The Pilot Project started when local music enthusiast and one time BRMB broadcasting legend Robin Valk realised that with the ongoing demise of CDs and records, there was a danger that the best in new and contemporary music was no long being catalogued as it would have once been by the British Library.  Conscious that there’s a staggering amount of quality music in the region that might not otherwise be around for ever, Robin has put together an amazing team and created the Pilot Project.

With a lot of nous and clever work from the guys at Carousel Digital, the team have created something much more than simply a time capsule for future music historians.   Instead we have a wonderfully user friendly and accessible data base of hundreds of tracks of astonishingly high quality music in a vast range of styles.

I really urge you to explore this archive and experience the breadth and quality of music around – you can listen by style, search by region or look up your favourites and click on from there.  Spend a few minutes on the site and you are absolutely bound to find some new artist that floats your boat.

Birmingham has long had an amazing number of quality artists in a truly diverse range of styles – so much so that the area’s very diversity has probably held it back in the sense of developing a strong, cohesive “scene”.  But now, innovations like the Pilot Project offer not only a fabulous snapshot of where that scene is right now, but also a very real and practical method for enabling that scene, no, that community, to really blossom and grow.

Rich Batsford performs his unique and beautiful piano compositions creating a mood that’s relaxed, pleasant and timeless. Sets feature Rich’s original music alongside selections from Classic FM favourite Ludovico Einaudi and occasional forays into the wider classical repertoire.

Rich’s pieces are uplifting, beautiful and romantic, making his music a popular choice for performance during wedding ceremonies as well as providing ambient entertainment for wedding meals or receptions.

Key public performances and corporate clients to date include The Big Chill Festival, Gigbeth Festival, Amnesty International, Moseley CDT.

A great introduction to Rich’s music is the Gudonya edit at the top of www.richbatsford.com/music

Many venues will have a piano on site, but Rich also plays a portable Roland FP4 digital piano with a wonderful sound, featuring inbuilt speakers suitable for smaller venues and very easy to amplify for the larger occasion.

Rich is based in Birmingham UK and is available to travel worldwide.

If you’d like to make a booking or simply chat over some options, please do contact me direct by email and I’ll get right in touch.

“Thank you very much for playing your beautiful music during our meal. As a wedding photographer, I see a lot of different musicians and artists and can say with all honesty you rank alongside the best pianists I’ve ever heard. All the guests commented on how the music created a wonderful atmosphere. Not only was it beautifully played but also fantastic to have original tunes. I’ll be sure to recommend you to everyone I meet.”
Steve & Sarah Causon, Ardencote Manor 2010