Although his full-time job is teaching music, Abingdon musician Laurence Williams is looking forward to performing live popular music at several venues in his hometown in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year. These include The Wheatsheaf in Drayton (2 December at 7pm), The Spreadeagle in Northcourt Road (3 December at 8.30pm), The Grapes (11 December at 3.00 pm), The Kings Head and Bell (17 December at 9pm) and the Nag’s Head (30 December at 8pm). Although tickets are not required, it is advisable to pre-book a table.
Laurence has lived in Abingdon for just over 32 years and when he is not teaching music to his students, he has been performing for the past 30 years. As a young 14-year-old, he performed in a band called ‘Port in a Storm’ at the Youth Centre on Stratton Way; he and his fellow band members did many more gigs around the town over the years until they went their separate ways to university and started different careers. They have reformed however and Free 4 All has appeared at several festivals, releasing two albums on the streaming and download platforms ‘The Late-Night Show’ containing new recordings of all their songs from the 80s plus a new track of an original single called Circle of Friends. In 2019 the band released their second album Beyond the Gate. Three new singles will be released by the end of 2022: State of the World, Technology and One Final Day. Free 4 All will be performing at this year’s Christmas lights extravaganza in Abingdon on Saturday 26 November at 5pm.
Having worked Saturdays in a local music store whilst at senior school, Laurence was frequently asked about giving piano lessons following his piano demonstrations to potential buyers. This set his pathway to becoming a music teacher as he found it most rewarding.
With a love of performing, in the early 1990s, Laurence took the plunge of embarking upon a solo act singing and playing the piano and keyboard. To attain the ‘band-like’ sound he was desperate to achieve, in those days it was not as simple as it is nowadays. “I would be surrounded by at least six keyboards and an exceptionally large mixer which took me at least an hour and a half just to set up. Fortunately, with today’s modern technology my live shows now feature myself playing drums/base with guitar on backings which I have created in my studio and can perform live alongside.”
Laurence’s live entertainment act has been out with a full band for many large events including the Abingdon Christmas Lights switch-on, at concerts held at Blenheim Palace and at the Royal Berkshire Show. He has also performed all over the UK including in the Scottish city of Dunfermline, recently granted city status.
Whilst unable to perform music in front of live audiences during the Covid lockdowns, he found himself setting up his musical equipment on the drive of his home, entertaining friends, and neighbours from a safe distance. His musical talents also reached the other side of the world. “To give friends further afield a chance to feel involved, I did Facebook Live feeds of the performances and found comments appearing from many folk that I didn’t even know from places as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Reaching audiences of over 6000 people using this medium was certainly a positive thing to do during a time when we all felt so down. I do, however, enjoy performing at venues around Abingdon, so I hope my audiences enjoy my performances.”
