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IMRO Songwriting Masterclass with Chris Difford and Boo Hewerdine

March 6, 2018 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Free

Chris Difford is a rare breed. As a member of one of London’s best-loved bands, the Squeeze co-founder has made a lasting contribution to English music with hits such as ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Labelled With Love’, ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Tempted’. Despite the fact that Chris has helped soundtrack so many fans’ lives since his first release in 1977, the passion for innovation and love of playing still drives him to carry on writing rather than sit back and admire his handiwork. Chris recently celebrated his 60th birthday and for 41 of those years he has been writing with Glenn Tilbrook, very much the Odd Couple. When Squeeze take a break from the road, Glenn and Chris have been touring their ‘At Odds Couple Tour’ both in the UK and the US.

Over the course of a 13 album career with Squeeze, it was clear from the very beginning that Chris Difford has few peers when it comes to smart, pithy lyricism. His ‘kitchen-sink drama’ style has drawn plaudits from fans on both sides of the Atlantic, while his influence is keenly felt today. The likes of Lily Allen and Mark Ronson, Kasabian, Razorlight and The Feeling have all recognised the debt they owe to Squeeze’s music and to Difford’s way with words, while journalists were moved by his winning combination with Glenn Tilbrook to dub the pair ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’. He has written and contributed lyrics for the likes of Elton John, Wet Wet Wet, Jools Holland, Paul Carrack, Lisa Stansfield and Bryan Ferry.

Chris hosts songwriter workshops and has done so for over 25 years. In 2014 he formed a partnership with ‘The Buddy Holly Foundation’ to run a week of writing at Pennard House Glastonbury. Other writing events include Guardian Master Classes held in London and smaller events at The Rathfinney Wine Estate in East Sussex.

2018 sees Chris back on tour with on his extensive ‘Some Fantastic Acoustic Book Tour’ The dates take them to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and all over the UK. An American tour is also being planned for May. Beyond the touring there is a paperback version of the book coming out in September with an extra chapter carefully composed for the end of the book. Chris in his spare time will be co writing and working on various projects, another busy year for the old chap.

Chris will also be performing at Whelan’s Dublin on 6th March >>> Tickets
For further Irish shows >>> Link

http://www.chrisdiffordssongwritingretreat.com
http://www.squeezeofficial.com

 

Acclaimed Ivor Novello Award nominated English singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Sia, K.D Lang, Kris Drever (Lau), Duke Special, David McAlmont, Eddi Reader, Steve Earle and Richard Thompson to name but a few.

Boo’s first tentative steps came with the band, The Great Divide before the formation of his much-loved eighties group The Bible and a career that subsequently bloomed such that he is now in constant demand as a musician, songwriter, producer, teacher and live concert performer.

Brit Award winning, former Fairground Attraction singer Eddi Reader (MBE) is the perhaps the artist Boo Hewerdine is most regularly associated with, as a songwriter, musician and producer. Together they enjoyed international success with the (Hewerdine written) hit single “Patience of Angels” in 1995 and Boo also produced Reader’s “Sings the Songs of Robert Burns” in 2003, an album now viewed as a folk classic. Hewerdine continues to enjoy playing live and writing new material with Reader.

Boo is also incredibly passionate about his Song Writing Workshops, about empowering others to achieve. One of Boo’s most pleasing moments happened when Tanya Brittain, a singer who had never managed to finish a complete song before signing up, became confident and comfortable of her own abilities. Within two years she had formed a successful band “The Changing Room” with Sam Kelly. Tanya won the FATEA website’s Single of The Year Award in 2016 for her song “Names on The Wall” narrowly beating Hewerdine’s own “Born”, the forerunner to the concept of 2017 album “Swimming in Mercury”.

Details

Date:
March 6, 2018
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Category:

Organiser

IMRO
Phone
01 661 4844
Email
events@imro.ie
View Organiser Website

Venue

Irish Music Rights Organisation
Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
Dublin, Ireland
+ Google Map
Phone
01 661 4844
View Venue Website

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