Back soon!

Apologies for the lack of posts and updates lately. I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to update my blog or finish building my new website (the old one is still up though).



 In the meantime, just link up with me on Facebook for my current gigs.



I have a whole summer of gigs and festivals booked, starting with the Robin 2 tonight (May 6th), opening for country star Tia McGraff.

Back soon!
Brett x

 

 

Express & Star: Brett and Marie reach finals of national contest

I'm pleased to say we made it into Saturday's copy of the Express & Star newspaper.
Bless them, they slightly mixed up a few things I said during the interview. Nonetheless, it's a good write up and Marie loves the picture -lol! x

Open Mic UK update: we're through to the Grand Finals

So much has been happening lately that my blog has been sadly neglected. I'm hoping to redesign my website in the new year, then perhaps I can incorporate the blog into that too, so I can update them both a bit more frequently

Anyway, since my last post. I've successfully made it through to the Grand Finals of Open Mic UK. Having battled through 10,000 other performers, my percussionist and I are now in the final 30 acts.

So, on January 24th, 2015, accompanied by Marie, I'll be competing in front of a very prestigious panel of judges that includes A&R representatives from some of the biggest record labels in the world, Ivor Novello award-winning songwriters, and other music industry professionals.

Things are certainly looking bright: at the Midland and South West Area finals of Open Mic UK, Marie and I were the first to qualify for a place in the Grand Finals. Chris Grayston of Future Music, who organises Open Mic UK, addressed the audience during the show and said 'I would just like to say at this point in the show, Brett Huckfield is a brilliant singer-songwriter'. He also said mine and Marie's performance was the standard the other acts had to aspire towards.

Tickets are £20 for the show, but they sell out well in advance. Give me a shout of Facebook if you want any, and I'll check if there are any left.

Thanks, as always, to all the usual crew who are coming along to cheer us on. Bless, you. It wouldn't be the same without you! :)

Thanks also for all of you who live too far away to come to the show, but have sent so many warm messages of support!

xx

My first appearance at the NEC

I'm pleased to that, together with my percussionist Marie, I was successful at the Open Mic UK Regional Finals – held on October 4th, at the National Exhibition Centre – and will now go on to compete in the Midlands-and-South-West Area Finals on November 22nd.

[I'm in there somewhere ;) ... as are some great Black Country performers, who also very kindly turned out to offer their support :)]

Thanks to everybody who came to to cheer us on! You made it an incredible night . Can't wait to do it all again at the Area Finals (also held at the NEC), in the hope of winning a place in the Grand Final at the O2, London.

[Outside the NEC, with more friends]

Thanks also, for all the fantastic messages of support from all people who couldn't be there on the night! :)

Quick round up of this week

It's been such a hectic week, in the run up to my Open Mic UK performance at the NEC, that I'm only just getting around to posting these photos -lol!

Some are from my performance at 'Vdubs in the Valley' last Sunday. It was great to meet up with so many great folks: especially Bill and Judie Perry, and all their family and friends; Pat and Jess Cuniffe; Steve Welch, and 'Beer Buz' Garry. Marie and I look forward to doing it all again next year!

 

[It was surprisingly windy onstage -lol!]

 

 

[In between playing, Marie and I were with our friends Bill and Judie (not in this photo) and their family]

 

[With my percussionist extraordinaire, Marie]

 

[After performing my set, I unexpectedly bumped into radio presenter, Steve Welch, which was a nice surprise; I hadn't seen him for ages].

There are also a few snaps taken on Wednesday, at the Candela Club in Coseley: one of ...the friendliest music clubs you'll ever visit – courtesy of Linda and John Collier – and jam packed with talented performers.

 

[After playing solo at the Candela, I called Marie up for my last song, to add some harmonies -lol!]

 

[This is (left to right) Dave Coughlin and John Langford, doing a spirited and very entertaining version of a Donavan song, at the Candela Club]

 

[We also took this photo of Sonia Parkes, another of the friendly and welcoming regulars at the Candela Club, entertaining us with her flute, towards the end of the evening].

The final photo, is one I took the other Friday, of the wonderful cakes Jean and Mick Brigdale spoil me with when I visit!

