THE word ‘Brexit’ will definitely not be in the lyrics when rising Redditch music star Stuart Woolfenden takes to the Morton Stanley stage this Sunday, August 18.
He’s currently working on his latest EP but spoke out in defence of the band Chaos Experience who were thrown off the festival line-up because their song about the mess the government is making of leaving the EU was deemed ‘too political for a family event’.
“You can’t ban someone just because you disagree with what they say,” said Stuart, from Church Hill.
“As a singer songwriter you write about what you think – it’s your right to express yourself.”
To hear Stuart on the Redditch Standard podcast, click here
Stuart is about to enter his final year at the Birmingham branch of the British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) after blazing a performance trail ever since he first started writing songs, aged 11.
“I had been doing a Maths degree at Manchester University but it wasn’t where my heart was, which was music and I’m just going to work really hard at it and see where it takes me,” he said.
Although only aged 21 he’s already something of a veteran of the music business having played numerous festivals – including Morton Stanley – and with recordings available via streaming services and on Spotify.
And he admits that as part of his songwriting course much time is spent in pursuit of the elusive ‘hook’.
“Sometimes I’m in bed and I’ll wake in the middle of the night with some nice lyrics in my head and I’ll put them into my phone,” he said.
“It’s one of the great advantages of being at BIMM, you meet people and you can bounce ideas off each other.”
Stuart, who is on stage at 2.40pm with his band, won’t be the only star at Morton Stanley Festival this weekend, August 17-18.
Topping the bill are the Nineties hit machine Republica plus there are loads of other top bands playing including Skabucks, Pure Queen and many more.
Plus there will be a funfair, street food, licensed bar, acoustic and reggae tents, childrens activities and more. Entry is free.
