It has been a very busy and creative start to the year and I'm really looking forward to playing some lovely local gigs this month and throughout spring. These include some brand new live music nights that are happening in Norwich showcasing the wealth of talented local artists from Norfolk.
Common People at OPEN Norwich ~ Friday February 21st
My next gig is a really special one. As well as performing my own material, I love to perform many of my favourite songs from different genres. I'm looking forward to be playing an acoustic set at OPEN Norwich next weekend as part of a special 90's music charity night of Britpop, indie and dance from the team behind Common People. Expect some surprise 90's favourites in my set!
Mark Morriss, frontman of The Bluetones will headline the evening that will be raising funds for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Appeal and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Mark will play an intimate acoustic set featuring songs from his solo material and classics from The Bluetones including Slight Return, If, Marblehead Johnson, Bluetonic and more.
The night will also include DJ sets from Common People DJs, a 90's music memorabilia raffle and giveaways. All proceeds from the event will go to the two charities and to hosts Open Youth Trust, which works with the county’s young people.
The Priscilla Bacon Hospice Appeal aims to raise £12.5m to build a much-needed new hospice in Norwich. The new 24-bed facility will transform end-of-life care for those terminally ill in Norfolk and Waveney. NICU is a specialist unit which cares for more than 800 sick babies in Norfolk every single year. It has literally saved the lives of hundreds of babies and any money donated will help extend the fantastic work they do.
There are now only limited tickets available for the night. Here is the link:
https://opennorwich.org.uk/
The Reindeer Norwich - Tilting Sky Presents Sunday Sessions - Sunday February 23nd
The same weekend I will also be performing at The Reindeer Norwich - which has a reputation for hosting great live music almost every night of the week - as part of an eclectic line up of artists for the first in an occasional series of Songwriter Sessions from local promoter The Tilting Sky.
As well as myself, Tom Malachowski will be performing some blues whilst Vincent Knight & Molly Willis will provide some cool rock & indie to create a musical cocktail from the late afternoon through to the early evening.
Live music starts at 4pm. It's free entry and all ages are welcome.
Bare Feet Records Live at Bowling House - Thursday March 5th
Also on Dereham Road in Norwich is Bowling House which as well as being a cocktail bar, karaoke, restaurant and ten pin bowling alley, is working with Bare Feet Records to programme a series of events celebrating the launch of the Palm Bar as a new space for live music.
I am excited to be part of the inaugural night of performances on Thursday March 5 along with Yve Mary B, Chad Mason and Tangles. There will be events from March until June and the first few line-ups are here: https://www.musicglue.
I recently made a little music video for the title track of the my latest EP ‘Edge of Love.’ Even though most of it was filmed in the South of France, look out for some beautiful coastal views of North Norfolk. My EP is continuing to receive some lovely airplay including The Big Country Show on BBC Radio. Huge thanks to Keith Greentree at Radio Norfolk.
'The Edge of Love' Music Video: https://youtu.be/
Headline concerts in Beccles and North Norfolk
Moving further into spring I am looking forward to some lovely headline gigs including an intimate and totally acoustic concert on May 2nd in Beccles for Martello Promotions - a live music promotion team running quality folk and acoustic concerts in north Suffolk. The gig will be at the Acoustic Lounge, Hungate Church and tickets are now available online:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk
There have already been a few sold and tickets are also available locally from Beccles Books. There is no bar for this show - audience will need bring their own refreshments, alcoholic or otherwise.
I will also be heading to North Norfolk to beautiful Cley-next-the-Sea and performing a headline concert at the Village Hall on Saturday April 25th. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates on this:
https://www.facebook.com/
Future Radio
I'm continuing to host the Afternoon Session on Future Radio in Norwich - playing a mix of indie, Americana, folk, electronica and rock, as well as showcasing local music and doing gig previews. With many local summer festivals also being announced, it looks set to be a very busy few months!
Tune into Future Radio: http://
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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:
