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.
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
A summer of fun events so far – Wimbledon, Latitude Festival, Lowestoft 1940s Weekend and the National Portrait Gallery
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’
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.
Lisa Redford and Jason French live at Grapevine for Music, Norwich with The Weeping Willows. Picture by Katie Harris.
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.
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
Ukulele courses for Adult Learning, Wensum Lodge, Norwich
Guitar for Beginners Course with Lisa Redford at Wensum Lodge, Norwich
Ukulele Taster Session with Lisa Redford
Catching Killers and Mother Undercover
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.
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!
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
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:
Also on Netflix is “Catching Killers” – being a cop!
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.
“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.
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’
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:
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”:
Happy St David’s Day! Ahead of my upcoming gig supporting Hazel O’Connor next week, here’s another brand new interview. Find out what’s on my iPod and more! thanks to Grapevine Live
Plus here’s another photo from my session with brilliant photographer Mui Tsun.
Now online! Brand new videos from this week’s fun session Epic Studios here’s ‘Reminders’ and more to come!
Plus there’s another amazing review of ‘Reminders’ in a review of ‘IndieVidual’ Vol 1, a brand new excellent compilation now on iTunes Huge thanks to Rock N Roll in My Soul an honour to be compared to one of my musical heroes Neil Young!
‘Reminders by Lisa Redford is haunting. With one of the most unique vocals I’ve heard, comprised of an intrinsic sorrow and empathy, this song reminds me very much of Neil Young; the soft, pounding melody is delicately powerful, made up of acoustic embers and possession almost surreal dimension. It’s truly an artist’s song that channels genuine experience, emotions and pain’
Had lots of fun filming the other day for SPGtv despite the weather being super windy! Video to come soon.
Plus have gained more press. Here’s a lovely new article on this cool blog about my music and career. Huge thanks Ralph’s Life!
And here’s another new interview all about my time and songwriting adventures in New York City. Big thanks to Alphabet Bands for their continued support and US blog Ear Buddy.
Excited to have just booked my first festival of the year! Will be playing at the lovely Big Tree Festival in Suffolk on August 4th. More details of the excellent line up including Dodgy, Beverley Craven, Lucy Ward, Paper Aeroplanes, The Kabeedies here
From their Facebook page:
LINE UP NEWS: We are delighted to confirm hotly-tipped Norwich and New York based singer/songwroter Lisa Redford to the Big Tree Festival!
Also have made it to the big screen! been told that fans have seen my snowy ‘New York Song’ video on the BBC Big Screens! Filmed it this time last year in Manhattan and it’s a fitting video for the weather in the UK right now. Keep warm everyone!
