Chris Powell & Joanne Powell
Latest News
Chris & Joanne Powell news update January 2025.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Well we ended 2024 with an incredibly busy spell; just one full day off in 6 weeks. Christmas started for the Powell’s on the second week in November! We had a great time meeting up with old friends and new and certainly rocked up some miles in the van! We took a few days from Christmas Eve to cherish some special family time before seeing in the new year with us both playing, along with a piper, at our favourite local dance.
Lots of exciting events to look forward to in 2025! We will be hosting our second festival weekend at the Fairfield Manor Hotel in York at the end of January with a star studded line-up at this sumptuous 4* venue including John Cooper, Mark Thompson, Matthew Bason and Pete Shaw! Our planned Warwick Festival in November could not take place as the Government had procured the hotel for housing asylum seekers. We were absolutely delighted to be accommodated at the amazing Drayton Manor Resort Hotel in Tamworth! It might sound somewhat unusual running one of these events next to a West Midlands Theme Park, but the hotel proved to be absolutely incredible and an instant hit with all our guests! As a consequence, we shall be returning in both March and November (our beloved pre Christmas event!) for two more exciting visits! Guest artistes include Michael Wooldridge, John Cooper, David Thomas and Matthew Bason for March and Brett Wales, Andrew Nix, Pete Shaw, Ian Griffin and a duet show with Chris & Joanne Powell, (whoever they are!) for our November weekend. Sincere thanks go out to our technical team, the fabulous Pete Shaw and Steve Barrett- White for their expertise in all things lights, sound and cameras and everything else that they do for Music4You.
Following a successful run of joint Christmas shows at the Musical Museum in London in 2024, we will be returning with a series of Variety Shows along with Matthew Bason and his vocal talents this summer! We’ll then return in November and December for more Christmas shows! These are primarily supported with coach party reservations, but also available for private bookings. For more information check out…
https://musical-museum.odoo.com/event or give the museum a call. You’ll find a link elsewhere on our website.
Another year of an incredibly busy diary for concerts, dances and festivals; both as players and also organisers. We’re happy to continue voluntarily to be involved with the organisation of the ‘Gainsborough Keyboard Showtime’, ‘Scunthorpe Music4You’, ‘Sleaford Music For All’, ‘Stilton Music4You’ and ‘ Lincoln Music For All’. Despite what some people say, the organ and keyboard world is far from defunct and we are delighted to have many new friends come along and join the ranks! Proof that there’s a new audience there, we just need to introduce them to what we all do!
Keep spreading the word!
Oh yes, we have 2 new duet CD’s and DVD’s in the bag! Both recorded at the Musical Museum on the Wurlitzer, Roland and KeyB/ Ketron.
Hoping they’ll be ready to be released asap. It all takes time!
We both hope very much to be able to say hello somewhere along the way!
All the Very Best for now, Chris & Joanne xx
Well we ended 2024 with an incredibly busy spell; just one full day off in 6 weeks. Christmas started for the Powell’s on the second week in November! We had a great time meeting up with old friends and new and certainly rocked up some miles in the van! We took a few days from Christmas Eve to cherish some special family time before seeing in the new year with us both playing, along with a piper, at our favourite local dance.
Lots of exciting events to look forward to in 2025! We will be hosting our second festival weekend at the Fairfield Manor Hotel in York at the end of January with a star studded line-up at this sumptuous 4* venue including John Cooper, Mark Thompson, Matthew Bason and Pete Shaw! Our planned Warwick Festival in November could not take place as the Government had procured the hotel for housing asylum seekers. We were absolutely delighted to be accommodated at the amazing Drayton Manor Resort Hotel in Tamworth! It might sound somewhat unusual running one of these events next to a West Midlands Theme Park, but the hotel proved to be absolutely incredible and an instant hit with all our guests! As a consequence, we shall be returning in both March and November (our beloved pre Christmas event!) for two more exciting visits! Guest artistes include Michael Wooldridge, John Cooper, David Thomas and Matthew Bason for March and Brett Wales, Andrew Nix, Pete Shaw, Ian Griffin and a duet show with Chris & Joanne Powell, (whoever they are!) for our November weekend. Sincere thanks go out to our technical team, the fabulous Pete Shaw and Steve Barrett- White for their expertise in all things lights, sound and cameras and everything else that they do for Music4You.
Following a successful run of joint Christmas shows at the Musical Museum in London in 2024, we will be returning with a series of Variety Shows along with Matthew Bason and his vocal talents this summer! We’ll then return in November and December for more Christmas shows! These are primarily supported with coach party reservations, but also available for private bookings. For more information check out…
https://musical-museum.odoo.com/event or give the museum a call. You’ll find a link elsewhere on our website.
Another year of an incredibly busy diary for concerts, dances and festivals; both as players and also organisers. We’re happy to continue voluntarily to be involved with the organisation of the ‘Gainsborough Keyboard Showtime’, ‘Scunthorpe Music4You’, ‘Sleaford Music For All’, ‘Stilton Music4You’ and ‘ Lincoln Music For All’. Despite what some people say, the organ and keyboard world is far from defunct and we are delighted to have many new friends come along and join the ranks! Proof that there’s a new audience there, we just need to introduce them to what we all do!
Keep spreading the word!
Oh yes, we have 2 new duet CD’s and DVD’s in the bag! Both recorded at the Musical Museum on the Wurlitzer, Roland and KeyB/ Ketron.
Hoping they’ll be ready to be released asap. It all takes time!
We both hope very much to be able to say hello somewhere along the way!
All the Very Best for now, Chris & Joanne xx
Chris & Joanne Powell news update July 2024.
We are both very excited about returning to the Musical Museum in Brentford, London near Kew Bridge this autumn! For a start, Chris will be playing a full concert on Sunday November 3rd @ 2.30 pm - featuring the famous Regal Kingston Wurlitzer pipe organ as well as the Roland Atelier AT-900C Platinum multi keyboard instrument. All kinds of music from light classics to pop with show tunes, Latin American, movie themes and much much more!
Then mid November sees the start of several Christmas Shows, featuring both myself and Joanne with the above named instruments as well as Joanne’s KeyB Hammond Tonewheel clone and Ketron expanders. All kinds of seasonal favourites along with other favourites and of course some carols and sing-a-longs! Complimentary Prosecco and a light lunch! Most dates are now sold out, but they can always fit a few extras on demand! Please contact the chairman, Steve Barret White at either:-
steve.barett-white@musicalmuseum.co.uk
Or
0779 025122
In addition to the above, we are now involved with the promotion of brand new lunchtime concerts at the musical museum, taking place on what will usually be the first Monday on each month, there will be 2 x 30 concert spots featuring the mighty Wurlitzer. The £8 admission charge can be paid on the door, the museum is less than 5 minutes drive from the M4 Motoway, there is a bus stop right outside, 4 minutes walk from Kew Bridge Station with fast rail access from the Capital. Reserved car parking spaces can be reserved at the museum from the Chairman as listed above.
As I write this, I am currently enjoying some free time and was driven here by my 17 year old son, Tom who’s with us for a few days!
Hopefully the weather will now start to improve for us all in the UK and too our friends overseas too! Sending all our Very Best Wishes, Chris & Joanne
Then mid November sees the start of several Christmas Shows, featuring both myself and Joanne with the above named instruments as well as Joanne’s KeyB Hammond Tonewheel clone and Ketron expanders. All kinds of seasonal favourites along with other favourites and of course some carols and sing-a-longs! Complimentary Prosecco and a light lunch! Most dates are now sold out, but they can always fit a few extras on demand! Please contact the chairman, Steve Barret White at either:-
steve.barett-white@musicalmuseum.co.uk
Or
0779 025122
In addition to the above, we are now involved with the promotion of brand new lunchtime concerts at the musical museum, taking place on what will usually be the first Monday on each month, there will be 2 x 30 concert spots featuring the mighty Wurlitzer. The £8 admission charge can be paid on the door, the museum is less than 5 minutes drive from the M4 Motoway, there is a bus stop right outside, 4 minutes walk from Kew Bridge Station with fast rail access from the Capital. Reserved car parking spaces can be reserved at the museum from the Chairman as listed above.
