The best place to perform live music in Petersfield is easily ‘The Good Intent’.

The Landlord and owner, Peter Sharman knows his music and supports local musicians by always booking and appreciating accomplished artists and bands on a Sunday evening.

Recent review from Peter at The Good Intent, Petersfield:

Pedro1968 ‎ - 19 Sep 2011

Pete Christie is a sensational solo performer - I have had the pleasure of watching him play live in my pub many times now and Pete generates an amazing atmosphere every time! I would recommend trying to catch him the next time he is playing – you won’t be disapointed!

Pete Christie is playing at The Good Intent on Sunday 22 January 2012 and again on Sunday 11 March 2012

Got a couple of new songs to share with the audience!

The Good Intent

40 – 46 College Street, Petersfield, Hampshire.

GU31 4AF
(01730) 263838

It’s a great place to play;  in a 16th Century coaching inn with Master Cellarman status and lots of good reviews on Tripadvisor for the restaurant and B&B.

Playing at The Cellar Bar turned out to be a real treat of a night with the launch of 2 new songs, a 3 hour set with great sound engineering by Andy Razz, a great review from Tim Heywood, Livewire Live Hopefm, some loyal fans and some new friends.

Tim Heywood’s Bournemouth Music Blog

Two Sets of An Evening With…

04 DEC 2011

by Tim Heywood in Chaplins & Cellar Bar Tags: Bournemouth, Music, Pete Christie

My Sunday night started with “An Evening With….Blowing Your Cover” at the church tonight, as we prepare for our launch of this popular church training & equipping course. Afterwards dash over to The Cellar Bar, where Pete Christie is performing. Pete is my favourite performer; I consider him to be one of the absolute best on this circuit. A music session is more like An Evening With…Pete Christie, since the constructed songs are interspersed with both inane banter and insights into Pete’s life.

This starts as I walk in with digs at myself and another notable punter from the scene, before regaling us with a slight on a certain capo from a certain internet supplier. The capo broke 11 months after purchase and he’s heard diddly-squat from the firm. He then splurges into Dancing Diamonds. The next story is 5 minutes about a gig in Swindon, the only kebab shop open there at midnight, and a stool that’s just the right height for him, before he plays a short song from his Skavengers era about trouble, making much use of harmonics on the guitar.

I’ve previously referred to Pete as Magic-Fingered; while there hasn’t been much evidence of this so far, his voice is in fantastic form, as demonstrated by his high wails in staple Lost, which also provides for his first flicker-fingered instrumental break of the night. He next plays his version of Beeswing, which I’ve missed pretty much every other time I’ve seen him play due to walking in late. Its everything I’ve come to expect of Pete’s entertainment, and more…

Along the way, many of his songs are changed and mucked about on the spot; lots of seeming improvisation and spontaneous invention. After one cover he segues into a little instrumental involving the same chord progression, yet thowing in some slide action, even slipping into lap steel mode with the slide for a moment. Good stuff.

Review

Pete Christie
Album: Frank
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.petechristie.co.uk

When I was off on a trip recently I got talking about singer/songwriters and one name that came up was Dorset singer/songwriter, Pete Christie. Not long afterwards a contact through Facebook came up with the same name. It had been a while since I’d seen Pete perform live and it just seemed right to get out “Frank”, his most recent album and spend some time in his company.

Then came the big surprise, I didn’t actually have a copy of “Frank” which means that my knowledge of the works of Pete Christie come through his live performances and the occasional radio show that I’ve caught him on are what’s implanted his songs in my head, not a bad feat when you hear as much as I do.

So I felt it time to remedy that situation, so Pete, here’s a belated review of “Frank” I hope it’s served you well.

Pretty much every time I’ve seen Pete perform it’s just been him and a guitar, occasionally with a bass player in tow, so I wasn’t really expecting a band album. Having got over that shock it was time to give the album a really good listen.

The first thing you notice is the songs, without an iota of doubt it’s the poetry and music that highlight Pete as an outstanding writer. It’s the ability to hold your attention when singing about the everyday that separate the good from the great. It’s turning those observations into words and melodies that capture the imagination where genius lies.

Joining Pete on the album are a host of Dorset performers, including Frankie Milner, Aimee Newsome-Stone and Monique Houraghan, who have performed Pete’s songs over the years. Hearing the songs like this shows just how well they’ve been written, how they can sound so different and still impact you the same.

As Eric Morcombe famously said about notes, ‘I’m getting all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order.’ It’s the same with words, it’s not just what Pete says in his songs, it’s how he says it and more importantly what he doesn’t say.

