Photo courtesy of Claudia Taveira
Hey there! hope you’ve all been enjoying the Easter weekend. March was a really busy month. I had another lovely show at The Bicycle Shop when I supported Oxford friends The Dreaming Spires whose superb new album ‘Searching for the Supertruth’ has been deservedly earning some excellent reviews. It was also fun that Joe from the band joined me on two of my songs, adding some lovely pedal steel. Here’s one of the live songs:
'Carolina Rain' with Joe from The Dreaming Spires https://youtu.be/T3-jJVRbTAA
It was a hectic but really fun weekend performing again at C2C Country to Country Festival at The O2. I saw lots of outstanding live music, an eclectic mix of Americana, folk, bluegrass and country and, as last year, there was such a lovely warm atmosphere and it was amazing to see how busy it was. Thanks so much to everyone who came along to my set at the Saloon and signing afterwards to say hi. Thanks also to excellent country music website W21 Music and Jeff G Photography for taking some great live shots. It was a real honour to be selected to play the pop-up stages for the second year running and exciting to have Radio 2‘s Bob Harris, who has really supported my music, invite the audience to listen to my set.
I’ve posted quite a few videos from my performance on my YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/lisaredfordmusic
Following on from last year, here’s another fun little highlights video I’ve put together with a clip of ‘Carolina Rain’ which was also recently featured on Amazing Radio in their all female playlist for International Women's Day
Here’s also a live video from my performance, singing original song ‘Never Was a Yesterday’
Also here's a fun a cappella video, singing ‘Be Around’ on the walk home from C2C in Greenwich Tunnel! https://youtu.be/iGJCov64KRQ
New Interviews
Another great part of playing C2C festival was getting to meet some of my fans and do some interviews with them for their blogs and channels. Here’s a fun interview video with French YouTube Channel L Teste:
Plus an interview with country music blog Six Shooter Country, chatting about playing the festival and my music inspirations:
http://www.sixshootercountry.com/getting-to-know...-lisa-redford.html
Record Store Day April 18th
Looking ahead, and one of the music highlights of the month is Record Store Day, a great day on the third Saturday of each April celebrating independent records shops around the world. This year I’m due to play in Cambridge and among the participating stores in Norfolk are Soundclash, who had queues going along St Benedicts last year and Lewks in Downham Market who from 8am have an eclectic line up of live music. Check out www.recordstoreday.co.uk for a full list of events and for more information on the live music in Norfolk.
Vocal Coach, Guitar Lessons
I love sharing the experience and skills I've gained as a performer and if anyone in the area is interested in singing lessons or beginner guitar lessons, please contact me for more information via Facebook at www.facebook.com/lisaredfordmusic
Lisa Redford
"one of our finest singer/songwriters" Bob Harris BBC Radio 2
"In a sea of smart female singer/songwriters Lisa Redford is an admiral" Maverick magazine ****
www.lisaredford.com
Talented Norfolk Singer and Songwriter Lisa Redford will be teaching Guitar and Ukulele at Wensum Lodge, King Street in Norwich this Spring. These are exciting new music courses being launched in association with Norfolk County Council Adult Learning with taster sessions and 10 week beginners courses.
Passionate about teaching music, Lisa Redford is a local musician and professional music tutor who has been described by legendary BBC broadcaster Bob Harris as "one of our finest singer songwriters". Lisa has earned worldwide acclaim for her heartfelt acoustic music and her original songs have featured on BBC Radio 2 and other radio stations worldwide. Having taught locally for over 10 years as well as in Manchester and New York City, Lisa loves sharing her skills and experience as a touring musician and has performed, written and recorded many songs.
Did you know that singing is scientifically proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and release endorphins? Group singing also builds a sense of community and boosts your confidence and wellbeing.
Music and singing has always been there for me; during these past few tough months it has particularly provided a real release and escape from the difficult time we have all faced.
During these past two years, many of us have struggled with feelings of isolation and loneliness, and as a performing songwriter and music tutor who thrives on the energy of an audience and enjoys the interaction with my students, I have found it really challenging. Despite continuing to find alternative ways to perform my music online and teach my music lessons since March 2020 via Zoom, it was very strange not seeing others for a very long time.
Five talented musicians have vowed to glean something positive from a harrowing situation by releasing a charity single in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Norfolk indie-rock band Red Wine Talk hope to raise more than £1,000 and will be releasing The Deep Blue Sea Between Us on 1st December.
Songwriter and guitarist Callum Robb says the ambient, ten-minute track “fell from his guitar” – but admits it was driven by raw emotion because it is in memory of friend Connor Clark. The 18-year-old was training at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, in Devon, and died on 12th June, 2021. His body was found near a railway track.
Now Callum and Co have decided to release their charity single for EACH and headed into the studio to record it on 7th November. It will now be fully mixed and mastered for release on all streaming platforms and CD.
As some of you know, last year I wrote a fundraising single for Norwich community station Future Radio, This Fine City - a celebration of Norwich and also a message of hope with us all coming together to get through this challenging and unprecedented time. It felt very rewarding that it was received so well, gaining radio airplay and local media coverage - including being featured here in an article I wrote for All Things Norfolk - whilst, more importantly, raising funds to help Future find a new city centre studio.
It’s continued to be a challenging start to the year for us all; for myself, with the lack of gigs and festivals on the horizon, it can be hard to find inspiration. I wanted to start the year on a positive note; be creative, while also doing something good, and felt that I wanted to do something for another local charity. One in the Crowd is a new acoustic song in aid of Safe Rescue for Dogs, whose events I have previously attended. As a huge animal lover and dog walker - mostly to springer spaniel Wesley who was also my co-star in the video for From Afar, a single I wrote and recorded during the first lockdown - I know the joy and unconditional love that they bring into our lives.
In her latest feature for All Things Norfolk, Lisa focuses on the exciting launch of her fundraising single in aid of Future Radio "This Fine City" about Norwich and how we're all coming together znd overcoming this tough time.
"I began volunteering at Future Radio in 2018, regularly hosting the Afternoon Session and also briefly covering NR Sounds which showcases bands and artists from Norwich and the surrounding areas of Norfolk and North Suffolk. It has been so rewarding and enjoyable to be part of the station - certainly been a real buzz broadcasting live to listeners and sharing my passion for music"