Monday 15 September 2014

Carrie Elkin Competition Winners

and the winners are...

Paul Glynn (London); Peter Farrington (Birmingham); Martyn Tanner (Basingstoke); Steven Barker (Kirton In Lindsey); David Smith (Bristol) and Phil Lindsay (Newcastle)

Well done to all the winners and thank you to everyone that took part

Monday 15 September 2014

Wednesday 3 September 2014

The Stray Birds at The Met Studio, Stafford Gatehouse - 1 September 2014

The Stray Birds flew into the UK direct from the Tonden Festival in Denmark. Just five hours after landing in Birmingham airport they opened their set at The Met Studio.

The audience were blown away by their multi instrumental musicianship and harmonies of a single voice microphone. Thank you Maya, Oliver and Charlie and come back soon.

Below are some pictures of the evening.








Chance to Win Tickets to See Carrie Elkin in concert on her UK Tour

Chance to Win Tickets to See Carrie Elkin in concert on her UK Tour

With her Red House Records debut release, Call It My Garden, Carrie Elkin has emerged as one of the defining new voices in the world of Texas singer-songwriters, being celebrated by Texas Music Magazine as one of their artists of the year. The voice, the stories, the images, the grace and infectious enthusiasm, it's a complete package. But it's the power of her live performances that really have been creating an incredible buzz around this young artist. Maverick Magazine said it best, after a recent festival performance: "I have never seen a performer so in love with the act of singing. That's the gospel truth. Onstage Elkin was simply a force of nature."

Thanks to those nice people at Red House Records we have a pair of tickets to win at EACH of the following gigs on Carrie's forthcoming UK tour.

23 Sept - Hen & Chicken, Bristol
24 Sept - Slaughtered Lamb, London
26 Sept - The Forge at The Anvil, Basingstoke
27 Sept - Seven Arts, Leeds
28 Sept - Kirton Town Hall, Kirton In Lindsey
30 Sept - Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
2 Oct - Clarks, Dundee
3 Oct - Wiston Lodge, Wiston
4 Oct - Glasgow Americana Festival, Glasgow
5 Oct - The Live Theatre, Newcastle Upon Tyne

To enter just e-mail the answer to the simple question below to peter@fishrecords.co.uk along with your postal address and selected gig. Ticket winners will be informed by e-mail on 15 September 2014.

With who did Carrie Elkin release an album with earlier this year and what is it called?

 
 

Tuesday 5 August 2014

O'Hooley & Tidow - The Met Studio, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre - 4th August

To a less than full Met Studio Belinda O'Hooley &  Heidi Tidow charmed the audience with a set of what I have previously described as 'grown up folk'. Direct from a truimphant performance on one the main stages at Cambridge Folk Festival they opened their set with the title track of their current highly commended album ' The Hum'. The performance continued with soaring keyboard playing, beautiful harmonies and plenty of banter. ' Two Mothers' a tale of the forced migration of babies and children brought one or two tears and a rousing version of Summat's Brewin a tribute to real ale captured the contrasts of the set perfectly.

After the interval it continued at a similar high standard with a specifically requested 'Ronnie's Song' from the Fragile album once again bringing the audience close to tears. A final stomping version of Gentleman Jack brought the main set to a close. Throughout the evening Belinda and Heidi had come in front of their mics to perform acoustically and this was perfectly captured in the closing Parting Glass with unprompted audience participation adding to their perfect voices.

The audience that was there was priviledged to see a duo at the peak of their game perform a set that combined folk club, cabaret and music hall to the highest standard. Those at the Met last night will be able to say "I was there..." for those that weren't they missed a real treat.

Thank you Belina & Heidi for a wonderful evening and hope to see you back in these parts very soon.

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Chance to Win Tickets - Eliza Gilkyson UK Tour May 2014

Chance to Win Tickets - Eliza Gilkyson UK Tour May 2014 in support of her new album The Nocturne Diaries

8 May / Ashcroft Arts Centre / Fareham
9 May / Royal Native Oyster Stores / Whitstable
10 May / The Forge at The Anvil / Basingstoke
11 May / The Maze / Nottingham
12 May / The Back Room / Cottingham
13 May / Green Note @ Queens Head / London
15 May / Barnfield Theatre / Exeter
16 May / The Victoria Rooms / MIlverton
17 May / Forest Arts Centre / New Milton
18 May / The Met / Bury
20 May / Greystones / Sheffield
22 May / St Andrews In The Square / Glasgow
23 May / Live Room at Caroline Social Club / Shipley
24 May / Ireby Festival / Ireby

We have a pair of tickets to give away for each of these gigs - all you have to do is answer this simple question for which film did her father receive an Academy Award nomination? Just e-mail the answer to info@fishrecords.co.uk. with which gig you would like to attend . First come first serve with correct answer for each gig gets two places on the guest list.
 
We would like to personally thank Eliza and the wonderful people at Red House Records for making it possible to bring this great offer to you.
 
 

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Fish Records presents...

For 2014 I had two new years resolutions, one was to post to my blog the other was to take in more live music. Well one out of two ain't bad. In one week in February I managed to see in Steve Tilston in a Guild Hall in the Midlands, The Stray Birds at a club in Camden, Seth Lakeman in a Cathedral and Frank Turner in an arena and subsequently Steve Knightley in a village hall.

For those that are not aware Steve Knighltley is taking a large part of 2014 playing small venues, villages hall etc that have been organised by local enthusiasts and fans.

So taking Steve Knightley's 'grow your own' gig concept one step further I find myself as a concert promoter. The original idea was a series of house concerts however not having a living room large enough I'm doing it in small theatres. So we now have Fish Records presents...

On 2nd June at the Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton we have The Henry Girls. After that are a series of gigs at The Met Studio part of the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. The gigs for 2014

7 July - Jim Moray

04 August - O'Hooley & tidow

01 September - The Stray Birds

06 October - Luke Jackson

10 November - Jess Morgan

No gig in December due to the pantomine season that's the venue rather than the artists or promoter!

We already have three acts booked for 2015 and they are all rather special, all begin with the letter 'M' and I'm keeping them as a surprise.

I am so looking forward to these concerts and encourage wherever possible you come along to see wonderful artists in small, intimate venues and to say hello.