‘A Fine Voice from a Fine City!’ Interview/Feature in January Issue of Norfolk Suffolk Life Magazine

Happy New Year! Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and productive 2024.

“A fine voice from a fine city!” Such an exciting start to the year – I have a lovely in-depth interview/feature in the new January issue of Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine. Available in WH Smith, local shops, from their website or call 01728 622030 to buy a copy for £3.50 (plus postage).

It was really nice to speak to John Kerrison about my music career, songwriting, private teaching, music courses & well-being sessions for Adult Learning, as well as my work as a supporting artist in some Norfolk and Suffolk films and TV shows.

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Do you know anyone who would like to learn to play guitar or ukulele in 2024? Or have you always wanted to learn how to sing? I am running one-to-one and small group lessons in Norwich NR2 at the beautiful Christ Church. Fun sessions tailored just for you with flexible times. A safe and welcoming space, no previous experience needed! Please contact me at parrotrecords@gmail.com

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

BBC Music Feature, Songwriting Magazine Article, IWD Broadcast, New Videos

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BBC Radio Norfolk music feature for Rob Butler’s show

It’s been really fun to be part of a new regular music feature for Rob Butler’s show on BBC Radio Norfolk where I’ve recorded live acoustic covers from the 80’s and beyond, as well as Britpop tracks and Pride anthems. Rob previously featured the Future Radio fundraising single ‘This Fine City’ and interviewed me about it for Norwich City fanzine show The Scrimmage. So far I have performed six brilliant songs: the classic pop of Erasure’s ‘A Little Respect’, Tom Petty’s anthemic ‘I Won’t Back Down’, ‘Slide Away” by Oasis, ‘Inbetween Days’ The Cure and most recently ‘So in Love’ by OMD. I’ve also covered ‘Jolene’ by the one and Dolly Parton and you can see a live performance on YouTube as well as hear the version on my Soundcloud page Keep listening to Rob’s show (Monday – Wednesday evenings) for my next covers challenge!

Dolly Parton ‘Jolene’ acoustic cover
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Broadcast for International Women’s Day

It was lovely to be part of a very exciting and creative broadcast being played across the U.K. for this year’s International Women’s Day. I was among 30 female artists from across the country invited to write & recorded a brand new piece in under a day to be broadcast on community radio stations around the country, including Future Radio. The full #internationalwomensday broadcast is now available to listen to online at SoundCloud – my original piece written ‘Wings to Fly’ is at 11:30 https://soundcloud.com/soundart-radio

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Safe Rescue for Dogs feature for All Things Norfolk

I wrote about the IWD broadcast in one of my recent columns for All Things Norfolk. I also shared details of ‘One in the Crowd’ – acoustic charity single for Safe Rescue for Dogs – and it was lovely to receive airplay on various radio stations for the song as well as getting to talk about it and introduce it on a BBC Upload show – a show that showcases local creative talent of all kinds. Thanks also to Belles and Gals for this lovely article about the song and for having me perform recently for one of their #UKCMSA live-streams.

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BBC Upload
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After writing a feature for the winter issue, it’s lovely to have contributed another new article ‘Lessons Learned in Lockdown’ to the brilliant spring issue of Songwriting Magazine. The new issue is packed with tips, news, reviews, gear and interviews featuring Diane Warren, Teenage Fanclub, Hailey Whitters, Tom Grennan, Newton Faulkner, Peggy Seegar and more. Available at Pocketmags here

Happy New Year! Online Music Lessons

Happy New Year! wishing you all a very happy and safe new year. Thanks so much for supporting me. Here’s a little version of original song New Year’s Day all about getting through a difficult time and looking to the future with hope. Full live studio version available on Spotify and Bandcamp Thank you for watching and here’s hoping for a brighter 2021

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Huge thanks to Vanilla Magazine for this lovely new interview about my passion for teaching music and online music sessions 🎸🎤

Fancy having some vocal lessons or learning guitar or ukulele? I can also provide songwriting classes and help you develop any ideas. I would love to hear from you and am also offering special block booking deals.

Merry Christmas! New Videos, Songwriting Magazine Article

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. Thanks so much to all of you who have supported my music and teaching during what has been such a challenging year for so many of us. In the words of this lovely Greg Lake song which I have covered acoustically:

‘I wish you a hopeful Christmas.
I wish you a brave New Year.
All anguish, pain and sadness.
Leave your heart and let your road be clear.’
Keep safe and here’s hoping for a brighter 2021.