On a sad note, I heard from my a great supporter of my music, and one of my all-time favourite bodhrán players, Jimmy 'The Hat', early this week. Apparently, one of his friends had been badly injured, and, unfortunately, they could do no more for him at the hospital. Jimmy told me they were playing my song 'Here Again', which was a favourite of both Jimmy's and his friend. So I'm very touched by that, and hope my music offered some small comfort, at such a tragic time.

Finally, I want to wish Molly, my friend Marjorie's beautiful dog, a speedy recovery from her op at the vet's today!
xx

Passing the Open Mic UK audition

I'm pleased to say that, yesterday afternoon, accompanied by my wonderful percussionist, Marie, I passed the audition for Open Mic UK with flying colours.

After the audition when we were taken to one side and told that the Birmingham heats were the toughest of all to pass, as the standards are so high, I was half expecting to have failed -lol! Not so: we were then told we had wowed the judges with 'pure talent' ..

The next stage is to compete in the regional finals at the NEC on October the 4th. It would be great to see some friendly faces there so, if anyone wants to come along and support me and Marie, I'd really appreciate it, as the audience also gets a vote in who wins.

Tickets for the event where we compete in front of a judging panel of press and media representatives, record company A&R and music biz professionals, and an audience of hundreds, are £8 apparently. (Just message me if you want to reserve one – non of the money goes to me, I hasten to add -lol!)

Thanks to everyone who's already promised to come along and support us! :)
 x

Meeting to save Dudley Hippodrome, followed by a visit to the Candela Folk Club

 

It was great to catch up with Garry 'Blackcountrygaz' Sawers and Rovi Osinborn recently (23rd July) at the Station Hotel. We attended a meeting, along with other supporters the esteemed Dudley Hippodrome building, to try and save it from destruction.

 

Garry and Rovi are truly passionate about saving Dudley Hippodrome and turning it into a fantastic venue for live music and theatre. Marie (my percussionist) and I were only too happy to lend our support to such a great cause. Well done guys, if anyone can save the Hippo it's you!

Many famous stars played there over the years, and though, sadly, it has fallen in to disuse over the years, there are a growing number of good folks who would like to see the Hippo restored to it's former glory.

 

During most of the 90s I worked in a guitar shop (Modern Music), just over the road from the building, so I've grown rather fond of the place over the years and would hate to see it pulled down. Let's hope this fine historical and still relevant building can be saved. Thanks Garry and Rovi for keeping me up-to-date with all the latest developments – we'll certainly be lending our support to the cause – and for your thought-provoking comments:

 

Garry: 'Your a good man Brett, people like you help me and others to stand up for our heritage. We are all links in a Black Country chain that's getting longer and stronger. I'm glad you're a link mate! God bless ya.'

 

Rovi: 'Thanks for the support Brett & Marie, always good to see you both, it was a good meeting that surely opened the eyes to the opportunity we have going to waste if we're not allowed to take it forward. Thanks again.'

 

***

 

Later on that night, there was just time for me to pop out to a local folk club and perform a few songs solo. It was a good opportunity to catch up with John and Linda Collier, and everyone at their Candela Folk Club – always a great, friendly venue. Best of all, in-between performing, I won a Toblerone on the raffle! :)

 

Linda: 'Great night Brett as always, a wonderful relaxed evening and some really great songs, Pity we have to head for home at 11.30 ish! Lovely to see you and best wishes to Marie xx'
 

Climbing The Tower of Song

Together with my percussionist Marie, I finally found time to make my first visit to the Tower Of Song on the 16th of July – which, for some odd reason, is a place where some people seem to think (albeit wrongly) they've already seen me perform at -lol!

Although winning over new audiences is something we thrive on, I didn't quite know what response to expect as the venue is a little outside of my usual gigging area. But I was genuinely surprised by the sheer scale of the positive response. Being told time and again that we were easily one of the finest acts to have ever graced the Tower Of Song's stage was a heart-warming experience. Thank you so much, everyone!

 I'm only sorry I can't go back to do a longer set there any time soon – as so many people were suggesting – as I'm tied up with other musical endeavours at the moment. But I will go back one of the Wednesdays, to the Rea River Roots Club at the Tower Of Song, when I have a little more time.

