Volume 14 (opens in BandCamp)
This collection is the fourteenth in a series celebrating the inspiring & diverse talent of Coventry & Warwickshire musicians of yesterday, today & tomorrow.
When you have enjoyed the music yourself, please do share the album with others to help promote & support the creativity of these innovative, authentic, dedicated & skilled musicians.
'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Fourteen' is dedicated to the memory of William Douglas Armstrong (aka "Doug") (17th June 1951 to 4th December 2024)
Although, as always, tracks on 'Hot Music Live Presents Volume Fourteen' are available as free downloads, there is the "name your price" option: if you'd like to use it to make a donation, all proceeds will, at the request of Doug's family, go to The Shakespeare Hospice.
Doug was passionately involved in music: for example running Stratford upon Avon Folk Club (where you'd find literally the biggest names imaginable in folk music playing alongside local talent) and his "Music From Big Pink" show on Welcombe Community Radio: " a show aimed to celebrate creativity, shared experiences and community – reflecting the ethos of the album of the same name written and recorded by The Band so many years ago".
However his concern for the vulnerable & isolated in society was perhaps even greater and his founding & organising of the Street Arts Project which has been covered many times in "Hot Music Live" will be his legacy.
"We are all heart-broken to have lost our dear friend Doug. Helping the vulnerable was a path that Doug had followed all through his life. His kindness, genuine care and compassion made him loved and respected by all that knew him.
His equal love for music has also made him a humble legend amongst musicians far and wide and helped many on their own difficult journeys.
Above all he was a loyal and strong Northumbrian warrior that will be missed and remembered forever". (Jackie Lines, co-founder of Street Arts Project)
"It’s difficult to imagine a world without Doug Armstrong.
He was the glue that brought us all together. He taught us to look after each other and showed us that a kinder and more compassionate way is possible. He encouraged us to get on stage and share our songs with the world. He taught us to think outside the box and that everybody, whatever circumstances life has thrown at you, deserves to have their stories told and art created from them. He showed us how to hold people to account, but also check in on them if they are struggling.
The Street Arts sessions he ran were a joy, at times a real challenge but every week we ended up with a song. I think that is the best way to remember Doug, in the way we treat others and in our songs." (Jack Blackman' Street Arts Project musician, solo artist, leader of The Beautiful Wreck & a member of WLDFLWRS)
"Doug was an inspiration. He had time and empathy for so many people. He helped people experiencing homelessness and set up music courses for them in Stratford upon Avon. That is where I met so many new musicians and vulnerable people. We wrote songs about their experiences. We did concerts to raise money and awareness we recorded CDs with the songs we had written.
All of this was organised by Doug. He will be sorely missed in the town of Stratford. I will miss Doug’s positivity and enthusiasm. I will miss Doug as a friend and a mentor. He helped me when I was down.We all have a lot to thank Doug for." (Nigel Clark, Street Arts Project musician, member of Dodgy & solo artist).
"Doug was a proud husband, parent and grandparent. He was a great man and more importantly, to many people he was a great friend. Doug was an inspiration.
He would do anything for anyone: he was somebody who would draw out potential that people didn't know they had and he always championed the underdog.
Doug's impact was felt right across Stratford from the terraces of his beloved football club to the many music festivals and events that he used to organise.
He also created the Street Arts Project with Jackie Lines: the not-for-profit organisation supporting the vulnerable and socially isolated. His incredible drive and dedication to help people will be missed. Stratford has lost an icon". (Jono Wright, Street Arts Project musician, solo artist & a member of Mos Eisley Bros & WLDFLWRS).
"William Douglas Armstrong moved to the Midlands from the North East during the 1970s. Known by everyone as Doug, he was a wise and compassionate person who encouraged, guided and lifted people. He co-founded the charity Street Arts Project and ran many live music events in the local area, all the time supporting musicians and aspiring musicians, all the time championing the overlooked, the disadvantaged and the isolated in his community.
This year he lost a long battle with cancer and is sorely missed and very fondly remembered by many in the music community and beyond who he met along his journey." (Wes Finch, Street Arts Project musician, solo artist & a member of WLDFLWRS, The Silver Wye & The Mechanicals Band).
The previous volumes can all still be downloaded for free from: hotmusiclivepresents.bandcamp.com
You can find out what each artist is up to on their individual websites or by following "Hot Music Live Presents" & “Hot Music Live” magazine on social media:
Many thanks to every single one of the generous & supportive musicians who have contributed their considerable talent to this project. The music scene of Coventry & Warwickshire has so many artists of vision, integrity & sense of community: hopefully this project can give a sense of some of this.
Credits:
Released January 14, 2025
Album compiled by Andy Holdcroft
Executive Producers Paul Englefield & Alan Moores of "Hot Music Live" magazine
Hot Music Live logo designed by Mel Skellon.
Hot Music Live Presents Volume Fourteen
© all rights reserved
1. WLDFLWRS - "WLDFLWRS" 00:23
2. Yonderland - "On Chesil Beach" 05:15
3. Scratchy Beard - "The Best Things" 04:16
4. WorldSong - "Kaval Sviri" 02:34
5. Luminae - "Toffee" 03:20
6. Voyeahs - "Regular Normal Life" 03:25
7. What About Eric? - "Cascade" 03:23
8. Barney Cunningham - "It's OK Not To Be OK" 03:52
9. Creaking Twitch - "Fight for the Cause" 04:56
10. Not Right - "The Facilitation of Lawful Protest" 01:47
11. Nathan Wade - "House of Cards" 04:52
