Joni Fuller

As the kennel is in St Helens, Ralph always likes to keep an eye on anything interesting happening locally in the North West. News just in was about the latest release by Lytham-St-Annes singer/songwriter Joni Fuller and it peaked the interest as it's a bit of poptastic musical history.

Whilst Everybody Says So is being released on all the musical suspects it's also available on Aurovine.





What's that I hear you ask? Well, it's a revolutionary platform which utilises the recently launched music industry currency AudioCoin.

Aurovine allows music fans to connect and support emerging artists by listening, rating and sharing tracks, earning AudioCoins for both parties which can be exchanged for other currencies, stored in an offline wallet to earn interest or used for transactions on Aurovine and other websites.

Through revolutionary blockchain technology, Aurovine provides super transparent and fair revenue splits to the artist, songwriter and anyone with a tangible stake in the making and promotion/distribution of a record. Even fans can become an integral part of the project with an innovative crowd revenue share feature.

Just three hundred limited edition digital copies of Joni Fuller's single will be available, featuring two extra specially recorded bonus tracks. Along with an official record of support, these three hundred backers will also get a revenue share of worldwide sales.

Born in Lancashire, Joni Fuller's first solo performance was made at the Montreux Jazz Festival when she was just twelve years old. She's performed extensively in the UK, mainland Europe and North America. 

Known for her high energy, instrument swapping solo performances, she combines sublime musicianship with groundbreaking looping techniques to build a wall of sound on stage.

This is reflected in the single which has a bouncy Alt/Folk feel that is ideally suited to a full-on live performance.

Featured as an 'inspirational teenager' by The Independent and 'one to watch' by PRS for Music, Joni Fuller is the only UK alumna of Phil Collins' Little Dreams Foundation and an unprecedented double winner of the Make it Break it Songwriting Contest, judged by Chris Martin and awarded by Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts.

Live Dates:

19th December The Waterloo - Blackpool.

Villiers

Ralph's been keeping an eye on Lancashire lads Villiers for a bit now and, with the imminent release of a Double A Side single (You're Not Alone/Nowhere Left To Run) as a follow up to the excellent 'Dancer', this seemed as good a time as any to spread the good musical word. They're very much in the same mould as London electro boys Thumpers or Resonate from Sheffield, but with a bit of a mean and moodier edge as shown on 'Dancer'.

With thanks to Andy Parsons - Photographer

The new tracks continue with that edgier feel and 'You're Not Alone' has an almost 80's anthemic feel to it, probably my favourite of the double A-sider. 'Nowhere Left To Run' is a touch softer and reflective but none the less listenable. The band seem to be getting much more comfortable in their own electro-plated skin.







Last summer saw Villiers break onto the UK festival scene with a slot at BeatHerder alongside Clean Bandit, TOY, Temples, Chic ft Nile Rodgers and Groove Armada. This year they played their first headline show at Manchester’s Night and Day, lauded as - 'sealing their reputation as one of the region’s most exciting and innovative new bands'. 










Villiers are...brothers Ben and Daniel Earnshaw plus long time friend Daniel Buckle. The new single 'The Dancer' is out now on...

Itunes/Spotify/Amazon. 

Upcoming gigwise, you can catch them headlining in The Castle Hotel on September 27th alongside Jade Ann, Tigers of Pluto and President Ray-Gun. Don't miss it!

Ormskirk Vintage Fair - Sunday 25th August

Ormskirk's Grand Finale Vintage Fair

Bringing the summer to a fantastic close!

Sunday 25th August.

Previous vintage events have succeeded in creating a market of specialist sellers and helped to jump-start the career of many local creatives.  The August event which takes place over the bank holiday weekend will be Ormskirk's biggest and best event yet. Why don't you come along and see the best of Lancashire at The Grand Finale Vintage Fair - it'll be a hoot!

Combined with Ormskirk Motorfest  it boasts a thriving mix of over 50 stalls - from artisan foods, true vintage, mid-century homewares, papercrafts, handmade trinkets, up-cycled jewellery and much, much more!

Throngs of vintage enthusiasts, young people and families can mingle amid the eclectic stalls whilst enjoying street entertainment and walkabouts from creative community arts company Faceless and vintage icon, Charlie Chaplin!

There will also be live musical performances from talented violinist Namoi Koop and timeless jazz singer Francesca Georgeson. 

Cotton Town Hot Club are guaranteed to get the crown swinging and singing with a DJ set spinning vinyls from 1920's through to the 1950s!  Vintage fans can get the ultimate experience and indulge in a spot of pampering from BDS Hairdressing by replicating the styles of the starlets with beehives, finger waves and victory rolls!

Sewing Bees can immerse themselves in a full throttle of free workshops by travelling craft company My Craftea Day. Owner, Hannah Wells is encouraging visitors to bring along old faithfuls from their wardrobes to learn how to make stylist customised updates with a few nifty tips and tricks!

For those of you who like a challenge and enjoy competition Ormskirk Chess Club will be providing mind bending puzzles with great prizes for those who succeed. 

Drawing on the success of summer events, exhibitor and owner of Albion Bakehouse, Nina Halliwell, commented:

"We are absolutely thrilled that the pilot events have attracted the attention of thousands, celebratingOrmskirk unique identity and injecting a new, vibrant leisure culture in the town."

There's a whole treasure trove of affordable one-off waiting to be discovered this Bank Holiday in Ormskirk. 









With plans to make this pop-up project permanent, why not continue to support the talented new creative businesses and round off your summer with a memorable visit to one of Lancashire's loveliest little towns!  Plus if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll see Ralph wandering round the stalls looking for a vintage collar!