Summer of Events, FutureFest, More Music Courses and TV Shows

It’s been a fun summer attending a few wonderful cultural events and festivals including Wimbledon and a 1940s weekend for the Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft where I got to dress up in vintage attire. I had a fab (see what I did there!) time seeing the new Paul McCartney exhibition “Eyes of the Storm” at the National Portrait Gallery. It was so cool viewing his intimate, never-before-seen images which offer a personal perspective on what it was like to be a Beatle at the start of ‘Beatlemania. More recently, it was great to be back at Latitude Festival after a few years – so many music highlights: Impressive new talent at the Inbetweeners Stage from Access Creative and amazing sets by Metronomy and Pulp. Last weekend I went to Primadonna Festival for the first time in the beautiful surroundings of the Food Museum, Stowmarket. So much creativity there with fascinating workshops, panels and talks on writing and music. It was lovely to meet JB Gill from JLS, now a children’s author and farmer, after a talk and signing of his children’s book and a real highlight was meeting the brilliant Miki Berenyi from Lush who was there to discuss her highly acclaimed memoir ‘Fingers Crossed’

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Lisa Redford at First Light Festival

In June I had a busy “two gigs in one day tour.” It was lovely to perform at First Light Festival in Lowestoft for the first time – such a warm welcome and great atmosphere. It was also wonderful to share the night again with the fantastic The Weeping Willows as part of their UK tour. Thanks to Grapevine for Music for hosting such a special night, Jason French for joining me on sublime banjo and fiddle, Chad Mason for gorgeous sound, and Katie Harris for this live photograph below.

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Lisa Redford and Jason French live at Grapevine for Music, Norwich with The Weeping Willows. Picture by Katie Harris.
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Lisa Redford at FutureFest 1.30pm

For my next gig I will be supporting my friends at Future Radio, performing at the inaugural FutureFest – a vibrant celebration of community, music and fun – to raise money for local charity Future Projects. Future Radio will be taking over The Brickmakers Pub on Sunday 6th August, featuring live bands on three stages, food trucks, kids activities, and DJs from midday until 11pm. Full-access tickets are just £10 (plus booking fee) and under 13s go free! Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/futurefest-tickets…
For more information, visit futureradio.co.uk/fest/ I will be playing a solo set at 1.30 as part of this amazing and eclectic lineup. All funds raised at FutureFest will go toward local charity, Future Projects.

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Ukulele Taster Session with Lisa Redford at Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library for Creativity and Wellbeing Week

I May I ran a lovely ukulele taster session for #CreativityAndWellbeingWeekAdult Learning. It was so great to see some new and also familiar faces joining me for a fun strum downstairs at Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library. Thanks to Norfolk Library and Information Service for having me.

Join me in September for some more fun group music courses. I will be teaching ukulele for beginners and improvers again as well as guitar for beginners and there will also be more singing for well-being sessions. For further information and to enrol, please visit the Adult Learning website: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/education-and-learning/adult-learning

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Ukulele courses for Adult Learning, Wensum Lodge, Norwich
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Guitar for Beginners Course with Lisa Redford at Wensum Lodge, Norwich
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Ukulele Taster Session with Lisa Redford

Always exciting seeing filming projects I’ve worked on finally make it to the TV. Back on Netflix recently was Catching Killers – try and spot me playing a TV reporter in season 3. All episodes of brand new series Mother Undercover are now available on HULU in the US, and on Disney+ in the UK. In this inspiring series I was excited to play a photographer.

Newspaper Feature Interview Now Online

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Lisa Redford. Photo by Denise Bradley

Really nice to see my recent interview with the Eastern Daily Press newspaper is now online.
The link is here

As the interview mentions, I’ve been really invested in my teaching and sharing my passion for music, with beginner guitar and ukulele courses and community singing, I’ve recently finished teaching my first Singing for Wellbeing courses and look forward to running more inspiring singing sessions and music courses next year. Wishing you all a Wonderful Christmas and happy and fulfilling 2023!

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Lisa Redford. Photo by Denise Bradley

Newspaper Cover Star, New Courses for 2023, Online Singing Group, History Channel

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Lisa Redford EDP Newspaper – The Big Interview. Photo: Denise Bradley

Abbie and I are cover stars! Huge thanks to Mark Nicholls and the EDP for featuring me in this weekend’s EDP newspaper. It was lovely to sit down with Mark and talk about my music career, support from Whispering Bob Harris, songwriting, teaching music courses at Adult Learning , as well as my recent ventures into acting and filming .

