'one of our finest singer/songwriters' Bob Harris. Acoustic, Americana. Vocal coach, guitar/ ukulele tutor. Music columnist Evening News/Songwriting Magazine. DJ at Future Radio
I’m really excited to be running beginner ukulele and guitar courses at Wensum Lodge for the first time starting April 25th. They are part of a programme of new and exciting creative, language and wellbeing courses which include Stained Glass; Botanical Art and Architectural Drawing; Latin; Philosophy; Textiles upcycling and alterations; Yoga; Polish language; Photography and Creative Writing. Here are some nice new flyers from Adult Learning for the courses and there are also taster sessions happening next week. To find out more details and to book, please visit here
Introduction to Guitar and Ukulele Taster sessionsCommunity Singing Sessions – Warming up
How joyous is this photo! The community singing sessions I have been running at Earlham Library and The Millennium Library in Norwich have been lots of fun to do and so rewarding too. To hear comments from people saying that I’ve made their day and really cheered them up means such a lot. I’ve also had some great song requests and it’s been lovely to see people coming back each week to sing classic songs together. Thanks so much to everyone who has come along to a session and all the kind words. There are video clips of some of the singalongs at The Millennium Library’s Facebook Page
A community singing session at Earlham Library, NorwichSinging at the The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium LibraryA lovely piece at Folk Features on why singing and music means so much to me
I’m also looking forward to playing some gigs and festivals soon. Check out the shows page where I will be posting details of live shows.
Live at the Canopy Theatre, Suffolk. Photo by Rodney Kidd
Please take a moment to watch this touching video that charity Safe Rescue for Dogs have put together, giving an insight into the amazing work they do rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs from the UK and abroad.
I have written and recorded the music in the video to the words by one of the team Kelly Hare. On reading her touching and heartfelt poem I was moved to help them raise funds and awareness for all the hard work this very small team do to save dogs in dreadful conditions in the shelters.
If you would like to find out more and donate, take a look at their Facebook page. As a small charity they rely solely on the kindness and generosity of people to enable them to carry on rescuing and caring for the dogs. So lovely to see that there has been some money raised already.
I’ve also done a live acoustic performance from home on YouTube and written all about the inspiration and charity in a feature for All Things Norfolk
It was lovely to talk about the song and hear it played on BBC Radio Norfolk this week. Listen again to Rob Butler’s show here at 1.17. Also next week I’ll be part of a fun brand new music feature on his show, starting Monday with an 80’s cover.
Lisa Redford in Songwriting Magazine for their #keepsongwriting pledge
I’ve written articles and interviewed acclaimed artists for the brilliant Songwriting Magazine. I have also written a feature in the latest Winter issue. Songwriting is the UK’s only publication dedicated to writing songs. Aimed at songwriters and their fans alike, expect up-to-date music news, reviews and artist interviews as well as lots of practical, hands-on advice.
Very proud to be a part of their #keepsongwriting campaign where they are sharing tips and quotes, as well as highlighting the importance of creativity through these difficult times and championing those who have vowed not to stop creating original music in 2021.
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!
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:
Article at Folk Features
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.
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.
Interview on ITV News Anglia
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’
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
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
“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.
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.
A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Nov 12, 2018 at 11:40am PST
Recording for the new EP has continued and it’s been really productive and exciting. As mentioned, I am working with the super talented musician and producer José McGill – band-leader of the award-winning Vagaband – who has created some beautiful arrangements and contributed his huge music talent on an array of instruments.
I can’t wait for you to hear the new material. As well as the musicians already mentioned, there is some wonderful pedal steel from Alan Cook – who I recorded my latest Bob Harris “Under the Apple Tree” session with – and also beautiful cello from award-winning cellist Ivan McCready.
A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Nov 26, 2018 at 3:42am PST
I also love to write about music and here is my latest article for All Things Norfolk – a local arts and music website. Here I talk more about the process of recording and the amazing talented musicians involved as well as previewing upcoming gigs and reviewing short films at Norwich Film Festival:
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
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
A post shared by Lisa Redford (@lisaredfordmusic) on Aug 11, 2018 at 2:59pm PDT
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.
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.
