SongFest (south)
- Saturday & Sunday,
20th & 21st July, 2019 followed
the next weekend... SongFest (north)
- Saturday & Sunday,
27th & 28th July, 2019
Artists
Chris Difford
We can't tell you how thrilled we are at the fact that the legendary Chris
Difford has agreed to headline SongFest 2019 (south & north)! As a member
of one of the UK’s best-loved bands, the Squeeze co-founder has made a
lasting contribution to popular music with hits such as
‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Labelled With Love’, ‘Hourglass’
and ‘Tempted’. The passion for innovation and love of playing still
drives him to carry on writing rather than sit back and admire his
handiwork. Over the course of a 14 album career with Squeeze,
it was clear from the very beginning that Chris Difford has few peers
when it comes to smart, pithy lyricism. His ‘kitchen sink-drama’ style
has drawn plaudits from fans on both sides of the Atlantic, while his
influence is keenly felt today. In addition to critically acclaimed solo
albums, Chris wrote the lyrics for the fictional band Strange Fruit in
the 1998 British comedy film ‘Still Crazy’, for which he won his first
Ivor Novello award. The film soundtrack was also nominated for a Grammy.
He also has written with Jools Holland, Paul Carrack and Elton John.
Chris hosts songwriter workshops and has done so for over 26 years. As
if that is not enough, Chris had a book released last August 2018 by
Orion Books, an autobiography called ‘Some Fantastic Place’. We're proud
to welcome Chris Difford to the SongFest family of songwriters and are
so pleased to be able to share his awesome talent with our audience.
Dean Friedman is a multi-media designer of
'virtual reality' games, interactive musical playgrounds and world
renown expert on 'music synthesis', and, yeah, he's also known for
having written and recorded what is acknowledged as the most beloved - and
yes, hated
- pop duet of all time, 'Lucky Stars'. Since then, he's written and
recorded eight studio albums, including familiar chart hits, 'Lydia',
'Ariel', 'McDonald's Girl', 'Woman of Mine', and more. Oh, and did we
mention he composed, produced and performed the soundtrack to the TV
series, 'Boon' along with the low-budget classic horror flick, 'I Bought
a Vampire Motorcycle'?
“Every song in this show is a
classic.” (London Theatre Guide), “Songsmith Extraordinaire”
– (Music Week), “Stunning Musicianship” (HotPress),
“Dean Friedman is entirely unique and utterly brilliant!” –
(ThreeWeeks)… are just a few of the superlatives used to describe his
unique and original talent.
In addition to his many multi-media projects,
Dean is the author of 'The Songwriter's Handbook' and conducts
'Songwriting Masterclasses' around the world. Dean will be conducting a
two-part 'Songwriting Masterclass' at both SongFest (south) and
SongFest (north).
This past year marked the 40th Anniversary of the
release of Dean's critically acclaimed and best-selling album, "Well,
Well," Said the Rocking Chair' which he celebrated by performing the entire album
'live',
along with other fan favorites, on a sold-out UK tour. For this year's
SongFest, audiences
can expect to hear choice selections from that classic album as well as
fan-favorites from his extensive, eight-album, song catalog. Join Dean
for a collection of powerful, poignant and hilarious songs about the
ordinary and extraordinary lives we share. (Also, this whole SongFest concept was Dean's
idea! ;-)
We are absolutely delighted to have this songwriting icon join us as a
headliner for SongFest 2019. Incredibly, 2019 sees Richard Digance reach
his 70th year, 52 of which have been spent on the road. Spend an evening
with Richard and see for yourself how he has managed to retain the
respect of fellow-performers and the general public alike. ‘Richard
Digance is brilliant’ Bill Bryson. ‘A National Treasure’ Bob Harris.
Despite the demand for his soundtrack and incidental music for TV and
film, he’s still doing what he knows and loves best, performing on
stage. Nearly 3,000 songs, his 34th album ‘Salisbury,’ a BAFTA
Nomination, the sacred Gold Award from The British Academy of
Songwriters, millions of YouTube hits, 3 stage plays, 16 books and a
mortgage to pay off, Richard embarks on his 2019 Platinum Tour with the
same enthusiasm he had when he first toured with Steeleye Span back in
1974. The fun chorus songs are all there, along with the heart-rendering
songs about life’s issues, plus the comedic poems that became so popular
through his 19 years appearing on Channel 4's Countdown. Richard Digance
is a master of his trade and yet no-one is more surprised than Richard
himself that he has been getting away with it for so long. Note:
SongFest is delighted to announce that, in addition to his concert
performances (south & north), Richard Digance will be conducting a
two-part, 'Comedy Songwriting Masterclass' at both SongFest (south) and
SongFest (north).
Boothby Graffoe
Although often mistaken for a humble village in Lincolnshire, in point
of fact, Boothby Graffoe is a critically acclaimed and award-winning, English comedian, singer-songwriter and
playwright. He is particularly known for his surreal sense of humour and
work with Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies, as well as actor/comedian Omid
Djalili. Following his awesome performance at the first
SongFest, Boothby is back to delight audiences at both SongFests 2019
(south & north).
