MARCH 2024 UPDATE
Redbridge Green Fair Live Music Club 2024
Thanks to all the guests who played at our sessions between September and December 2023 - The Green Ray, Sam Castell-Ward, Ayo Bamidele, Blue Roses with Bernice, Ophelia's Willow, Johnnie Guy, Dave Warren Jazz Quartet, Covered Up, John Drummond, The Replacement Hipsters, Vinay with Malcom Cole, Paul Grant & Karen Maxwell, The Persecuted, The Balkan Village Band, Ian Hollyer, The Leyton Stones, Nashoba Dreams, Laura, "A Case of Joni" featuring Gina Fergione & Gabriel Keen, Glade Community Singers and Bob Gilbert. All these acts contributed to an excellent second half of the 15th year of the Green Fair Music Club, each providing really varied and enjoyable sets of original music, as well as performances of great covers from across the genres. All sessions were well-appreciated by all those people who came along to support the Club and the musicians during the latter part of the year. During 2023, 62 different acts performed at the Music Club!
At the two December sessions we ran two raffles for around 20 prizes of goods that were generously donated for the Redbridge Music Lounge annual fundraising effort for MacMillan Cancer Support at the final 'Best of the Music Fest' concert of the year in October in the Walled Garden at Valentines Mansion. The Music Club raffles enabled us to increase this year's contribution to the great services of MacMillan from £600 raised in October by another £92! Thanks to everyone who supported this, particularly Sue & Jackie who organised the raffles
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR SUPPORTING MUSICIANS AND AUDIENCES!
There are plenty more great acts scheduled to play over the coming months - watch the space below for full details of programmes
Events normally take place twice monthly on Friday evenings at the Cranbrook Castle Tennis Club
65 St.George's Road, (entrance in Pavilion Road) Ilford IG1 3PG (12 minutes walk from Gants Hill station down Cranbrook Road (towards Ilford), turn right along Cranbrook Rise, take second left into St George's Road; Buses 145 and 366 pass the other end of St George's Road as they travel along The Drive)
Each session features two or three diverse and talented acts in a friendly and intimate atmosphere, with a licensed bar. Great value and high quality live music entertainment!
More information from Steve Collins: rgfmusicclub@gmail.com 07306 729555 www.rgf.org.uk
2024 PROGRAMME!
REDBRIDGE GREEN FAIR MUSIC CLUB
SHOWCASE NIGHT
Cranbrook Castle Tennis Club
St.George’s Rd/Pavilion Rd Ilford IG1 3PG (12 mins walk Gants Hill)
Please note: ALL EVENTS ARE CASH ONLY for admission and bar sales
NEXT EVENT
Friday 8 March 2024 7.45pm
Performers:
AL NEVILLE
Songs to make you laugh and cry - not necessarily at the same time! Al returns with some of his latest material as well as some of his earlier classics
ST. BARNABAS BAND
10-piece community band playing entertaining mix of classical, jazz, folk & pop music and making a welcome return to the Club!
THE McANESTAS
John and Monica are a local duo who play a mixture of folk, blues, gospel and music from Monica's African roots. Featuring great musicianship and vocals, The McAnestas are excellent performers producing stirring songs, stories and music both traditional and contemporary. Tonight, they make their very welcome debut performance for us at the Club!
Admission only £6 (Under 18’s £3, under 12’s free) cash only
Information: rgfmusicclub@gmail.com 07306 729555 www.rgf.org.uk/musicclub
Licensed Bar (cash only) No membership required Everyone welcome
ALSO.....
NEXT SESSION FRIDAY 22 March 7.45pm featuring:
Sue Holliday
Ienne Hunter Trio, including Gabriel Keen & Alex Keen
Don't miss it!
Redbridge Midsummer Music Fest
2023 MMF weekend took place 24th and 25th June in Valentines Park - Over 30 great live music acts performed for YOUR FREE ENTERTAINMENT! Full details of acts below:
The event marked 20 years since our first event!