‘This Fine City’ Live Acoustic Version

Thanks so much to everyone who has supported fundraising single for Future Radio #ThisFineCity a song of hope and community during this difficult time.
I wrote the song on my acoustic guitar so thought I would share with you a live acoustic version of the song not long after I had finished it ~ thank you so much for watching and singing along!

I know we’ve been low, living the unknown
I believe within these city walls
We’ll rise above – it all ❤️

Huge thanks to all the radio shows that have played the song and interviewed me about it including Foz at BBC Radio Suffolk, The Acoustic Cafe Radio Show, Readit Radio Show, Acoustic Routes, Blues and Roots radio (online from Canada), Radio Nowhere (online from USA), Online radio Box.Reach On Air, CHBN, Forest Folk, Radio Stradbroke and many more mentioned in the previous post. I also chatted to Rob Butler for Norwich City show The Scrimmage on BBC Radio Norfolk and introduced the single on the BBC Upload show with Sophie Little: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08zgktw

I also did a nice interview for Vanilla magazine here

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Songwriting Magazine Winter 2020 issue.

As many of you know I love to write about music and songwriting and am excited to see my article On Location featuring in the new Winter issue of Songwriting Magazine
Inspired by the recent fundraising single for Future Radio which was written about #Norwich I have looked into how location has provided inspiration for various acclaimed songwriters.

The Winter 2020 issue #23 features Gary Barlow, Wayne Coyne, Bróna McVittie, KT Tunstall, Tom Walker, Elles Bailey, Blair Dunlop, Passenger, Mike Batt and more. Purchase through Pocketmags here

A little Christmas treat for you all! Just filmed some live acoustic session songs for my YouTube channel including original festive song ‘When Christmas Comes Around’ which was recently played on BBC Suffolk Introducing and BBC Radio Norfolk. I also played two older songs as special requests – ‘Turn Away’ and ‘When You Come Home’ – it’s been really nice to revisit some of my older material. Thank you so much for watching and all the support this year.

Lisa Redford ‘When Christmas Comes Around’

“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

Artist of the Week, New Live Videos, New Interviews, More Lovely Reviews for ‘Edge of Love’

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Huge thanks to British Country Airplay for making me Artist of the Week. This will mean lots of airplay for my songs across various country music shows.

Had a great time in August performing more summer festival and events. Thanks to Trevor Allen for some lovely photos from my set at The Waterfront Sessions. He also filmed the black and white live video below for latest single “Let Go.”

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Many more new live videos added to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/lisaredfordmusic and Instagram lisaredfordmusic

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Thanks to 140 Promotions for filming “The Edge of Love.”

Such a special moment! performing to a full room and hearing the lovely audience singing along to this Cat Stevens classic. Thanks for the warm reception Weyfest Music Festival 

“Lisa has an easy, beautifully textured voice and an achingly candid way with a lyric..sharp, sweet insight and heart-tugging hooks, the sounds of her different worlds collide to soothe your soul..”
Beautiful review for ‘Edge of Love’ ❤️ huge thanks to respected music journalist, publicist and broadcaster Alan Cackett for featuring on his brilliant website. Full review here

“For those looking for a folk-laden country record, you need look no further.”
The second lovely review for new EP ‘Edge of Love’ in 24 hours! An honour to also be compared to the amazing Nanci Griffith. Huge thanks to Building Our Own Nashville for this wonderful review 

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New Interviews! Lovely to chat to Samantha Melrose for her brilliant ‘The Inside Track podcast. Talkingcountry music, being a woman in music and independent artist, plus new EP Edge of Love❤️ thanks for listening.

I also chatted to Laura Klonowski about the writing of new single “Let Go”
Huge thanks Laura and Belles and Gals Full interview here

New single ‘Let Go’, summer festivals, more lovely reviews

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I’m excited that ‘Let Go’ from the new EP ‘Edge of Love’ will be released as a single on 26 July. It has already had some lovely reviews and airplay. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported the release. Little teaser video filmed in France:


“pretty much perfect pop-rock country” RnR Magazine**** 

“For our money though, the late-night draw of ‘Let Go’ wins hands down with its impression of attempting to win over a hardened crowd at the local honky-tonk via an abundance of harmonies and hooks (with special mention going to the pedal steel and 12-string Rickenbacker).” Famous Last Words Norway

“bright, confident, uptempo..has a “stronger on my own” attitude of liberation..cracking.” Outline Magazine – 9.5 out of 10

“can’t get ‘Let Go’ out of my head.” Zetland FM Country

“a little bit Country, a little bit Folk, a little bit Pop and a whole lot of heartfelt soul!”
The Music Below

The single coincides with a few lovely summer festivals and events that I am performing including Ipswich Music Day – the biggest one day music event in the country – new festival F-19 on 27 July and a special Americana day at Norwich Waterfront featuring a host of great bands and artists. More information at the show page.