Here's what comedian Stewart Lee once
said of Boothby Graffoe: 'Most stand-ups secretly want to be rock
stars, their ambitions thwarted only by their total lack of musical
ability. This man is unique amongst comedians, in that he’s a real
musician, who has been moonlighting as a funnyman since re-naming
himself after a Lincolnshire village sometime during the Thatcher era.
Boothby Graffoe is a multi-talented, darkly hilarious, grade A British
eccentric, who can twist your funny bone one minute, and break your
heart the next. A musical comedy act who is more musical than most
musicians, and funnier than most comedians.’
An audience favorite, when she
performed at the very first SongFest, Tracey Curtis returns for both
SongFests 2019 (south & north) to perform a full set of her uniquely
personal and thoroughly engaging songs. Tracey Curtis describes herself
as an anarchist, a vegan, an activist and mother who bases herself in
Ammanford, West Wales. Tracey was a member of the truly
wonderful post-punk pop band, Shelley's Children. Since then she's
released three acclaimed solo albums containing deftly crafted and
beautifully performed, heartfelt songs about real life, love, and
politics. If you've never heard Tracey perform her joyous, delightfully
poignant and bitingly funny songs, you're in for a rare treat.
https://www.reverbnation.com/traceycurtis
Boo is a
songwriter's songwriter and a musician's musician. As a recording
artist, Boo’s first tentative steps came with the band, The Great
Divide, before the formation of his much-loved eighties group, The
Bible, and a career that subsequently bloomed such that he is now in
constant demand as a musician, songwriter, producer, teacher and live
concert performer. Brit Award winning, former Fairground Attraction
singer (and Scottish national treasure) Eddi Reader (MBE) is the perhaps
the artist Boo Hewerdine is most regularly associated with, as a
songwriter, musician and producer. Together they enjoyed international
success with the (Hewerdine written) hit single ‘Patience of Angels’ in
1995 and Boo also produced Reader’s ‘Sings the Songs of Robert Burns’ in
2003, an album now viewed as a folk classic. In 2017 Hewerdine continues
to enjoy playing live and writing new material with Eddi Reader and will
release his first studio album himself in the Spring, titled ‘Swimming
in Mercury’, astonishingly his first in 8 years. Scottish songwriter
Findlay Napier employed Boo to work on his 2017 recording based on life
stories of real Glasgow people and recorded completely live. Boo having
collaborated with Findlay on his previous album VIP (Very Interesting
Persons) which received rave reviews, including a shortlist for Best
Album of the Year in The Telegraph and the two songwriters also tour
together. Put simply, Boo Hewerdine is one of the greatest songwriter
performers in the business and a unique talent, and we couldn't be more
pleased to have him join us at SongFest 2019.
Kal Lavelle is an Irish born singer
songwriter, now living in London. The Sunday Mirror listed her as a 'One
to Watch' and her friend Ed Sheeran brought her on tour in both the UK &
Ireland. Kal Lavelle's 'Shivers' EP went Top 5 in the iTunes Singer
Songwriter chart and Top 10 in Japan, Netherlands and Belgium! Her
single 'Breakfast At Tiffanys' was named iTunes 'Single Of The Week' in
the UK and was downloaded more than 60,000 times! Kal's new album 'For
The Loved And Lost' hit the Top 5 in five countries iTunes Singer
Songwriter Charts (Japan, UK, Ireland, Hong Kong & Switzerland) and Top
10 in France. The album also topped the Hong Kong iTunes Singer
Songwriter album charts at Number 1! Both singles from the album went
Top 3 in the iTunes Singer Songwriter chart in both the UK & Ireland,
with 'Blue Lagoon' hitting Number 1 in Ireland and Number 2 in the UK!
'Blue Lagoon' will also feature on the Next Big Thing show on all
British Airways flights from May 2018. Kal's music has garnered plays
on Bob Harris's BBC Radio 2 show, Tom Robinson's BBC 6 Music Show, BBC
Introducing, BBC Suffolk, Rare FM, Radio Warwickshire, Laurel Canyon
Radio (USA) & WMSC-90.3FM (USA). Kal's Sold Out album launch took place
on Friday 1st June 2018 in the stunning St Giles in the Fields Church,
in central London.
But here's the
thing... all those impressive radio and chart credits are nice, but
really beside the point. The point is, Kal Lavelle is a
consumate singer/songwriter with an angelic voice who writes sublime
songs filled with passion, truth and heart.
"Get her
music into your life!" - Bob Harris (BBC Radio 2) "It’s very emotional
stuff." - Simon Lederman (BBC London) "The wonderful Kal Lavelle has
never sounded better" - Stephen Foster (BBC Suffolk)
Note:
SongFest is delighted to announce that, in addition to her concert
performances (south & north), Kal Lavelle will be conducting, along
with singer-songwriter, Fiona Bevan (see below), a two-part, 'Songwriting Masterclass
for Girls & Women' at both
SongFest (south) and
SongFest (north).
