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"
Future is also a passionate champion of the local music scene, with monthly local music playlists and shows specifically focussing on local artists as well as opportunities for them to perform live. They regularly featured Ed Sheeran when he was an up and coming local musician.
Future Radio Background
Future Radio is the community radio station for Norwich and has become part of the cultural fabric of the city. Broadcasting in Norwich since 2000, it was one of the first community stations in the country to be awarded a five year full time community broadcast license in 2005. After a number of short-term trial licenses, Future Radio began broadcasting on a full time basis in August 2007 and is now one of the largest and longest running community radio stations in the UK. It is managed by a small team of dedicated staff and operated by over 70 members of the community, who create shows, alongside providing background production and journalism support. Currently the station is being operated by two staff members and 65 volunteers, of all ages and backgrounds.
The station offers the opportunity to get involved with radio, whether it is creating your own radio show, assisting with background production or developing skills in the journalism side of a radio station. The host of Radio 1 Breakfast Greg James presented the Breakfast Show in the early 2000s while studying at the University of East Anglia.
Community radio licenses are intended for social gain and community empowerment and as a community radio station, Future brings people together from across cultural divides to form a collective voice of the community. Future Radio is part of the charity Future Projects, giving disadvantaged people opportunities and support to help them back towards living independent, safe and happy lives. Future Projects also includes Future Education, a specialist independent school for children with special educational needs and Future Support, a collection of support services which help those most in need. More information is available at: http://futureprojects.org.uk/
The Covid-19 Crisis
When Future’s landlord Open Youth Trust closed, the station lost their offices and studios and now needs to raise funds to move the station and reopen for local musicians, their volunteers and listeners as soon as possible. Losing advertisers and cancelled fundraising events has already had a big financial impact and moving a radio station is a long and expensive project, made even harder with the financial impact the Covid crisis has had.
Future Radio has continued to broadcast 24 hours a day throughout the lockdown, despite having to rely almost entirely on presenters who can edit and host their shows from home.
With the news that Radio Norwich and other local stations across the county will be closing down, Future will soon be the only radio alternative to the BBC that can provide a platform for local music, views, news and content. A responsibility they do not take lightly.
This Fine City
To raise funds, Future came up with the idea of creating a charity single and I was asked by them to write a fundraising single about Norwich and how we’re all coming together and overcoming this tough time.
I wanted to write something really uplifting with an anthemic feel; a song full of hope that celebrates Norwich and special times enjoyed in the city whilst looking forward to the days when we can fully enjoy them again:
I know we’ve been low, living the unknown I believe within these city walls
We’ll rise above it all
Places name-checked include The Playhouse, The Warwick Social and the popular Blue Joanna on Unthank Road renowned for its delicious Asian style street food and live music nights where I have often performed. Ecky Limon, the owner also features on the song, playing guitar.
The recording of This Fine City is a real Future Radio effort with Andrew Todd engineering, mixing and producing the track at Future Studios on Motum Road in West Earlham. Toddy has hosted the drum and bass show on the station since the early days of Future and also works at Future Education as a creative media tutor. I sing the main vocals with Future volunteers Owen Sennitt and Teresa Gibbon also lending their voices. A few local artists and friends including Chad Mason and Yve Mary Barwood - who I played with at one of my last pre-lockdown gigs at the Bowling House - plus Callum Morgan from Morganway who I’ve played gigs with, also contribute vocals. Musicians Scott Mathieson (bass), Russell McNamara (electric guitar) and Emily White (piano) complete the Lisa Redford and Friends line up.
The song also mentions the Canaries and Pablo Fanque - real name William Darby - the first black circus proprietor, who was born in Norwich. He is also immortalised in the Beatles song Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. Special thanks to my friend Dr Liz Chandler for the lyrical inspiration. With a rousing chorus and singalong section, I hope those in Norwich and beyond will sing along to it!
Local Radio Day
The song’s release on Friday 16 October coincides in the week of Local Radio Day which celebrates all local and community radio. This year it was on Monday 12 October and specifically celebrated communities making waves and highlighted what people have done to turn the tide on isolation, inspiring and helping others within the community.
The song costs just £1 to download and all proceeds will go towards raising funds to relocate Future Radio into a new home.
To purchase This Fine City, go to www.futureradio.bandcamp.com from Friday 16 October. To view the video please click here
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.
All Things Norfolk business member, singer-songwriter and music tutor Lisa Redford has written and recorded a brand new song at home during the lockdown "From Afar"
Lisa got her inspiration for writing this song when walking in her local area in Norwich and seeing a poster in a window which said "know you are loved from afar" . The song is all about missing loved ones but knowing that we can still love and care from them "From Afar" until we meet again. Once the song was written Lisa then recorded an acoustic version of it from her home studio.
We highly recommend that you take a listen to "From Afar" by visiting https://lisaredford.bandcamp.com/track/from-afar and support this talented local artist by purchasing the song digitally for £1 . You can also view the video by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfnukKmLcqc
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!
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.
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.