Really lovely final gig of this busy festive season. We sing at the Mayors Carol service in Newton Abbot every year and every year this event gets better and better. Nice to entertain the locals in our local community and lead the audience in the traditional carols. Merry Christmas to rockies everywhere and especially to my amazing South Devon Rockies! Have a great time!
Christmas Gigs continued this evening at the iconic Theatre Royal Plymouth. Plymouth Rockies were invited to sing pre panto (Oh yes we were!). Lovely cosy venue with really lovely staff who treated us to mince pies afterwards. Plymouth Rockies were on top form and the performance was excellent and very well received by the theatre goers. A different kind of gig for us but one we thoroughly enjoyed. Well done everyone and thank you for turning out on a filthy wet and windy night!
South Devon Rock Choir have been very busy gigging this week. After Totnes Christmas market on Tuesday night we performed on the lights trail at Powderham Castle. It was a tough gig with temperatures reaching -4 degrees but the rock choir were awesome and we entertained the visitors to the castle as they enjoyed the beautiful lights all around the grounds.
On Friday lunchtime we rounded off the week by singing for the residents at Sefton Hall in Dawlish. We sing here quite often and always enjoy this more intimate gig. It is so nice to see the residents reaction to the music and the singing. A great week of singing.
First time at Totnes Christmas market - complete success! We loved singing at this event. Very festive vibe in Totnes and a great crowd who loved our songs. The South Devon Rockies were on top form and we sang brilliantly considering the sub zero temperatures. On to Powderham Castle Christmas lights tomorrow night. Thank you Miss Ivy Events for a great festive event. See you next year!
I played for a very special wedding this weekend. I had the privilege to play the music for my niece at their very beautiful wedding at Orchardleigh Estate in Somerset. It was a lovely family affair in a beautiful setting - it even snowed! Hannah and Roy chose You are the reason by Callum Scott for the entrance of the bridal party, Sweet Child of Mine for the signing of the register and the theme from Top Gun for their exit.
Christmas is well and truly here for the Rockies in South Devon. Saturday the rockies from Teignmouth entertained the crowds at the Christmas tree lights switch on in town. On Sunday it was the turn of the Plymouth rockies who entertained the crowds at the Plymouth Christmas market. Two brilliant gigs! All of the rockies should be so proud of their performances. Lots of great singing and lots of happy people and wonderful feedback. Special mention to Sam who smashed her debut solo with Higher Love and a special mention to both performances of 'Carol of the Bells' - brilliant all weekend and a real highlight!
I have just returned with Exe Valley String Quartet from a beautiful traditional autumnal wedding at the very lovely Huntsham Court Country House, Devon nr Tiverton. The wedding party arrived on foot from the local church accompanied by a piper and then we played a range of contemporary songs and pieces while the guests had drinks. We played our new bespoke arrangement of 'Thank U Next' which is from the Bridgerton soundtrack by Ariana Grande. It set the scene just right.
To complete a lovely weekend of music I had the privilege of playing for Nicole and Josh's wedding at the very lovely Official China Fleet Country Club in Saltash. It's always nice to go over the Tamar into Cornwall. I played 'I can't help falling in love' for the entrance of the bridal party and then I played 'Make you feel my love' and 'perfect' for the signing of the register before I played everybody out to 'Wildest Dreams' from Bridgeton. Lovely wedding with a lovely atmosphere (and very lovely staff)
We always enjoy playing for a traditional church wedding ceremony. Yesterday was our first visit to St Mary’s in Plympton which is a beautiful church. We played Canon, I can’t help falling in love with you, a thousand years and Now we are free for the exit of the wedding party. We also accompanied the hymns and then drove the short distance to St Elizabeth's House for an hour or so while the guests had drinks. The acoustics in the church were stunning and make our string instruments sound so beautiful.
Back at a very popular venue of ours. Rockbeare Manor. Lovely autumnal wedding with the Exe Valley String Quartet. Some lovely music choices today including Over the Rainbow and a new arrangement of the original Cinderella tune ‘So this is love’. We even got to meet two very special guests. The Alpacas from @littleorchardalpacas . Great day playing in the October sunshine.
You just can’t beat a sunny autumnal October wedding. Always a pleasure to play at Rockbeare Manor. I played my bespoke a cappella arrangement of The Feather Theme from Forrest Gump for the entrance of the bridal party which was really lovely. The ceremony was followed by an hour or so of modern pop, rock and Jazz violin outdoors in the Devon sunshine. #musiciandevon #devonviolinist #freelancefiddler
What a great day. Exe Valley String Quartet had a road trip on Sunday to South Wales to play for the amazing Rock Choir. 1500 voices in the choir - what a sound! So nice to be invited and to add some string harmonies to the beautiful ballads that the choir sing. We thoroughly enjoyed the musical experience. Big thank you to Wales & West Rock Choir Region. Would love to this again ! Caroline Redman Lusher.
Lovely autumn wedding today at Pynes House. Lots of classical repertoire today including Meditation and Claire de Lune. Entrance music was the gorgeous Kissing You. Great to be back playing with Exe Valley String Quartet after a few solo gigs away. So nice to play some challenging classical repertoire as well for a very appreciative audience.
Saturday evening I accompanied the dinner and drinks reception for the Devon Local Medical Committee. This was in the Solar room in Dartington Hall. Very nice! I really enjoy corporate events as I often get to play through lots of my repertoire. Even did some light jazz this time. #corporateviolinist #devonviolinist #musiciandevon
What a morning! 100 singers learning the iconic song 'You will be found' from Dear Evan Hanson with me at The Watermark, Ivybridge. A great pick me up and feel good session which is just what we all need at the moment. The choir did a brilliant job. Learning a brand new song in four part harmony was a challenging but hugely rewarding session. And, what a result! The sound at the end of our three hour workshop was simply amazing. Well done everyone. I hope you enjoyed the scrummy chords as much as I did!
To end a busy week of gigs with Exe Valley String Quartet The Exe Valley String Trio played a lovely wedding at Harefield Barn We love this venue. A gorgeous setting for a wedding with really lovely staff. We played I Giorni, Sweet Disposition and Everlasting Love amongst a range of other hits... and the weather was kind to us.
It feels like our second home. Rockbeare Manor. Another August wedding with the Exe Valley String Quartet. The bride made her stunning entrance to Pachelbels Canon and we played All of me and Halo in the signing. We even got to play our funky version of Toxic in the reception. Great gig today.
Today we went back to Mount Edgecombe for our second visit of the summer. The weather wasn’t quite as nice as last time but we still had a great morning singing and smiling and entertaining the locals. Well done Rockies for being professional as always. Gigs are what you make them and today was great. Thank you Miss Ivy Events for the invite.
Out with the Exe Valley String Quartet today playing at a wedding. First time at Lupton House for a while. We played two brand new bespoke arrangements from our ever expanding repertoire. Chapel of Love and You are my first my last my everything by the legendary Barry White. You know it kind of worked for string quartet ok! Love South Devon. Ceremony and drinks reception in the gardens - lovely summers afternoon!