As I write this, I am currently enjoying some free time and was driven here by my 17 year old son, Tom who’s with us for a few days!
Hopefully the weather will now start to improve for us all in the UK and too our friends overseas too! Sending all our Very Best Wishes, Chris & Joanne
Chris & Joanne Powell news update April 2024.
As I write this we are looking forward to our ‘sold out’ festival event at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth. Looking ahead to November; we are already quickly approaching the same for the ‘Christmas with Music4you’ event at the Delta By Marriott hotel in Warwick (14th to 17th November). Please book quickly to guarantee your place if you fancy a fabulous weekend of music, food and company with a little hint of an early Christmas!
Looking further ahead to the actual Christmas prelude; we will once again be performing a number of special Christmas concerts at the Musical Museum in Brentford (opposite Kew Gardens). These annual events feature the stunning Mighty Wurlitzer (ex Regal Cinema Kingston Upon Thames) along with our respective Roland Atelier and KeyB Duo/Ketron set ups. These shows are primarily aimed at group/coach party bookings; but once again, the museum have opened up the bookings to singular tickets. Priced at £29, this includes a glass of Prosecco, light lunch, tea/coffee and our special Christmas concert along with the stunning sound and light system and amazing video and graphic effects on the cinema screen. Please see the new museum appendix on this site for further details.
Engagements and enquiries for bookings are coming in for 2025 and while the organ and keyboard world is most definitely in contraction compared to the glory days of former times, there is still much a do and both of us are as busy as ever - particularly in regard to the expanding sequence and ballroom dancing scene; perhaps inspired by the Strictly phenomenon! Don’t forget that just as I used to do as a kid visiting the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, you don’t have to take to the floor but can sit back and enjoy 3 or more hours (very often) of non-stop music of all styles and genres regardless of being in strict tempo! To that effect, our fabulous weekend in Skegness back in March with great friend and colleague ‘Matthew Bason’ was a great success and for the first time we trialled afternoon dancing and evening concerts. The feedback was amazing with the dancers loving the night time entertainment and we will be back in 2025 (March 15th -17th) at the fabulous Savoy Hotel! Once again, please book early to avoid disappointment.
Hope to see you soon at one of the concerts or dances, all our Very Best Wishes for now, Chris & Joanne
Looking further ahead to the actual Christmas prelude; we will once again be performing a number of special Christmas concerts at the Musical Museum in Brentford (opposite Kew Gardens). These annual events feature the stunning Mighty Wurlitzer (ex Regal Cinema Kingston Upon Thames) along with our respective Roland Atelier and KeyB Duo/Ketron set ups. These shows are primarily aimed at group/coach party bookings; but once again, the museum have opened up the bookings to singular tickets. Priced at £29, this includes a glass of Prosecco, light lunch, tea/coffee and our special Christmas concert along with the stunning sound and light system and amazing video and graphic effects on the cinema screen. Please see the new museum appendix on this site for further details.
Engagements and enquiries for bookings are coming in for 2025 and while the organ and keyboard world is most definitely in contraction compared to the glory days of former times, there is still much a do and both of us are as busy as ever - particularly in regard to the expanding sequence and ballroom dancing scene; perhaps inspired by the Strictly phenomenon! Don’t forget that just as I used to do as a kid visiting the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, you don’t have to take to the floor but can sit back and enjoy 3 or more hours (very often) of non-stop music of all styles and genres regardless of being in strict tempo! To that effect, our fabulous weekend in Skegness back in March with great friend and colleague ‘Matthew Bason’ was a great success and for the first time we trialled afternoon dancing and evening concerts. The feedback was amazing with the dancers loving the night time entertainment and we will be back in 2025 (March 15th -17th) at the fabulous Savoy Hotel! Once again, please book early to avoid disappointment.
Hope to see you soon at one of the concerts or dances, all our Very Best Wishes for now, Chris & Joanne
Chris & Joanne Powell news update December 2023.
