News and Olds
THE RESEARCHERS
After playing a few songs made famous by The Searchers at Chingford Festival in June, Jerry "Spangles" Fellman, Tim Heaslip, Lloyd Bardon and myself have decided it was such a good idea that we're carrying on. So look out for our new band "The Researchers". Believe me, you'll get needles and pins when you walk in the room!
EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY
REAL ALE & CIDER FESTIVAL
27th JULY 2024
Sally Vinson and me were back at the Festival,
an annual joy for us.
As usual, we hammered out a lot of pop songs and sing-alongs at North Weald and Ongar stations (which both featured a goodly supply at the bars), as well as entertaining those who wanted on the trains, both steam and diesel, and the vintage bus back to the Central Line.
Always a fun day, and we were blessed with excellent weather this time (chucked it down last year!).
CHINGFORD VILLAGE FESTIVAL 15th JUNE 2024
Once again I enjoyed hosting the Vestry Hall music venue this year, along with Jerry "Spangles" Fellman and Lloyd Bardon. The three of us were joined by Tim Heaslip and we played as The Plastic Spangles Band, doing a few songs made famous by The Searchers. We had a lot of fun with that so we're carrying on with this band, now calling ourselves The Researchers!
We had some great acts playing for us through the afternoon from midday to 7.00 pm. Thanks to all who came to play, and all who came to listen. There was lots of other music in the other festival venues, and as ever it was free to attend.
The Sunday before that I was on BBC Radio London talking to Robert Elms about the festival. You can hear that interview here.
MUSIC ON THE SOUTH DOWNS
I've been to a number of music clubs, folk clubs and open mics on and round the South Downs recently. It's lovely to listen to the great music down there and get a chance to play to some new audiences. Places I've visited include Lancing, Shoreham-on-sea, Partridge Green, Billinghurst, Chiddingly, Steyning and Henfield. I've been made very welcome wherever I've been. Thanks to everyone at all these venues.
SPANGLES GANG FINAL GIG
After some 16 years together The Spangles Gang played our final gig on Friday 12th April 2024 at Cranbrook Castle tennis Club ). What a night it was- thanks to everyone who came along and gave us an appropriately great send off. It's been a real pleasure for me to be a part of the "Gang" but all good things must come to an end.
Our final CD "A Packet of Spangles" remains available. Featuring a mixture of self-penned songs and carefully selected covers given the Spangles treatment, we're really pleased with the outcome.
Just contact me or any of the Gang and we'll be pleased to sort out a copy for you.
SONGWRITING RETREAT WITH PETE ATKIN
14th to 20th March 2022
I've been a big fan of the music and songs of Pete Atkin since I first discovered him in the early 1970s. So you can imagine what a thrill it was for me to spend a week in his company on a songwriting retreat.
Pete's songs, mostly written with the well-known broadcaster, poet and TV personality Clive James, have been with me and I'm sure influenced my own writing over the years. But this took the whole story to another level.
The event took place in Pembrokeshire, Wales. I hadn't visited that area before and it offers some really stunning views, which we enjoyed on a couple of walks out.
One evening we took the guitars down to the local pub. Pete was very game and joined in with all the activities as well as leading some interesting songwriting projects which took us through the week in fine style.
I ended up with several good song ideas and techniques I hadn't really explored before. I have a new song called "Make A U-Turn if Possible" (based on my satnav's comment on the drive there!). I was also inspired to write an "update" of Pete and Clive's song "Girl On a Train" called "Another Girl, Another Train". Both the original and my update are on Pete's website so you can compare them.
Finally, thanks to our hosts who kept us all fed and watered (er..not always with water!) and looked after us superbly, and to my fellow guests who were great company through the week.
MY SOLO CD
"Songs to make you laugh and cry...not necessarily at the same time" features 13 self-penned songs recorded in the studio and sounding (though I say it myself) pretty good.
I'm pretty much sold out but ask me if you would like a copy and I'll see what I can do.
There's some tracks on the Music page....
COVENTRY SINGER-SONGWRITERS
I joined the Coventry Singer-Songwriters group as an on-line member in early 2015. The group meets once a month to agree a theme, the idea being to write a song on that theme. I've been to meetings in September 2015, July 2016 and October 2019. On 15th February 2020 I went to the 10 Year celebration party, and I even managed to win first prize for my song! I enjoyed meeting up with some of the members and helping to choose the next theme.
You can hear the songs here.
I recently submitted song number 150 since I started in 2015.
I hope to get along to another meeting sometime and enjoy hearing more songs, but we now have every other meeting on-line so I've been able to "Zoom in" and meet up with my fellow singer-songwriters.
