The Castle,
18, Upper Square,
Corner of South St / Richmond Rd,
Old Isleworth,
Middlesex, TW7 7BN
Tel: 020 8560 3615
Sponsored by Brentford Festival
Brentford Festival2008 will be held on Sunday, September 7th in Boston Manor Park.
Last year's festival, which attracted crowds of around 10,000, offered fun fairs, stalls, refreshments, sports taster sessions, two stages with live music and much more.
Brentford Festival 2008 is set to be even better exposure for the live music acts than the 2007 festival was because there is only going to be one big stage for the crowds to focus on, which will also be located in the food and drink stalls area, which will encourage people to settle down and enjoy the music!Kindred Spirit at Brentford Festival Sept 2007
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Elaine is one of four tutors who led sessions in song-writing, singing and guitar techniques on a weekend of learning, jamming and enjoying the company of like minded people, at Lower Shaw Farm, in Swindon on the weekend of April 11th - 13th. The weekend was such a success that there is going to be another one next year.
Find out more...
In May, we had Eurovision fever gripping the country with the usual banal lyrics, dodgy singers and politically motivated judging. Wouldn’t it be nice to hear some really good singer / song-writers who write deeper, more interesting lyrics, sing from the heart, play their instruments well and give a moving performance? Well at the West London Song Contest you could!
On the afternoon of April 20th we saw the first in a series of singer / songwriter competitions and shows, called “The West London Song Contest”, hosted by acclaimed singer songwriter, Elaine Samuels. Elaine, who has been featured singing her own songs on television, as well as at Glastonbury and many other festivals, also has her own band, called “Kindred Spirit” (see the friends below). She has plenty of experience with singer / song-writer events being the founder of the Windsor Songwriter Festival and, from 2003 – 2005, being a full cast member of the singer / song-writer show, “Girls With Guitars”, a monthly showcase in London’s Covent Garden.
Sadly, the Castle Pub no longer supports this event; so the shows have had to be cancelled.
Audience Judged
The “West London Song Contest” was particularly interesting for the audience because they could participate in the judging themselves and have a direct effect on who won.
Competition Prizes
The winner from the first half of the show got:-
1. a £40 cash prize
2. a headlining 30min feature spot at the end of the show
3. a 15min feature spot at Brentford Festival 2008
Featured Guest Singer/Song-Writer
An already acclaimed singer / song-writer was also invited to perform a guest 30min spot at the beginning of the second half of each show.
The featured guest for May was:-
Sue Verran
Sue Verran’s musical influences are broad and varied, though she has been likened to Nancy Griffith, Aimee Mann and Bob Dylan. If you had to categorise her then ‘folk noir with a pop twist’ wouldn’t be far off the mark as she expresses the human condition, the weird, the wonderful, the curious and the taboos within the structure of poetic imagery and rhythm, her sweet vocal delivering subtly crafted melodies to her contrasting and provocative lyrics.
She was recently picked up by a trendy new label and is working with producers writing for her own album & other artists’. She wrote and produced the title track for ‘’Playing Dead’’ a film by award winning director Pratibha Parmar. (Check song on myspace.com/sueverran ‘tumble from the sun’)
‘’The work is rolling in and maybe one day I’ll get paid for it!’ laughs Sue, who puts her success down to plain old hard work and a deep love affair with her guitar which she describes as ‘almost unnatural’.
Show dates
There was the initial Sunday afternoon, April 20th show launch, at 3pm, and the show on May 25th but further shows (June, July and August) have been cancelled.
Format of the Shows
First Half (3pm)
- Competition (60mins)
Second Half (4.30pm)
- Featured singer/song-writer (30mins)
- Competition winner (30mins)
After Show Jam
Permission for an informal acoustic jam after the show was given.
Who I'd like to meet:
Want to enter the competition?
Sorry, this event is no longer running!
Competition Entrants for April 20th
Hear tracks from their "My Space" sites below
Featured guest - James Keen
1. Rosanella
2. Liz Williams
3. Kouatchou
4. Mandy Woods
5. Lynette Francis
April winner - Mandy Woods
Joint runners-up:-
Liz Williams and Kouatchou
Competition Entrants for May 25th
Hear tracks from some of their "My Space" sites below
1. Phildel - absent due to illness
2. Suzie - didn't show - no explanation
3. Spot was available
4. Roy Hill
5. "Nurture the Flame" - duo- didn't show - no explanation
May winner - Roy Hill
Note: Although Roy was the only competitor who turned up on the day, he was an excellent singer / song-writer and performer and we feel he actually deserved to win anyway.
