Friday 7 March 2014

2014 January-March

Meet Joe!
 
Yes I have gone electrified! 
 
 
These past few months have been a bit of a blur.  January Sam, Steve and I were busy rehearsing the songs as a trio without lead guitar.  All of songs are written acoustically anyway so it has make the transition a little easier.  The sets have become a lot more diverse and interesting for the listener and for us as performers!  We've been adding in tunes that have sat in my back catalogue for far too long and having some fun with them too.
 
Steve has been switching from electric bass to double bass to acoustic guitar and brought a melodica to rehearsals  this week that we've added on one song. 
 
Sam has been perfecting his bespoke portable mini drum kit... it's a work in progress but already become a bit of a talking point at the gigs.  I just hope he has room for his cowbell... you can never have enough cowbell!
 
 
 
... and I haven't been let off lightly either...  I may have to invest in a replacement to my 1998 Argos bargain Yamaha keyboard that's served me well for recording but don't think it's going to make it through gigging!  Plus Sam and Steve are expecting some simple lead electric guitar solo's from me in the not too distant future... yikes!!!   I may need a few more of these things!!! --------->
 
 

A few highlights

 
We really couldn't have wished for a better start to the gigging year... 
Iron Horse Ranch House in the riverside town of Market Deeping, Lincolnshire.
Packed house right up until closing... it was a really good night!
 
 
 
 
Then we were back to be part of our favourite Wednesday show... The Boat House, Cambridge!  Again, a great, friendly crowd, a fun night, it always is.  Sam, Steve and I have all agreed we will try and return regularly this year.
 
 

 

The guys and myself popped in on Sue Marchants' show on BBC Radio to perform a couple of live tunes and talk about chip butties, cosmic wonders and cafetiere cosies... you never quite know what's going to happen on Sue's show!  Amazing lady, her passion for music is contagious!

 

Debut solo album 'Breathe'

 
Press releases are out next week with an official release date of Monday May 12th
 
 
So after nearly 2 years it's done!  'Breathe' will soon be in the hands of bloggers, music reviewers, radio presenters  and music magazine bods all to have their say... frightening huh?!? 
 
Thanks to Radio Caroline, BBC Radio (Sue Marchant) and all the community and digital radio stations around the world that have already aired a few tunes over the past week.  To a handful of you guys too that have already purchased a sneaky pre-release copy... many many thanks. ~x~
 
 
So, the initial reaction has been...
 
'9 Fantastic tracks taken from Lexie’s back catalogue shows her growing confidence in writing and singing her own songs and A Breath of Creative Fresh Air and an Exciting adventure that I hope you will enjoy.'
Exit Pursued By The Blues
 
 
'Your new album is lovely!'
Happy album owner #1
 
'Love the cd - it hasn't been out of the player in the car since Saturday!'
Happy album owner #2
 
Betty's Car.... just WOW.  That was my favourite, along with Breathe and Eager Child. The whole CD has a feel to it, something dreamlike and thoughtful - it's brilliant.
Happy album owner #3
 
 

... the NEXT album??!!  ...already??!!

Yep... half way through the follow up album to 'Breathe' titled 'Good Morning America'.  This time I'm back to my love and comfort zone of all things Americana, Rock, Blues and maybe a pinch of Jazz!!!   'smooooth' :)   I promise this time you will not have to wait another 4 years for this release... everything is aimed at a late 2014! 
 
Here's a live video of a performance back in July 2013 of the title track 'Good Morning America'
 
 
 
 
 
 
There's a few more shows lined up before March is out... do check the gig diary over at;
 
CLICK HERE ---> LEXIE GREEN DOT COM
 
 
It's added to regularly as I'm often asked to perform up to a week before an event. 
 
I'm looking forward to a spring of great shows.  Very excited to be guest appearance for John Wheeler (Hayseed Dixie frontman) in April, back to The Angel Inn and Kontra Rootz in June and lots of new festivals a venues from Essex to Norfolk booked in.  I hope there's one near you... if not let us know a great original music loving venue near you and we'll do our best to come to you!
 
 
L
~x~
 
 
 
 
 

 

Thursday 2 January 2014

2013 Review

 
It's THAT time of year again!  Here I am sitting in front of a hard drive full of photo's and video's I've still yet to sift through from what has been such a fantastic year for myself and the guys who have supported me both onstage and off and so I wanted to share a a 'few moments' with you from 2013...



February 2013, The Angel Inn and the first gig with Sam, Steve and Danny. A full house, standing room only... the support you guys gave us was amazing. 


Thank you to the whole village or Yarwell (I'm sure you were ALL in there that night!) and especially to Nick and Di for your love of live original music and constant support...




