River Studios

The River Studios Pop & Rock Choir, En Masse blew the audience away last night at The Point, Eastleigh.

The atmosphere was electric, (as was the guitar played by Chris Swan.)  The stage was set, the sell out crowd awaited the start as the choir nervously took there places on stage.  The seriously cool lighting was dimmed and the performance that has been 8 months in the rehearsing began with Emily Griffiths on lead vocal setting the night off with a bang on the Battlefield.

The audience were buzzin, buzzin, buzzin (like do do do do do do do) after the small group numbers were sung and performed by 4LT’s, Kelly Alldridge, The “Mad” Dance Crew, (special thanks to James for the Choreography) Charlotte, Kara & Laura told everyone to “Free Your Mind.”  Whilst Lou Mac and her ladies agreed to “Hold On”

The show progressed with a diverse range of songs and lead vocalists from a whole group number, In the Air Tonight, to Olli Daffarn our very own sound engineer taking to the stage for a one night only performance of Nothin’ on You.  The audience seemed to grow in appreciation and there was a standing ovation after Chris Wood (Musical Director & Local Legend) on Bass Guitar kicked off the final track, Long Train Running, which was sung by no other than our fearless leader .. one Mr Gareth Henderson!

Final mentions need to go to James (Birty) Birt on Drums, who never missed a beat and held the band together like glue.  Swervy (James Suart) on Keys, he had the most to learn and didn’t let us down with a brilliant delivery across the entire show.  Also to Nicky Murrells who really did “Hold On” she made it through the show 8 months pregnant, and to Kevin Wilson who vowed to “Forget You” in the first half and announced his “Sex is On Fire” in the second half, for sharing his birthday with the En Masse Massive!

Overall a fantastic show that was met by high praise from the audience ….

“Absolutely blooming marvellous.  The best thing we’ve been to in ages”  Alison & Martin Debenham

“Great Show tonight- loved it ! Ending on Long Train Running was a masterstroke”  Karen Denise

Thanks go out to everyone that bought a ticket and to Lou & G for agreeing to reignite the flame and let En Masse make an explosive come back! … River Studios is proud of each and every one of you.

Next show dates to be announced soon .. watch this space or follow us on Twitter or Facebook!

We are all delighted to see Birdy’s album make a high entry into the UK chart at No13.  Having worked with her on the album Gareth & Olli are thrilled to be given a special thanks mention as well as the credits on the tracks!  It was great to see River Studios, Southampton, Hampshire listed next to Eldorado Studios, Burbank, CA!

It was a great opportunity for Gareth to show what he can do, and get some well earned recognition. One of the highest accolades was from Rich Costey (producer of Muse, Supergrass & Franz Ferdinand to mention a few) who, after only a few minutes of watching G at work from his studio in LA, left the session with the confidence of knowing that job was being well done. After working with Warner and Rich Costey to help Birdy deliver the best possible vocals and doing all the recording on the original track written by Birdy “Without a Word” we are very proud to be part of what is clearly just the beginning for Birdy.

We hope all River Studios fans will support the album by buying a copy!  She has a beautiful voice and has made this covers album sound like her own!  People Help The People is the first single out now!

En Masse are warming up for a performance night on Wednesday 19th October.  The entire choir have been invited to put their own creativity into small group numbers.  We are hoping for a good turn out with everyone in the choir getting involved in a tune or two.

Who will make it through to the live finals on Dec 4th …. U decide! (Well actually G will decide)

Good Luck to the En Masse Massive I hope you are all rehearsing hard!

Take a look at Steve’s latest blog for an insight into River Studios from a vocal coach perspective.

Thanks Steve … we are glad you like it!

www.stevegilesonline.co.uk/blog/

Gareth & Olli have been working hard in the studio with this week with Ray Pagliaro and his band. The last two days have been all about JD and his guitar parts which have been recorded through the two new River amps!

Clean & overdrive sounds are taken care of by our truly vintage 1977 Fender Twin – an american model with all original parts and a brand new set of Groove Tubes.  Its clean as anything until you wind up the volume and allow it to push into that true valve crunch.

And when more gain and a more modern sound is needed you can switch to the industry standard Marshall JCM 2000. With its 3 different distorted channels ranging from classic crunch to all out ranging chaos this amp sounds amazing though its classic 1960 4 x 12 cab.

Both amps live in the studio amp cupboards and are included in the standard studio price for bands to use in their sessions!

To celebrate the new studio finally being open,  we thought it would be a great time to get all the staff together for a well deserved blow out!  Gareth, Louise, Olli, Laura, Beckie, Mike and Sooper Dooper Daniel Cooper made the trip to the village for a relaxed BBQ.  A great night had by all, at our first Staff BBQ.  Much cider, wine and ale was consumed with the bottle count well into double figures! … Louise danced the night away, Olli revealed just a little too much and all the girls enjoyed a dip in the tub!

I have been warned that what happens at the Dairy … stays at the Dairy … needless to say it was a fun evening with surprising only a small amount of singing and dancing .. If you want the full story you will have to get a member if staff to spill!

After an unusually shy start … Lydia & Sam kicked off the evenings entertainment with a rendition of Price Tag.  Our newest member Jamie Eldridge showed how he was “feeling good” and Aaron wowed with a tongue twister from “Honey”  … (Sorry I stand corrected Aaron offered “Hope” from Coach Carter .. honey is apparently for girls!)  After some persuasion the rest of En Masse showed what they can do … Kevin as ever had his “sex on fire” and Sarah Shahid went a little bit country followed by “when I fall in love” with Gareth!  As the night progressed we were not short of volunteers … Sue Crofts “Cried a River” and Anthony Sahota asked us to “let me love you.”  An acoustic interlude from our very own Laura with Olli on guitar showed us just how much you can get done in “7 Day.”  Jenaya after some (not so gentle) persuasion took to the mic like a pro talking us through her “bad romance”

Top Marks went to Rebecca & Sarah who rocked Joss Stones “taking it back” …. Last but not least Gareth literally whipped his hair and closed the night as the fresh prince himself …. BOOM!

Thanks to all the EN MASSE members who came last night, sorry if you didn’t get a mention, but can’t fit everything in! Fun was had by all, the last hour was by far the best with everyone getting involved … back to the hard work next with normal rehearsal service resumed!

It is Karaoke night tomorrow evening and all of En Masse are invited to get up and give us a tune.  After the success of the last karaoke night we are setting up for another evening of fun and a chance for all the members of our fab choir to let their hair down and enjoy the entertainment.  If the last one is anything to go by … then we are in for another good night … watch this space for a post match debrief!

With the completion of works on the amazing new Recording facilities here at River, studio sessions from HL Studios have now transferred to River. We would like to thank all the HL Studios clients who have made the last 13 years so amazing and look forward to seeing all of them here!

As a teaser for the new album that’s due out this autumn, Birdy has just released her first original track, “Without A Word” – recorded right here at River Studios – as a free download. Just sign up to her mailing list here :  www.facebook.com/BirdyMusic?sk=app_182236311830461.

It was great to have her back in the studio. Her record company, 14th Floor (part of Atlantic Records and the home of Damien Rice, Biffy Clyro, Joshua Radin and The Wombats) are really pleased with what we recorded so we hope to see more of her soon. It’s a simple live piano and voice track, for which she was mostly looking to get the right mood and she loved our new “mood lit” live room. It’s a seriously chilled place to record.

Look out for Birdy on Fearne Cotton’s Live Lounge on Tuesday the 19th of July