Tuesday 31 March 2015

Around Yorkshire (And Beyond) With A Guitar (And A Ukelele) March 2015

It's been a great start of the year for me. I have recorded and released my 7th CD 'Time & Tide' and I am delighted with the response to it so far. I am also delighted that it is getting lots of air play on lots of local radio stations around the country and I will be appearing on some local stations to play songs from the new CD. And I'm really looking forward to my CD Launch at The Sun Inn in Pickering on Saturday 18th April. 

I really enjoyed going on Tony Haynes' Folk Show on Vale Radio and it was a privilege to take part in the VicFest he organised for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance in February. I performed 'A Waggoner's Lad' for a local branch of the University of The Third Age and loved playing with The Blarney Smiths at Cottingham Live. I performed with my good friend John Scoble for another fundraiser at The Rainbow Centre in Scarborough and I thoroughly enjoyed playing in a fine local inn The Black Swan. 

I'm still enjoying doing my music teaching and have started a new teaching job at St. Hilda's Primary in Ampleforth as well as my current job at Nawton. I am teaching music for the majority of the time so that is making me happy and I run an after school Ukelele Club at both schools. 

Can't wait for the rest of a very busy year so hopefully see you somewhere along the way. 




Tuesday 10 March 2015

Ryedale Songwriters Circle

We have been running a Songwriters Circle in Pickering now for about 6 years. It was originally set up under the 'Ryedale Live' umbrella and has been continually meeting each month since that time. We began meeting in The Bay Horse in Pickering but now we meet in members' houses on the 1st Monday of every month. 

There is a fantastic music scene in and around Pickering with a lot of talented singer/songwriters. There is a huge range of styles of music too. Most of us see ourselves as folk or at least acoustic musicians and there is at least one of us singing unaccompanied songs. Many songwriters have come and gone and we now have a solid membership of around 10 people. 

The Circle provides a friendly, cosy, environment where beginner and experienced songwriters alike can 'try out' new songs in an encouraging atmosphere. We discuss new songs and songwriting methods. Members can discuss the stories behind their new songs as well as how they wrote them. We discuss guitar chords and techniques as well as discussing tips regarding performance. 

You can find out more about the Ryedale Songwriters Circle on our Facebook Page.