As we fast approach the year end for 2023 and welcome in 2024 we have both been incredibly busy with a phenomenal amount of travelling…. October started with myself making my third appearance in concert at the amazing ‘Das Tasten’ organ and keyboard festival near Dortmund in Germany. Much of November and December saw us both playing duets and solo items at the incredible ‘Musical Museum’ in Brentford, West London with sell-out parties there to enjoy the musical sounds of both our Roland Atelier and KeyB/Ketron instruments as well as the delightful Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ that used to delight the cinema goers at the Regal, Kingston Upon Thames back in the day…. A hectic schedule of concerts and dances continues right up until a very short break just before Christmas!
2024 will continue to see some familiar Festival haunts as well as an exciting new one in the shape of the 4* Fairfield Manor Hotel on the northern side of wonderful York. Used as a hospital during WW2, this stately home remains one of the most stunning and well-appointed establishments around. Dog friendly with superb grounds, the guest artiste line up includes ourselves, along with Howard Beaumont, Mark Thompson, John Cooper and our very own Pete Shaw. Why not come and join us for a post Christmas musical party??!!
Hope very much to see some of you around the UK in 2024! All Very Best Wishes, Chris
2024 will continue to see some familiar Festival haunts as well as an exciting new one in the shape of the 4* Fairfield Manor Hotel on the northern side of wonderful York. Used as a hospital during WW2, this stately home remains one of the most stunning and well-appointed establishments around. Dog friendly with superb grounds, the guest artiste line up includes ourselves, along with Howard Beaumont, Mark Thompson, John Cooper and our very own Pete Shaw. Why not come and join us for a post Christmas musical party??!!
Hope very much to see some of you around the UK in 2024! All Very Best Wishes, Chris
Chris & Joanne Powell news update June 2022.
Finally the warmer weather has arrived in the UK and this heralds the start of an exciting season of events both home and abroad!
Since being appointed joint Directors/Trustees of the amazing Musical Museum in West London, we have been delighted to take an active part in both the planning, running and execution of events in this amazing venue - without a doubt one of the hidden gems of London! The new home of the once coveted Wurlitzer organ of the Regent Cinema in Kingston Upon Thames, this modern building now brings the perfect home to the near 1000 pipes and all the percussion of this stunning Cinema Organ with just the most perfect acoustics to boot!
Once again November/December 2023 sees myself and Joanne presenting a series of Christmas concerts which are held in the afternoon and usually include food, beverages, Prosecco along with a packed programme of seasonal and non seasonal favourites played on Wurlitzer, piano and our 2 touring instruments with amazing visual depictions on the cinema screen along with stunning lighting! If you would like to come along as a visitor or indeed to bring a group by car/mini bus or coach; then please contact the museum:-
Address
399 High St, Brentford, TW8 0DU
Contact Us
020 8560 8108
visit@musicalmuseum.co.uk
Located just some 5 minutes from the end of the M4 Motorway, there is car parking on site along with excellent disabled access and for the pedestrian, the museum is a short walk from Kew Bridge Railway Station as well as right on a local bus route.
Before the winter celebrations, we’ll be there in concert on Joanne’s Birthday - July 9th this year!
Since being appointed joint Directors/Trustees of the amazing Musical Museum in West London, we have been delighted to take an active part in both the planning, running and execution of events in this amazing venue - without a doubt one of the hidden gems of London! The new home of the once coveted Wurlitzer organ of the Regent Cinema in Kingston Upon Thames, this modern building now brings the perfect home to the near 1000 pipes and all the percussion of this stunning Cinema Organ with just the most perfect acoustics to boot!
Once again November/December 2023 sees myself and Joanne presenting a series of Christmas concerts which are held in the afternoon and usually include food, beverages, Prosecco along with a packed programme of seasonal and non seasonal favourites played on Wurlitzer, piano and our 2 touring instruments with amazing visual depictions on the cinema screen along with stunning lighting! If you would like to come along as a visitor or indeed to bring a group by car/mini bus or coach; then please contact the museum:-
Address
399 High St, Brentford, TW8 0DU
Contact Us
020 8560 8108
visit@musicalmuseum.co.uk
Located just some 5 minutes from the end of the M4 Motorway, there is car parking on site along with excellent disabled access and for the pedestrian, the museum is a short walk from Kew Bridge Railway Station as well as right on a local bus route.
Before the winter celebrations, we’ll be there in concert on Joanne’s Birthday - July 9th this year!
Chris and Joanne Powell
We welcome back two of our favourite organists, Chris and Joanne Powell along with their small dog Jess for a fun afternoon of music.
This concert will be filmed for a brand-new DVD which we hope to have on sale by late summer. Why not come along - you might see yourself on TV! As at Christmas, we’ll be featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer rising through the floor along with my Roland AT-900C and Joannes’s KeyB/Ketron set up. We will be presenting a wide-ranging programme of numbers from Big Band through to light classics, show tunes and more. Our good friend and international singing star ‘Daniel O’Donnel’ has kindly offered to compile sleeve notes for the DVD; which is very kind indeed of him! Hope to see you there!
Much closer to home, we both continue as myself Chairman and Joanne Secretary of the long running Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club; which now trades as ‘Gainsborough Keyboard Showtime’. We moved venue in September 2022 to the fabulous Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough. This award winning venue was created by West Lyndsey District Council who bought and converted a disused church. Although the exterior and steeple look somewhat conventional from the outside, a walk through the front door affords the visitor a luxurious modern arts and concert venue with a bar, several meeting/rehearsal rooms and a superb auditorium with tiered seating for over 200, a cinema screen at the back of the stage (this is currently the town’s working cinema venue) which is used to project a close up view of the organists/keyboard player’s hands at work and unlike most venues in the UK where artistes bring in their own amplification systems, this is not necessary here! Indeed, during the Covid pandemic, the council spent over £150 000 on a new sound and lighting system which allows EVERY single seat in the auditorium to enjoy the exact same sound level/quality! Despite the tiered rows of seats, level access and seating for the infirm and disabled is still available along with car parking at the rear of the venue. From what many of my colleagues are telling us - this is quickly becoming regarded as the UK’s number one organ and keyboard concert venue! The concerts usually take place on the last Thursday of each month (August excepted) @7pm, with a small number of extra Sunday afternoon specials @2.30pm from time to time.
FESTIVAL FEVER!
Yes, the bright lights of Glastonbury etc are now shining around the UK and we are getting close to our August Festival event in Warwick this year! Running from Friday 18th to Monday 21st August, the event takes place at the fabulous 4* Delta By Marriott Hotel in Warwick, which is some 3 minutes off both the M40 Motorway and A46 (Leicester - Coventry) ring road. An all you can eat buffet is there for your dining pleasure along with sumptuous refurbished rooms and a superb concert hall for the evening/afternoon shows and other activities. As usual, our good friend ‘Pete Shaw’ will be in charge of sound and lighting along with delighting us with his unrivalled keyboard and vocal skills! The ever popular Sussex jazz musician, funny man and much more ‘Rod Pooley’ will be with us , also the firm favourite Lancashire Lad ‘John Bowdler’ returns again with a little souvenir of his Blackpool Tower Ballroom residency! On a more local note, the delightful ‘David Ingley’ will be bringing us his wide ranging repertoire of great music and finally, the King Of The Keyboards from South Wales; ‘Ian Griffin’ returns to delight with his famous request spot which can last for an hour or so with numbers asked for by the guests on a piece of paper! Myself, Jo and our dog ‘Jessica’ will complete the picture at this top quality and renowned hotel. Please contact us for further information either by calling 01427 625265, 07877 481424 or 07841 334450. Email:- christopherpowell968@gmail.com
joannepowell646@gmail.com
Delta by Marriott Hotel A429 Stratford Road, Budbrooke, Warwick, CV34 6RE
A very hectic schedule of both concert and dance playing lies ahead of us right through until the end of 2024. We mainly perform as a ‘single’ player, but are delighted to have been asked more and more frequently to play as a ‘duo’; which is something we both thoroughly enjoy given it’s own manner of camaraderie and also quite different musical end results from those achieved when playing solo. Since we permanently carry both sets of instruments in the one vehicle, we never charge and extra for this and describe the situation as two-for one or indeed ‘buy one and get one free!’
Finally, I’m delighted to have been asked once again to make my third visit to the unique ‘Das Tasten Festival’ in Germany on October 2nd (Monday) with good friend and superb performer DirkJan Ranzijn!
