Who was My Sharona?.....

My Sharona, has been linked to everyone from George Bush to Girls Aloud. How did a song with hidden swearing prove so enduring, and who was Sharona?

Read more here

Here's my version- sang on my France Tour last year....

Wonder-ful gig next weekend!

Just posting some great gig and guitar news!


Next Sunday: 27th September 2009, I'm playing at The Rockhouse, Derby supporting the wonderful Miles Hunt & Erica Nokalls.....
(I'll be playing at 8.45pm)

Venue Address
The Rockhouse, 35 Babington Lane, Derby, DE1 1SX – TEL: 01332 209236

LISTEN
Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls – http://www.thewonderstuff.co.uk/
Julie Collings - http://www.myspace.com/juliecollings
WEBSITE
http://www.therockhousederby.co.uk

More fantastic news: I am now endorsed by Simon and Patrick Guitars!

This is my new shiny guitar :) - Songsmith Folk A3 - and it's beautiful!

I have more magical gigs lining up for later in 2009 ... more news soon!

soleil et de la musique: un musicien anglais en France

Live Footage available to view here: http://www.youtube.com/juliecollings

Julie Collings - France Tour August 2009

Thursday 20th August 2009 - 11am As the aircraft wheels slammed (yes SLAMMED!) onto the runway, I could begin to feel the warm Mediterranean climate immediately relax my pulse, and ease my immense fear of the take offs and landings that get us from A to B.

Its difficult to try and put into words -that feeling as you take your first steps onto the tarmac and run to collect your luggage ..or in my case, my guitars.....Ryanair - thankfully, were very gentle and careful with my guitars ...(and with their frisking!!!).

To my delight...(ahem...!) I could see my guitars being loaded on the plane!....

The lady at the check in desk joked with us that the team loading our plane was "quite a rowdy looking crew! - quite keen on juggling" Needless to say, I was holding my breath until I next placed hands on my lovely instruments.

We arrived into Charente an hour and 20 minutes later- ( our pilot 'took a short cut???' )

It suddenly dawned on me that I was about 1 hour away from the first gig on the tour....Adrenalin pumping... I took a deep breath and realised the beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery AND music- was everything a girl could ask for! Bring it on!!

The music began at 9pm at Bar De L Abbaye, Charroux, France, Charroux - but I just had enough time to have a wander and take some beautiful snaps to show you all!







Talking to Kim, the venue owner, over a Guiness- yes I know A GUINNESS??.. not very French of me! ...Its good for you! ....Anyway... I digress.. yes we were discussing just how magical and so very dark the night gets when you don't have the immensely unneccesary light pollution like we do in the City's of the UK. She told me that most of the sunbeds out here are used for watching stars, and I glanced up for a good hour to see exactly what she meant!

I EVEN saw a shooting star for the first time ever!

I lost myself for a minute,
I couldn't find my footing,
In this life, time is winning.
Open up my night sky
-Come on in.
(On a Swing)

Friday 21st August 2009:



We spent Friday morning in Civray - immersing ourselves into the beautiful local markets, trying to order bananas and peaches seemingly proved interesting for the market traders. But we got there in the end.




I was completely blown away by the squat 12th Century Medieval Church of St Nicolas of Civray. I would label myself as more a 'Spiritual' person than a 'Religous' person - this place is absolutely fascinating, and would be TO ANYONE!- so much so it didn't feel so strange to see people taking photographs in a 'place of worship' ...you really had to see it to believe it. Full to the brim of COMPLETELY original and untouched rich decorative wall to ceiling designs, pictures both beautiful and grotesque depicting various parables and religious scenery.





Later that evening we arrived at du Village, Blanzay, France - my next stunning stage... an old barn... magical!


May I just point out that it's not often that I can say that one gig after another - each and every venue on my tour had a truly one off- beautiful setting with unique charm and stunning overwhelming surroundings. I am not exaggerating!

Each and every audience attending the gigs were filled with people from all over the world! so lovely and some wonderful characters! During my time on tour, I came across 3 or 4 families who originated from my hometown: Derby! Who'd of thunk it? Such a small world!

