News

JANE COUCH MBE BECOMES PROJECT AMBASSADOR FOR ‘PLAY 2 ALL’ UK VENUE & EVENT DIRECTORY SCHEME

Jane Couch MBE has Joined ‘Play 2 All’ UK as Project Ambassador of the scheme. Absolutely delighted with the impetus & inspiration she brings to the project & very grateful to have her on board. Jane became 1st ever British female Boxing World Champion & fought a lengthy & testing personal battle with the authorities to establish the sport.

In 2024 Jane was finally inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame recognised as one of the world’s all time greats. She recently released her autobiography ‘The Final Round’ (seen here with fellow champion, Hall of Fame inductee & friend Ricky Hatton). We extend our heartiest welcome to Jane & very much look forward to her being a highly valued asset & positive influence for the Play 2 All UK team & project.

RAIL ALE & BLUES FESTIVAL N. E. LINCS 2024 IS PLAY 2 ALL UK FEATURED EVENT FOR SEPTEMBER Fri 13 – Sun 15 at Cleethorpes Coastal Light Railway.

The highly acclaimed & free entry Rail Ale & Blues Festival N.E. Lincolnshire is the Play 2 All UK Featured Event for September 2024. The event runs over 3 days in a picturesque coastal setting and features some of the best in the UK Blues Scene as well as a fine selection of beers and food.

The festival will be opened by Bluesman Mike Francis a volunteer with the Play 2 All scheme on the exact 48th anniversary of his very 1st European tour & event runs until 5pm Sunday 15th September. See Directory

GREAT BRITISH R&B FESTIVAL COLNE LANCS 2024 TAKES DIRECTORY RUN UP FEATURED EVENT FOR AUGUST – Bank Holiday Weekend Fri 23rd – Sat 25th

Delighted to have the iconic & long established Colne Blues Festival as ‘Play 2 All UK’ August feature in run up to start of the Directory on Sunday September 1st. The event that started as 2 stage festival in 1990 now runs throughout Colne town with best of the Blues on Main Stages & series of Fringe performances. See Directory page for full programme & website link. ‘Play 2 All’ will be in attendance.

GLOUCESTER BLUES FESTIVAL 2024 BECOMES AN OFFICIAL ‘PLAY 2 ALL UK’ EVENT

Gloucester annual Blues Festival has officially become a 2024 ‘Play 2 All UK’ Event. The 10 day, City wide event runs between Fri 19th & Sun 28th July across 7 highly accommodating, established venues. Free Entry to all performances & for full programme & info please see Directory page.


‘PLAY 2 ALL UK’ FACEBOOK GROUP STARTS MON 1ST JULY 2024

Open forum group starts on Monday 1st July & is open to all. This will not form the directory listing, but will provide a useful tool for member news, updates and comments. Please see contact links below to join the network.


AFRICA OYE 2024 BECOMES AN OFFICIAL ‘PLAY 2 ALL UK’ EVENT

Delighted to announce one of UK’s largest outdoor festivals & single biggest free celebration of African Music & Culture will officially be a ‘Play 2 All’ event for 2024. Africa Oye is on Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd June running 12-30pm to 9.30pm on longest daylight weekend of the year in the beautiful Sefton Park Liverpool.
Entry is free, you can bring your own seat & there is an accessible viewing facility. There are many family friendly & active zone workshops with headline acts including the excellent Julian Marley & Les Amazones d’Afrique.


News Archive

‘PLAY 2 ALL’ TIWN MAGAZINE (WALES) FEATURE JUNE ISSUE 2024

Play 2 All will has a full interview with Mike from the team in the June issue of Welsh Music Magazine Tiwn out on Saturday 8th June. Copies will be available throughout the national music & culture scene as well as from tiwnmedia.co.uk/store


‘PLAY 2 ALL’ VOODOO RADIO SPECIAL – SUN 16TH JUNE 2024

As part of a one hour radio special on Bluesman Mike Francis on voodoo radio there will be a feature on the UK Play 2 All project in the Paul Bamlett show from 8pm UK time.

‘PLAY 2 ALL’ SCHEME LAUNCHES IN ENGLAND AT DOROTHY PAX SHEFFIELD

On Thursday 21st March 2024 Dead Mans Uke officially became the first ever act to play a ‘Play 2 All’ live event in England. In a truly amazing setting they were followed by Bluesman Mike Francis & headliner John Fishell on tour from the USA. The event was a Kycker Music artists showcase evening & a great time was had by all.


‘PLAY 2 ALL’ SCHEME LAUNCHES IN SCOTLAND AT BROADCAST GLASGOW

On Saturday 23rd March 2024 Liverpool’s Pleasure Island launched the ‘Play 2 All’ project for Scotland at Glasgow’s highly acclaimed Broadcast Venue. The band is prolific on the indie rock circuit & were touring in the region.


ELERI OPENS ‘PLAY 2 ALL’ IN WALES AT SECOND 45 LLANELLI

3pm Saturday 30th March Swansea’s very own Eleri launched the ‘Play 2 All’ project for Wales with a record signing & performance at Second 45 Llanelli. The well-attended showcase featured an excellent, unplugged live airing of her Carnival album with a brief presentation from a member of the team.