Saturday at the Chainmakers' Festival

Thanks to Billy and Lozz for a wonderful Chainmakers' Festival! I had a fantastic time playing there.

Friday, I closed the night at the Festival, which was great fun but a little tiring, so unfortunately, I didn't get to see all the great performers who were on earlier in the day on Saturday, such as Bryn Phillips & Steve Grosvenor, Alex Vann and East West Infusion (who I've previously featured at a Brett Huckfield & Friends night). But, before playing my Saturday set at the festival, circa 3.30 pm, I did catch Carol Widenbar, Tom Martin & Helena Rosewell, and Easy Street, who did a superb job of entertaining the festival goers. The sound and lighting crew were top-notch, too.

Lozz deemed it the best Chainmakers' Festival today, in terms of the performers and sound. My gratitude to Lozz, Billy and the other performers I spoke to – not to mention the sound crew – for all the praise heaped upon my songs! :)

Likewise, I was genuinely moved by how many people approached me as I left the festival site, just to tell me how much they had enjoyed my set. What a nice surprise ending to the festival, to discover my music had reached even more people than I'd realised.

A special mention must go to my percussionist Marie, for doing such a brilliant job of accompanying me on both days of the event – it's only been a few years since I taught her to play percussion; now she plays like a seasoned pro – so well done, Marie! Thanks, also, to everyone who turned up especially to see me play during the festival ... Especially to Sam, Mat, Kez and Jan! :)

Such a shame it's all over now ... Can't wait for next year's Chainmakers' Festival!

Gig: Chainmakers Festival, June 6th and 7th

I'm doing two dates at a festival with Marie: 10pm on Friday 6th /2.45 pm on Saturday 7th.

Event: Women Chainmakers' Feastival (open-air, family friendly event, live music stage + bar + fair + stalls).

Price: Free! (despite costingthe TUC many thousands of pounds to stage and attracting around four-thousand people, amazingly, it's still a free event!)

Address: Bearmore Park, Bearmore Road, Cradley Heath, Sandwell, B64 6DU

Parking: See the official event's blog – http://womenchainmakersfestival.blogspot.co.uk/ – as I think there are some recommended free parking places and a free shuttle bus. But this is just what I've heard, so do please check the official blog for details.


More Info:

There's a great open-air festival in Black Country that has been running for the past decade. It's named after women chain makers whose historic strike in 1910 led to better pay and conditions. To commemorate this, the TUC put on a free festival each year complete with two days of live music, and a parade through the streets of Cradley Heath on the Saturday morning: local history and music, great stuff! :)

I played the festival for the first time last year, as a solo gig, and earned the title of 'Mr 110%' for the effort I put into my shows. This year, I'm taking my percussionist Marie with me, so, as challenging as it will be to top last year's performance, I think we can do it ... Though I may need to lie down for several month afterwards -lol!


I've been asked to close the Friday night again, so I expect to hit the stage somewhere around 10 pm.

Saturday, Marie and I are taking to the stage around 2.45 pm (the event finishes at 5 pm).

Both sets will be approximately 45 minutes long.

Last year around four-thousand people turned up to watch the music, enjoy the fair and the stalls, and take in a bit of important local history, so if you live in the Black Country or surrounding area do come along and make it an even more spectacular event this year. The event is free, it's family friendly, and yes, there is a mobile bar ;)


Here's the current line up for Saturday the 7th
(I don't have exact details for the Friday line-up).

Bryn Phillips & Steve Grosvenor : 11.00 - 11.45

Alex Vann : 11.45 - 12.30

East West Infusion : 12.30 - 1.15

Carol Widenbar : 1.15 - 2.00

Tom Martin and Helena Rosewell : 2.00 - 2.45

Brett Huckfield (& Marie Timmins) : 2.45 - 3.30

Easy Street : 3.30 - 4.15

Billy & Lozz :  4.15 - 5.00


I know most of the acts, so it should be a great festival. Can't wait! hope to see you there if you live close enough ... for all my friends who don't, I'll post some pics after the event x
 

Brett Huckfield & Friends Gig in Moseley, on March 2nd, 2014.

I'm kicking off my musical endeavours for 2014 with another Brett Huckfield & Friends gig on Sunday, March the 2nd, 2014, at The Old Moseley Arms, 53 Tindal St, Birmingham, West Midlands B12 9QU.

I shall be playing an 'unplugged' set of my songs – accompanied by my percussionist extraordinaire, Marie – followed by an electric encore courtesy of the Brett Huckfield Band.

Before I close the night with my acoustic and electric sets, I'll be introducing some fabulously talented performers onto the stage:

Black Country folk legends: Billy & Lozz
Festival and folk club favourites: East West Infusion
Kilkenny singer songwriter Desi Corcoran

I suspect the function room will fill up pretty quickly. So do come early if you want a seat. The room opens at 8pm.

Background Info:
The gig is a special night linked to the Chaos Acoustic Club, run by Pete and Tony, who have been working hard to promote live music in Moseley, for many years. So it's always an honour and a pleasure to support their fine efforts and host the club. (My special night aside, the normal club is open almost every Sunday at The Old Moseley Arms, where a fine selection of live music can be heard).

PS To all the usual crew ... If there are any favourite tracks from my City Blue album etc. that you'd like me to include in the set, just send me an email before Sunday and I'll try and squeeze them in somewhere  ... Obviously, I can't fit all the songs in, but I'll do what I can! :-)