The feature also mentions Future Radio, Access Creative and performing at this year’s Brisley Live at The Brisley Bell and Deepdale Festival.

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Lisa Redford. Photograph by Denise Bradley, Archant
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Lisa Redford and Bob Harris
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New Music Courses

“I think you’re a very engaging teacher, knowledgeable and personable. I would highly recommend.”

I have just finished teaching my beginner ukulele and guitar courses in Norwich this term and it was really rewarding to teach such enthusiastic learners who progressed so well.

I’m very excited to be running the fun and friendly 10 week sessions again at Wensum Lodge, Norwich for Adult Learning, Norfolk County Council from January 9th 2023. As well as beginner courses, for the first time I’m also teaching a Ukulele for Improvers course.

I’d really love to see some new students – more information on Guitar for Beginners here

Further details on Ukulele for Beginners here

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Ukulele for Beginners Course
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Ukulele and Guitar for Beginners Course

Online Community Singing Group

It has been so rewarding and fun leading Singing for Wellbeing courses in Norwich for Adult Learning. Join me in a new wellbeing-focused online group for mental health service user charity Viewpoint, where we’ll be singing a selection of classic, well-known songs to uplift, connect, make you smile and improve your overall wellbeing. The first free session kicks off on Monday 5th December at 7pm!

Book your place here

As before, there’s no previous experience required. Just bring along an open mind and a joy for music! All are welcome – book your place now!

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Viewpoint Community Singing Group

Toys that Built America – Season Two

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Lisa Redford in The Toys that Built America on the History Channel

Now showing on the HISTORY channel in the US, the second series of #ToysThatBuiltAmerica
The stories behind the innovations, inventions, and revolutions of some of history’s greatest toys. I appear in two episodes – the first, “Masters of the Universe” about the beginnings of iconic action figures, notably #StarWars, and as a stylish #Edwardian lady.

To see my appearance – and 70s hair! – in the first episode playing Ray Wagner’s PA, got to my Facebook page

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Toys that Built America

“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

Fundraising Single for Future Radio, Collaboration Projects

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I’ve been busy with a few creative projects and excited that I have written an original song for Future Radio in Norwich. The photo above is from a video shoot for the #fundraising single release. “This Fine City” will be released to coincide with #LocalRadioDay & features a host of talented friends and artists from Norfolk. More news soon!

I love to collaborate on music projects and also to perform other artists’s material – it really inspires me and my own writing – so I’ve really enjoyed interpreting this lovely, heartfelt song written by Kate Raison, a talented songwriter who I met during Chris Difford’s Songwriting Retreat last year. Here is also an acoustic demo of the song that I’ve recorded: https://soundcloud.com/user-466575967/dont-tell-me-that-you-love-me-tonight-demo-sung-by-lisa-redford

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Thrilled to be in the beautiful new video by artist Megan O’Neill for her single Fire with Fire — a powerful and amazing celebration of women and women in music – alongside incredible female artists, please watch: Thank you Megan for this incredible message

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“heartfelt lyrics, beautiful vocal harmonies & a gentle melody. Lisa brings out first class lyrics alongside haunting string instruments & scenic visuals.” Huge thanks to worldwide platform Music Crowns for a brilliant review of Edge of Love:

Really enjoyed the recent Sheryl Crow BBC Radio 2 #livefromhome #festival performance ❤️🎵  always loved this fantastic song of hers “Sad Sad World” from a special edition of her self-titled album released in 1996.

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Not long before #lockdown my CD’s were made available to buy at HMV Norwich – check them out now and support #liveandlocal brilliant how they’re supporting local independent artists.

PledgeMusic Project – 69% Raised! In the Studio. London Show. Radio DJ!

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Some gorgeous #dobro #slide being recorded in the #studio love #recording #newmusic thanks to the amazing Noel @aldenpattersonanddashwood #producing #music #country #Americana #song #original #acoustic #special #songwriting #guitar #aldenpattersonanddashwood #guitar #roots #folk #newmusicfriday #countrymusic #live #session #nashville

A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Oct 19, 2018 at 1:04pm PDT

Hi guys! 69% has now been raised for my PledgeMusic project! Beyond grateful to you all. I’ve already started recording and here’s an update from the studio! https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/lisaredford/updates/101647

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View this post on Instagram

Great day in the #studio thanks to @mark_howes_guitar_tuition for some amazing #guitar #music #musicmonday #recordingstudio #americana #country #singersongwriter #nashville #countrymusic #original

A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Nov 5, 2018 at 11:40am PST

The mug has gone! there are many other goodies still available including a mouse mat, set of concert posters, signed set lists and my back catalogue. Take a look here:

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Looking forward to some lovely gigs including Norwich Arts Centre on November 30th opening for the brilliant Morganway and making my debut at the award-winning Green Note in Camden as special guest for No Coward Soul on December 4th. Stepping up to the microphone! Great session at excellent local community radio station Future Radio in Norwich learning the studio techniques for hosting a music show.

