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Andy LeFevre has been composing infectious melodic songs and instrumentals for over 16 years. His songs “Life In Red City” (from his CD "Raindance"), “Lost Love” (a collaboration with poet ‘Didi’ E.M.Crook who wrote the lyrics) is on his “Reflections” CD) and "Sitting There At Your Knee" are all song-of-the-year competition finalists. He performs in Essex music clubs, festivals and local radio stations.
Collaborated with Karen Maxwell on "The Witch Finder General" "Our World" CD) - a chilling folk song abot the dreadfull witch hunting years of Mathew Hopkins - the Witch Finder 'General'. Many thanks Karen for your terrific vocals and Jackie Bishop who provided heart-felt backing vocals on the title CD track "Our World" - a sober commentary of how we live on our precious planet and "Watching You Fly, Evgenia" - thanks Jackie!
His song "Still Under Your Spell" is a much requested crowd favourite - a poignant song that will resonate with couples who have been together for a long time. It won the musesmuse songwriting forum's lyric of the month competition.
At the other end of his music spectrum is the title track "Raindance" - is a foot stomping, bongo playing crowd pleaser, with huge rhythm and crowd dancing potential - this song seems to be very effective with the rain 'gods'!!
Andy performs both solo and also with combinatioins of his musical friends.
Before lockdown, he also loved to sing with the Essex Chordsmen in Chelmsford - a barbershop chorus of around 27 members who have major gigs throughout the year including the Barbershop Convention held in Harrogate with over 2000 in the audience and Hyde Hall in the summer; 27,000 people over 4 days. fantastic harmonies, venues, audiences and - memories!
Albums:
"Oh Lundy Isle" - a concept album based on Ludy Island; it's tranquil unspoilt beauty in the Bristol Channel and on it's many 'colourful' historic characters: smugglers, pirates and the over 200 ship wreaks that surround it's shores.
Tracks include:
“Last Voyage of the Nightingale” – the infamous Nightingale scandal; a tale of a crooked MP / Sheriff of Devon, Thomas Benson from the 1740’s, bent on exploiting extradited convicts and just for good measure, he throws in a huge insurance swindle and a 'visit' to Execution dock for his Captain Lancey.
“Benson’s Cave” – used by pirates to ‘redistribute’ goods bound for England thus avoiding tax charges (nothing changes!) . Throw in some convicts who should have been extradited to America and the only personal evidence they were able to leave their - marks they left scratched on the cave walls and the scene is set...
“William de Marisco (King of Lundy)” – the infamous William de Marisco’s pirating battle in the reign of King Richard III. It does not end at all well for William but his family name lives on in Marisco Tavern and Marisco Castle – King Richard III would be fuming at the thought!!
“Lost Upon The Deep (Jenny's Cove)” – a tribute song to all the many sailors who have lost their lives around Lundy's granite cliffs – over 200 wrecks. Many lifebelts and poignant ship wreck items are displayed on the walls of the island's tavern that "never shuts" – Marisco Tavern. "The Jenny" a three-masted schooner wrecked on Lundy on 20th February 1797 was said to have carried ivory and bags of gold dust. The bags were never recovered and the cove was named after her.
“Oh Lundy Isle” – title track for the album; sets the scene for Lundy visitors voyage out to the island and places they may explore.
“Puffins” – One meaning of “Lundy” may come from a Norse derivation meaning “Puffin” – these most characterful birds just had to have a song all of their own!
“Dream Catcher” – the opening mood setting track. Any visitor to Lundy will surely resonate with the atmosphere and sentiment in this song of an unspoilt island paradise that will leave the visitor with many lovely memories.
The twelve track album is due for release end of November 2016 (*update:* all album artwork complete, final mixing in progress)
“Raindance” - debut album of 13 songs, released in 2010. Raindance is an eclectic collection of songs; from the infectious heavy beat of the title track to the humorous "Chamois Leather Beauty Queen" and charming “Safe and Sound” and atmospheric “Spirits”. There is something here for everyone.
“Reflections” - follow-up album, was released in February 2016 and has 16 + 2bonus tracks. Try "Still Under Your Spell" - dedicated to long term couples everywhere, the soaring "Still Here", quirky "Riders" and "Other Worlds" and Enya-esk "You'll Find Me Where I'm Waiting". This CD is full of different songs and just when you think you've heard everything there are some catchy instrumentals as well. Many thanks to local musicians; Peter Slater (guitars and Mando), Roy Bartholomew (bass) and Rachel Hack (vocals) for their wonderful contributions to the album.
Album artwork:
Meticulous attention to detail is made in choosing cover art to compliment physical CD's - there is always many paged full colour booklet with all lyrics displayed and many pictures and illustrations to complement the atmosphere of the songscapes, to provide the listener with as entertaining visual complement to each song as possible.
Next project - maybe another island trek somewhere with my trusty travel guitar, some weeks 'out-in-the-field', researching more quirky historical characters and places of interest with breaks in the local pubs!
Story telling Lyrics
Andy’s story telling lyric style weave threads from the past present and future into a rich tapestry of sound textures and lyrics that are thought provoking and will linger and resonate with the listener. His local folk lore inspired song "Scrapfaggot Green" is based on the local Great Leighs 'witch' story - where a young girl gets burned at the stake for some 'crime' that, today, would be laughed at. She was buried at a small cross roads called Scrapfaggot Green and a large boulder was place over her grave. In the 1940's some American GIs moved the boulder and, of course, her spirit escaped into the local hostelries where, it is said, she made clocks run backwards and moved objects around. So strong were the stories at St. Annes Castle, Great Leighs, where the boulder is now located, that Time magazine sent reporters to investigate and write an article.
Music styles ranges from songs with a medieval folk/rock feel to elegant pop/rock and blends original angles on living and historic stories/events that will hook the listener’s ear, provide food for thought and have them coming back for more.
Other interests - Astronomy, Photograpy, Videos for song, Rambling, Canal boating, Chess, Skiing, Badminton, Squash and of course "42"....
Studied Applied Physics at Portsmouth University and has designed integrated circuits for STC, Nortel, Elantec and Intersil for much of his career.
He was a Portsmouth individual chess champion and competed in tournaments all over the country including the British U21 Chess championships.
Although his spare time is now mainly dedicated to songwriting and music, he still finds the odd moment or two to play on-line 5min chess at www.chess.com – so, if you fancy a game some time...
Lundy Island tags:
“Songs about Lundy Island”, “Lundy Island songs”, “Lundy mp3”, “Puffin songs”, “Songs about Puffins”, “Songs about Thomas Benson”, “Songs about William de Marisco”, “Ship wreck tribute songs”, “Lost sailor tribute song”, “Lost sailors at sea songs”, “Songs about Benson’s Cave Lundy Island”, “Songs about The Nightingale and Thomas Benson”, “Songs about the Nightingale Scandal and Thomas Benson”, “Smuggling songs”, “Smuggling song Lundy Island”, “Landmarktrust”