Fun Community Singing Sessions, Running Music Courses, TV Roles, New Live Videos

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Free Community Singing Sessions

I’ve been wanting to do something positive and inspiring for awhile that reflects my passion for music and singing and could really make a difference to those who are struggling with their mental health or loneliness at the moment. I’m really excited to be running some free, fun and informal community singing sessions at the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library starting Tuesday 22nd February 2.30pm – 3.30pm – also at Earlham Library at 11.00am – 12pm on the same day – and then every Tuesday for 6 weeks.

Try these new singing sessions to boost your wellbeing where we’ll be singing a selection of classic, well known songs to uplift, connect and make you smile. No previous experience is required and there is no need to read music. All are welcome – feel to come along and drop in on the day. Here’s a piece I’ve written about the sessions for my friends at All Things Norfolk on why singing and music is so important to me.

Come and join me to have fun, connect with others and improve our wellbeing through a shared singing experience!

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Teaching Guitar for Beginners starting in April

I’m also really excited to be running two 10 week beginner courses in guitar and ukulele at Wensum Lodge in Norwich starting in the summer term for Norfolk County Council. I can’t wait to share my passion for teaching both instruments and to help you learn the basic skills to get you started with playing chords and strumming. More information about the guitar course is here

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Teaching a Ukulele for Beginners Course – Starting in April

It has been really fun, and a new creative challenge, to try some acting and work as a supporting artist recently on a variety of drama and documentary programmes. It’s really exciting finally seeing some of the TV projects that I’ve worked on finally hitting the screen. Now on britbox, “Magpie Murders” which was filmed in beautiful Suffolk and where I played a nurse:

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Also on Netflix is “Catching Killers” – being a cop!

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Now showing on American subscription streaming service Acorn TV is the brand new series of Emmy Award-nominated mystery drama “Queens of Mystery”. It was a lot of fun to appear in episode “The Modern Art of Murder” Pictured here on set in London with brilliant actresses Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond and Florence Hall.

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“Let Go” Live at the Canopy Theatre, Suffolk. Jason French on fiddle

I’ve been going through some live performances from the past few months when it was great to play again to audiences. Thanks to Rodney Kidd for filming original song “Let Go” live from The Canopy Theatre, Hungate Church, Beccles, Suffolk for Martello Promotions~ a lovely headline show in September 2021. Jason French on fiddle.

Performing original song “Carolina Rain” from a lovely Women in Music Day at The Brickmakers Norwich. Jason French on fiddle. Thanks to Liz for filming.

A live solo performance this time. Always really nice to perform at Deepdale Festival in beautiful Burnham Deepdale, North Norfolk. Thanks to Karl for getting some footage of the show on iPhone.

Lisa Redford “Here Alone” Live at Canopy Theatre, Suffolk

Another performance from Canopy Theatre, Suffolk: “Here Alone” with Jason French on fiddle. More live performances on my YouTube channel.

“This Fine City” Lisa Redford and Friends – Fundraising Single for Future Radio Out Now!

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This Fine City artwork by Gwenda Killick

So excited that fundraising single “This Fine City” was released on Friday ~ a heartfelt, anthemic celebration of #Norwich that I have written especially for Future Radio featuring a whole host of talented friends and musicians: Ecky Limon from the Blue Joanna (name checked in the song!), Scott Mathieson, Andrew Todd (amazing production!), Owen Sennitt, Yve Mary B, Callum Morgan from Morganway, Chad Mason, Hannah White, Russell McNamara and Teresa Gibbon.
Thanks so much to all the talented friends and artists – including many Future volunteers – who were a part of this very special project. Huge thanks of course to all the hard working team at Future Radio.
Please listen, donate and share the Bandcamp link below – all funds raised from the single will help Future to relocate to a new home – let’s help them find a new studio!

https://futureradio.bandcamp.com/releases

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Article in the EDP newspaper. View online
“This Fine City” official music video

Already been receiving lots of great press for the single. Was lovely to be Story of the Day at Folk Features – Uplifting stories for Norfolk and Suffolk, brought to you by Emma Outten:

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Article at Folk Features
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I’ve also written a column for my friends at All Things Norfolk about the making of “This Fine City” read the article here

So lovely that the song has already touched people and really resonated. Here’s a beautiful review from Richard Shashamane for his Norwich: Music City, UK Blog:

Immediately upon my first listening to this rousing celebration of Norwich and hope for the future I felt renewed optimism as well as being quite moved by the heartfelt love of the city so sincerely expressed in song. Joyous and triumphant in its hope.

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This Fine City video still

There has also been some lovely BBC airplay for ‘This Fine City’ over the weekend! Thanks to BBC Music Introducing in Norfolk and BBC Music Introducing in Suffolk plus the single was played on Stephen Foster’s BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Radio Suffolk show on the week from 6pm. Listen via BBC Sounds. I have been recording a few interviews including one with Good Health Radio in Australia. This will available on Monday October 19. I have also been doing some interviews for local television including That’s TV East – video here Also this Tuesday October 20 Ecky Limon and I talked about the single on ITN News Anglia and played a snippet of the song outside the Blue Joanna.

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Interview on ITV News Anglia
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Playing “This Fine City” outside The Blue Joanna, Norwich with Ecky Limon on guitar

Been doing lots of radio interviews to promote the single and it was lovely to chat to David Eastaugh for arts and culture show Platform, all about the inspiration for the song. You can hear the interview at: https://futureradio.co.uk/futureplayer/mixcloudplayer/3632

Huge thanks to Jamie at Grapevine Live Magazine – remember performing for the Grapevine Live stage at Ipswich Music Day – for a lovely interview all about the single here

As you know, I love to have my songs remixed and it’s been wonderful to work again with Neil Timbers who has done a brilliant electronic remix of ‘The Edge of Love’

Listen to the audio here on SoundCloud

“Anything But Easy” Single Out 22nd February ~ Airplay, Reviews

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Really excited to announce that “Anything But Easy” – the first single from my upcoming EP “Edge of Love” – will be released on 22nd February. I have been so happy with the response so far and all the airplay the single has already received. Thanks to all the radio shows that have play listed the track including Leader’s American Pie, Wrecking Ball Radio, Russ Hill Country, Acoustic Routes, Mystery Rain, The Hoedown, Country Rock Radio and Simply Country, who have made the song Track of the Month.
Produced by the brilliant Jose McGill from The Vagaband and featuring the wonderful dobro from Noel Dashwood of Alden, Patterson and Dashwood it’s mastered by Mikey Shaw Recording/Mix Engineer & Dub Cavern Productions at The Crunch – Recording Studio
“It has never been more easy to listen to an unknown tune. The song just invites you to listen and to keep on listening..A wonderful voice and great dobro playing.” Radio Compagnie, The Netherlands.

Thanks also to music blogs such as Building Our Own Nashville and Forever Country for spreading the word. Also W21 Music for a lovely review. More tour dates and festival announcements coming soon.

You will be able to pre-order the single via iTunes shortly. There’s also a sneak preview and download at my Bandcamp store – Pledgers, check your inboxes!

Courtney Marie Andrews Interview, Maverick, Reepham Festival, Radio Playlist

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Lovely to interview and chat all things music and songwriting with the brilliant Courtney Marie Andrews for Songwriting Magazine ahead of her fantastic show at Norwich Arts Centre. Look out for the piece coming up here

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My full review of Saturday’s Maverick Festival is also at Songwriting Magazine. A wonderful day of Americana. Feature now includes Danny & the Champions of the World, James Hodder, Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin. Thanks to Michael Kingston for some great photos. View this post on Instagram

Clip from today’s show at Reepham Festival. Lovely returning to perform at St Mary’s #church #weekend #music #festival #gig #acoustic #americana #country #folk #songwriter #nashville #guitar #live #singing #songwriter #artist #musician #countrymusic

A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Aug 11, 2018 at 2:59pm PDT

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Had a lovely weekend playing the always welcoming Reepham Festival. Thanks to Tim Moll for filming:

Huge thanks to the brilliant Future Radio for selecting me for their September playlist.

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So looking forward to my next festival – returning to stunning Burnham Deepdale for Deepdale Festival. Many amazing artists performing including Alden Patterson and Dashwood, The Vagaband and Shackleton Trio. I’ll be performing on the Orchard Stage on Saturday 29th September at 6pm.

First Show of 2018! Track on New Americana Compilation “Looking for America”

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First show of 2018! Really looking forward to making my debut headline at the Burston Crown this Thursday.  Will be playing two acoustic sets – a mixture of originals and favourite songs.

Out this week! Lovely to have my song “Remember Me” on “Looking for America” a great release celebrating music from the The House Concert European Hub community. Funds raised go to Merican Moose Mobile, a project from Rob Ellen at Medicine Music helping artists from Europe tour stateside. Listen and support the album at Bandcamp

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Semi-Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition! New Videos

Really excited to hear that I’m a Semi-Finalist in the renowned International Songwriting Competition with ‘Courage’ a song I wrote and performed beautifully by Breeze Redwine. It’s judged by artists such as Bastille, Lorde, Donovan, Chris Cornell, Ziggy Marley, Tom Waits, Keane, Ryan Bingham and Rickie Lee Jones while previous winners include Passenger, Bastille, Kimbra and Vance Joy. Wow!

New videos, playing Sam Outlaw’s ‘Country Love Song’

‘Doomsday’ by Ryan Adams. Also my recent live review of his intimate Rough Trade gig has been added to Songwriting Magazine.

Also playing one of my favourite songs, Neil Young’s lovely ‘Tell Me Why’ from the wonderful ‘After the Goldrush’

 

 

 

BBC Look East, Art of the Song Interview, Song of the Day, Merry Christmas!