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.

Recent Shows, New Live Videos, Upcoming BBC Radio Interview

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Had a great time playing two successive lovely Americana nights. I performed at Grapevine for Music at The Guildhall, who host regular showcases of great folk and country artists, and then on the following night supported I support the excellent duo, The Worry Dolls at OPEN, fresh from their recent AMA UK Award nomination. Also playing were the fabulous Morganway doing a special stripped down set.

“An easy and engaging manner between songs and wonderfully evocative, melancholic, wistful stories within them.” Thanks so much Richard Shashamané for this great review in his excellent Norwich music blog here. Superb photos too as always.

Full video of Lucinda Williams cover “Still I Long For Your Kiss” performed at OPEN. Love singing this great song:

Thanks to Connor Bannon for this cool photo from The Guildhall show:

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Following on from my recent Future Radio People’s Playlist show, where I played and talked about my favourite songs, I’m really looking forward to being the Tuesday Guest on BBC Radio Norfolk next Tuesday, 21st November between 6-7pm. I’ll be chatting to Matthew Gudgin about my career journey and all-time favourite music. Just going to be hard to whittle down my choices to only 6 favourite songs! The show link is here

Two new live videos from my recent show supporting Tom McRae. “Live Your Life” from this year’s beautiful charity compilation “Postcards for Peace”:

“Time to Grow”

Radio Sessions, Tom McRae, Songwriting Magazine, Sound and Vision

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Now on Mixcloud! My People’s Playlist radio show on Future Radio, talking about songs that have been a soundtrack to my life. Listen here to tracks by The Smiths, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Kings of Convenience and more. I also played live on the Drivetime show this week previewing all my upcoming local gigs.

Women in music and country music feature in my new column for Songwriting Magazine, a review of the recent Amplify Introducing event by the BBC. Includes an interview with the one and only Bob Harris here after he hosted a panel on UK country with advice for aspiring country artists.

Another new article is my music column for All Things Norfolk.which includes another music conference, Norwich Sound and Vision, features an In Conversation with Dave Rowntree of blur.

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Writing about a beautiful Ryan Adams song, “Oh My Sweet Carolina” with Emmylou Harris, in this cool regular feature for country music blog Belles and Gals.

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Thanks to Oxjam Norwich for having me play last weekend. Really nice audience. Live video of “Time to Grow”

This weekend had a lovely gig supporting outstanding songwriter Tom McRae on the last date of his tour at The John Peel Centre in Stowmarket. Thanks so much to Tom for having me play and all the kind words from the audience.

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Thanks also to Stephen Foster for having me as this weeks live session guest on BBC Radio Suffolk. There was a live acoustic track every evening and also an interview.

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Have two gigs in a week, next one is at the lovely Guildhall in Norwich for Grapevine for Music:

And playing the night after at OPEN Norwich for a lovely night of Americana.

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Amplify Introducing ~ Interviewing Bob Harris, Supporting Tom McRae, Radio Host

Enjoyed a couple of days at the inaugural Amplify Introducing at London’s Excel. Caught lots of insightful panels including ones on women in music and the current country music scene in the UK. It was lovely to catch up with the wonderful Bob Harris and get to interview him for my feature in Songwriting Magazine.

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With Radio 1’s Adele Roberts after she hosted a Women in Music panel.

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Had fun in another role at Future Radio where I hosted my own radio show for the People’s Playlist. I played and talked about twelve of my favourite songs. The show will be broadcast on Future Radio on Monday, 23rd October at 2pm.

On 27th October I’m very excited to be supporting outstanding songwriter Tom McRae on the last date of his tour at The John Peel Centre in Stowmarket. Tickets here.

Following that I will also be supporting highly acclaimed Americana duo The Worry Dolls at OPEN Norwich, more information here

New video, performing ‘Call Me’ in the home studio: