cover pic is by Joe Se
I’ve been working hard on my new Christmas single ‘When Christmas Comes Around’ which I’ve recorded and mixed myself like my previous acoustic festive song ‘St Benedict’s Christmas Fair’.
The song is about the pleasure of spending time with those you love during the festive period and I really enjoy the process of creating a song from scratch, and adding layers and parts to it.
The song has just received airplay on BBC Suffolk which makes all the hard work so rewarding and will be available on my Bandcamp page lisaredford.bandcamp.com
Here's is the unplugged video - When Christmas Comes Around
I launched the single during my short set at Mustard TV’s Christmas Party at The Forum last weekend where I was also joined by my talented student Breeze Redwine to perform two Christmas classics. Breeze has been continuing to receive airplay on BBC Introducing for her latest single ‘1000 Little Pieces’ and has just been invited to perform a festive song on BBC Look East.
Photo from Mustard TV
Really looking forward to seeing Lissie and Teddy Thompson this week at The Waterfront. As an acoustic songwriter myself I always love seeing artists perform solo acoustic sets. Lissie’s music is a great blend of folk, country, rock and pop and both her previous albums, 2010’s ‘Catching a Tiger’ and 2013’s ‘Back to Forever’, made the Top 20 in the charts with the former going Gold. Her songs have been licensed for films and TV shows whilst ‘The Longest Road,’ a song she wrote with DJ Morgan Page was subsequently remixed by Deadmau5 and nominated for a ‘Best Remixed Record’ Grammy.
Her latest studio album ‘My Wild West’, recorded in Nashville with her producer Bill Reynolds (Band of Horses), her band in in Ojai, California and executive producer Curt Schneider in his Studio City home, is Lissie’s most personal to date and for this tour she is also promoting her live album ‘Live at Union Chapel’ which is now available to order, download or stream via her website.
The special guest joining Lissie is Teddy Thompson whose career I’ve followed and I enjoyed his ‘Separate Ways’ album so much I worked with his producer Brad Albetta on my album ‘Clouds with Silver’ in Brooklyn which has been a real highlight of my career. I saw Teddy play earlier this year for the Norfolk and Norwich Festivel at Norwich Playhouse as part of an excellent show with American singer/songwriter Kelly Jones who he collaborated with on duets album ‘Little Windows.’ The stunning show, which had the audience captivated by the sublime harmonies, natural rapport between the band and musicianship, was directed by superb drummer Ethan Eubanks who I was also fortunate enough to have play on my EP ‘Reminders’.
Some other excellent live music treats are coming up. OPEN sees folk singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Seth Lakeman on 11th December. His high-energy performances and series of best selling albums make him one of folk music’s most renowned artists.
At Norwich Arts Centre on the 21st it’s the annual midwinter moonshine from The Vagaband. I recorded my latest EP with frontman José McGill and this year the band are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Special guests will be alt-country band Morganway from North Norfolk. The superb Glenn Tilbrook is on Monday 12th. One of my first memorable gigs was supporting him at the same venue and with his energy, warmth and gift for writing songs, it’s not hard to see his enduring appeal as one of our most loved songwriters. For fellow Neil Young fans like myself Don’t Spook the Horse return on the 11th taking the audience on a journey through Neil’s long and eclectic career. Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys headline on the 19th. I saw their rousing set at Folk East and he has been awarded many accolades including Horizon winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Support is Norwich’s Jess Morgan who has been earning rave reviews for her new album 'Edison Gloriette'.
It's been a really busy and rewarding year with all the acclaim received for 'Courage' the debut single I wrote for Breeze and also the lovely reviews and airplay for my EP 'Another Place and Time'. I'm thrilled to hear it's just been nominated for Best British EP at the Belles and Gals Awards, an excellent music website celebrating female artists who perform country music.
"Lisa’s music is a beautiful blend of the sweetest style of country and the purest sound of folk music". Such lovely words from music blog Building Our Own Nashville who have just reviewed the EP and given it a great review:
https://buildingourownnashville.com/2016/11/11/lisa-redford-another-place-and-time-ep-review/
2017 looks set to be exciting too. My song 'Live Your Life' and also an exclusive piano version of 'Courage' are featured on a beautiful charity compilation CD for Postcards for Peace which will be officially released in February. It features 26 songs of war and peace, of hope and of love, of living life to the full, of not giving up and of having the courage to face adversity.
The album includes Grammy award nominee Linda Thompson, multiple BBC Folk Award winners Lau and Kris Drever, acts that have enjoyed chart success, Hothouse Flowers, and the wonderful Boo Hewerdine and Peggy Seeger.
For more information and to order the CD visit here:
http://www.postcardsforpeace.org/shop/a-world-of-hope-cd/
For all my music news and teaching information, please visit lisaredford.com
Thank you so much for reading my music column this past year. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
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:
Norfolk Day will be upon us this Friday, 27th July and I am really excited to share this beautiful new music video from my incredibly talented student Breeze Redwine. Especially filmed for Norfolk Day and showcasing the stunning countryside of the county, it has already had a wonderful response and been selected as the official song for the occasion. The track is "Trust" an original song written by myself and Breeze which is also the title track of her debut EP. Everyone involved in the video is from Norfolk, from the musicians to the video director-producer David McKenna, and the project was sponsored by Rushall-based Vincent’s Garage.
Some of the county’s most iconic landmarks feature in the video including including Thurne in the Norfolk Broads, Happisburgh Light House, Cromer Pier and The Waveney Valley.