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.

Singing for Wellbeing Course, Acting on Sky Atlantic

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Lisa Redford running a Songs from the Shows community singing session at The Forum, Norwich

Ran a lovely community singing session last week at The Forum, Norwich
Thanks so much to everyone who came along to sing some classic musicals with me.
The event was in support of Norfolk County Music Library Sets Norfolk Library and Information Service Norwich Millennium Library – bringing the joy of music to libraries and the community.

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Singing for Wellbeing Course at Wensum Lodge, Norwich run by Lisa Redford

I am really enjoying teaching my current ukulele and guitar for beginners courses and am very excited to now be launching my first Singing for Wellbeing course later this month for Adult Learning at Wensum Lodge, Norwich. Discover the joy of singing together. Further details of how to enrol on this free 8 week course here I am also running Saturday classes including ukulele strumming sessions, more community singing and songwriting – please take a look at the Adult Learning website for updates. It was also nice to chat to Stephen Bumfrey about my community singing activities on BBC Radio Norfolk. The interview is available to listen to via BBC Sounds here – from 1:50.

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Playing a journalist in This England on Sky Atlantic
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This England on Sky Atlantic

Currently on Sky Atlantic is “This England” – Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson in an unsettling account of the government handling of the pandemic. It was thrilling to play a journalist and film on a set of Downing Street at West Raynham and Wolterton Hall, Norfolk. I even got to say a couple of lines – look out for me near the end of episode 6!

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Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival
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Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival 2022. Photo by Jon Clifton

Had a great time playing this year’s Deepdale Festival. Lovely to be part of an amazing line-up and there’s always a warm welcome in beautiful North Norfolk – thanks to the hard working, passionate team there. Thanks to Jon Clifton for some great photos from the performance.

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Lisa Redford and Jason French at Deepdale Festival 2022

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.

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

Ramblin’ Roots Revue

Had a great weekend at Ramblin’ Roots Revue, an excellent Americana roots music festival at Bucks Student Union. Saw so much amazing live music including storming sets by Danny and the Champions, Robert Vincent, The Magic Numbers and a fun Tom Petty tribute. It was also lovely to meet Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers before their headline set.

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Had fun performing on the Earbelly Music acoustic stage and it was lovely to be joined again by Alan Cook on pedal steel and dobro – Alan recently joined me for my Whispering Bob TV Under the Apple Tree session – and we also recorded a live session for Medicine Music, video on their YouTube channel soon.

Performing new song “Anything But Easy”

Performing at Ramblin’ Roots Revue 2018! Interview with Sarah Darling

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So excited to be chosen to play The Ramblin’ Roots Revue Festival and the EarBelly Acoustic Stage on Saturday 7th April! Many wonderful artists performing at this festival in High Wycombe which has the incredible The Magic Numbers headlining – going to be a lovely celebration of Americana

The Ramblin’ Roots Revue 2018 is a three-day celebration of Americana, Roots, Alt-Country and Folk music. It’s all indoors at an award-winning venue in South Bucks with a great selection of craft ales, fine whiskies and artisan food.

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It’s a stellar line-up of live music across three stages with weekend tickets at £32.50.

Tickets here: www.seetickets.com/go/RRR2018

With my support to country star Sarah Darling coming up, it was lovely to also interview her for iSing Magazine. Talking about her inspirations, new material and vocal care.

Semi-Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition!

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“the songwriting competition to take note of..” New York Times.

Exciting news! Just been informed I’m a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2017 for “Trust” performed by Breeze Redwine! They received more than 16,000 entries. Such a thrill as a songwriter to have material recognised. I was also a semi-finalist last year. https://songwritingcompetition.com/winners 

After my support to Sarah Darling, I will be performing at the Deepdale Hygge Festival – a lovely celebration of the North Norfolk coast on March 25th. Here are the full details and a link to the festival

Reepham Festival Videos

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Had a lovely time performing two acoustic sets at Reepham Festival. Such a lovely friendly festival. On Saturday I performed in the Church and was accompanied by Jonathan Threadwell on electric guitar. I wrote about my first time playing at this lovely festival and all my other recent music news in my latest column for All Things Norfolk.

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On Sunday I performed at the historic Whitwell station.

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Next gig is this special celebration of Breeze Redwine’s debut EP ‘Trust’ which has been earning airplay on BBC Introducing:

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Recording a Session for WBBC Under the Apple Tree!

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Such a great day this week recording an Under the Apple Tree session for Bob Harris and WBBC. It was so lovely catching up with Bob again. Videos coming soon. Photo below taken by the great man himself!

appletreestudio Also excited that Country to Country is coming up next weekend! Times for the Pop Up Stages have been announced here see you at the O2!

A Festival Weekend and New Features!

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Excited to play 2 festivals last weekend. First up was the lovely boutique music and poetry festival Gypsy In The Field which was absolutely lovely with a great friendly vibe. Then on Sunday it was Homegrown Music Festival, a great new festival supporting talented artists in the Eastern region. Again, everyone was so welcoming and up for a fun time. Roll on next summer!

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Rocking the main stage at Gypsy (above) and on the acoustic stage for Homegrown (below).

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Here’s a new interview I did to promote the Homegrown Music Festival. Talking about Bob Harris, New York and more. Big thanks to InSuffolk

Really cool to see I’m on the playlist & home page of this cool French website. Magnifique! Lisa Redford – Web-TV – La musique avant tout 

An English translation of a recent cool French article. Huge thanks to Claude!