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Chris Powell & Joanne Powell

Chris & Joanne Powell news update June 2022.

Having started to gain momentum following the COVID19 trials and tribulations, we’re delighted to announce that things have never been busier on the road with a most significant sense of joie de vivre replacing the dull days of lockdown….

A full diary ensues for the next 2 years or so with visits to many established haunts as well as some new ones along the way….

Myself and Joanne were delighted during 2021 to be invited to join the board of Trustees/Directors of the amazing ‘Musical Museum’ in Brentford near to Kew Bridge, London. This fabulous venue is now home to the stunning 3 manual 12 rank Wurlitzer pipe organ that for many years graced the Regal Cinema in Kingston Upon Thames; who’s one time resident organist, Joseph Seal, was quite a household name back in the wonderful days of the live broadcasts in the halcyon days of the wireless that was…. We are now assisting with a drive to promote some electronic organ and keyboard music in addition to the nostalgic theatre organ presentations and have already taken part in several pipe and electronic solo as well as duet concerts that have been streamed on-line initially for the benefit of those unable to travel during Covid, whilst actively looking to attract new concert goers to a world class venue in a capital city that somewhat surprisingly lacks so few outlets for the kind of music and instrument that we all love so well…. Carrying on from this concept, both of us will once again be performing for a series of afternoon Christmas concerts/parties during late 2022 - which include superb catering as well as a chance to indulge in the exciting lead up to Christmas! Please visit the link to the museum at https://www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/ for more details of the exhibits within as well as a chance to book for one of the aforementioned Xmas events either as a solo visitor or maybe bring a group - all coach parties are welcomed with open arms and with a location just a few minutes from either the M4 motorway as well as Kew Bridge Railway Station and several bus stations making this a very straightforward venue to get to and also benefitting from being outside of London’s congestion and emission zones….

As well as the activities in London, myself and Joanne have a regular schedule of work in the promotion of popular organ and keyboard music in our home county of Lincolnshire. With Joanne as secretary and myself as Chairman (as of summer 2021) of the Gainsborough Organ And Keyboard Society, we are simply thrilled to see monthly concerts attracting upwards of 70/80 each time. These Thursday night monthly shows along with selected Sunday afternoons take place in the superbly appointed ‘Weston Rooms’ in Gainsborough. Contact us for more information on artistes appearing but the club meet on the last Thursday of the month at 7.30pm with the exception of August, when we take a break, and occasional Sunday afternoon concerts, starting at 2.30pm. We recently celebrated their 40th anniversary year, which was actually during lockdown, so it’s now 42 years! Still going strong after all that time! They have a facebook page which is regularly updated. A club close to our heart as it was the pride of Joannes parents who were Chairman and Secretary for many years.

As well as Gainsborough, we recently helped to take the reigns of two long time societies, namely Scunthorpe and Lincoln. Both of which sadly closed in 2021/22 respectively due to the lack of assistance at committee level. Scunthorpe is now run simply by ourselves while Lincoln is operating under the auspices of a top flight management team with ourselves, Steve Barrett-White (the Chairman of the above mentioned Musical Museum) and star performer Matthew Bason who is well known to all UK organ, keyboard and piano enthusiasts. Scunthorpe remains at the delightful Bottesford Village Hall, DN16 3TS, just south of the town, whilst Lincoln sees a move to the superb Naval Club, LN6 7BG, as of July 2022. Watch this space, our Facebook pages and the magazine and website of the Organ & Keyboard Cavalcade for up to date details of visiting artistes. We are simply thrilled to be able to carry these former clubs forward under the names of 'Scunthorpe Music4You’ and Lincoln ‘Music For All’ and have already enjoyed several superb nights of fabulous entertainment with many more to come…

I was delighted to return to Holland in March this year to play for the Netherlands Organ Federation at the Organ Museum in Haarlem near Amsterdam and also at the Theatre An De Schie at Schiedham, just west of Rotterdam City. Haarlem is home to the former Rochester UK Compton pipe organ and Schiedham the historic Strunk instrument now sounding so well in this vibrant and modern theatre that offers all the comfort and facilities of a top flight concert auditorium.

