• "Nice Set Last Night ... Really Cool"
    Jon Hubbard, Hubcap Promotions, Reading Promoter

  • "...an array of very strong songs, with catchy choruses, demonstrating a strong singing voice and real passion for his songs - I'd recommend checking Andrew out live soon."
    Joanne Kelly, Reading Radio DJ

  • "I thought Something Wild was an Old Velvet Underground tune I hadn't heard. Excellent!!? I dig it all."
    Obdan, YouTube User

  • "Absolutely Love This Song (Something Wild)"
    DennyCraneLocknLoad, YouTube User

  • " "Love The Stones' Cover (Sympathy For The Devil)."
    Vic Cracknell, Surrey & Hants Musician / Promoter

  • "I've been listening to At The Water's Edge - very impressed, really like it. Has a sort of Lou Reed / Velvet Underground feel to it - good songs, quite quirky and unusual, thoughtful lyrics and some stand out guitar palying!"
    Brian Hurrell, Farnham (Surrey) Musician

  • " "You've Got The Magic Back...They are great lyrics and very pertinent to my thoughts."
    Jayne Ferst, Novelist

  • ""A cracking singer / songwriter"
    Aquillo, Farnham Band

  • "Listening to Andrew Shearer's CD, "At The Water's Edge." Very impressed! *Dances*"
    Raji Kulatilake, Reading Musician

  • "....Andrew has the gift of making people feel good about themselves..."
    Maija, Reading Musician

  • "...able to put unflinchingly honest songs to warm, melodic music... a favourite for those with itchy feet..."
    Luke Paolo, Reading Musician
  • "...able to put unflinchingly honest songs to warm, melodic music... a favourite for those with itchy feet..."
    Luke Paolo, Reading Musician

GIGS

Thursday 27th December 2012

Bat and Ball, Boundstone, Farnham, GU10 4SA

Vic's Buskers open-mic hosted by Vic Cracknell

"Energised"

As expected a very pleasant night at The Bat and Ball although not as busy as expected due to some of the acts being taken ill. Highlights for me were Kirsty Folan: I liked her rhythmic style of playing her folk-tinged songs; and Luke Paulo playing an old favourite of mine Hey Annie.


Actually if I'm honest and can be so bold, the highlight for me was my performance of my "Christmassy" songs (I'm giving my songs a rest over the festive period). It actually felt like I finally "let go" on Thursday night. This seemed to be reflected back in the applause I received.


One small blip was that I could not remember for the life of me the order of the chords at the end of the verses of American Pie. It's ironic as it's probably the most successful cover that I've played over this last year. In hindsight I should probably have stopped and made some Les Dawsonesque joke about how it takes great skill to always get these simple chords in the wrong order but with American Pie the song is so long that there was always the chance that I might get it right in the next verse. Alas no. Reasons? Perhaps because I was so confident of the song that I didn't rehearse it as much as the other two songs (which I finally feel I'm getting on top of, particularly Ashes to Ashes). But I think more importantly I could tell you now the chords (in the right order) of Sympathy For The Devil and Ashes To Ashes without picking up a guitar whereas I can't (I can tell you the first chord!) with American Pie. I think therein lies a clue.


Anyway, whereas a few years back I'd be berating myself over the blip rather than concentrating on the positives I actually just feel energised by the whole shebang. Maybe I'm learning at last.


A very pleasant evening and a great way to end the year. Happy 2013 Everyone!


My Set:


Sympathy For The Devil (Jagger / Richards)

Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie)

American Pie (Don McLean)