'Round Here performance at Sun Pier House, Chatham Intra High Street Heritage Action Zone 15 July 2022, featuring children from Trinity School. Musicians on the project were: Elliott Morris (standing in for Thomas Harvey) and Dani Osoba. Project partners: Medway Council. © Rikard Osterlund

Musicians

Live Music Now musicians are experts in working alongside those with reduced access to live music throughout the UK, crafting engaging concerts and residencies across a range of genres, and harnessing the connective power of music.

Brierley Hill

Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts is an innovative and exciting young guitarist whose performances have been praised for their ‘beautifully varied timbres, [...] real virtuosity,’ and for being ‘simply mesmerising.’ Chris comes from Cardiff, Wales, and recently released his debut solo album ‘Adra' on Tŷ Cerdd Records exploring the concept of 'home'.

He is excited to get to know his new home in the West Midlands through this project, and is particularly looking forward to uncovering folk songs about the area's industrial heritage.

Zachary Lowe

Zachary Lowe is a student from Dudley, currently studying Music Performance and Technology at Resonance University.

Zachary is excited about this project because it offers the chance to give back to the community and help develop the musical talents of young children.

Tottenham

Elliott Morris

Elliott Morris is a guitarist and singer-songwriter from London. Elliott is half-Scottish, raised in Wales and Lincolnshire.

Elliott is excited to collaborate with talented youngsters and compose music for performance together.

Jamal Jones

Jamal Jones is a creative person with a passion for music from Haringey, an area where a lot of famous artists and producers have come from.

Jamal is excited to bring fun and energy to this project and to gain new experience working with new people.

Chatham Intra

Thomas Harvey

Thomas Harvey is an award-winning songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Raised in Kent, Harvey is based out of his home studio in Hackney, London where he lives and works out of a creative hub. Surrounded by many artists of different disciplines, Harvey has collaborated with many on various projects including his artist project, T Priestly.

Thomas is excited about the opportunities that 'Round Here presents to connect with local communities and discuss their memories through music. Songwriting is a form of storytelling and Thomas feels that to be able to create a composition collaborating with local residents is a very special way to share the joy of music. 

Dani Osoba

Dani Osoba is a singer-songwriter from Sittingbourne, Kent, writing mostly about home and belonging. Dani loves the area for having so much to explore, both in historical landmarks and contemporary culture and arts.

It is Dani’s hope that writing music from the Medway community raises people's opinions of the area.

Huddersfield

Chris Ruffoni

Chris Ruffoni is a member of Band of Jays, a Huddersfield-based trio playing original songs about people turning into birds, communication with aliens and other unexpected matters. Their music oozes luscious three-part harmonies, supported by delicately entwined acoustic guitar, bass and percussion.

Over the years they have enjoyed performing in unusual places including meditation centres, libraries, narrow boats, a milk float, a truck, a farmyard and in the smallest venue in the UK. The whimsical nature of their songs lends itself to playful, light and interactive performances.

Jessica Whyke

Jessica Whyke, who performs under the name PENNY, is a Huddersfield based artist with sweet and bewitching vocals, irresistible melodies and West Yorkshire charm. PENNY bares all on her songs, as she displays sentiments on toxic relationships and self-worth.

While supporting the likes of Sophie Ellis Bextor and Selah Sue, through a series of upbeat, electro-pop ballads, PENNY tackles her dreams, her queerness, and her mental health journey.

Weston-super-Mare

Tara Baggott

Tara Baggott is a professional musician and SEN/D Music Specialist. She plays piano, guitar and flute and sings in several Bristol-based bands that regularly perform at festivals and venues all over the UK and Europe. Originally from Cronulla, Australia, Tara studied music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Tara is excited to find out more about Weston-super-Mare, hear the stories of people's favourite memories and find out the best things to do on the High Street.

William Crawford

William is a drummer who started playing in 2007. William’s first love in music was heavy metal, but now enjoys a wide variety of genres. William’s dream is to become a full-time musician.

Barrow-in-Furness

Maz O’Connor

Maz O’Connor is a singer, songwriter and composer from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Based in London since leaving university, Maz returns to Cumbria often to enjoy the beautiful landscape and see family.

Maz is really excited to delve into the history of the Barrow High Street, and to work with the wonderful community of the town to create some new music.

Jorgie Wilson

Jorgie Wilson is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Barrow-in-Furness. Jorgie is excited to work with community groups including George Hastwell School, to create a composition inspired by the town's original centrepiece: Duke Street.

Jorgie is interested in discovering more about local heritage and gaining further experience in the industry while helping to make music more accessible for others.

'Round Here is also engaging two emerging producers and working with musician mentors.

Emerging Producers

Kaitlin Germain

Kaitlin Germain is from Pontefract (where Haribo is made!). She is excited to be part of 'Round Here in order to explore places she hasn’t visited yet, all the while experiencing the local music.

James Callaghan

James Callaghan is from Dudley which is a special area with a large history. It holds Dudley Castle and the Black Country Museum which often features in Peaky Blinders. He’s incredibly excited about this project as it uses music as a language to connect people to their areas and to learn things they might never have discovered.

National Digital Creative

Connor Divers

Connor Divers is a videographer and filmmaker from Penrith, Cumbria. His favourite thing about Penrith is the forest walk to the Beacon, a signal tower on top of a hill built in the 1700s, and the woodland behind it. He’s excited to be involved in this project to get people involved in screen arts.

Mentors

Sarah Fisher

Sarah Fisher is a multi-instrumentalist and community musician based in Gateshead, north-east England. Sarah facilitates music workshops for people of all ages and abilities and specialises in inclusive music-making.

Sarah has cerebral palsy and a hyperkinetic movement disorder affecting her left side and speech. This has enabled her to develop alternative ways to play and deliver music that does not hinder her or her participants' music-making experiences. Sarah will be mentoring emerging musicians during the 'Round Here project.

Mary Otumahana

Mary Otumahana is the award-winning founder of The RecordShop and musician. She has had the privilege of partnering with global brands, such as O2 Telefonica, Samsung, Dr Martens, Sofar Sounds, Nike, Tottenham Hotspur, and RedBull to help them reach Millennial and Gen Z audiences.

The RecordShop began as a pop-up recording studio and is now a multi-purpose music space that enables young people to access music services and facilities for free.

Mary has been based in Haringey for six years and has built a strong network that bridges the gap between the inner-city community and brands. She is passionate about bringing young people into professional spaces and reconnecting brands with young people and music culture. Mary will be mentoring Live Music Now musicians during 'Round Here.