Seven Songs in Sonning – 25th November.

Remember Pearson Hall last November? On that chilly evening, when a bunch of amateur musicians – some good, some remarkable and some drunk – got up and played to raise donations for the Alzheimer’s Society? The food was a gastronome’s dream, some say the best ever served in Berkshire, and the drinks were all your favourites.

On November 25th we’re doing it again

‘Really?’ I hear you ask – ‘Didn’t you only just pull it off last year? We had a lovely evening but come on Davie, quit while you’re ahead!’

Nope – we’re going to do it again; it was fun, it was embarrassing, it was joyful and we raised 1300 quid for dementia.

Continue reading →

Blood Cancer, Dogs and Shoes

Seven Songs played a gig for Delete Blood Cancer at a shoe shop on New Bond Street – I’m not abandoning Dementia but this is also an important cause and was thrilled to be involved.

I’m not an expert on Blood Cancer so I asked my friend Mike Dicks who is currently in remission from leukemia to write about Delete Blood Cancer. He did something even better and more wonderful – he made a special Mike & Scrabble cartoon strip featuring a bit of Seven Songs.

Continue reading →

Review of 2015: Leaving the Shed

When I first started out it was because I wanted to support the Alzheimer’s Society who look after carers and support dementia research (find out why in the About section). I also had to come out as a singer and guitarist – I’d been in the shed too long and it was time.

Continue reading →

A Special Evening in Sonning

At the end of November we had a special Seven Songs in Sonning: with 5 other brave friends accompanied me, we played to a crowded village hall of about a hundred local folk.

The music was pretty good (some of it was very good), the food was sublime but it was the amazing crowd of our friends and neighbours that made the evening such a roaring success. Not least because we raised £1350 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Continue reading →

The Joy of Friends

I’m always surprised how good my friends are to me – it’s not easy hanging out with a bloke who is continually agitating to sing in your living room. Of course, I’d like to think I’m a blessing but recognise I’m probably more down at the ‘trouble’ end of the friend scale.John-Nolan

Take Seven Songs, even when you commit to inviting me to perform in your home you then, have to, actually, listen to me sing – and it doesn’t stop there, the misery continues when I tell all about the awfulness of dementia and how it effects individuals and families. The problem I’ve created with Seven Songs is you can’t just throw some money in a tin and wander off and mind your own business; you’ve got to engage right up until the point you get to give (and that’s only of you want to); frankly it’s exhausting if you’re part of the audience.

NB : Seven Songs performs live music in peoples living rooms (gardens, kitchens, pubs and cafes) and collects for dementia charities instead of charging performance fees… have a listen to Seven Songs on BBC Radio Sheffield. Continue reading →

50 Seven Songs Sung

I’m just coming up to my 50th Seven Songs gig and I thought it was time for a bit of round up of what’s been happening.

So, I probably sound a bit casual when I mention my 50th Seven Song gig but just to be clear…

50 – F I F T Y times… I’ve picked, strummed and frikin’ yodeled to raise money for charity. It’s  mainly been for the wonderful Alzheimer’s Society but also the RNLI and The Alice Gross Music Trust with my gastronome pals Battenbergbell and SilverScreenSuppers. Continue reading →

Get your diaries out.

Davie-Playing-HilaryThe BBC Berkshirepalooza, Waltzing, Beekeeping and Buddy Holly,  but more importantly get in touch now and organise your own Seven Songs.

I’ve not told you much about my recent adventures in the homes and gardens across England, Scotland and Wales… and if anyone is reading this from Northern Ireland, I’d love to play there too at some point.

As of September 2015, we’ve played nearly 50 gigs now (or 55 if you include radio and other odds and sods), raised £5300 for Alzheimer’s Society and a couple of other charities on the way, including the Alice Gross Music Trust which I think raised about £700. Continue reading →

Seven Songs at the BBC.

It’s a funny old world. I know I’ve bored you with this before, but I play guitar and sing Seven Songs- think disco/folk/punk/blues- to raise money for dementia research. It’s a drop in the ocean but we’ve had a tough seven or eight year journey with dementia and we’ve been helped by so many generous souls. I’m giving something back. On Saturday 28th of March Seven Songs performed on Matt Allwright’s Saturday Solutions on BBC Radio Berkshire. Continue reading →

I’ve been practicing, it’ll be fine.

Since March 2014 I’ve been performing in the living rooms, kitchens and gardens of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, London, South Wales and Glasgow.

I do it to support dementia research and respite care. Over the last 7 or 8 years we’ve been helped and supported so much by so many people. We live with my wife’s parents. In 2009 we built an annex so Nicky’s mum, who has dementia, and Dad, Paul, could come and live with us. I really don’t know how Paul managed to cope looking after Val, he’s a saint a but it is a terrible illness. Paul watched the person he’s loved and lived with for 50 years failing right in front of him. Continue reading →