Very excited to share this! Here is the brand new beautiful video from my incredible student Breeze Redwine. Especially filmed for #NorfolkDay and showcasing the glorious countryside of the county, it has already had a wonderful response and also been selected as the official song for the occasion! The track is “Trust” – an original song written by myself and Breeze. Norfolk Day is Friday, 27th July 2018 and everyone involved in the video is from Norfolk:
Lovely to see some great press for the song and video. Thanks to EDP 24 for the feature.
Thank you Latitude Festival for another amazing weekend of outstanding music, performances, theatre, comedy and more. Also got to be involved in filming for the new Danny Boyle movie! More pics and video are at my Instagram: lisaredfordmusic
So looking forward to my next festival. Will be returning to the lovely Reepham Festival for two performances on 11th and 12th August. Super line up, can’t wait to see Honey & The Bear, Smith & Brewer and Mammal Not Fish.
It’s been a very busy Summer already! I had so much fun performing a special acoustic concert in beautiful Pézenas, South of France with superb guitarist Luigi Notarangelo.
I have posted some more live videos on YouTube and also on Instagram. Here is “Call Me”
A cover of “Lovesong” by The Cure:
Following that I performed a lovely headline concert for my friends in Burnham Deepdale. Here is a cover of “Rocket Man” thanks to the audience for singing along!
Just this past weekend I enjoyed a beautiful sultry night playing Stradisphere Music Festival and it was lovely to meet the brilliant Mercury Music Prize winning Badly Drawn Boy ahead of his excellent headline set.
It was also a joy to perform “Courage” with my amazing student Breeze Redwine:
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The day after, I had a great time at Maverick Festival seeing some memorable performances and soaking up the always warm, friendly atmosphere. I also had a lot of fun performing on the Jimmy Rodgers stage. Huge thanks to James Hodder and Tin Can Review for a lovely afternoon of live music.
One of my favourite acts of the weekend were Australia’s Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes – who I also saw perform last year – and I recently interviewed Lachlan for Songwriting Magazine ahead of their UK tour. It was great to catch up with them and also wonderful singer songwriter Imogen Clark. Here is us after their wonderful set in The Barn:
“This is a beautiful performance from Lisa as she accompanies herself on acoustic guitar with Alan Cook playing pedal steel guitar.” Huge thanks to Stephpar’s Song A Day for this lovely review of my brand new song “I Just Can’t Forget” performed in session for Whisperingbobtv
“Heartfelt lyrics, great singing and playing. Hope this Apple Tree will bear more of these in the future” Thanks also to Radio Campagne in The Netherlands for their kind words and all the airplay of my music.
So excited to share this – my Under The Apple Tree session for Whispering Bob TV. Performing original song “I Just Can’t Forget” with the brilliant Alan Cook on pedal steel. Huge thanks to Miles Myerscough-Harris and Bob Harris – always lovely seeing them.
The track is also being featured on this week’s #UTAT radio on Chris Country amongst some great artists and live performances including The Magic Numbers and CC Smugglers.
Huge thanks also to Belles and Gals – huge supporters of female artists – for the kind words and making the track their Song of the Day.
Huge congratulations to my amazing student Breeze Redwine– winner of Best Original Artist at this year’s Youngstars The South East Entertainment Awards So well deserved! Also a brilliant acoustic performance by Breeze for Sonic Youths at Norwich Arts Centre So great that they give young artists a platform.
Next show is Sunday 17 June – looking forward to headlining a Sunday Session at beautiful Burnham Deepdale. Details here:First festival of the year is Stradisphere on Friday July 6. A great line up and headlined by the brilliant Badly Drawn Boy:
So much fun co-hosting Sunday Introducing radio show at Park Radio. Played many favourite artists and songs including Neil Young, Phoenix, Hem, Boo Hewerdine, Tom McRae, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens and more. Thanks so much to Andrew Cooper for having me join him on the show.
Brand new video! Recording a live session and interview with The Medicine Show at Ramblin’ Roots Revue. Alan Cook on dobro. Thanks to Rob Ellen for having us perform in the moose mobile!
My latest arts column for All Things Norfolk is now online ~ all my latest music news includes Ramblin’ Roots Revue, Whispering Bob TV and Sarah Darling. Plus previews of WOW Norwich and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Next show is this weekend at Blue Joanna from 9pm and on Sunday 17 June am headlining a Sunday Session at Burnham Deepdale. Details here:
