Thanks Nick Loveland!

In the spring I took my live band on tour in the UK which went down a storm. We sold out our limited edition remixes and b-sides tour EP and played out a bunch of brand new material which got some great feedback!

I’ve been busy with the new project Maylight featuring DJ and Producer Chris Read, and sax player Mary Wakelam. After a weeks writing session in Pinewood
studios we have been working on our sound and are currently taking live bookings for the new year and working towards an EP or CD album release.

For those of you wondering why there haven’t been any more releases this past year, the answer is this…
2011 was an odd year for me.  I had my wings burned by some people in the industry who I considered friends and colleagues, who I gave my trust and support and who sadly acted unprofessionally and disrespectfully towards me in every way. Being a writer and performer who sings from the heart, when you’re heart is saddened it makes for a tough ride. So I hung up my gig shoes for a few months mid year and concentrated on all things positive in my life and surrounded myself with supportive and honest people. On the very positive side of things I spent that time buying my first home out in South of France which as you home owners will know can easily take up a good 3 months of your life in a blink!

Now, I have a bunch of new material, some recorded, some still yet to be. 2012 will see some serious organisation release wise. I’ll be getting my head down in the new year and working out how best to get the music out to you guys. I’ll also be putting together another UK Spring tour so watch this space for dates.

In the meantime i’d like to say a massive thank you to those people who have supported, understood and cherished me. From my partner Thomas to the people I have never heard of who send me messages to tell me how much they enjoy my music. You are the people that keep the music industry positive and keep artists sane in an otherwise rather insane world!

Merry christmas and a very happy new year.
Looking forward to seeing you all in 2012.

Lizzy x

With the exception of my spring UK tour which was so much fun and went down a treat, this year has really been abouting getting involved in other projects, meeting new musical influences and trying my hand at new concepts, ideas and musical genres.

First up we have the very new and exciting ‘MAYLIGHT’ Project.

Maylight is a 7 strong collective comprising of ME! (Nostalgia 77, Tru Thoughts), Saxophonist Mary Wakelam (BBC Performing Arts Fund Urban Music Scheme 2008 Winner), Pianist Rob Barron (Nostalgia 77/Damon Albarn’s ‘Monkey’ Opera), Drummer Jim Bashford, Trumpet Player Joe Egan (Aido Severo), Bass player Colin Somervell (Trio Tekke/Pippo’s Progress) and DJ/Producer Chris Read (Music of substance/BBE). Adopting a collective approach to writing music which draws on the member’s diverse backgrounds and musical influences, the resulting mix is one which references soul and electronica with an underlying jazz influence.

Check here for our very first audio demo…http://maylight.bandcamp.com/album/maylight

And you can catch us semi live (myself singing, Chris Read on the decks, Mary & Joe on horns) at KOKO, Camden High St, London on Sat 15th Oct supporting the likes of Trojan Sound System and DJ Vadims ‘Electric’.

Next up is a project i’ve been keeping secretly to myself over the past year but have been absolutley bubbling, hopping and skipping about inside! Its something maybe only those people who know me best would expect from me as a writer and vocalist but its a project that is very close to my heart. Its called ‘QUALIA’. It comprises of myself and a very dear and extremely talented Devon based friend. There is nothing yet online about us but we are due to release our first instrumental single next month followed by a killer vocal track in Nov/Dec and its gonna smash it in certain worlds, no doubt about it!!!! Lets just say it’s heavy! It’s all about cracking up the drums and the bass and if you haven’t got a record player or set of decks, you stand little chance of getting hold of this! More to come…WATCH THIS SPACE!

Also for those of you who are aware of what goes on in my life in The South of France (this really has been the year for experimenting!) you may know that i’m also involved in a brilliant Cannes based vocal project called ‘The Sundown Sisters’. I’m not going to talk too much about this group on my personal website but lets just say if you like modern tunes with a sexy vintage twist, then you’ll love this group. Wve been drumming up quite a storm so far this year and there are greater things yet to come. Find out more info @ www.thesundownsisters.com

Having mentioned all of these new and exciting projects have no fear…its only a matter of time before you hear the follow up to the acoustic album ‘This and That’ which will true to LP form and sound a world away from my previous albums meaning im yet again attempting to turn new corners and experiment with a new LP sound. Not only that but there is another LP project on the horizon called ‘TRINKET’ but its early days and have no fear my loyal followers, you will be the first to know about it when it happens!!!

In the meantime, i’d like to leave you with some brand new and exclusive press shots, taken by the incredibly talented David Fitzpatrick and his excellent team of wonder makers!

Speak soon, LP X

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST REVIEW OF LIZZY’S UK SPRING TOUR WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL…BIRMINGHAM TELLS ALL!!!

I thought i’d keep the guys busy when they cae over to Cannes this Jan for the Midem gig so we made a series of little acoustic videos featuring BRAND NEW never heard before songs!

CLICK HERE to watch Video ONE featuring the track “Real thing”…Enjoy

Click here to re listen if you missed it, the track spins at 28mins! Enjoy

Another good thing to help kick off 2011…Happy Days!

Jan 23rd 2011 – my week started something like this…
Sunday morning, the Tru Thoughts gang arrive in Cannes all excited from seeing David Hasslehoff at Gatwick airport checking in for an easyjet flight! Really Hoff, couldnt you at least fly bA??!!

Sunday afternoon, half of my  band (French) meets the other half (English) Gulp!…Sunday evening, rehearsals begin. Late Sunday into early Monday morning the British boys sample the delights of French Vin Rouge! Monday morning back into the studio for some final preparation of the set…

Monday afternoon, soundcheckerama! Monday evening, me and my band tear up the BRITISH @ MIDEM stage @ The Martinez Hotel with a 25 min set of predominantly new material featuring a talented blend of French and British musicians. They couldnt speak each others languages but they played the tunes like it was old hat! The band consisted of Tom Robins – Guitar (UK), Wayne Matthews – Bass (UK), Yoann Combe – Keys (FRANCE), Steph Adsuar (FRANCE).

Martinez Hotel 9pm – 9.25pm
Lizzy Parks Set List :

1) Shh (Get it On) – NEW track & Currently Unreleased
2) Caught Counting – NEW track & Currently Unreleased
3) Heaven – NEW track & Currently Unreleased
4) Wildflower – Released on ‘EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN’ Nostalgia 77, Tru Thoughts
5) Real Thing – NEW track & Currently Unreleased
6) Raise the Roof – Title Track of Lizzy Parks album 2008 ‘RAISE THE ROOF’, Tru Thoughts

Wonderfully high gold heels, long black gloves, big jewelled lashes and a 60`s bouffant hair do later we’d finished our set, watched the other artists, chatted backstage to Charlotte Church who was there with her musician performer boyfriend (who may I add the English guys were very taken with!), drunk the dressing room dry and chatted to some of the audience, we headed down to the notorious yearly Tru Thoughts party at Cannes’ one and only SUN7 bar. And, this is where the party really started!

First up on the decks was Tru Thoughts Head Honcho DJ Rob Luis, spinning some of Tru Thoughts best new and old releases, followed swiftly by Freddie Cruger and Anthony Mills with their Wild Cookie project. Anthony in his head to toe red workmans get up and purple army boots, got the joint jumping with his lively singing, mc-ing and heads stands made for an all round performance!

Next up after a little costume change I took over the mic and sung some of my new songs featuring the collaborative production work of France’s own Azaxx, and the UK’s Diesler. The crowd was great and totally up for it, even for a bunch of industry peeps!

A huge Thankyou to the Sun7 bar and its owner DJ Thomas Dussenue, Tru Thoughts and Outpost for such a great night.

(Photo below… on the left Tru Thoughts Daddy Paul Jonas (n.b personal mention!)

Tuesday started somewhere around lunchtime with heading back down to the SUN7 Bar to prepare to shoot a new Lizzy Parks acoustic video. COMING SOON online!!! Watch this Space…

Other Midem highlights included the talent of Saidah Baba Talibah during Canadian night at the Morrisons bar, which saw her Grace Jones style voice, amazing outfits and comanding stage presence. Its not everyday you see a guy in a tight black sleeveless number and leather pants blowing the bassline on a sousaphone!

Then it was home time, catching flights and saying goodbye until next year to all the familiar Midem faces. What to do with all of those business cards!!

Except…I get to stay and hang out with the sunshine, sandy beaches, blue skies, white snowy mountains and I promise I will never grow tired of being smug about it! So until next blog, keep an eye on the gigs page for the up coming LIZZY PARKS UK SPRING TOUR mid to late April.

But for now…Over & Out!

LP

So far i’ve got plenty of wonderful things planned for the start of the year including: a trip back to the UK mid Jan to work with the talented Tru Thoughts producer ‘Hint’ on a hostful of new tracks that hopefully you’ll get to hear in the not too distant future. A super duper whopping gig at the offical Midem conference in Cannes at the end of the month for which i’ll be joining the English and French band mate forces to make an international mega band which is going to be fab and we’re planning on getting it all filmed by some very talented up and coming French film makers so watch this space for that.

Then, in April im coming back over to the UK for a 2011 springtime tour. So far we’ve got Birmingham, London, Manchester, Devon, Brighton and many more in the diary so watch the gigs page for details coming soon!

In the meantime, I hope you all had a lovely festive period. Don’t detox too hard!

Im getting my snowy mountains fix up here in the French Alps, with a healthy dose of Cote D’Azur sunshine so no complaints this end. Stay toasty and i’ll see you all very soon

Here are a few little piccis….