Images courtesy of Claudia Taveira Photography
As mentioned last time, I’d just finished filming my new video on the Norfolk coast. The evocative landscape here provides so many great locations and I’m excited that the video, for one of my acoustic songs ‘Time to Grow’, is now online and had a lovely response. The video was made by really talented local film maker and photographer Claudia Taveira Photography and you can see the new video here:
This past week I’ve also been along to a couple of inspiring music workshops and masterclasses. During August, music & arts charity Musical Keys, who work with people with complex &/or additional needs, ran Creative Connections, free music and arts workshops for young people. I managed to get along to a session at Create Norwich in Trowse, a really impressive rehearsal, recording and teaching space. The session was run by musician and music tutor Pete Murdoch and we looked at various apps for making music with the iPad. These included Soundrop, Musyk and MadPad.
We watched various fun demos and saw how you can change the sounds, visuals, speed and also record yourself. The combination of art and music make this a great way of engaging young people with music through technology. We also looked at how to create a song with Garageband, using the loops and instrument tracks. This is something I’ve been doing a lot more of and I really enjoy creating songs on my laptop, many of which are at SoundCloud.com/lisaredford
The next day I went to The Garage in Norwich and their Take Note Music Summer School. All week they were running a series of music workshops to develop the creative and music skills of young musicians and also provide them with an opportunity to collaborate with other young musicians and learn from musicians in the industry. In the morning Pete Murdoch ran a songwriting workshop where the group were given topics to create pieces that would be performed at the end of the week. With guidance also from tutor and musician Carl Cole they learnt how a song was put together, layered and arranged. I caught the end of the workshop and it was so impressive seeing what ideas the groups had come up with in just 20 minutes.
Port Isla and Nadine Shah had already shared their knowledge and experiences with the group and following the songwriting workshop I attended a music expert session with Chris and Steph from the band Kill it Kid who performed two excellent acoustic songs and answered questions about their career. They discussed music publishing, their songwriting process, touring experiences and much more. Singer and guitarist Chris Turpin, who hails from Norwich, shared his passion for early blues and what inspires him to write and also advised how bands should carve their own niche. He also talked about his early gigging days playing in Norwich and how important those early performances in the city were in helping him hone his craft. All really inspiring advice for the young musicians.
Looking ahead to this month and there’s lots coming up. This Sunday 6th September between 1-5pm Musical Keys are celebrating their 25th anniversary at the lovely Bishop’s Garden in Norwich. Admission is £3 and the afternoon will include drop-in sessions: traditional/early years, animation, sensory and songwriting technology for children, young people and adults. They will also have a pop-up shop from ReTune, selling musical instruments restored by people with learning disabilities, and music from Hemblington Harmony Choir. There’s more information at www.musicalkeys.org.uk
Friday September 18th sees one of my favourite songwriters, Boo Hewerdine perform at The Octagon Chapel in Colegate for Dreams Music Promotions who have been putting on some lovely gigs by respected artists within the worlds of folk and Americana. I’ve followed Boo’s career since his band The Bible and performed a couple of his songs at an evening celebrating his songwriting at the Assembly House. I’ve also had the pleasure of singing with him at his recent Bicycle Shop gig and he really is one of the countries finest songwriters.
Live Boo Hewerdine cover of 'The Birds are Leaving' at The Assembly House:
https://soundcloud.com/lisaredford/the-birds-are-leaving-live
I love playing the ukulele, there’s something inherently happy about its sound. I’ve taught ukulele for beginners and also performed a number of songs on it. September 19th sees the second year of Uke East at Norwich Arts Centre. Doors are open at 12pm and the festival will feature workshops, an open mic, jams, as well as performances by the most renowned contemporary ukulele players from around the country. Uke East will again be raising money for Musical Keys and I’m really looking forward to it. More details are here: www.uke-east.co.uk
Me playing ukulele on my song 'You Will Know' at House Cafe, Norwich:
The Refectory at Norwich Cathedral have been celebrating talent from the local music scene and on September 11th talented Norwich singer-songwriter Jess Morgan will be performing solo and with her trio who I saw a lovely set by recently in The Rose. Jess is inspired by British and American folk as well as country, blues and world music and is currently promoting her latest release ‘The Bournemouth EP’.
I’m really looking forward to be supporting the renowned Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band at OPEN Norwich on October 14th. For all my upcoming gigs, music videos and teaching information, please take a look at www.lisaredford.com
Images courtesy of Claudia Taveira Photography
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: