Live and Gigging

Music

General Info

Genre: Acoustic / Blues / Rock
Location Wakefield / Pontefract District, Northeast, UK
Profile Views: 45922
Last Login: 8/20/2009
Member Since 3/2/2007
Website http://www.liveandgigging.com
Record Label Unsigned
Bio
.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... ...... .......... .. ........ 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, 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, ROSIE DOONAN,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..... ...... ...... ..
Members
....BANDS/ DUOS/SOLO ACOUSTIC...... ........ Specialising in Blues, Rock and Indie Acoustic, Live and Gigging manages a small "family" of bands/duos/solo acts with which the organiser is closely involved. (Not available to take on other bands -sorry!) Check out the Jukebox for song samples, and our friends list for their myspace pages......... ...... .. ..DR BLUE...... -top blues Rock band .... ...... .. ..ZZ ELIMINATOR...... -Full on, full costume ZZ Top Tribute.... ...... .. ..THE HEAT......- Indie acoustic- folk-rock / jazz / blues Antonio Lulic on vocals, Ryan Mitchell-Smith on multi-instrumentals. Original songs plus covers by Counting Crows, Damian Rice, Tarras etc..... ...... .. ..RYAN MITCHELL-SMITH......- solo singer/songwriter, music teacher..... ......PERFECT SECOND.. (formerly SWAY) ALICE HEGARTY and RYAN MITCHELL-SMITH folk rock, pop, Celtic folk, jazz, originals.... ...... .. ..SHROOD.... ..-coming soon Funky Electric Indie Blues Originals Band.....
Influences
.. LICENSED TO CHILL PERFORMERS.. ROSIE DOONAN -local songstress with the voice of an angel, from strong musical family background (The Solicitors/ Doonan Family Band etc) putting out some stunning songs and all set to make it big. Check her myspace page for gigs... RISE are impossible to categorize since they are, quite frankly, unique. Shades of Sting and Steely Dan ,very often compared to Simply Red in looks and vocals, and there are similarities, but RISE are so much more. Highly original, their songs blend funk, soul, jazz and pop into highly listenable creations, superbly performed. You have to see them to appreciate the sheer class.. Check them out on our friends list or visit http://www.theriseband.co.uk.. RUSS SMITH: We "discovered" Russ singing with his excellent band "WHISKEY DOGS" at a Wakefield venue. He did an opening spot solo with acoustic guitar, and his voice, trust us, is superb. Think shades of Bryan Adams or Rod Stewart, or for the more musically au fait, think John Mayer or Stevie Ray Vaughan. This lad should go far. You read it here first! Russ performs a wide variety of songs from pop covers to rock..n..roll and Sixties, including Billy Bragg, Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot and originals. Check out The Whiskey Dogs on our friends list for more info... THE HEAT combine stunning and unique vocals from Ant with musical gymnastics from multi-instrumentalist Ryan.. Strong original material blends seamlessly with old favourites such as Walking in Memphis, Sweet Home Alabama, The Professor, Hit the Road Jack etc...all done with immense energy and power. Former headliners at Clarence Park Festival, they are also appearing shortly at The Peaks Booze & Blooze Festival, Derbyshire, and regularly play at The 100 Club in London. "Gobiron Ryan" and "Antonio" on our friends list for more info. Website: www.theheat.co.uk.. SWAY (Now "PERFECT SECOND") Alice Hegarty and Ryan Mitchell-Smith- Alice's pure Irish vocals are reminiscent of The Corrs and Cranberries. This popular Wakefield duo perform a sultry cocktail of jazz, blues, indie acoustic, folk and Celtic rock. Covers include KT Tunstall, Cranberries, Norah Jones and originals. Alice..s acapella rendition of classic Irish Folk songs has the audience spellbound. Play around Wakefield in Harry's, O'Donoghues, Beluga Bar etc... MATT BURTON Matt has done a couple of support spots for us, his gentle style and unassuming stage presence endear him to everyone. Melodic vocals and acoustic guitarwork compliment a nice mix of covers including his famed version of Stevie Wonder's "I just called to say I love you". .. SCOTT WAINWRIGHT Scott is an acoustic guitarist playing instrumentals. He has a lovely style, playing haunting self penned melodies which blend jazz, blues and folk with classical guitar... THE HOWARD BROTHERS: What can we say about these two? Tim and Jez Howard, former Muldoons and the kings of fingerpicking. Their set blends bluegrass, Irish and country rock, played on a variety of instruments from dobro to banjo and acoustic guitars. They must get fed up of being asked to do "Duelling Banjos" but never let the audience down. Great, time served musicians serving up a great show spiced with their earthy humour... JOHNNY & THE PRISON DIDN'T HELP BOYS: Highly entertaining acoustic country rock with this gang of hillbillies from deepest Sheffield. Features Johnny Two-guitars on vocals/guitars, Will on fretless bass, Country Dave Chang on Chinese Fiddle, Smiley Dave on old-timey fiddle, Trev on mandolins, lap steel etc and Chris on Piano/vocals. This highly original band are great fun, highly talented and play aneclectic mix of catchy, upbeat country folk rock songs Including Irish rock, Billy Bragg and Dylan. .. GINA DOOTSON Gina is a stunning singer songwriter and winner of The Classic Rock Society Female Vocalist Award. Armed just with a guitar and a voice to die for, she..s toured Germany, supported Kathryn Williams and earned a reputation as one of the top up and coming female vocalists in the UK. In addition to performing solo, Gina also goes out with a full band. Check out her website: www.ginadootson.co.uk for more details. Gina..s repertoire has something to please everyone, from rock/pop covers to classy originals.. DAVE SMITH and MIKE JACKSON: This acoustic blues duo are from York, and gobsmacked the audience last time they played for us. Dave Smith on beautifully played dobro has a voice like a scratchy 78 record, I don't think I've ever heard a more authentic early blues voice in anyone who isn..t American or dead.Admirably augmented by Mike Jackson on double bass, these two are well worth travelling to see.
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