Mid-song - I would often find myself looking over every inch of the venue around me... just trying to take it all in!
I sometimes wish I had a photographic memory.

Saturday 22nd August 2009

We drove out to Ruffec - in need of a little perking up (!!!!)
Espresso's in the sunshine. Markets stocked to the brim with fruit + veg I have never seen or tasted before. The days have just the right measure of lazy - giving my body just enough time to pile on the next tank of adrenalin.
I wake each morning excited that the evening will conclude with: playing my songs to a sun kissed audience, who will hopefully leave contented for their long walk home into the DARK dark night.


Arriving at the venue -Dixieland Cafe, Verteuil, France
we still had time to wander and take in the scenery....



Standing onstage- I just had to look up to see this outstanding view:




which is the chateau-la-rochefoucauld!!!



http://www.chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com/

As I tuned up before the gig, I had a quick nosey around before the sun went down. As a keen (but still very much 'rookie') veggie grower, I noticed that Dixieland certainly 'grow their own' for their menu with various shapes and sizing of plants dotted amongst the flowers around the courtyard.... Tomato's, grapes, squash and even Banana plants! A veritable feast!


Red lighting 'setting the scene' a lovely attentive and friendly crowd... what more could a girl ask for... other than her own 'bird cage' style stage and bird boxes dotted everywhere- how fitting with the album 'a little bird told me!' loved it & didn't want to stop playing!












Sunday 23rd August 2009 ... the tour comes to an end today...But not until I've played 2 sets at the Snack Plan D'eau!.
A beautiful lakeside stage & sun blasting down upon us all!
Take a look at the views when we got there!....




















I nearly melted during my 3pm set! Sun beating down on us all... still pinching myself!


Brilliant to see both the kids & grownups splashing about in the lake and still listening to the music travelling through the humid air! - just like its sposed to be - Brill!


Enjoyed the Vin Rouge as we watched the stars twinkle over the lake... what an ending to a magical week!





Fantastic time had by ALL and hope to do this again very soon.. more photo's and footage to follow....


Thank you to Michael and Diane for all the laughter, help, hardwork, frites and lovely lovely wine!


Live Footage available to view here: http://www.youtube.com/juliecollings

Girls in the Garden

Sat 18th July 2009

FREE ENTRY

Gigs in the Garden brings YOU......

....GIRLS in the GARDEN!

featuring a host of musical talent, with sets from:

Eleanor Lee

http://www.myspace.com/elnalee

Lucy Milford

http://www.myspace.com/lucymilford

Grace Petrie

http://www.myspace.com/gracepetrie

Josie Lewis

http://www.myspace.com/josielewis

Lucy Day

http://www.myspace.com/lucydayband

Julie Collings

http://www.myspace.com/juliecollings

******* FREE ENTRY ********

Supporting Hudson Super 6 @ Vaults, Derby- Monday 8PM

Hello!

Just wanted to let you know about a gig I am playing....

Monday 22nd June

8PM

FREE ENTRY

Supporting *Hudson Super 6* - Fantastic Band releasing their new album!

More information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=98203724864&ref=mf

Following on from the hit-and-run success of the last show, we are back by demand with a full headline set. Again, we've chosen another off-the-wall place - the Vaults and support from the AMAZING Suzanne Vega esque Julie Collings. Guess what - it's free and once again we'll be giving away vinyl, CD's and other odds and sods in LIMITED QUANTITIES so you snooze, you loze!

SO, get yr asses down to the show and soak up the eclectic mix of ethereal folk fragility and dirty blues punk. You won't be disappointed.

http://www.myspace.com/hudsonsupersix

http://www.myspace.com/juliecollings

Also... A little bird told me... now available from HMV Stores, Amazon, iTunes and various local Record stores!

Or of course. http://www.juliecollings.co.uk

Also...Playing live at these places very soon:

22.06 The Vaults - Derby (Supporting HS6)

18.07 Girls in the Garden - Bar One, Derby

20.08 to 25.08 Touring in France- "un petit oiseau m'a dit" (More details to be posted soon!)

