Aynsley's Charity ride

Ride raised £1721

December 2011 June's street fair and ceilidh seems a long time ago as winter approaches. If you enjoyed listening to Aynsley Lister there's another opportunity to see him this month. On Sunday November 27^th he appears at the Musician on Clyde Street in Leicester. It will cost you £12 on the door but you can save a couple of pounds each by buying your tickets in advance. Aynsley is pleased with the response to his charity fund raising appeal in memory of his friend Rod. “I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who kindly donated to Cancer Research UK,” he said. “Between the two events, the 'Way of the Roses' 170 mile cycle and the charity gig held in Nottingham, we've raised £1721.”

2011 Groby's Aynsley Lister has worked hard with his band to carve out a musical niche for himself, and not just in this country. From now until the end of the year they are touring, playing mainly all over the UK apart from the last week in October when they are appearing in Austria and Switzerland. Aynsley also toured Europe in February, playing in Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland over 3 weeks. He always does a minimum of 2 European tours per year and and in June he played at the Ribs & Blues festival in Holland. The band will be appearing at the Musician in Leicester on November 27^th.

It might sound an attractive lifestyle but the motorway is a merciless master for musicians. On top of the stress of all the travelling, life goes on. Fans become friends and sometimes friendships are lost. This is the place that Aynsley is at now, mourning the loss of his friend Rod Thomson.

“About 6 years ago Rod was diagnosed with throat cancer,” explained Aynsley. “He went through a tough time and was only given a 70/30 chance to make it through. He pulled through though and in January this year he was given the 5 year all clear. We celebrated his health between close friends and in April, at his request, I played a gig at his local - The Hotel Deux, Nottingham.”

Bright lights cast shadows

Why the blues singer is cycling for Cancer Research

Updated July 2011

When Aynsley Lister was mentioned in the Groby Spotlight in May it was probably a name that many Groby residents were not familiar with, which is quite understandable. There are lots of folk who can't name a footballer, an X factor winner, or even the Foreign Secretary, let alone a blues and rock singer. Even if in his world he is a leading exponent of the music he plays.

A track from Aynsley's Equilibrium album

Purple Rain at Glastonbury 2010

“Rod was incredibly supportive of my music and a month later, as he always did, Rod came to another of my gigs. He was full of life, laughing, joking, – he was in his element.” But life can be cruel and having beaten cancer Rod died of a heart attack the day after the gig.

“Rod was unique, he believed in giving over receiving, would do anything for anyone and particularly after over-coming cancer he lived life to live life,” he added.

On Sunday 3rd July Aynsley, his partner Steph, and a group of friends cycled 180 miles coast to coast from Morecambe to Bridlington in a ride dedicated to Rod. “We had a tough 3 days,” said Steph, “but are already planning a Whitehaven to Sunderland ride for September. All the money raised is being donated to Cancer Research UK. Donations can be made through the Donate in Memory website and we're hoping to continue getting sponsors over the summer, including all of the proceeds from a charity gig Aynsley is organising in Nottingham. So far we've collected over £500 and the number keeps growing,” added Steph.

Apparently Rod Thomson could name the song coming up as soon as he heard the first note, no mean achievement given Aynsley's years of singing and songwriting. The former Groby Community College student was playing guitar from an early age, was being compared to Eric Clapton by the time he was sixteen, and has been recording albums for over 12 years. From the earliest days he has written his

Tower Sessions CD snippets

own material. He wrote all but two of the tracks on his recent Tower Sessions album, one reviewer writing that “as well as being a brilliant guitarist Aynsley is also a fine singer and songwriter.”

Another wrote that “Aynsley Lister is the blues man with the ‘boy-next-door’ looks, the dextrous guitar fingers and the silky voice; the one that plays contemporary blues as if its the most natural and most commercial thing you can do. Lister brings a new lightness, fresh optimism to an old form with his wonderfully intelligent take on the blues.” His appearance at the Groby Street Fair on June 25^th was just a taster of his talent : welcome home Aynsley Lister.

If you wish to support Aynsley's charity cycle ride go to http://donateinmemory.cancerresearchuk.org/0001475 or follow the links from his website http://www.aynsleylister.co.uk/ . On his website you can also watch even more videos of the band on the 'ALTV' link.

June 2011