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
It has been a little while since my last All Things Norfolk column. I had a really busy summer playing lots of festivals in the area and further afield. Here in Norfolk I really enjoyed performing at the first F-19 festival, a major new music festival in Feltwell at the stunning St Mary’s Church; all profits from the festival went towards the upkeep of this stunning medieval building.
I was also part of a brilliant line-up for The Waterfront Sessions. It was an all day promoted by The Tilting Sky celebrating some of the regions finest country and Americana artists by the riverside at Norwich Waterfront and it really showcased the wealth of talent here.
In July I also released a single Let Go - the second from my latest EP Edge of Love. It has been receiving some lovely airplay on many stations and shows including BBC Introducing Norfolk. Edge of Love has continued to get great reviews, so much so that I’m excited to be releasing a new single I Just Can’t Forget next month. The ballad, like all of my songs, comes from the heart and has a more soulful country sound with harmonies, piano, pedal steel acoustic and electric guitar
It features terrific local musicians: The Vagaband’s Jose McGill - who also produced the EP - plus Mark Howes from local blues duo Dove and Boweevil and Mikey Shaw on drums. The single has already been performed live in session for Whispering Bob TV’s Under the Apple Tree - intimate live acoustic sessions recorded in the home studio of legendary BBC broadcaster Bob Harris - certainly one of the highlights of my career so far!
It has been a very busy and exciting time as my new EP Edge of Love - recorded and mastered in Norwich and featuring a whole host of local talent - is now released worldwide!
I have been blown away by the wonderful airplay and reviews I have received including 4 stars in national music magazines Maverick and RnR. The title track also features on the excellent Un-Herd cover mount CD which comes with the May/June issue of RnR, in shops now.
I have been interviewed for a few local glossy publications - including Norwich Resident Magazine, KL Magazine and Norfolk Magazine - as well as had airplay on BBC Radio Norfolk and Suffolk, most recently a live acoustic session for Drive Time on BBC Radio Suffolk with Stephen Foster.
It’s been a little while since my last All Things Norfolk article as it has been a very busy time. Anything But Easy - the first single from my brand new EP “Edge of Love” - was released on 22nd February and I’ve been working really hard to promote it, doing radio and magazine interviews. It has been wonderful to receive such a lovely response and so much airplay including many BBC Shows and various stations across the world. I was also recently interviewed by Sam Day on BBC Radio Norfolk and chose my Norfolk Anthems (favourite songs!) as well as talked about the single.
It is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and also at my Bandcamp page:
https://lisaredford.bandcamp.
Huge thanks to All Things Norfolk who has already shared the official music video for Anything But Easy. Filmed in beautiful Dunwich and Walberswick, Suffolk on one of those glorious February days we enjoyed recently! Thanks to talented local videographer David McKenna at Light to Love Productions for filming and directing and capturing such a magic light.
Here is a link to the video - really appreciate any watches and shares via social media: https://youtu.be/8cT1opG9HiU
I am really excited that the PledgeMusic crowdfunding campaign for my next release is already at 86%! A huge thank you to all those of you who have pledged or shared the project. As an independent artist it really means a lot.
Recording for the new EP has just finished here in Norwich and it has been a really productive and exciting process. As mentioned, I am working with the super talented musician and producer José McGill – band-leader of the award-winning local band Vagaband – who has created some beautiful arrangements and played an array of instruments.
There is also a host of other local musicians who have been involved. Noel Dashwood – from Norwich based folk trio Alden Patterson and Dashwood - has contributed his wonderful dobro and harmonies. We have performed live together in the area playing festivals such as Folk East in Suffolk and supporting Sarah Darling and Eliza Carthy at Norwich Waterfront and OPEN. He will be performing with his trio at Epic Studios on 22nd November opening for renowned folk artists Show of Hands.
I am really excited to have launched my first ever PledgeMusic crowdfunding project for a brand new release. I have already started recording material with local band The Vagaband - recent recipients of The Music Award at the 2018 Norfolk Arts Awards - who I also recorded my last EP with.
There are some very special rewards and exclusives on offer including two beloved guitars and some rare signed memorabilia from my back catalogue. You will also be helping Dogs Trust as I spend a lot of time walking rescue dogs in the area and their companionship is truly special. Please watch the video and check out the rewards on offer - I would so appreciate any shares on social media.
Here is the PledgeMusic project link and video: