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Kejosi Black Gospel group who topped the bill in 2007. They got everyone (including The Mayor) up on their feet, clapping and stomping to their perfect harmonies and rousing songs. You can see Kejosi performing live in April 2008 by logging on to http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=pbspffgpbg and selecting, 'KSJ (as they were then known) - Wade in the water.' |
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Congalese Community Choir The Congolese Community Choir is one of the most Charismatic acts you’ll ever see. Formed in Milton Keynes in 2005, they performed for Her Majesty The Queen on November 29th 2007 to celebrate the opening of The Hub, the newest section of Milton Keynes’ famous shopping centre. The choir is fronted by the fabulous Huit Diakiese, a singer of more than 30 years. Born in The Congo, Huit came to UK in 1991, joined the choir in 2005, and is about to release his third CD. Click on the link to see and hear him at myspace.com |
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Shona Shah Bollywood Dancer Shona has continued to learn dancing with professional choreographers attached to Honey’s dance academy that has provided dancers for numerous Bollywood events, films and music videos including Gareth Gates number one for Children in need. She is now an assistant teacher to the four to seven year old dance class. She now choreographs her own dances. Shona has recently performed at many events including: She has danced for numerous charity events in Milton Keynes and Leicester for various organisations. In 2008 Shona was one of just six dancers who qualified to take part in the first ever UK Bollywood dance championships, in the eight to twelve year old age group which took place at the Hackney Empire Theatre in London out of an original entry of 500. Her other interests include piano, drums, violin, choir singing and horse riding. In 2007 she performed in a school choir at the Royal Albert Hall. |
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Tasila Half Zambian, half Caribbean, Tesila is one of the most talented young performers in the Milton Keynes area. She has been singing and dancing since the age of four. A member of the Diamond Theatre school, her performances to date include Milton Keynes Theatre, Wavenden Stables Theatre, Talk Of The Town (MK), Stantonbury Campus Theatre, and in 2006, together with the dance troupe, she joint-topped the bill at the same venue as this show, in ‘Climb Acts 2006’, a fundraiser for Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases. We welcome Tesila back to Lovat Hall; this time we get her all to ourselves, having left the school behind! |
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Marique Exotic belly dancing not to be missed. Marique is a professional performer and teacher of belly dance. Based in Wolverton, Milton Keynes, she specialises in Egyptian style dance, as well as Lebanese and Turkish. She regularly performs at weddings, parties, carnivals, festivals and charity concerts. |
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Sean Eireann McMahon Academy of Irish Dancing Sean Eireann is Gallic for ‘Old Ireland,’ which tells us that we are in for a display of superb traditional Irish dance. Led by owner/teacher Rose Ellis, the Sean Eireann McMahon Academy, established in1992, has 150 students, at centres in Bletchley, Worcester, Gloucester and Malvern. Under Rose’s inspiring leadership, her students have won Accolades at the Great Britain’s contest, as well as the 2008 World Championships in Belfast. Three of her former pupils are currently in "Riverdance", while she has six students touring Europe with "Lord Of The Dance" |
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Philip Barnett (Compère) He gained early performing experience in light opera and for over 30 years participated in religious music as chorister, soloist and choirmaster. Recent musical career highlights include creating the title role of Dreyfus in a new musical written by Bryan Kesselman. Philip also sang in the recording of War Oratorio, a new work by Dominic Muldowney. This major commission by Channel 4 television was first broadcast in June 2007. He sang in a Royal Gala celebrating the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall in 2007. In addition to numerous cabaret appearances, Philip recently sang as part of The Singing Circle in the Paul Hamlyn Hall at the Royal Opera House. Philip is the founder of Entertaining People ( www.entertainingpeople.co.uk). In addition to cabaret, Entertaining People provides corporate entertainment with a unique, and highly popular Quiz Cabaret.. |
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The Houseband: For those not in the know, a houseband is the name commonly used as accompaniment for the performers. They are very talented musicians who can fit in, and with the performers they've met only once. They have very little rehearsal time, if any, and have to be even more flexible and versatile than regular musicians. |
