WELCOME!

Thanks for visiting the Peter Aston website and welcome to the May 2008 update.  If you're visiting this site for the first time, a quick introduction - I'm Peter Aston, a Christian singer/songwriter based at Holtwood Methodist Church which is a welcoming, evangelical church in an idyllic location near Wimborne in rural Dorset, close to the south coast of England. My music ministry falls into three main areas - as a singer & guitarist (solo, duo or with a full band), as guitarist with the Holtwood worship group and as guitarist with the Holtwood Mission Band.

By way of a contrast I also write secular songs which, hopefully, also have a bit of a message and I'm the singer/guitarist/caller with traditional ceilidh band Cottage Industry, a solo singer/guitarist in wine bars and good pubs and a wandering minstrel/court chamberlain for medieval banquets.  So, all in all, a fairly eclectric musical life! 

I'm currently writing and recording my new CD album "We Can All Be Free" which will be released in the Autumn of 2008.

TRIBUTE TO RAY SARGENT:- 

It came as a great shock to receive the sad and unexpected news that writer, actor and musician Ray Sargent had passed away in the early hours of 9th March following his brave battle with cancer.  We lost Ray just as he was making plans to return to the stage later in the year.  I'll always remember Ray as a good mate who would do anyone a favour if he was able to.  I recall one particular evening when Cottage Industry were due to lead a ceilidh for a function in Poole - and our lead instrumentalist was stuck in Cornwall.  A quick call to Ray and, within an hour, he was leading the dancing with his recorders - and with his English bagpipes!    Ray was a good friend to Holtwood where he performed his acclaimed one-man show "Two Victorian Tales" and he was planning to return to present "The Warrior and the Poet" in November.  Ray was also developing a project around the stories of the young soldiers which had been found in documents hidden in a time capsule behind a World War I memorial in the church.  He presented an early version of this project during the Wimborne Sting in the Tale Festival 2007 which was really well received.  Ray's passing has left a void that will be impossible to fill and he will certainly be missed both nationally and locally - the arts world will be the poorer for the loss of a great character and an exceptional talent.   Ray's Service of Thanksgiving was in Corfe Mullen where the church was overflowing - a tribute to the high esteem in which Ray was held by so many people.   A month later a ceilidh to celebrate Ray's life was held in Corfe Mullen, again filled to the brim with friends and family, many of whom contributed a song or a dance.  It was an honour to take part!  Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Julia and Laura.

HOT NEWS:-  

(1)  My ceilidh band, Cottage Industry, are currently seeking an additional top-notch instrumentalist (fiddler, melodeon, etc) to help lead the music for dancing.  If this sounds like it could be you then please initially send me an e-mail. 

(2)  George Hamilton IV will be returning to Holtwood on 5th December as part of his UK Christmas Tour.  Tickets are now available at £12 from (01258) 840844 or by e-mail.

(3)  The new Holtwood Hall for the church and the community has been completely paid for - more details here.

Lots of enquiries and bookings now for 2008 and certainly 2007 was a busy one for me - and really rewarding with many new doors opening and new friends being made.  If you're one of those that helped to open these doors, then thank you!  

Click on the navigation bar at the top of this page to explore the website.  A good place to start is the "Peter Aston" page which contains all the latest news of what I've been up to, plus links to the other updated pages and to associated websites.

Another project with which I'm involved is Wimborne Community Theatre (WCT).  Details of the 2006 production at Pamphill can be read here.  The Company presented "Enquire Within" at Allendale House, Wimborne on 6th, 7th & 8th December 2007 and you'll soon be able to read a review here.  The next major production is likely to be in Summer 2009 although WCT will also be appearing at the Holtwood Fete on 5th July this year and will be making progress with a number of other projects during the year. 

The past two or three years have seen an increasing expansion to the activities of Cottage Industry Recording Studio and P.A. Hire - just click on the icon below the top banner for more information.

My CD "Name in the Sand" contains 12 of my Christian songs, and you can hear snatches of some of these songs on this website as well as buying the CD. The album has been selling really well and is continuing to raise funds for our new hall for the church and community which was completed in 2006. Thank you to all who have bought a copy - it really made a difference!  My CD EP 'Horton Tower...and other dreams' contains 4 of my secular songs, which can loosely be described as 'songs inspired by dreams '.   You can also buy a copy of this CD by e-mailing me.  "Name in the Sand" is now also available internationally to purchase securely on-line.  Just visit http://cdbaby.com/cd/peteraston   If you have already bought the CD I'd invite you to write a short review on the cdbaby site.  This will help to inform potential buyers - and will also help to "Spread the Word".

Please get in touch if I can help with worship or a concert at your church or in your community - or if you're looking for a fun ceilidh band for a social or family occasion.  Thanks again for visiting my website - and have fun browsing!

Peter