Twickenham Folk Club
If you can't get enough of good quality live music, why not take a trip down the road on Sunday evening to
Twickenham Folk Club,
held at the Cabbage Patch pub in London Road, Twickenham (close to the train station).
Other Live Music Pubs
I am building up a "Live Music Pub Guide", which has the full contact details, map, facilities, drinks on offer, links to their own web sites (where they have them) and a photo (in most cases). All these pubs are places where I and my band have performed or are going to be performing (ones with green, date links) - so they are largely centred around west London - but go out as far as Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. There are over 100 pubs on there and the list is growing.
Look at the "Live Music Pub Guide"
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Pama Intl new album out 2 Nov PAMA OUTERNATIONAL ft.Lynval & Horace from The Specials
New single on 19 Oct PAMA INTL-I STILL LOVE YOU MORE
On tour September 2009 04 Bingley Music Festival 05 Mersea Island Scooter Rally October 2009 23 Poole Mr Kyps 24 Birmingham Sound Bar 28 Derby The Rockhouse 29 Sheffield Corporation 30 Ulverston The Roxy 31 Aberdeen Lemon Tree Novemerber 2009 01 Manchester The Deaf Institute 04 London 100 Club 13 Cardiff The Globe 20 Swindon 12 Bar 21 Chester Funkdub is 5@Telfords 26 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 28 Watchet The Mineral Line 29 Bristol The Thekla December 2009 16 Norwich Arts Centre 19 Newcastle Live Theatre
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Static Rain is a 2 piece band from the beautiful Yorkshire town of Keighley. Band members Tony Garthwaite and Jacob Barlow formed the band in 2008, driven by a joint passion for both electronic music and retro synths. The music they produce can be described as electronic pop with catchy choruses and memorable riffs that are prominent in all of their songs, making them popular with a very wide audience.
Following their initial success on MySpace, Static Rain continues to build a solid fan base and a strong reputation as a live act. The band is currently looking for gigs from June 09 onwards throughout the whole of the UK.
For bookings and enquiries please e-mail
digitaltat@hotmail.co.uk
Pama Intl - Highrise Campaign** - in all good record shops 2nd Feb 2009
**free copy of the album with every ticket at the 20 Dec Brixton Jamm show ft.versions of Pama Intl's anti-knife/gun anthem 'Highrise' by; Studio One legend Dennis Alcapone, Billy Bragg, Michie One, Wrongtom, G.Corp, Mungos Hi Fi, Lynval Golding (The Specials) & Jimmy Screech. Proceeds going to a number of UK children's charities
Wanted to write something that encapsulated every thing properly. So I hope your day month and year finds promise. Helping you to be Be wonderful, be fantastic, boldly beautiful to confidently "focusrite".
Elaine is one of four tutors who led sessions in song-writing, singing and guitar techniques on a weekend of learning, jamming and enjoying the company of like minded people, at Lower Shaw Farm, in Swindon on the weekend of April 11th - 13th. The weekend was such a success that there is going to be another one next year.
Sue Verran’s musical influences are broad and varied, though she has been likened to Nancy Griffith, Aimee Mann and Bob Dylan. If you had to categorise her then ‘folk noir with a pop twist’ wouldn’t be far off the mark as she expresses the human condition, the weird, the wonderful, the curious and the taboos within the structure of poetic imagery and rhythm, her sweet vocal delivering subtly crafted melodies to her contrasting and provocative lyrics.
She was recently picked up by a trendy new label and is working with producers writing for her own album & other artists’. She wrote and produced the title track for ‘’Playing Dead’’ a film by award winning director Pratibha Parmar. (Check song on myspace.com/sueverran ‘tumble from the sun’)
‘’The work is rolling in and maybe one day I’ll get paid for it!’ laughs Sue, who puts her success down to plain old hard work and a deep love affair with her guitar which she describes as ‘almost unnatural’.
..
