25th November 2018: Joshua Francis / The Stringlers / Oh Brother!
Joshua Francis
2018 has been quite a year for Joshua Francis. Joshua wrote, recorded and released anti-greyhound racing song "Greyhound" for the UK's largest greyhound protection group CAGED, and the song won HCR104fm's Song of the Year 2018!
Joshua was asked to turn his hand to radio presenting and was given his own weekly radio show, called "Promised Land", on Flame Radio in the Wirral. The pilot aired on 29th May and he is now in his third series!
In September, Joshua released two new albums within days of each other: "All Of Me", an acoustic folk record, and "Keeper Of The Flame", original rockers especially recorded for the radio series.
Joshua has also been given the green light to write and record a radio sitcom called "Olympus Kebabs".
Joshua has put on three concerts for the prisoners of Thorn Cross YOI in Warrington as part of his prison ministry, where he is Champion of Rehabilitative Culture.
And more recently Cambridge-based virtuoso Shentong Penny Wang covered Joshua's track "Oh, Mr. Minstrel".
Everything that Joshua records is available for free play and download at www.soundcloud.com/joshua-francis-34
Oh Brother!
Oh Brother!, as the name implies, is a 3-piece line up of three brothers playing an eclectic range of music from upbeat bluegrass and melodic ballads to 1930’s vaudeville and folk.
Added to the mix are some original numbers penned by band members. Whilst being accomplished instrumentalists (guitars, banjo, ukulele-banjo, double bass, harmonicas and mandolin), we are known particularly for our close harmony sibling vocals.
Since the childhood and teenage years of learning and playing music for family and friends, the ensuing decades have seen each of us perform in contexts ranging from clubs and pubs to music venues and festivals. Alan and Peter were half of The Bluegrass Brothers which for many years were one of the best known UK Bluegrass acts, having headlined at UK Bluegrass Festivals, supported several internationally known Nashville performers and co-performed with Bridgend Male Voice Choir.
Oh Brother! came about in 2015 as a result of a long late night jam session when we re-discovered the uniqueness of sibling voices in harmony, and the sheer pleasure of making music again as family.
The Stringlers
This local all female string quartet has been described as “brilliant”, “spectacular”, “edgy” and “amazingly versatile”! Playing refreshing versions of music from the 1970’s to current chart toppers, expect to hear classics by Queen, Guns and Roses, Coldplay, Beatles..........and The Stranglers.
The group are Diane Llewellyn (1st violin), Helen Britton (2nd violin), Kat Moore (viola) and Emily Smith (cello), all established musicians in the Peterborough area, from classical, folk and jazz backgrounds but all with a passion for rock music.
The repertoire of songs has been cleverly interpreted and arranged by Kat Moore making this quartet unique and not to be missed!
Their debut performance at Peterborough Beer Festival 2015 was a spectacle to behold, so much so they were invited back for 2016. Other gigs include local music venues and festivals.