As in previous years we were very proud and privileged to welcome yet another stellar line-up of excellent performers to celebrate LIVE MUSIC IN REDBRIDGE in partnership once again between REDBRIDGE MUSIC LOUNGE and REDBRIDGE GREEN FAIR MUSIC CLUB!
This annual event has run every year since 2003 (except in 'COVID' years of 2020/2021), making this our 18th festival of 'Live Music for free, for fun, for everyone!'
As last year, both days of entertainment took place in Valentines Park, regularly voted as one of the top 10 'Green Flag' Parks in the country!
Full programme and location details below - as always totally free to attend on both days, each with a completely different roster of music acts.
Both days' events took place at the opposite end of the park to our popular 'Best of the Music Fest' monthly events (in the Walled Garden at Valentines Mansion, on the second Sunday of each month from April to October each year - the next free concert will be there on Sunday 8 October from 11am to 4.30pm as usual - details to follow shortly)
The closest Park entrance to the Midsummer Music Fest event is at the end of Melbourne Road Ilford IG1 4SB, but there are many entrances right around the park offering lovely walks to reach our informal music 'stages': On Saturday at the Music Lounge base in the Cranbrook Centre Garden (the former Cranbrook Bowls Club Pavilion, near the end of the Boating Lake, the opposite end of the lake from Cranbrook Road) and on Sunday at the nearby Valentines Park Cafe, ideal for a great family day out, beside the large Children's Playground, (and close to the public toilets).
We were really pleased to see many of you there during the two days, and for your support for, and appreciation of, the musicians who performed for free for your enjoyment.
Best wishes
Steve Collins and Chris Wyatt
(on behalf of Redbridge Music Lounge and Redbridge Green Fair Music Club)
(07306 729555)
SATURDAY 24 June 2023 – Cranbrook Centre Garden (former Bowls Club Pavilion), 100 metres inside Melbourne Road park entrance, (towards the Boating Lake) Valentines Park, Ilford IG1 4SB
11am to 7pm
ARTISTS WHO APPEARED:
Steve Heath - Singer/guitarist with a selection of classic covers
Augenhaus - Indie Rock trio with original compositions
Bob Gilbert - Singer/composer rockabilly/pop/ballad/rock
Claire - Songs from various genres and decades
Ian Hollyer - Popular songs from past decades
Ellie Mason - Popular covers
Bernice - Solo singer, mellow jazz/pop standards
Dance to Inspire - Bollywood Dance troupe demonstration & participation! Marilyn Joy - Urban/experimental alt pop/rock with keyboard/keytar
Replay - Covers band – hits from across the decades!
RML on the Ocean - Jackie Flynn sings popular songs up to the 80’s
St. Barnabas Band - Community band play classical/folk/pop/jazz
Al Neville - Songs to make you laugh & cry, not necessarily at the same time!
Loose Change String Band - Bluegrass/Americana songs & music
Deja Vu - Beautiful songs of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
SUNDAY 25 June 2023 – Valentines Cafe, Valentines Park, Ilford (near Melbourne Rd park entrance 250 metres straight ahead beyond car park) 11am – 8pm
ARTISTS WHO APPEARED:
Anything Goes - Guitar/violin duo cover romantic songs & tunes
The Workhouse - Guitar duo original music & songs in many genres!
Ayo Bamidele - Singer Songwriter acoustic soul and folk
The Traveling Tilburys - Classic rock/country tribute to Traveling Wilburys!
Sam Castell-Ward - Raw & original songs with an alternative edge
Nashoba Dreams - Male/female duo 70s/80s covers with acoustic guitar
James Harrison 2.0 - Original material/diverse influences
Laura - Folk, soft rock & surf rock acoustic covers & originals
Dread Fury - One Man Band acoustic/soul/funk/blues/hiphop
Ophelia’s Willow - Songwriter duo original & trad folk songs plus covers
Jane & Richard - Americana/folk/pop covers, vocal harmonies & guitar
Jetstone’s Dark Surfers - Guitar/drums duo play 1961 instrumental surf band!