March found us in Cambridge at the Boat House in Chesterton and to what has now become one of mine and Sam's favourite regular gigs.  We constantly receive such warm welcomes,  the crowd are always fantastic and I treasure the friendships we have made.  Thank you John for a wonderful evening and we cannot wait to return in 2014



'Bettys Car' did a world Radio tour playing on radio stations across the globe from the UK to the USA and back around the long way again.  The band and I also dropped in on Doc's show on Peterborough FM to perform a few tunes and have a chat... thanks to doc and his team for their kind hospitality!  We also got to return to my favourite local... Elme Hall Rock & Blues Club where I get to catch up on the die hard fans and friends I have made over the past 5 years... thank you for your constant unwavering support! xx


MAY Sam and Danny joined me to perform at The Brighton Fringe, it was the second time I had performed in Brighton/Hove and have to say I love the place!  I will definitely be returning in the near future.  Despite a chilly day Sam still managed to take a dip in the sea! Brrrrr!
I also got to tour with 'The Big Figure' who in turn have toured with Status Quo and Jools Holland... which was vee cool!  



Early summer saw the guys and I performing headline slots at many of the renowned music clubs around the UK.  Kontra Roots which, if you look at their artist performance list you'll agree is one of the best Rootz, Folk and Americana venues around and I shall be returning this year with a slightly different line up... more news on that to come.

June and the warm weather took the guys and I back to the fabulous St Anne's Castle, Chelmsford and a chance to catch up with great friends and acquaintances I hadn't seen since Battle of The Blues at The New Crawdaddy 2012!   Sad to see Dave and Ann leave the Castle as they have built up such a fantastic reputation for quality live original acts, wishing them happiness and health in their early retirement! :) xx


Summer and the festivals rolled in... thank goodness the wasps stayed away this year!!!  A couple of highlights... a return to the first festival I ever performed at back in 2009 The Peterborough Folk & Rootz Festival and to another first for me, a gig held in the lovely park of Ferry Meadows that was solely powered by bicycles! 




Autumn came and Sam, Steve and I decided to go back to Norfolk... this time to support the Rockin Awesome Buster James at Blackeney Harbour Rooms.... wowzer... it was fab!!!  Lovely bunch of blokes and there is no doubt as to why they are invited time and time again to headline at Cambridge Rock fest!  Looking forward to doing some more gigs with these guys this year.



One of the many highlights in 2013 was the Peterborough City Christmas Lights switch on in November.  It is always a concern for me performing only original music that the crowd can't sing along... but the 5000 strong crowd proved me oh so wrong!  It seems Peterborough is extremely musically talented... and had no problem at Oooo's and laa laa's... was too cool!  Thank you!!!! xxxx



2013 ended on a fantastic but also sad evening for the band and I in Chelmsford supporting the beautifully talented Cherry Lee Mewis.  Unfortunately after 6 fabulous years of performing together that was the last gig my good friend Danny Moore will be performing with me.  2013 saw Danny launch his new extremely successful business and the majority of last years gigs Danny was unable to make.  So Danny has made the decision to leave the band... with a heavy heart we wish Danny all the success and we will miss him incredibly so!

...and onto 2014... well it really has started with a bang! 

Albums
The first of 2 new albums is just about ready.  The solo album entitled 'Breathe' is in it's final production stages and I anticipate the first print to be winging it's way off around the globe for reviews and radio play end of January.  This album is a co-production with the renowned Pete 'Zombie boy' Brazier of the Vertical Rooms Studio (Sony, EMI, Simon Cowell, Dolly Parton, John Martyn... it is a long list and he is that awesome!).  Recorded here in 'The Shed' at Fifty Road Records and mixed by Pete it is a cracker... I am so proud and cannot wait for you all to hear it. It's really allowed me to write for the love of it and not be bound to genre... if you like an eclectic mix of music then I do think/hope! you'll enjoy it.  Performances on the album are by Danny Moore, Todd G (my good friend who encouraged me to perform live for the first time 6 years ago!) and my awesome muso friends and partners in crime Mr Steve Wilson and Mr Sam Carter!


New Line up?
For many of you who supported us at many of the gigs this year you will probably understand this, that although Danny has sadly left the band 'Lexie Green' hasn't actually changed.  The songs are still the same with just a few of the solo guitar parts adapted.  As I would not like to attempt to replace Danny, I am very thankful I have the support of many amazing musicians who have already offered to perform at various gigs. So I have taken the bold step of, on occasion, to bring in 'guest' appearances.  This is a very exciting and challenging time for myself and Sam and Steve but something I feel is right for the music.  So thank you to all that have offered... I am truly humbled by the quality of musicians who have held out a helping hand.

I have so much more that I would love to tell you.... real 'crush a grape' stuff!!!  But I dare not in case it doesn't happen and it would become a 'pie in the face' moment for me! lol 

But all that remains to say is a HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported me... and the music in 2013.  I do hope to make you proud, stomp your feet and bring big cheesy grins to your faces in 2014!  To Sam and Steve for their total commitment... and to putting up with me now learning lead guitar!!!! :D 

Here's to you all... a happy, healthy and rocking 2014... and a song to help you through 2014... in the words of the wise Bachman Turner Overdrive... 

 
With Love.... Lexie ~x~