Outside the Box

30/04/2025

Videos from excellent evening on15 April now posted. We were privileged to hear from singer/songwriters Dave Bernasconi, Rich Pennington, Owen Phillips, Roy and Nick Lyon; I also did a song. Spoken word was delivered by Sue Ireland, Ellie Atkinson, Vim Lark and myself. Beginning now to fill the bill for 20 May so please let me know you would like a spot.
Please note change of timings for 'Outside the Box' from now on - sessions will begin at 7.30 pm and finish around 9.45. This change is in response to people having to leave before the evening is finished as they have work etc in the morning. Hopefully this will be more convenient for all and will allow audience members to see all artists and for artists to have a sizeable audience.
Look forward to seeing you on 20 May

30/04/2025

29/03/2025

17/03/2025

All set for tomorrow night. Performers as previously posted - as always, great variety of material and styles and both familiar and new artists - looking forward to the new season. See you there!

23/02/2025

Just over three weeks now to beginning of 2025 season of 'Outside the Box' - all set for Tuesday 18 March. This session is already fully booked and we've already taken a booking for 15 April and, would you believe, for 15 July. Our opening session currently features poetry regulars Ellie Atkinson and Sue and Terry Ireland as well as Shane Blaydes, Geoff Probert and, new to OtB, Val Redmack. The singer/songwriter line-up is Jim Danby, Tom Payne and regulars Roy Lyon, Dave Bernasconi and myself.
We are also looking forward to welcoming back audience members, including some who are prospective performers, so it's looking like a lively start to the season. As always, if you would like to book a spot for a future session please do so via this page. If you think 'Outside the Box' may be the place for you to share your material please drop in and give it a look.
Looking forward to the new season, hope to see you there!

09/11/2024

Not been on this page for a little while due to picking up one of the hideous bugs that have been going around. That said, we had a brilliant session on 15 October to round off the 2024 season. Frequent performers Dave Bernasconi and Roy Lyon opened the evening with a medley really getting the proceedings going. Also excellent contributions from poets Sue and Terry Ireland, Nicky Kelly and Ellie Atkinson, all regulars at 'Outside the Box'. Contributions also from poet Vim Lark in his second appearance at our venue (a mix of both serious and lighter material), accompanied by his performing partner Joanne Ford in her first appearance for us - powerful stuff from Joanne. The evening also saw the return of singer/songwriters Derek Waudby - always very relatable stuff from Derek) and a first-time appearance at 'Outside the Box' for Tim O'Connor - those who know Tim will know that he is an excellent guitarist and weaver of words. Also a couple of songs from myself. Videos of all performances are now uploaded for you to view, except for those by Sue and Terry as Terry took on the filming this evening and was unable to record himself and Sue - unfortunately missing both at their very best. We plan to begin the 2025 season on 18 March - we already have an artist booked in for that date and all looking forward to getting it rolling again.

The last two seasons (2023/2024) have been an absolute treat - been a privilege to be in a room with so much talent. To date we have hosted Jim Danby (singer/songwriter), 'Echoes of Moscow' (music trio), Roy Lyon (singer/songwriter) solo and with his son Nick Lyon, Sue and Terry Ireland (poetry duo), Jeff Parsons (singer/songwriter), Jim Higo (poet), George Suddaby (singer/songwriter), Catherine Scott (poet), Derek Waudby (singer/songwriter), 'Thrip' (music trio), Dave Bernasconi (singer/songwriter), Ellie Atkinson (poet), Ian Killen (poet), Martyn Whitfield (singer/songwriter), Geoff Probert (poet), 'Beyond the Sea' (jazz improvisation duo) Nicky Kelly (poet), Polly and Dave Pattison (spoken word), Val and Mike Bennett (singer/songwriters), Doug Douglas (spoken word), Dave Roberts (poet), '7 Alleys' (music duo), Tom Payne (singer/songwriter), Matt Nicholson (poet), Mike Watts (poet), Sarah Johns (singer/songwriter), Peter Knaggs (poet), Vim Lark (poet), Joanne Ford (poet),Rich Pennington (singer/songwriter), Phil Kay (poet), Tim O'Connor (singer/songwriter) and 'McDowell' (music duo) (and I've done a few songs and the odd poem too). If I've missed anyone out, my apologies and please get in touch to make the list complete. Videos of most performances are available on the page. I would like to give heartfelt thanks to all who have performed and am sure that we will see many of these considerable talents back at 'Outside the Box' in future seasons as well as the newcomers we are always on the outlook for. 'Outside the Box' thrives on variety and we have certainly seen a lot of that at all of our sessions.

Finally, I would like to thank our wonderful audience who have listened respectfully and appreciatively to all of our artists and say they have enjoyed the sessions enormously. Thanks as well to my good friend Tauheed who has largely been responsible for filming performances and uploading them to the page and to all others who have helped with carrying equipment, helping to set up etc. Also thanks to the Duke of Cumberland for making our performance space available.

As always, get in touch via this page if you would like to perform at 'Outside the Box' - hopefully see you next March

08/10/2024

Just a week now to the final session of the 2024 season of Outside the Box. As usual, a fine line-up of performers with words both spoken and sung. We have well-known local singer/songwriter/musician Tim O'Connor for his first appearance at Outside the Box. Back to visit us again we have Derek Waudby, who many will know not just as a singer/songwriter but as a host of many open mic and festival venues over a great many years. Also poet Vim Lark, making his second appearance with us, this time along with his performing partner Joanne Ford. We will also have Outside the Box poetry regulars Sue and Terry Ireland, Ellie Atkinson and Nicky Kelly all of whom are a treat to hear. In addition we have other singer/songwriters to be confirmed.
As always, we are very happy to see non-performers who would like to come along to listen. Hope to see you there.