Lizzie B and Malc C - Original songs & folk covers
The Blue Hearts - Energetic covers of popular rock, soul, R&B classics
Darklights - Melodic pop & jazz, vocal & keyboard duo
Moorby Jones - Soft rock song-writing trio (& 4th fab album coming!)
HUGE THANKS TO ALL THE ABOVE PERFORMERS AND OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR MAKING THIS GREAT EVENT POSSIBLE, AND TO ALL SUPPORTERS WHO CAME ALONG TO ENJOY ALL THE FANTASTIC FREE LIVE MUSIC - THE WEEKEND WAS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!
Future enquiries from new music acts always welcome to Steve Collins 07306 729555 or Chris Wyatt 07929 071155
Best of the Music Fest
Redbridge Music Lounge and the Redbridge Green Fair Music Club completed our eleventh season of FREE and diverse live music in October 2023 at The Walled Garden, Valentines Mansion and Gardens, Valentines Park, Emerson Road Ilford IG1 4XA
Our 2023 season of live music once a month in the Walled Garden at Valentines Mansion was completed on Sunday 8 October, our special event to raise money for the annual MacMillan Cancer Support fundraising initiative, (celebrated at events throughout the country). As in previous years, our volunteers ran a stall at our final concert last year.
THE AMAZING OUTCOME WAS £692 RAISED FROM THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF REDBRIDGE MUSIC LOUNGE AND REDBRIDGE GREEN FAIR MUSIC CLUB DURING OCTOBER, AND ALSO IN DECEMBER AT THE MUSIC CLUB SESSIONS! Thank you to everyone who supported and donated!
BEST OF THE MUSIC FEST 2024 HOPEFULLY ON SECOND SUNDAY EACH MONTH FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER (to be confirmed)
Best of the Music Fest
Redbridge Music Lounge and the Green Fair Music Club
The Walled Garden, Valentines Mansion and Gardens
Emerson Road Ilford IG1 4XA
Established in April 2013
Supported by Charlie & Miranda in The Gardeners Cottage Café
Sunday 8 October 11am to 4.30pm was our last session in 2023
Performers included:
* Marilyn Joy Urban/experimental alt pop/rock with keyboard/keytar
* Steve Heath – Singer/guitarist with a selection of classic covers
* Loose Change String Band – Bluegrass/Americana songs & music
* Glade Community Singers – 20+ piece choir with popular songs
* The Blue Hearts - Energetic covers of popular rock, soul, R&B classics
* Joanne Pooley Jazz Trio – Gabriel Keen & Andy Hamill (keys & bass)
* The Leyton Stones – Rolling Stones, Dylan, & some blues standards
Future events planned:
To be announced - hopefully April 2024 until October 2024
(subject to funding)
Contact us: rgfmusicclub@gmail.com Phone 07306 729555
www.rmluk.org www.rgf.org.uk
2023 MONTHLY PROGRAMME IN WANSTEAD
We were pleased to provide four sessions of a new Live Music programme last year from June to September, (to coincide with the monthly Farmers Market in Wanstead High Street), at Christchurch Green Cafe, off the High Street, near Wanstead Underground Station on the first Sunday each month.
Sadly, following changes at the Green Cafe, Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure cancelled the final session scheduled for October.
However, at the request of Vision RCL, Redbridge Music Lounge in partnership with Redbridge Green Fair Music Club were pleased to present an alternative FREE live music programme of diverse popular music on Sunday 1 October 2023, as a follow-up to our successful initial event at Hainault Forest Country Park in May 2023....
This event celebrated the continuing redevelopment of the facilities re-opened earlier this year at this beautiful Country Park.
Sunday 1 October 2023, 12 – 3.30pm at the 1856 BARN CAFE, HAINAULT FOREST COUNTRY PARK, ROMFORD ROAD, CHIGWELL IG7 4QN
ARTISTS PERFORMING:
* Darklights – Melodic popular & jazz music and original songs from male and female
vocal & keyboard duo
* Amanda Blue – popular covers and original songs accompanied on jazz keyboard by Aled Thomas
* St. Barnabas Band – multi-instrumental Community band playing classical/folk/pop/jazz songs and tunes
* Blue Roses with Bernice - jazz/blues/American songbook featuring
Gabriel Keen (keyboard), Terry Gregory (bass), Geoff Seeff (sax and violin)
Programme curated by Redbridge Music Lounge (07306 729555)
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REDBRIDGE GREEN FAIR MUSIC CLUB
SHOWCASE NIGHTS
Our Green Fair Music Club showcase sessions continue to run usually one or two Fridays each month. The format normally varies from month to month featuring some return appearances by popular previous acts as main guests, opportunities for young performers, debut appearances by acts new to us, and occasional themed nights. The programme always provides a host of class acts and fine live music as well as offering a platform for some of the brightest and best new talent, especially from the local area.
Expect the best of local rock, jazz, folk, blues, country & Americana artists (and more!) plus a diverse range of excellent support acts - watch this space (above) for news of our future programme!
Future programmes will continue to be open for new performers - please contact us at rgfmusicclub@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part in future. All musical genres welcome - solo acts, groups, ensembles
More information: Steve Collins 07306 729555.
Young people aged 16 to 25 years will always be welcome following our previous joint initiative with the Young People's Live Music Connections Project led by Redbridge Music Lounge which offered practice, support and performance opportunities for the borough's young musicians so please get in touch if you are interested
REDBRIDGE GREEN FAIR MUSIC CLUB
SHOWCASE NIGHTS
Our Green Fair Music Club showcase sessions continue to run usually one or two Fridays each month. The format normally varies from month to month featuring some return appearances by popular previous acts as main guests, opportunities for young performers, debut appearances by acts new to us, and occasional themed nights. The programme always provides a host of class acts and fine live music as well as offering a platform for some of the brightest and best new talent, especially from the local area.
Expect the best of local rock, jazz, folk, blues, country & Americana artists (and more!) plus a diverse range of excellent support acts - watch this space (above) for news of our future programme!
Future programmes will continue to be open for new performers - please contact us at rgfmusicclub@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part in future. All musical genres welcome - solo acts, groups, ensembles
More information: Steve Collins 07306 729555.
Young people aged 16 to 25 years will always be welcome following our previous joint initiative with the Young People's Live Music Connections Project led by Redbridge Music Lounge which offered practice, support and performance opportunities for the borough's young musicians so please get in touch if you are interested
BEST OF THE MUSIC FEST - the story so far....
Best of the Music Fest in the Walled Garden at Valentines Mansion began in 2013 but was unable to commence its 8th season of Sunday lunchtime/afternoon concerts in April 2020 due to the Covid 19 Pandemic - our annual season had previously run on one Sunday of every month from April until October from 11am to 4.30pm, providing free entertainment with a host of diverse live music, and normally features about 50 different acts over seven events in each year! In 2020 we eventually managed two events in August & September, and in 2021 we were pleased to be able to hold six events from May to October, and in 2022 & 2023, we were able to return to our full annual programme of 7 monthly events from April to October, bringing our total number of different live music acts featured since April 2013 to 180! Thanks are due to all those amazing and generous performers, and to our enthusiastic and appreciative loyal and ever-growing audience, and of course to our Redbridge Music Lounge volunteers who help to ensure our events continue smoothly and successfully.
Thanks very much for your continued interest in our events programmes. We hope to be able to sustain our programmes through 2024, and to continue our contribution to live music entertainment in Redbridge for another year. Take care of yourselves and our very best wishes to you. Please keep in touch, and, if you wish to be added to my e-mail group, just let me know by email or text message.
We will continue to help promote all our supporting musicians and music acts whenever and however possible.
Steve Collins & Chris Wyatt
(Redbridge Music Lounge & Redbridge Green Fair Music Club)
(07306 729555 (Steve) rgfmusicclub@gmail.com )
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