It's easy to
be momentarily dazzled by her dandelion head of hair, but then become
transfixed by her easy way
of singing and playing not-quite-pop-songs (though that hasn't stopped
her from writing numerous chart hits, including co-writing a #1 hit,
'Little Things', with Ed Sheeran, for the boy-band, One Direction), and
not-exactly-folk-or-jazz-tunes, either. Simply put, Fiona Bevan's
songwriting is singular and original, a pop-folk-jazz-fusion amalgam
that transcends categories and defines her own unique genre. Raised on
classical music and jazz, rather than contemporary pop, Fiona is a
multi-instrumentalist who plays almost every instrument on her
recordings. Fiona began piano and violin lessons at the age of four,
taught herself bass guitar at 14, so she could join a band with her
schoolmates, and was writing her own songs on guitar by 15. Rather than
study music in college, however, she got a degree in English literature,
which was not that surprising considering she is a distant relative of
Robert Louis Stevenson’s. “He was my great-great-grandfather’s
cousin, so my family was a literary family and I was brought up reading
a lot,” she explains. “Words are very important to me and when
it comes to writing songs, studying literature really helped; I read a
lot of poetry and stuff like that. It’s important to me that the music
and the lyrics mean the same thing. To me, that’s great songwriting.”
Fiona practices what she preaches, and SongFest audiences are in for a
rare treat, as this brilliant songwriting talent shares her words and
music with an audience that has a fine appreciation for both.
Note:
SongFest is delighted to announce that, in addition to her concert
performances (south & north), Fiona Bevan will be conducting, along
with singer-songwriter, Kal Lavelle (see above), a two-part, 'Songwriting Masterclass
for Girls & Women' at both
SongFest (south) and
SongFest (north).
We're pleased
that Martyna Wren will be sharing her compelling songs and beautiful
voice with the audience at SongFest (north). Winner of the Americana
Associations National Songwriters Competition for her song, 'Coming Up
For Air', Martyna Wren has been delighting UK audiences performing her
own concert dates as well as on support slots for folks like Paul
Carrack and Jools Holland. Two time Grammy nominee Beth Nielsen Chapman
sings her praises. With notable influences from songbirds like Sarah
Mclachlan and Alison Krauss, Martyna’s piano driven country-tinged songs
will stay with you long after the music stops. But please don't take our
word for it - click on the video link below and listen to this beautiful
track off Martyna's new EP, 'Bigger Things'.
Charlotte has made a name for
herself as a London Street Artist, charming the ears of locals and
tourists alike. Through glorious summers and bitterly cold winters, she
can be found sharing her original music with crowds along the Southbank.
As a teenager, Campbell attended the BRIT School in South London
and went on to study songwriting at the Institute of Contemporary Music
Performance. Building an online fanbase through street art, Charlotte
has released 3 albums; her singles “Streets of London” and “Songbird”
have gained attention from Mark Forest’s BBC Introducing, as well as
having her single “Free The Night” featured and named official song of
London’s Night Tube. Instead of braving the crowds and chancing the
weather along the Southbank, enjoy this chance to hear the heartfelt,
honest and hope-filled songs of this delightful and original
singer-songwriter in the intimate indoor setting of SongFest (south).
Bumbershoots not required!
11:00am
to 12:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info 1:00pm to
2:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info
........................................................................................
4:00pm
Dean Friedman 'Welcome Set' 5:00pm
Kal Lavelle 6:00pm Dinner Intermission
7:00pm Boo Hewerdine 8:00pm
Fiona Bevan 9:00pm
Chris Difford
11:00am
to 12:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info 1:00pm to
2:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info
........................................................................................ 3:00pm Charlotte Campbell 3:30pm
Boothy Graffoe
4:30pm Dean Friedman 6:00pm Dinner Intermission
7:00pm Tracey Curtis
8:00pm Richard Digance
note: 'Songwriting
Masterclasses', held by Dean Friedman;
Richard Digance; Kal Lavelle & Fiona Bevan, run as two-part, 90 minute sessions on Sat &
Sun from either 11:00am - 12:30pm or from 1:00pm - 2:30pmCLICK for 'Songwriting Masterclass'
11:00am to 12:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info 1:00pm
to 2:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info
........................................................................................
4:00pm
Dean Friedman 'Welcome Set'
5:00pm
Kal Lavelle 6:00pm Dinner Intermission
7:00pm Boothy Graffoe 8:00pm
Fiona Bevan 9:00pm
Chris Difford
11:00am to 12:30pm 'Songwriting
Masterclasses'
click for info 1:00pm
to 2:30pm 'Songwriting Masterclasses'
click for info
........................................................................................
3:00pm Martyna Wren
4:00pm Richard Digance 5:00pm
Boo Hewerdine 6:00pm Dinner Intermission
7:00pm Tracey Curtis
8:00pm Dean Friedman
note:
'Songwriting Masterclasses',
held by
Dean Friedman;
Richard Digance; Kal Lavelle & Fiona Bevan, run as
two-part, 90 minute sessions on Sat & Sun from either 11:00am - 12:30pm
or from 1:00pm - 2:30pmCLICK for 'Songwriting Masterclass'