We welcome back two of our favourite organists, Chris and Joanne Powell along with their small dog Jess for a fun afternoon of music.
This concert will be filmed for a brand-new DVD which we hope to have on sale by late summer. Why not come along - you might see yourself on TV! As at Christmas, we’ll be featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer rising through the floor along with my Roland AT-900C and Joannes’s KeyB/Ketron set up. We will be presenting a wide-ranging programme of numbers from Big Band through to light classics, show tunes and more. Our good friend and international singing star ‘Daniel O’Donnel’ has kindly offered to compile sleeve notes for the DVD; which is very kind indeed of him! Hope to see you there!
Much closer to home, we both continue as myself Chairman and Joanne Secretary of the long running Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club; which now trades as ‘Gainsborough Keyboard Showtime’. We moved venue in September 2022 to the fabulous Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough. This award winning venue was created by West Lyndsey District Council who bought and converted a disused church. Although the exterior and steeple look somewhat conventional from the outside, a walk through the front door affords the visitor a luxurious modern arts and concert venue with a bar, several meeting/rehearsal rooms and a superb auditorium with tiered seating for over 200, a cinema screen at the back of the stage (this is currently the town’s working cinema venue) which is used to project a close up view of the organists/keyboard player’s hands at work and unlike most venues in the UK where artistes bring in their own amplification systems, this is not necessary here! Indeed, during the Covid pandemic, the council spent over £150 000 on a new sound and lighting system which allows EVERY single seat in the auditorium to enjoy the exact same sound level/quality! Despite the tiered rows of seats, level access and seating for the infirm and disabled is still available along with car parking at the rear of the venue. From what many of my colleagues are telling us - this is quickly becoming regarded as the UK’s number one organ and keyboard concert venue! The concerts usually take place on the last Thursday of each month (August excepted) @7pm, with a small number of extra Sunday afternoon specials @2.30pm from time to time.
FESTIVAL FEVER!
Yes, the bright lights of Glastonbury etc are now shining around the UK and we are getting close to our August Festival event in Warwick this year! Running from Friday 18th to Monday 21st August, the event takes place at the fabulous 4* Delta By Marriott Hotel in Warwick, which is some 3 minutes off both the M40 Motorway and A46 (Leicester - Coventry) ring road. An all you can eat buffet is there for your dining pleasure along with sumptuous refurbished rooms and a superb concert hall for the evening/afternoon shows and other activities. As usual, our good friend ‘Pete Shaw’ will be in charge of sound and lighting along with delighting us with his unrivalled keyboard and vocal skills! The ever popular Sussex jazz musician, funny man and much more ‘Rod Pooley’ will be with us , also the firm favourite Lancashire Lad ‘John Bowdler’ returns again with a little souvenir of his Blackpool Tower Ballroom residency! On a more local note, the delightful ‘David Ingley’ will be bringing us his wide ranging repertoire of great music and finally, the King Of The Keyboards from South Wales; ‘Ian Griffin’ returns to delight with his famous request spot which can last for an hour or so with numbers asked for by the guests on a piece of paper! Myself, Jo and our dog ‘Jessica’ will complete the picture at this top quality and renowned hotel. Please contact us for further information either by calling 01427 625265, 07877 481424 or 07841 334450. Email:- christopherpowell968@gmail.com
joannepowell646@gmail.com
Delta by Marriott Hotel A429 Stratford Road, Budbrooke, Warwick, CV34 6RE
A very hectic schedule of both concert and dance playing lies ahead of us right through until the end of 2024. We mainly perform as a ‘single’ player, but are delighted to have been asked more and more frequently to play as a ‘duo’; which is something we both thoroughly enjoy given it’s own manner of camaraderie and also quite different musical end results from those achieved when playing solo. Since we permanently carry both sets of instruments in the one vehicle, we never charge and extra for this and describe the situation as two-for one or indeed ‘buy one and get one free!’
Finally, I’m delighted to have been asked once again to make my third visit to the unique ‘Das Tasten Festival’ in Germany on October 2nd (Monday) with good friend and superb performer DirkJan Ranzijn!
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
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