Photos from our Valentine's Dial Up! xx

Thanks to everyone who came along for our Dial Up Love Songs Special! What an amazing night, our thanks as ever to Prashant for capturing it on camera! The usual gang gathered for preparations, and then the stage was set for an evening of magic. Jon and I opened with Nature Boy and My Funny Valentine, but we had to be quick, as we had the fullest first half in Dial Up history to squeeze in!

 First up was Caspian Wong, sharing 3 of his own original songs, including Mister Popularity, which he turned out to be!

 Comedian and songwriter Ria Lina up, sharing her beautiful voice on the gorgeous Crazy Woman Lullaby- what dextrous ukelele playing!

Martin Slidel shared a prose piece from his forthcoming second issue of popular artszine Playerist, which will also feature a piece from our resident poet Jim Connor!

 Bandana Gill (Happy Birthday to you!) managed to get her songs out before we surprised her with a cake!

 Tracy Holtham was stunning as ever, sharing two of her own compositions

Sam Smith, a recent and much loved member of our Dial Up family, gave an a cappella version of If I Loved You from Carousel, sticking with our love songs theme

 Max Reuby, supported by the terrific Thomas on piano (who also performed a gorgeous solo), made his Dial Up debut- long anticipated and much enjoyed!

 Peter Flynn shared another short story from his excellent book Hemmingway's Chihuahua

And we rounded it all off with a terrific full band version of A Train, The Girl from Ipanema and Night and Day, for which I was joined by the delectable duo of Jenny and Jo! Special thanks to Hamish and Roman on drums, Martin on bass, Laci on piano and Liza Keast for her performance and assistance with the candles! And of course, to our pianist extraordinaire, Jon Medcalf! Sad news for all the Dial Up family: next month is Jon's last Dial Up before he takes a short sabbatical, so do join us all to wish him the fondest of farewells! Much love to all, and see you at the Seven Dials Club on Friday March 16th for Motown, Funk & Soul Classics! Much love, Alex xx

New flyers released- Coming to a coffee table near you! xx

The new Dial Up flyers for 2012 are now available! Packed with our future dates and themes up to September, they'll be winging their way to a window sill or bookshelf near you very soon! If you fancy a stack to share out among friends and family, do get in touch at contactalex@thedialup.co.uk. Special thanks to Rob Dodsworth for all his hard work in designing them. Much love! Alex xx

Singing in the Snow at the February Dial Up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyO8d3OLmQs


Thanks so much to everyone who traipsed through the sub-Arctic conditions to join us at the Watford Palace Theatre for another terrific Dial Up! Despite the weather, the room was once again overflowing with talent, special thanks to Dan Cozens for capturing a compilation of the acts in the video above. Our next Dial Up is at the Seven Dials Club, Covent Garden, and is a love songs special as we celebrate Valentines Day. Then it's back to Watford for March 4th as we welcome in the new season with Songs to put a Spring in your Step! Hope to see you there! Much love, Alex xxx


p.s. if you have trouble linking to the video, it's also up on our Facebook page! www.facebook.com/thedialup