“Frank” can mean straight forward and honest, not holding back. That sums up the album oh yes and the poetry and the melody. This is an album of songs that matter. Pete Christie is a master of Anglicana.

FRANK album cover

Neil King

  - an audience review

Review by Katherine Knotts 29/09/2011

The Ship Inn, Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset UK

Packaging Pete Christie is no easy task (in spite of the fact that modern notions of marketing and promotion seem to demand it), so when asked, how would I respond to the question “what does Pete Christie do?”

In the first instance, let’s leave to one side the temptation of making comparisons. They’re rarely precise, and less often useful. Moreover, it’s hard to imagine that the object of comparison ever wanted a box named after them.

So – here it is. On two occasions I have seen Pete play live. On each I was struck with two thoughts, and one question.

Thought One:
Pete is, above all things, a craftsman. His hammer and nails are notes and silences alike – building each melody in a unique percussive style. He doesn’t play music, he creates it. This isn’t nuance here folks – it’s a critical distinction. It’s also his joy. Never have I witnessed someone delight in the very art of making music quite as much as he so clearly does.

However, in a crowded market-place, technical brilliance is rarely enough. And so to:

Thought Two:
What clinches the deal is not his skill, but his soul. Pete – whether he realises it or not – is a modern storyteller. So deftly he assumes this mantle, the long memory that has been handed down from the folk greats of generations past. His music ripples with social, political, personal consciousness, and sensibility. He tells stories that need to be told – or perhaps more importantly – stories that need to be heard.

And so to the question – “what does the future hold?” Is what we’re hearing a dying art, or a fresh new take on the collective memory, cultural intelligence, and simple joy of this thing we call “Music”?

For my part, I do hope it’s the latter.

WE’LL ALL IDENTIFY WITH THE SONGS – THIS IS WELLER WITHOUT A FUSE

Upcoming Live Music Event: Pete Christie @ The Farncombe Cavern, Godalming, Surrey

Check out the Farncombe Cavern / Pete Christie Facebook Event Page

The Farncombe Cavern
The Freeholders
St. John’s Street
Farncombe
Surrey GU7 3EJ
Tel: (01483) 416741

The Farncombe Cavern is an intimate and comfortable venue, with a capacity of about 75 with a mix of seating and standing.

Their focus is covering a broad range of genres including blues, country, folk, roots, and jazz.

Pete Christie Tickets can be purchased online or at The Freeholders Public House in advance at £8.00 each, or £10.00 at the door.

Let us know on the Facebook Event for Pete Christie @ The Farncombe Cavern if you are joining us for this fun evening of great music.

PRESS RELEASE

Pete Christie is a singer-songwriter/acoustic guitarist who plays from the heart and sings

from the soul – a must see for anyone who loves acoustic music. “Intense, passionate vocals and a clear grasp of how to write a great song – mesmerising….” Pete Christie has been compared to many acclaimed musicians from Martin Simpson to Paul Weller,

and was recently described as being “a cross between Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler and

Richard Thompson, but with a great voice; though without the fame !!!” Pete Christie has developed his own original powerful style of acoustic fingerstyle

guitar technique. His songs are original and contemporised anglicana roots, with a mix of rock,

folk and country. His individualistic fingerstyle guitar technique can coax anything from

achingly beautiful simple, sparse, and haunting accompaniment, to an explosive,

almost neo-flamenco rhythm. It’s as if Pete “duets” with the guitar rather than just

casually strumming it, and he has perfected the art of making it sound like there

has to be more than one musician on stage. Over his 40 years as a performing musician, Pete has been a guest with a diverse array

of guitarists and musicians such as Nick Harper, Jeff Lang, Glenn Tillbrook, Ezio,

Ruby Turner, Hugh Cornwell, Bob Brozman, Martin Harley, Matt Andersen, Ben Montague,

Jackie Leven, Kieran Halpin, Steve Tilston, Rory Ellis, Dave Pegg, and frequently

with Derrin Nauendorf. Pete is based on the Isle of Purbeck in southern UK and is touring with his latest

studio album ‘Frank’, which shows off his gift for tethering his romantic ruminations

to memorable melodies and instrumental harmonies. The album has been called “refreshing”,

“honest”, “wonderful”, “natural”, “versatile”, “…heartfelt songs that recall

McTell’s glory days…”, and “delivered by a master craftsman”. “Frank is not

background music. It’s a wonderfully written book brought to life by sounds”.

“Waiting in the Wings” is Pete’s most famous song; and according to Minor 7th in the USA,

“it is reminiscent of the off-the-wall stuff of Brian Wilson and Sir Paul as produced

by Sir George Martin.” Pete Christie is passionate about his handmade guitars and the quality of sound he

is producing and proud to be a “Featured Artist” for Avalon Guitars.

To find out more about Pete Christie, leave a comment, or rate Pete’s performance

please check out ‘Pete Christie Google Reviews’

Gomstock 2011 Charity Music Festival held at The Compasses Inn in Gomshall, between Dorking and Guildford, Surrey is a lovely music festival to play at. The audience is used to good quality music every Friday, where Fiona, the landlady not only pays a musician fee but she also passes around a helmet to collect a donation from the enthusiastic audience as a contribution to the artist.

The weather stayed sunny all through my set and I enjoyed bending those strings. ‘Waiting in the Wings’ went over well with the audience.

In recent years The Compasses has been responsible for organising a mini music festival now known as ‘Gomstock’. The festival is set within the delightful surroundings of The Compasses garden with green lawns rolling down to the gently flowing Tilling Bourne brook., where they hold a fun duck race.

 The event features musicians and other entertainment activities for all age groups hence ‘Gomstock’ has now become a favourite family event which attracts both locals and visitors from much further afield. The proceeds of this charity music event are distributed to charities nominated by Fiona, the Landlady. All musicians invited to perform kindly give their services completely free of charge. The event takes place during the last August Bank Holiday weekend; this year on Sunday 28th .

Check out more Gomstock photos on Facebook

Playing at The Black Swan Inn in Swanage is always a fun event.

The crowd ebbed and flowed throughout the evening but 3 men from Gloucestershire stayed glued to my acoustic roots and folk set and offered a wonderful praise comparing my original anglicana songs, fingerstyle guitar and loopstation technique by saying ‘I was in a league of my own’, as they had originally planned to see award winning Martin Simpson, who has been nominated 23 times in eleven years of BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards, again. Thanks guys! High praise indeed.

Maybe it is time I played in Gloucestershire again!

You could hear a pin drop when I sang ‘Waiting in the Wings‘ I love how this song touches so many people. It has become one of my classics; ‘Waiting in the Wings’ has on occasion changed the course of people’s lives after taking on the sentiment of the lyrics ‘that life is not a rehearsal and to make the most of it by doing what you want to do, now’.

Swanage Folk Festival, Swanage, Dorset

“A weekend of concerts, dance, sessions, workshops, a ceilidh, a craft fair, children’s entertainments, trade stalls, around 50 traditional dance sides in a grand parade Saturday afternoon through the town and ending on the sea front.” 9th – 11th September 2011

Local pubs hosted a number of informal sessions, with music for all to join in with. According to The Daily Echo, Swanage expected to attract thousands of revellers to the seaside town for the Swanage Folk Festival annual folk festival.

Shot taken at Dancing Ledge, a cliff-top beauty spot on the Isle of Purbeck.

See the Pete Christie Music map to local music events.

After years on the road, touring around London and the Southern UK, it was time to play at home on The Isle of Purbeck again.

So the ideal venue in Purbeck to play is The Bankes Arms Purbeck Beer Festival in Studland. Playing to over 1,000 people at lunchtime is a great feeling. I played a lively set to get the audience going for the day, with the help of Paul Graham on sound.

As Clive Connor says “A Top quaint traditional pub, with great sea views and real ale from its own Isle of Purbeck Micro Brewery”

An opportunity to demonstrate the difference wood makes in sound and tone, by day and play the handmade acoustic guitars by night.

Saturday night is MUSIC night at the Gathering by Isle of Purbeck singer songwriter guitarist Pete Christie

Really looking forward to performing and exhibiting at the Wilderness Gathering. I’ve got a few interesting things planned for the audience at night and a walk through on handcrafted guitars, demonstrating the difference the choice of wood for the soundboard of an acoustic guitar makes on the sound and tone.

The ‘Gathering‘ is a 4 Day Event 18 – 21 August 2011
Wilderness Gathering, the original Bushcraft Show, is the premier festival of bushcraft, survival and primitive living skills.

The Gathering has become a social event and brings together families and friends, all those interested in Bushcraft and Wilderness living skills to enjoy a weekend of knowledge sharing in a relaxed and family friendly atmosphere

The event is held at Bush Farm Bison Centre Farm & Woodland Gardens Native American & Wildlife Gallery, West Knoyle, Wiltshire.