Some shots from a great time Breeze and I had filming for BBC Look East. Cool to see some close ups of my Baby Taylor! Thanks so much to the BBC for putting together such a lovely festive video for our performance.

The performance is now on iPlayer and YouTube:

Thanks so much to Art of the Song for making ‘When Christmas Comes Around’ ‘Song of the Day’. I was also just interviewed for their excellent podcast following on from One Republic’s Ryan Tedder.  Talking music, songwriting & more in detail here. Thanks for listening xx

My article on ways to do a cover song creatively is in the new winter edition of Songwriting Magazine. Tons of features and interviews including the excellent Billy Bragg and the art of the protest song. Plus The Lumineers, Katie Melua, Tom Chaplin, Wild Beasts, punk and more. Something to cool to read over the festive period, you can order it here

Thanks so much to all the radio shows for supporting the festive single and to everyone for getting it, really means such a lot xx

Merry Christmas to you all and a music filled 2017!! 

Postcards for Peace Compilation, More Videos, Radio Interview, Columns

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For a limited time you can order my entire digital back catalogue, including three albums & new EP ‘Another Place and Time’ at a reduced price, 35% off! more info is at my Bandcamp page, thanks so much for all the support and orders.
Lisa-01-500x500-0Thanks also to Belles and Gals for this lovely feature about my digital sale

And to Stephpar for featuring my recent single ‘Remember Me’ on his Song a Day blog here

Compilation

I am honoured to be included on a wonderful compilation put together by Postcards for Peace, an amazing charity aiming to help eliminate discrimination.  It will feature my song ‘Live Your Life’ (live video below) and the single I wrote for Breeze Redwine ‘Courage’ (exclusive piano version) plus a whole host of amazing artists including Lau, Boo HewerdineLinda Thompson and Kris Drever. More info and how to help here. 

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Radio Airplay and Country Belles Interview

Thanks so much to Country Belles for a lovely interview recently. I talked about the new EP, love of songwriting, country music and more. Here it is to listen again in full.

“Wow, that’s beautiful, gentility at its best” thanks to The American Connection Country Music Radio Show for playing me in the #MadeInBritain feature and to Countryroutesblog for sharing.

Thanks also so much to Leader’s American Pie for playing ‘Music and the
Mountains’ on a recent excellent #BritishAmericana playlist with some amazing artists.

Videos

“Stylistically drawing upon Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Neil Young, her song ‘Dragonfly’ was without doubt the star of the show.” Thanks so much to Grapevine Live for this lovely live review of my set at FolkEast

I’ve uploaded more live videos from my lovely time playing Folk East and here’s a little highlights video from playing some lovely summer festivals.

‘Live Your Life’

Clip of a favourite Neil Young song ‘Comes a Time’

And a great Tom Petty song of defiance, ‘ I Won’t Back Down’

A little Folk East highlights video:

Playing ‘Wildfire’

‘Lost Again’

Music Columns

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I’ve also been busy writing my music columns, previewing and reviewing lots of great gigs and festivals. My September and October columns featured Folk East, Boo Hewerdine, Beth Orton, Hatful of Rain, Uke East festival and Sound and Vision. october-column

Also my article on great duets is in the Autumn issue of Songwriting Magazine. Tons of cool interviews and features including Dolly Parton, John Newman, The Divine Comedy, Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ and more.

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New Videos From Eliza Carthy Show

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Had a great gig supporting Eliza Carthy at OPEN Norwich. It was lovely to be joined for the first time on stage by amazing musician Noel Dashwood. The lovely sound of the dobro is something that really adds to the songs.

Here’s us warming up backstage playing ‘Music and the Mountains’:

And on stage performing ‘Carolina Rain’. More videos will be added to the YouTube Channel

 

with eliza instaMeeting Eliza after the show, such infectious energy and inspiring musicianship in her Wayward Band, try and catch them on this UK tour!

Latest Columns, Teen Star, Ukulele Cover, Eliza Carthy Support

Really exciting news! Huge congrats to one of my vocal students Breeze for winning her category in national competition TeenStar! Pre Teen winner 2015! She performed my song ‘Here Alone’ at Birmingham’s NEC and earned the highest marks from the music industry judges – so proud!

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Breeze judges

Here’s her stunning winning performance of my song ‘Here Alone’

My latest column for Songwriting Magazine now online. This time I’m discussing crowd funding for musicians, something I’ve not embarked upon but have been considering. I’d be really interested to hear from artists who have funded projects this way.

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I’ve also had my latest column for the Evening News published and as well as sharing my latest news I preview some creative workshops happening in Norwich this month:

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I’ve added new videos to my YouTube channel and new songs to SoundCloud including this ukulele cover of a lovely new Kacey Musgraves song. Really enjoying the sweet sounds and melodies on her Pageant Material album.

Looking ahead to Autumn and I’m really excited to be supporting Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band at OPEN Norwich on Wednesday October 14th. Details here