Live and Gigging is a West Yorkshire based non-commercial project aimed at
developing and furthering the interests of live music in West Yorkshire.
This is achieved through free publicity in
the form of Gig Guides and Reviews, website building, graphic design, advice, information, promotion.
Live and Gigging also acts as a
basic non profit point of contact between venues & musicians/bands and vice
versa. Acts in an advisory capacity to venues and Festivals, has organised
several festivals from concept to scheduling and stage management and booked
bands for various venues. Unlike many promoters who are finance (or power!) led, Live and Gigging
works quietly in the background, keeping the music and musicians at the fore.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
BACKGROUND
The project is the concept of
Linda Mitchell-Smith, music/gig guide columnist for the Pontefract and
Castleford Express since 1990 and actively involved in many aspects of live
music since 1987. Originally a Casualty Sister, was also a Dog Breeder and show
judge, judging shows throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, and
Founder/Secretary/Head trainer of the Mid Yorkshire German Shepherd Dog Club.
Started in journalism as the Northern Correspondent for the National specialist
magazine "Our Dogs" and ultimately became Editor of glossy monthly dog magazine
"Shepherd Scene". Had many medical and specialist dog genetics articles published
in various magazines, plus satirical poetry.
Became more involved in music in
1987, through her late husband`s band "Pete Mitchell-Smith`s Blues Crew", a
nationally known blues band who main staged at Colne Blues Festival, did a live
session on The Paul Jones Show on BBC Radio 2 and supported numerous top names,
from The Blues Band at Telford Theatre and Sheffield Leadmill, to Joe Louis
Walker, Charlie Musselwhite and Walter Trout. Wrote songs for the band, two of
which, "Shake Like a Snake" and "Got No Time" were recorded by USA albino blues
rock legend Johnny Winter. "Snake" was also a finalist in a National Blues
Songwriting Contest.
PROMOTION
Started weekly live music
sessions at The Queens Hotel in Pontefract in the early 90`s, worked with acts
such as Steve Phillips (Notting Hillbillies) and Dave Kelly (The Blues Band).
Helped promote the early Burnley and Colne Blues Festivals, including several
radio interviews. Organised and booked for "The Sunnyvale Blues Sessions" in
Halifax, booking artists of the calibre of Bare Wires, Mick Pini, Frank White
etc. Helped promote the famed Brendan Croker/Mark Knopfler concert at Pontefract
Park, met and interviewed them.Booked specialist gigs at The Post Haste in
Wakefield (now The Snooty Fox) introducing top names such as Tony McPhee of The
Groundhogs. Was for several years the Northern area correspondent for
"Blueprint" (now called Blues Matters), the national official magazine of The British Blues Connection
.
More recently, booked the bands
for O`Donoghues in Wakefield, until live music in the venue was firmly
re-established after change of ownership.Conceived, scheduled, publicised and
stage managed several festivals including Alstonbury Festival, Rocking The Boat
Festival, Funkin` Festival and the blues night of The Peaks Blues & Booze
Festival.
LICENSED TO CHILL
Currently runs the successful
monthly " Licensed to Chill" Sessions at The Boot and Shoe in Ackworth,
an atmospheric candlelit evening specialising in introducing mainly acoustic
acts of exceptional talent to an otherwise heavy rock venue. Admission is free,
the format is very fluid and includes acoustic solo and duos, occasionally full
bands if they fit in with the format. Musicians love this gig. The audiences
listen, the venue is excellent with stage and lighting and the sound is expertly
engineered by Rod from Dr Blue.
Acts who play regularly include
the bands RISE and JOHNNY & THE PRISON DIDN`T HELP BOYS, TIM & JEZ HOWARD (ex
Muldoons), RUSS SMITH (Whiskey Dogs) , THE HEAT, SWAY (now PERFECT SECOND), DAVE
SMITH, MATT BURTON etc etc. The audience is a varied one, so some "covers"
are necessary, but absolutely no backing tracks!!! Never.Ever! The format
embraces Jazz, Indie, Folk Rock, Pop, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Blues, Irish rock,
Originals..etc Whatever the genre-the standard of musicianship must be
high.
Performers usually appear by
personal invitation, but by all means make yourself known if you fit the
format.
