40 Years Ago in 1983

It seems like only yesterday, when a young chap auditioned as a guitar player for a punky reggae electropop band, fronted by a 24 year old female singer with a voice to die for!

With a few changes and the addition of a drummer and bass player . . . . RED SHOES were born in the Autumn of 1983.

Gigs booked, gigs played, local press reviews, radio sessions and record labels courted. Vinyl singles released an album recorded and shelved, airplay around the world and rave reviews of live performances. All of this in a few heady years with the four members Carolyn, Mark, Derek and Nick calling it a day in 1989.

Fast forward a few years and Carolyn and Mark - now married - their two daughters posted videos on YouTube and songs on MySpace. This in turn led to interest from legendary bass player Dave Pegg, who in turn went on to produce and play on the latest incarnation of RED SHOES, with their album “Ring Around The Land”. Fairport Convention chose to cover a song, “Celtic Moon” from that album and suddenly the re-born Shoes were busier than ever . . . all over again!

Two more albums followed with various players along the way, most notably the enormously talented Nigel King on guitar, became a mainstay of the line up.

In 2019/20 original bass player Derek Eynon returned “home” and a new chapter started, only for it to be cut short with the Covid Pandemic. But not giving up, the trio returned to gigging in 2021 with festivals and theatres on their gig calendar. 

So now we find ourself in 2023 and our four decade journey brings us to our Anniversary year and gig at the wonderful Kitchen Garden Cafe, in Kings Heath Birmingham. 

We'll be playing some old, new, borrowed and blue songs over the evening and it would be wonderful to see you there!

Red Shoes 40th Anniversary (1983-2023) – The Kitchen Garden Café (kitchengardencafe.co.uk)

Thanks for the love and support through the years folks,

See you all very soon,

Carolyn, Mark and Derek

 

 

 

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