CHARLIE BROWN'S ROUNDABOUT radio interview
Couldn't resist phoning into BBC Radio London on 24th July 2019 when they asked for information about Charlie Brown's Roundabout, which I'd researched for my song of the same name! Spoke on air to Jason Solomons to give London listeners the benefit of my knowledge! You can hear the interview here...
STORIES event at Barking & Dagenham
I was invited by my friend, ex work colleague and ex band mate (from Damaged Goods), Stephan Liebrecht, to participate in the "Stories" project around adult social care in Barking & Dagenham.
I interviewed two residents in receipt of social care services to get their stories and develop them as songs. I then performed the songs on
July 22nd 2019 at an event in Dagenham attended by social workers, members of related care agencies and the mayor, among others.
It was great to bring out the stories in song and my thanks to Stephan for the opportunity.
2 videos are available on YouTube giving a flavour of the event. We have also recorded my songs and one by Stephan and they can be heard on Soundcloud. Just follow the links below.
SONGFEST 2019
Had a great time at SongFest, organised by Dean Friedman (remember "Lucky Star"?) in a lovely hotel in Wareham, Dorset, over the weekend of 20th and 21st July.
The weekend included songwriting master classes with Dean and Richard Digance (as pictured), and a lot of great performances in the concerts.
Very intimate setting with lots of lovely people and a great atmosphere.
BUSY...our CD...BUSY...our CD...BUSY...our CD
BUSY, the CD by Rachel and myself, is available!
Now just £5 for an hour of music on 14 tracks, you can get it from us at gigs or anywhere else you happen to catch up with us.
Click the Music button and hop over to the MUSIC page to hear some tracks.....
STORM IN A TEACUP WEBSITE
After a couple of years discussing the idea, we finally produced our own website with lots of information about us, gigs, pictures and of course some of our music.
www.storminateacup0.wixsite.com/band
or you can click here:
LILY's INDULGENCE & WOODFORD FESTIVAL
As part of Woodford Festival (October 6th to 14th 2018) I organised an evening called Music, Cake and Coffee at Lily's Indulgence cafe in South Woodford. I'm pleased to report we had a great evening. A capacity audience was entertained by Rachel and myself, Michelle Rees, The Accidentals (with my son Danny in fine voice) and Steve Rushton. Thanks to cafe owner Adrienne and to all who came along.
On the opening Saturday there was a full day at the Sir James Hawkey Hall, with arts and crafts, music, dancing, film shows and other entertainment. Storm in a Teacup played for a barn dance there in the afternoon, and The Traveling Tilburys did a set in the evening.
I was on duty again at the closing service, playing introductory music with Rachel and doing a song during the service itself.
OTHER RECORDING PROJECTS
Storm in a Teacup went into the studio and recorded some tunes in August 2018; you can find these on the Storm in a Teacup website.
Please also check out Sally and Rachel's CD "Take A Chance" where I make a guest appearance on a couple of tracks!
SONGWRITERS SPECIALS AT THE RML
At our weekly Redbridge Music Lounge sessions we usually sing well-known songs, but I realised we have a number of members who write their own. So on March 15th 2017 I organised a session where people bring in their own songs. It was great fun, with a real mixture of styles, so we've done a few more since, on May 25th 2017, November 22nd 2017, October 17th 2018 and September 12th 2019. I continue to be impressed with the standard of songs and the sympathetic accompaniments our members come up with.
As a new venture I organised a collaborative songwriting event "Come and Write a Song" on 4th May 2019. My thanks to John Drummond for helping with this, to David and Bobby King for letting us use their house and being great hosts and to all those who came along and created new songs on the day.
Then on 15th March 2020 I ran a bigger, bolder version of "Come and Write a Song" at the Redbridge Drama Centre. 4 groups of 3 people each went into separate rooms and came back after 2 hours to perform their brand new songs.
On 21st February 2021 I ran another "Come and Write a Song", this time as an on-line event using Zoom. I was delighted with the turnout and the quality of the songs written.
THE THOMAS LAMBORN TRILOGY
"The Thomas Lamborn Trilogy" is a piece I wrote, based on a booklet written by my sister Sue following extensive research about our great-great-great grandfather who was deported in 1831. Like all good trilogies it consists of 4 parts.
I recorded the Trilogy. I play guitar and sing, and I am joined by my great friends Rachel Eyres (violin and vocal), Sally Vinson (mandolin and vocal) and Jeremy Blatherwick (piano accordion).
HEART MAN CD
My CD "Heart Man" which came out in early 2014 remains available.
The CD has 11 tracks, and features some brilliant musicians and singers.
The CD is now available for just £5.00 at gigs or get in touch.
