of the, to date, final Rainbow album Stranger in us All in 1995 and the duo formed Blackmore’s Night two years later.
With a focus on medieval and Renaissance music, Blackmore’s Night puts a contemporary spin upon centuries old sound. Eschewing the arenas of days gone by, Blackmore and Night opted instead to deliver their music directly to fans via themed concerts in smaller venues where the music was more likely to resonate, places like castles or Renaissance faires, creating in the process a new, rabid fanbase that now spans generations. With both artist and audience celebrating the idea of escape every night on stage, in period appropriate attire, each Blackmore’s Night concert stands out as a one of a kind experience.
I caught up with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night for a look at their latest album Nature’s Light, now available on CD/vinyl and via streaming platforms via EarMusic, a conversation which hits on the benefits of investing in a unique fan experience outside the mainstream, while looking back on nearly 25 years of Blackmore’s Night. A transcript of our email exchange, lightly edited for length and clarity, follows below.