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It was great to perform recently at the brilliant Red Rooster Festival and I was privileged to be selected for a special Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK) stage featuring an amazing line-up of international female artists – part of a pioneering EU Keychange PRS Foundation pledge to ensure a 50-50 gender balance on festival lineups by 2020.

“Our advice would be to catch her in a small venue now before you can only see her headlining the main stage at C2C Country to Country C2C Country to Country .”
Another lovely review for “Edge of Love” ❤️ also compared to Sarah Darling The Shires and Ward Thomas – Huge thanks Shire Folk Magazine July/August edition.

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“Edge of Love” Worldwide Release, Launch Show, Amazing Magazine Reviews, BBC Session

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“Edge of Love” is now released worldwide! Been blown away by the wonderful reviews and feedback. You can can get a digital download or signed limited edition CD at my Bandcamp store

#Download iTunes https://apple.co/2JunUSF  Amazon https://amzn.to/2VW8tcD #Stream Spotify https://spoti.fi/2VqkV4S 

“The EP offers a wonderful collection of songs about love – touching on every aspect, whether it’s excitement and nerves leading up to a relationship, the time within, or the aftermath. ‘Edge of Love’ is emotional throughout and once again, Lisa has firmly cemented herself as one of the leading singer songwriters of our genre. Brilliant.” Belles and Gals 

“classic heartbreak and sparkling pop..the pretty much perfect pop-rock of “Let Go,” it’s Redford’s expressively versatile and engaging voice that adds the gilt edge. Her ability to pen songs of genuine quality..suggests that her moment is due very soon.” RnR Magazine ****

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The title track also features on the Un-Herd cover mount CD in the May/June issue of RnR Magazine.

“It’s fair to say I’ve been really impressed by everything here; not just Lisa’s gorgeously expressive and honeyed voice but her clever and intricate songwriting too; with both combining best of all on my Favourite Track I Just Can’t Forget, which is a real class act in itself and made me stare at the speakers in wonderment the first time I heard it.” Rocking Magpie Read full review here

“I Just Can’t Forget and the beautifully intimate closing track Alone Tonight are simply gorgeous tearjerkers. It takes real talent to make such songs not sound overly sentimental and sappy, and Redford pulls it off with class. Like I said: that’s how I prefer my country.” Slim Chance, NL Read full review here

“quality, classy pop music with substance that will no doubt sound as fresh and relevant in a decade as they sound today…a timely reminder that she is one of our most talented songwriters..” Penny Black Music. Full review here

“who knew that five tracks could vary so much in style and still feel so connected. This EP has the impact of an album because of it’s versatility and charm. When it comes to the Edge of Love EP, It’s a little bit Country, a little bit Folk, a little bit Pop and a whole lot of heartfelt soul! The Edge of Love EP kept me interested from start to finished with it’s charm. The Music Below Full review here

“A quite superior EP, that has had to fight against the odds to even be heard, and is well worthy of your attention.” W21 Music  Read full review here

“Edge of Love” is catchy and harmoniously rich. Combining all that is so adored about Americana, country and melodic pop, Lisa Redford is a gifted artist and shows off her talents through her emotional depictions of love and loss in each track. Her expressions sound heartfelt and pure..Redford gives her all into this EP and that remains very clear throughout.” Maverick Magazine ****

Thanks also to everyone who came along to the EP launch show and for making it such a special night. Thanks to Richard Dales Coupland at Zetland Country for filming “I Just Can’t Forget” more live videos at YouTube and Instagram

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Huge thanks to Ted Briggs-Comstock for joining me on dobro and banjo. Photos by Rodney Kidd.
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Huge thanks to all the radio shows that have played tracks from “Edge of Love.” I’m in session all this week on BBC Radio Suffolk. Hear 5 live acoustic tracks every evening from 18.30 on Stephen Foster’s Drive Time Show.

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