Kit Marsden // Musician

News

  • Production Rehearsals With Ultra ’90s

    Kit Marsden

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    I have played drums for Ultra ’90s almost since the show’s inception in 2008 – and more recently, I have played percussion with the new Ultra ’90s Fresh lineup as well. However, with the popularity of Ultra ’90s expanding quicker than ever, I am very excited to have been offered the chance to take on a new role, leading yet another lineup as an MD, keys player and vocalist.

    So despite playing hundreds of Ultra ’90s gigs on drums, I am spending four days this week at Thatspace in Rochdale with Chris and Kelly from PX Productions, relearning the set on keys and programming my synth rig with the correct sounds and samples – plus developing new skills, including working in Chamsys to patch and programme lights, and rapping!

    Synths with Ultra '90s
    For The Gear Nerds… Synth rig With Ultra ’90s: Nord Stage2, Nord Wave, And Moog Little Phatty

    The rehearsals are long days – there is a lot to get through in a ninety-minute show packed with high-energy ’90s dance classics – but I am relishing the chance to push myself to be better and become and more versatile, more well-rounded musician with a plethora of skills to offer.

    I will still being gigging with Ultra ’90s and Ultra ’90s Fresh as a drummer and percussionist this coming year as well, but I am enjoying seeing the show from a new angle, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to gig a set I know well in a totally different way.

  • Ten Years Of Keyboard Camp

    Kit Marsden

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    Keyboard Camp – the exciting four-day residential course for keyboard and piano players, held every Easter in the heart of rural Norfolk (first at Wymondham College, and subsequently at Whitwell Hall and now the How Hill Trust) – is turning ten years old this year! First held in 2008, this year’s Camp marks the ten-year anniversary of what has become the highlight of the musical year for many young keyboard players and pianists in the area.

    Sectional rehearsals in The Big Room at How Hill
    Sectional Rehearsals In The Big Room At How Hill · Kerry Marsden

    Organised and run by the team from the Norfolk Keyboard Orchestra, Keyboard Camp is a great opportunity for students of piano and keyboard of all ages and stages to come together and enjoy making music in a fun and social environment. As well as sectional rehearsals (with parts tailored to suit different playing abilities), and full orchestral playing, there are a variety of other workshops (on topics ranging from different styles of keyboard playing, to using technology in music and writing your own compositions), and opportunities to have fun learning and making music together – plus games, quizzes, ‘tuck shop’, and the inevitable talent show.

    Synthesis and technology workshop
    Synthesis And Technology Workshop · Kerry Marsden

    This year, we return to the How Hill Trust in Ludham, to enjoy a selection of brand new repertoire and old favourites (all especially arranged for keyboard ensemble) in this beautiful country setting.

  • Witchers At Peripheral Festival

    Kit Marsden

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    Just announced that Witchers will be playing at Peripheral Festival, Narborough, Norfolk on Saturday 28th May.  Visit the Ideal Surreal website for tickets, more details, etc.

  • New Release: Lucan Mills – Level 1

    New Release: Lucan Mills – Level 1

    Kit Marsden

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    Lucan Mills’ brand new EP ‘Level’ is out now 1 on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc. I am proud to have contributed piano, organ and synth parts to this collection to exciting new hip-hop tracks.

    Level 1 – Lucan Mills

  • Sistema Europe Summer School In Milan

    Kit Marsden

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    I am delighted to have been chosen to be one one of the tutors going to this year’s Sistema Europe Summer Camp, which is being held in Milan, Italy; a colleague from Sistema in Norwich and I will be going with a delegation from Sistema England, to work for eight days with students and other tutors from Sistema-inpired projects based across Europe.

    This is a very exciting opportunity for me to work with some fantastic music professionals and to learn from them – and to be more involved with the Sistema movement as a whole, to just here in Norwich but throughout Europe.

    Keep checking back here after 21st August for more updates on my time working with the Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra in Italy, and all the wonderful activities we get up to!

  • Festivals With Lucan Mills

    Kit Marsden

    I’ll be playing at a variety of music festivals with Lucan Mills and his band this summer. The full details of all Lucan’s shows will be available on his website, but I will hope to see you at the festival appearances I am doing this year:

    As always, you can keep track of everything that’s going on over at the Calendar page.

  • Carrera Drums Announcement

    Carrera Drums Announcement

    Kit Marsden

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    As most people will know, I have been a proud ambassador for Carrera Drums since the start of 2011, and have been honoured to play their drums and be involved with the company for the past four years.  Everywhere I go – on live shows and in recording studios – I get compliments on my Carrera gear from artists, from other musicians, and from engineers and producers.

    Sadly, however, Carrera Drums is winding up in spring of this year, and will cease trading as of the end of March.  This is the official announcement from the Carrera Drums website:

    It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that Carrera Drums will stop trading as of the 31st March 2015.

    Dave Carrera has fought serious health issues over the last 3 years which have now deteriorated to such a level that he has decided to focus on attempting to recover or stabilise his condition which, even with good extraction, a dusty workshop hinders.

    We have all had fun making some fine instruments for some of the finest drummers active today and want to thank everyone for there support, kindness and love over the last 5+ years.

    Any works currently in progress will be completed and shipped before end of March 2015 and customers have been notified.

  • Witchers Album Launch Party

    Witchers Album Launch Party

    Kit Marsden

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    Well, I’m finally able to announce that the long-awaited debut Witchers album will be released on Monday 11th May 2015 – and we will be playing a headline show at The Waterfront Studio in Norwich to celebrate the album’s release on Thursday 7th May 2015.

    It will be three years since we began work on the album, and almost two years since we last played live, so we’re very excited about getting on stage again and playing our music for you all!

    I hope to see lots of you there on 7th May to celebrate the launch of the album with us – tickets are available from any of the band members, or online.

    Listen to a track from the album now here.

  • Paul Lamb & The Detroit Breakdown

    Kit Marsden

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    I’m very excited to be supporting Paul Lamb & The Detroit Breakdown with the Jamie Roe Band at Wolverhampton’s Robin2 venue on May 20th. Details and tickets can be found on the Robin2 website here.

  • New Witchers Music

    New Witchers Music

    Kit Marsden

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    As you may have noticed, Witchers have been on something of a ‘hiatus’ lately.  We’ve been through a couple of line-up changes, and various of the band members’ personal lives have taken priority recently.  However, out long-awaited self-titled album Witchers will be finally be released this year, in May – after three years of work! – and tomorrow you will have an opportunity to listen to Undivided, one of the tracks from the album, on Soundcloud for the very first time.

    'Witchers' cover art

    Personally, I’m extremely proud of my involvement with Witchers and my playing on this album; it’s been a long time coming, but I can’t wait for people to hear the fruits of all our hard work!

    The idea is that, as we get closer to the release date there will be some live shows (our first live appearances since Cambridge Rock Festival in August 2013!) to promote the album, and to get people talking about Witchers again.  I will be able to reveal more about these shows, and more about the record in general and its release, nearer the time.

    In the meantime, however, please ‘Like’ Witchers on Facebook, and follow our Twitter account – and, most importantly, check out Undivided online tomorrow!

Kit Marsden // Musician