Knowl Hill

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 →

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 →