Rich Batsford
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About

Hello there, thanks for visiting my site.

I’m a pianist/composer and singer/songwriter currently performing regularly, mostly in and around my hometown of Birmingham UK and sometimes beyond, playing sets comprising my contemporary piano pieces and reflective songs. Last year I released my debut album of piano music and I will shortly be recording an album of my songs, with many more to follow, so watch this space!

Some of my favourite shows to date include playing at the Big Chill, Gigbeth and Birmingham Cathedral.

My solo career builds on over thirty years of music making beginning in the local Church Choir where I developed an abiding love for the great Renaissance composers of choral music, particularly Thomas Tallis.

I then took his love for vocal harmony on further, performing regularly in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican, sharing stages with the likes of George Shearing, Willard White, Sir Simon Rattle and other classical and jazz heroes as a member of the National Youth Choir and later, the CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) Chorus.

In the 1990’s I rocked out a while (exorcising some personal demons in the process) as lead singer and main songwriter with Indie guitar outfits Serene Machine and Maroon.

Later I fulfilled something of a personal dream performing some of his favourite songs regularly to crowds of thousands in professional ex-chart BeachBoys and Four Seasons band, Gidea Park.

“Birmingham’s musical catalyst”
Birmingham Post

More recently I co-founded the Arts Council supported creative network Project X Presents, working in collaboration with anything up to 100 other creative individuals, to curates, designs, produces and promotes events dubbed as “omnimedia experiences”. These unique productions combine many different strands of artistic output into a continuous stream of experience evolving around three stages, and spanning up to seven hours.

“a true highlight of the Birmingham avant garde scene”
bandweblogs.com

My main work when Im not making music is as a booking agent in the world of stand up comedy, booking acts for various professional clubs and events.

Im a practicing Buddhist and a member of the Triratna Buddhist Community, with whom I enjoy meditating, studying and attending retreats.

I live in my home town of Birmingham tho I love to travel, particularly in Australia with my partner lovely partner, Lyndall.

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Dates

September 10, 2010 8:00 PM

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, ML B3 3DH (United Kingdom)
http://www.artsfest.org.uk/
0121 303 1966
Ages: All Ages
Price: Free

September 20, 2010 8:30 PM

The Phoenix
122 Gosford Street, Coventry, ML CV1 5DL (United Kingdom)
http://www.myspace.com/songbirdatthephoenix
Ages: All Ages
Price: Free

October 03, 2010 7:00 PM

Sunflower Lounge
76 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, ML B5 4EG (United Kingdom)
http://www.myspace.com/sunflowerlounge
Ages: All Ages
Price: £1

November 30, 2010 9:00 PM

The Jamhouse
3 - 5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham, ML B3 1QU (United Kingdom)
0121 200 3030
Ages: All Ages
Price: Free

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