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Andy Gilbert (Guitarist) Andy began his musical life as a folk singer in 1968. In 1976 he started teaching guitar, before forming successful pop group Vegas. For the past 19 years he has largely devoted himself to being a husband and father to his two, now teenage children, whilst at the same time running a busy tutoring agency for kids struggling with their schoolwork. With his children now older, Andy has returned to music with the same passion he always felt. In the last five years he has focused particularly on slide guitar, which he uses for country and blues. |
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Peter Webster (Guitarist) Peter hails from the small Sussex town of Seaford, though he has lived in Bedfordshire for the last ten years. His first venture into the world of music was performing 'My Old Man's a Dustman' on stage with other five year-olds from the kindergarten that his mother ran. Sadly, he won't be repeating this performance tonight. Peter's first instrument was the cornet, but he found his real musical love when he borrowed an old acoustic guitar from an uncle aged twelve. He learned pop and blues fingerstyles first, but soon graduated to Spanish guitar, which he has since played at weddings, parties and - well - anything. Balancing the demands of a full-time career as an I.T. manager with the responsibilities of being a father of two, Peter still finds some time to play the Spanish guitar and occasionally sings at local folk clubs |
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Dave Barber (Bass Guitarist) We are privileged to have the services of Dave Barber as our bassist in the houseband. Dave has worked for many years as a professional musician (guitarist / bass guitarist / keyboard Player / vocalist), record producer, recording studio engineer, M.C. and disc jockey. He has written the following about himself: I began my musical career playing guitar at the age of twelve and won first prize in a school music competition performing the classical song "Greensleeves". Having an excellent record collection I was asked, in 1968, to provide a disco for a local dance. This lead to my being invited to work as a resident D.J. at two Welwyn Garden City Clubs - The Shamrock Club & The Hyde Club. In 1973 I begun my professional career working as guitarist with the resident band at Mecca's 'Tiffany's' Night Club in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Since then I have worked with many fine groups and duo's in the U.K. In 1997 I was asked to assist in writing and recording the music for the Top Hat Stage & Screen School's 1997 Show "Toffs 'n' Scruffs". The show was performed at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Herts in November 1997. This lead to further work with the show's Musical Director Colin Frechter. Colin is famous for his production / arranging work with artists "The Troggs", "The Bay City Rollers", "The Four Tops", "Showaddywaddy", "Shakin' Stevens", "Elaine Paige", "The Tornados" and "Freddie Starr" to name a few. Colin and myself recently worked with "The Tornados" in the Recording studio. Recording a new "Tornados" album - "Space Themes", which is for sale at Tornado concerts. Colin and myself recorded a new, instrumental three track C.D. solo single for Roger LaVern (original Keyboard player for "The Tornados" - "Telstar" and "Globetrotter"), titled "Piano". The "Piano" single was released under the name "Franz Winkelfeffer", but sadly it failed to set the Top 40 alight. (For more information see www.coda-uk.co.uk/roger_lavern.htm ) In March 1998, I was asked to assist in the producing of a C.D. "From Hilltop To The Ryde" for Welwyn / Hatfield Town Council. This has included Recording many of the local artists featured on the C.D. using my portable recording equipment. I have also written, and perform, one track on this compilation. I have also worked for "The Troggs" finding four 'dolly bird' girl string players (violin x2, viola and cello) for a Royal Albert Concert. (For photos see www.coda-uk.co.uk/Troggs1.htm ) 2007 saw me assisting Miami, Florida Radio Station 'wmxj Majic 102.7' as their "British Invasion Expert". I initially took part in live on air telephone interviews and later they bravely allowed me to arrange interviews with UK 'British Invasion' stars and co-host a live 2 hour "British Invasion" show. (The show apparently received many favourable comments from Florida listeners - at least I wasn't the cause of a large fall in their ratings !!) See www.coda-uk.co.uk/majic.htm for more details and photos. I also, recently, assisted Tim Rice in finding musicians that he had lost contact with. Since then he invited me to his CD launch and on 1st March 2008 he was kind enough to invite me, along with my wife, to the 40th anniversary of "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the The Adelphi Theatre, London. We also enjoyed a pre-show and interval champagne reception with Tim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and many performers from the original 1968 cast. For photos see www.coda-uk.co.uk/jo.htm. |
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