Playing their own brand of rock, blues and Americana the guys are known as the UK’s leading interpreters of Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top, they are at the Thameside Theatre in Grays on Friday, 27 January, at 7.45pm. After 4,500 gigs together this guitar bass-and-drums combo know their stuff.
YT is delighted to have another dip into the growing body of work from RiseTV. This week, we see Skitz from Chafford Hundred.
YolanDa’s debut album will surely see her cult reputation brought to the fore. April Showers, May Flowers is a beautifully sculpted record that touches lightly on jazz and soul and R&B, each track bestowed with the kind of lyrical insight – on love, on life – that suggests its author is something of a poet, too.
FORMER WILLIAM EDWARDS student Paul Turner has become an overnight singing sensation in Holland. Paul has got to the semi-final stage of the NBC programme “The Voice” and he really seems to have captured the Dutch fans imagination.
WE ARE sure it is going to be another productive year for Grays-based video director, Smivadee. He has been able to take Thurrock artists to the next level, such as Young Reyes and Mushley but of course he works further afield.
YOUNG Darren Merrion has been the link man and host of Your Voice at the Thameside all last year but he has a very busy schedule for 2012. So we wish him well with his plans that include working for Sony and Warner.
IT WAS good to drop in at the Open Mic at the old Burtons snooker hall in Grays high street. The philosophy behind the sessions run by Lee Bowers is “Listen without prejudice”. So, here is Ryan Pinner. He reminded us a little bit of John Martyn or for our younger audience, Newton Faulkner. His guitar work is excellent.
This is a shift in a different direction for the Tilbury songsmith but he assures fans that he will be back on track for his next album
WHAT a modest man! Before we went to interview jazz legend Kenny Ball at Waterstones in Lakeside, we read that he had been acknowledged as a great jazz performer in New Orleans. In the interview, Kenny modestly describes it as ‘coals for Newcastle” when infact he went into the home of jazz and wowed them.
Thurrock Community Chorus was joined by professional opera singers Nicola Wydenbach and Andrew Rees, from the Royal Opera House, who performed pieces by Mozart and Verdi. The whole audience was invited to sing the carols and everyone was in great voice.
Hannah’s latest single Lark Ascending is simply beautiful. Listen to it and you can picture the mist coming off the fields in Orsett, which is apposite as that is where we interviewed Hannah. Lark Ascending can be bought on i-tunes.
The Tribute to Abba Forever is one of the country’s leading international tribute shows and theatre audiences from across Great Britain and Sweden have long enjoyed this superb recreation of possibly the world‘s greatest pop band.
Originally produced by Visconti for the Thin White Duke’s 2001 album Heathen, Films of Colour’s version of Slow Burn came to Visconti’s attention earlier this year following the online buzz around the band’s single Capital/Persinette. The band include former Gable Hall and Palmer’s College student, Jack Allinson and shot one of their earlier videos in the Thurrock area.
One of the key dates for budding young musicians in Thurrock has for many years been the Thurrock Young Musician of the Year event organised by Thurrock Music Services and over the years many hundreds of Thurrock youngsters have taken part. This year, the format is going to be different and offers Thurrock’s young musicians the opportunity of attending a Masterclass before competing for that coveted title of Thurrock Young Musician of the Year.
This piece is bookended by Lee playing. In the middle, we spoke to Lee about his work and influences. You can catch Lee at the Ockendon Acoustic Night at the Jack O’Lantern pub, Daiglen Drive South Ockendon from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
The Tilbury Band has continued their fine run of form on the Entertainments Contest stage this weekend by picking up more Silverware for the band’s trophy cabinet with an impressive result at the Wychavon Festival of Brass in Pershore.
WHEN YT STARTED in 2008, we used to do a lot of filming with young grime artists. Some filming was done out on the streets and some in the studio 7 at the Youth and Connexions in Grays. Without getting all po-faced, the studio was very important as a diversion for some young people and as a place to develop talents and skills.
“This year’s song “It Just So Happens” was written for my daughter, while I was stuck on the M25 for four hours last August. I was frustrated that i was sat there when i wanted to be home with my wife and then 7 week old baby, and this is what came out.
IT IS the name that stands out and is obviously the first question that we ask. The fact that the interview took place at Thurrock Mind might be a clue. YT sat down with the band to talk about their music and their motivation.
WHEN we interviewed young film-maker James Kavanagh a few weeks ago, he said he was a busy young man. Well he was right as he has just published his latest project. Grays-based James directed “In Your Arms” at a variety of locations around the borough including the Civic Hall at Blackshots.
NOT A month seems to go by without a video from the camera of Smivadee. Once again he has a fine eye for the locations of Thurrock and his work is a great platform for Thurrock artistes. Here is a remix of Tyga feat. Chris Richardson’s song Far Away with Mushley and Maze
ONE OF the reasons that Sunrise of the Sage might make it, is that they seem very well organised. That is hardly the most glowing rock and roll recommendation but you do see so many bands who seem to have no focus or plan.
The next Your Voice Event will be held on Thursday 20 October 2011 at the Thameside Theatre in Grays. Open auditions for this event are taking place on Saturday 3 September 2011 at 12.00pm at the Thameside Theatre, Orsett Road, Grays. All performers will be asked to sing a ‘Verse and Chorus’ from one of their favourite songs – backing tracks may be used if necessary. The successful singers will then take to the stage on 20 October at the Thameside Theatre.
Jordon Gray aka Tall Dark Friend ,a musician who we have been following for some time now, has agreed to give us a 24 hour start on everyone else ,to show his brand new video of his song Corridors
Detective committed to Crown Court over data protection charges
Council leader Kent “Shallow..deplorable and a hypocrite” say Tories
Woman in hospital after fire in Grays flat
Job losses as Corringham health club closes
Three mile bunting bid for olympic torch route
Sales scene: Making sense of social media