18.10 An Evening with Julie Collings - The Brewery Tap - Derby

Contact, Listen, Read & Follow:

http://www.myspace.com/juliecollings

http://www.juliecollings.co.uk

http://juliecollings.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/juliecollings

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Collings-Music/6271747371?ref=t

Skype: Julie_Collings

Download my music on iTunes now!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=64923086

R2: 4 Stars

Many thanks to Trevor for such a lovely review of 'A Little Bird Told Me'

x

yup-date

Hello!

Firstly, Huge MASSIVE Thank you's for all the lovely comments and emails you have been sending through about 'A Little Bird Told Me'.

and also for the wonderful turnout to my Brewery Tap gig 27/02. It really was a magical night & meant so much to me to see you all there! (some of you even singing along to some of the new tracks!!!) -

motophotoaction (c/o alice kell)

Don't forget, you can leave reviews on the iTunes page for any of my albums/songs! Feel free to leave your reviews/honest thoughts & help other fellow iTunes shoppers/ JC newbies to make that choice whether to click or not!

Next Gig:

Weds 25th March 2009

Derby Singer Songwriters Club, The Blessington Carriage, Derby

£2.50 Entry on Door - 8pm Start

More details:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=58960648425  

The second of DSSC acoustic showcase nights with the wonderful: Julie Collings (www.myspace.com/juliecollings), Urisk (www.myspace.com/urisk1) and Martin Jackson (www.myspace.com/martinjacksonacoustic). Just £2.50 on the door kick off at 8ish....be great to see you there! "DERBY HAS A WEALTH OF TALENTED ACOUSTIC MUSICIANS WHO AREN'T GETTING THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE!, SO TO GIVE THESE MUSICIANS A CHANCE TO BE HEARD THE DERBY SINGERS/SONGWRITERS CLUB WILL SHOWCASE 3 LOCAL ACTS EACH MONTH UPSTAIRS AT THE BLESSINGTON CARRIAGE(CHAPEL STREET, DERBY) OUR NEXT EVENT IS ON MARCH 25th AND FEATURES.....JULIE COLLINGS, URISK and MARTIN JACKSON. (£2.50 ON THE DOOR) ALL OF THESE ACTS ARE IN THE TOP FRIENDS ON THIS PROFILE www.myspace.com/derbysingersongwriterclub, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THEM DO IT NOW!!!"

Summer gigs being booked & to be added to the site shortly.

Also...A little bird tells me - A little Bird Told me is featured in the reviews section of the next issue of 'Rock n Reel' Music Magazine.

More again very soon......

Thank you for listening.
Available to Download on iTunes now!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=64923086

Playing live in these many magical places very soon:

25.03 Derby Singer Songwriters Club, The Blessington Carriage.
25.04 Big Blue Coffee Shop, Derby.

26.04 derbyAMPED Launch Party, The Rockhouse, Derby

02.05 The Brewhouse, Burton (Supporting Jon Amor)

5.06-7.06 The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival, Southwell.

Featured on iTunes - THIS WEEK!

A little bird told me is appearing in the featured singer-songwriter section this week!

Magical!

MyTunes

My albums (1st and 2nd) ... and other releases

are now available to download on iTunes by following this embedded link: 

CLICK HERE

New album works out at only £7.11 Baaaargain!

soundtrack: Daniel

Very happy and excited to announce that 'Simple Things' features in the soundtrack for Danish Film: Daniel

(Working Title)

Morten Giese, 2009

Daniel is an extremely talented music student aiming for an international career. He falls in love with Sofie and moves in with her, and for the first time Daniel's life is not all music. They plan to go to New York, but as Daniel's affection grows, so does his feeling of an all-consuming jealousy. Slowly but surely the suspicions overwhelm him and a dangerous side of Daniel's personality becomes full-blown.

What a magical start to this week!

Just off to make some pin badges ...... weeeee x