 As well as performing, Marie and I got to watch a host of other acts perform, including Sue Stevens (who runs the Lighthouse Folk Club); singer/songwriter (and the person who set up the Tower Of Song) Tom Martin and cellist Helena Rosewell, the country stylings of the Honky Tonk Boys (Terry Foley and Jimmy Cox); and Lobelia Lawson, who runs Lobelia's Lazy Sundays Songwriters Circle.

It was great to visit a venue centred wholly around live-music that is so well supported by enthusiastic music lovers and performers.

Tom Martin's Tower of Song venue is at 107 Pershore Rd S., Birmingham, B30 3JX. To find out what's happening on any given night just check the venue's website: http://www.towerofsong.co.uk/

PS Thanks to Mike for taking the pics!

Black Country Day / Saracen's Head Gig

A huge thank-you to everyone who turned up in time to watch me play, accompanied by my percussionist extraordinaire, Marie Timmins, at the all-day Saracen's Head live-music event on Saturday in Dudley. Especially Judie, Bill, Ritchie and Alex. I know there were a number folks who wanted to be there but couldn't, so thanks to them too for all the messages/emails. 

 Thanks also to 'Black Country' Gaz for inviting me get involved with the Black Country Day celebrations in Dudley. What a smashing bloke! Not forgetting Rovi, the brilliant compere for the event, who, as it turned out, rather surprisingly, had a picture of me on his wall at home (as part of a newspaper photo-shoot with other local musicians, I hasten to add -lol!).

I must have been stopped a dozen times by people I didn't know who'd seen me playing here and there, over the years – even the Saracen's Head landlord, Andy, as I later discovered, knew me from my days playing lead guitar in bands! What with being recognised so often, it was like being famous for a day!

Anyway thanks everybody all for your support, compliments and suchlike, they're all very much appreciated! xo

 

 

Jazz, country and cakes!

After playing two days at the Chainmakers' Festival, Marie and I rounded off the weekend with a wonderful night of jamming, friendship and cakes, courtesy of the wonderful Jan Brookfield.

Among a wealth of distinguished but incredibly vibrant musical talents were harmonica maestro Johnnie Cartwright, undisputed First Lady of the ukulele, Gabriela La Foley, the brilliant instrument maker and musician Paul Baker, local country legend Pete Boddis with his superb band – including Marilyn on drums and beautiful vocals, axeman Don, skilfully playing his upside-down guitar, and their fantastic bass player, Brian. Not forgetting our wonderful trio of ladies on percussion and backing vocals!  Last, but not least, Michael Timmins was there to film/snap the event ...

I had loads of fun soloing, singing and jamming with everyone .... And what about those cakes! :)

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!

Just diving into bed for a few hours sleep after Friday night at the Chainmakers' Festival.

It was brilliant, not only to close the night with Marie, but also to listen to Carol Widenbar and Easy Street, and to catch up with some folks I haven't seen for ages! :)

Later today (starting with a procession through the town at 10am) is the main event of the Chainmakers' Festival. Around 4,000 people will be heading to Bearmore Park, Cradley Heath. I'll be taking to the stage, accompanied by Marie, circa 2.45 pm. There's a host of great local acts playing throughout the day too: 11am to 5pm. Hope to see some of you there! xo

 

 

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
 

Summertime, and the gigging is easy!

After a few months layoff while I was busy tying up some loose ends – like completing my Advanced Creative Writing university course – it's time to launch into a summer of live music performances.

To kick things off and get back into the groove, I played a warm up gig with my percussionist Marie, at The Fox and Anchor in Coven last week – courtesy of talented local musician and music promoter, Sam Draisey.

It was a great chance to dust out the cobwebs, practice some new material and meet up with some folks I hadn't seen for ages. A great night was had by all – at a surprisingly well attended friendly pub, just outside of Wolverhampton. There are photos, but I haven't got hold of them yet ... So, I'll finish with Sam Draisey performing something on Youtube ... Deep Blue Something, to be exact ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12WgQeaS7B8