When not involved with either performing or the associated workload of driving and assembling either my Roland Atelier AT-900C instrument or Joannes’s KeyB Duo/Ketron organ combination, we simply delight in promoting musical holiday breaks at selected hotels around the UK! Under the banner of ‘Music4You’ these events consist of either 3-night weekend breaks or 4-night Monday to Friday holidays all in highly awarded 4* hotels with dinner, bed and breakfast as well as complete morning, afternoon and evening entertainment from a selection of the UK’s (and further afield from time to time) top musicians and entertainers in the comfort and luxury of delightful hotels with award winning food and accommodation; made all the better by a wonderful and consistent number of fabulous patrons who’s friendship, fun and enthusiasm helps to make these events an absolute pleasure to both host as well as perform on. The Savoy Hotel in Skegness sees a weekend of unrivalled fun with my co-host and superb entertainer ‘Matthew Bason’ whilst the previous visits to the Belgrave Sands Hotel in Torquay see us move next January to sister hotel, The Moorland in ‘Hay Tor’ just past Newton Abbot in Devon and right beside the start of the Dartmoor National Park. Stunning views, opulent grounds and the very finest of surroundings await. Bournemouth remains one of the top UK seaside destinations and following the amazing success of this year’s break at the ‘Marsham Court Hotel’, we are delighted to announce our return there in the summer of 2023 for another Monday-Friday event. Finally, this year sees 2 visits to the wonderful 4* Delta By Marriott hotel (formerly the Hilton) in Warwick. Following a very recent major upgrade and re-brand, this stunning hotel is just minutes from the M40 motorway as well as the A46 link road from Leicester and Coventry and is superbly situated both for its fabulous central access along with being so well-placed for visiting both historic Warwick along with nearby Stratford Upon Avon. Our August break sees the welcome return of John Bowdler from Blackpool Tower, Steve Hubble, Andrew Nix and a very rare appearance of the one and only Glyn Madden of Yamaha fame. Also appearing is the ever popular entertainer ‘Andy Oakley’ who’s Wolverhampton whit, comedy and velvet singing voice (akin to Matt Monro) is quite simply superb and guaranteed to delight every audience he performs for - be it at one of these events or at his summer season in Torbay. Our November visit will see a ‘Turkey & Tinsel’ theme - yes, a chance to have a pretend Christmas and New Year’ without having to buy any cards, presents or cook and fanciful dinners! A completely different event to August with a completely different line up, and maybe, if we’re good, a visit from the man in the red suit! This is guaranteed to sell out, so make sure you get your booking in soon as interest is already very high….

The festivals/holiday breaks can now be booked ONLINE by following the new link on this site. Simply complete the form and we will then contact you direct without the need to call or message for details first.

I feel the need to mention our delightful little doggie (Jessica); who continues to delight audiences with her own appearances! Since the sad passing of both our dads during 2021, we are required to have her with us at all times and just about all of our concert venues and every single one of our hotel venues have welcomed her with open arms. She instinctively knows how to behave when either of us (or both!) is on stage and knows completely when either a song, medley or the show in general is about to end as she recognises the pieces of music herself and puts herself forward for applause and appreciation! Please feel free to come and say hello to her as she simply loves the ‘meet and greet’ and is convinced that the guests are there to see her and not any of us! As Joanne so often says: “she doesn’t know she’s a dog!”

Here’s hoping to be able to say hello at one of the concerts, dances or festival breaks in the near future. Sending all Best Wishes and musical greetings from myself, Joanne and Jessica!

Chris June 2022

Autumn 2021

Autumn 2021 has proved to be very busy indeed for both myself and Joanne. Following some almost 18 months of total inactivity on the road due to Covid; it has been fantastic to be travelling around once again and meeting music lovers all around the UK!

Sadly, my planned concert tour of Australia and New Zealand has had to be postponed for now, but we hope very much to be able to look at this again in due course once international borders have started to open once again. Closer to home, a very busy diary ensues for both of us in 2021-23 with concert and dance engagements all around the UK, as well as festival appearances and 2 theatre pipe organ shows in the Netherlands during 2022.

Asides from ‘single’ dates on the road, our ‘Music4You’ festival events were restarted in August this year with a very well supported and enjoyable weekend at the former Hilton, now Marriott Hotel. It was extremely heartening to see all our guests in a state of complete excitement and delight - all clearly just thrilled to be able to meet one another again and enjoy live music and entertainment as well as fantastic cuisine. These events are selling well for 2022 and so popular was the August event that we are returning twice next year with a special ‘Turkey & Tinsel’ weekend in November for those who enjoy an extra helping of seasonal festivities!

Both myself and Joanne are enjoying some duet work together; both for concerts and also ballroom/sequence dancing. The combination of the Roland Atelier and KeyB Duo (Hammond Clone) and Ketron SD3 offers a fresh and unique mix of sound and is proving very popular with the public!

Both of us continue to work hard away from the ‘musical keyboard’ in our roles as Chairman/Secretary of the Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club, we also recently took over the running of concerts in Scunthorpe with the recommencement of organ and keyboard shows at Bottesford Village Hall in January 2022 under our own banner after the 40 year-long of the recently closed organ society. Also, we were both highly delighted to have been appointed trustees of the Musical Museum in Brentford/Kew Gardens; home of the famous ex. Regal Kingston On Thames Wurlitzer as well as a stunning plethora of instruments and artefacts connected with mechanical musical instruments etc and also a thriving concert venue.

As always, please feel free to contact us at:-

christopherpowell968@gmail.com

or;

joannepowell646@gmail.com