SEEKING
Other Percussion, Mandolin, Fiddle, Ukulele.ABOUT
Toxic Sofa are husband and wife team, Tim Bastock and Kim Halliday. Tim has been playing guitar for over 40 years and is also an experienced bassist, having played in a variety of local bands and for musicals and pantomimes. Kim has a mainly musical/theatrical background, although she has sung at festivals such as Glastonbury and Rewind and on Saturday prime time TV. She also plays bass guitar and recorder for a church rock band, with Tim on rhythm guitar.
After meeting and watching Folk Comedy legend Richard Digence perform at South Hill Park in Bracknell, Berkshire, Kim was inspired to start writing some amusing observations on life, and with the help of her husband, Tim, has now written and recorded ten original songs, four of which have been professionally mastered by the genius that is Chris Payne, early keyboards player for Gary Numan and also co-writer of Visage's 'Fade to Grey'.
After participating in a songwriting course in 2017, mentored by Sir Ray Davies of The Kinks fame, this has now expanded to some more serious observational writing.
Toxic Sofa were voted third in the Best Showcase Act category of the Graham Steel Music Company Awards 2018.
Toxic Sofa were formed on 19th May 2015 with the aim of playing small slots at festivals and events, and since that date we have been regularly in demand on the local acoustic scene.
- Screen name:
- toxicsofa
- Member since:
- Jul 11 2015
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Committed
- Years together:
- 4
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- 1 time per week
- Available to gig:
- 2-3 nights a week
- Age:
- 58 years
Influences
Richard Digence, Blondie, Pink Floyd, Gloria Gaynor, The Buggles, B A Robertson, Visage, Hazel O'Connor, The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Abba, Johnny Cash, The Beautiful South, The Carpenters...
Members Of Band
Tim Bastock and Kim Halliday
EQUIPMENT
Various basses, acoustic guitars and keyboards plus various recorders, pipes, Kazoos and shaky/bashy instruments.
MUSIC
-
Rainbows (mastered)
Rainbows (mastered) Year: 2017 Album: Sofa So Good Genre: Folk
-
The Window (mastered)
The Window (mastered) Year: 2015 Album: Sofa So Good Genre: Folk
We wrote this song in 2 hours on a wet and windy afternoon in Northern France, and we recorded it the next day. We just happened to be in the company of a brilliant keyboards player and producer, by the name of Chris Payne, at the time... This is the result. It is based on a myth surrounding a pub in Datchet, Berkshire, called The Royal Stag, and we hope to produce a video to accompany it when it decides to snow - fingers crossed! Enjoy...
-
The Lexicon (mastered)
The Lexicon (mastered) Year: 2017 Album: Sofa So Good Genre: Rock
-
Life on the Road (mastered)
Life on the Road (mastered) Year: 2015 Album: Sofa So Good Genre: Folk
Recorded in France and mastered by Christopher Payne, who also kindly added keyboards for us. Enjoy!!
-
Annus Horribilis 2016 (mastered)
Annus Horribilis 2016 (mastered) Year: 2016 Album: Sofa So Good Genre: Folk
Written as a lament to those we sadly lost in 2016
-
Saturday Night TV (mastered) MASTERED
Saturday Night TV (mastered) MASTERED Year: 2016 Album: Sofa, so good... Genre: Folk
-
Toxic Sofa @ Wokingham Festival 2019
Toxic Sofa @ Wokingham Festival 2019 (Video)a-ysIFENd_o
-
Toxic Sofa at Wokingham Festival 2018
Toxic Sofa at Wokingham Festival 2018 (Video)6jbCYm-i7wQ
-
We are Toxic Sofa!!!
We are Toxic Sofa!!! (Video)qNYt87sujwU
-
Will You?
Will You? (Video)s-eq3J7j1OM
-
Saturday Night TV
Saturday Night TV (Video)6Ly5ESPxwx0
-
Toxic Sofa Live @ The Cellar Bar 2017
Toxic Sofa Live @ The Cellar Bar 2017 (Video)Eqn8v3WTxxQ
-
Brain Damage/Eclipse
Brain Damage/Eclipse (Video)gJecKYOGAp4
-
Folsom Prison Blues
Folsom Prison Blues (Video)uLLMXD5HsbM
-
Space Oddity
Space Oddity (Video)muf7_suSK4E
-
Toxic Sofa play The Bracknell Ale & Wine Festival 2016
Toxic Sofa play The Bracknell Ale & Wine Festival 2016 (Video)RU3_lbL5rCg
-
Uncomfortable Bum...
Uncomfortable Bum... (Video)u8wzKpp3Ibc
-
Life on the Road
Life on the Road (Video)5siCDeTrkkE
-
I Will Survive
I Will Survive (Video)flDilIck69E
CALENDAR
Past Events
For details of our forthcoming gigs, see https://www.bandsintown.com/a/12753438
Line Up:
7:15pm - Andrew Darlin
7:40pm - Ted Robinson
8:05pm - Toxic Sofa
8:30pm - Horizon
8:55pm - Abi Powell
9:20pm - Lucina
9:40pm - James Parkin
10:05pm - Kev Singing
10:30pm - Simon Williams
All this - plus stalls, and lots of fun activities!
It is being held at The Aborfield British Legion, Everley Road, Reading RG2 9PR.
We will be playing a short set alongside three other acoustic acts. Lineup: Tune Head, Toxic Sofa, Andy Moir and Adam Giles Levy. Admission: Free. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/551766315216207
Six local acoustic acts play three songs each, at least one of which is an original of theirs. Line up: Lisa Kenny; Riot of Gollins; Caramel Fire; Toxic Sofa; Reviva Rush; Steaph. For more info: https://norden.farm/events/the-studio-session-61
We will be playing a 20min set alongside other talented local acoustic artists. More info: https://www.facebook.com/acousticvault
We will be playing a short set alongside four other acoustic acts and will be joining up with 2Tanium for a coule of numbers. More info: http://www.roseandcrownsandhurst.info/whats-on/monday/
Held at Garth Hill College, Bull Lane, Bracknell RG42 2LN, over the weekend 10-11 February 2018. Saytime market entrance £2.
We will be playing the Sunday afternoon on the Cafe Stage
For more information, visit www.theenchantedmarket.com
Following the success of 2017's Rock Week, GSMC are delighted to announce that this event will be returning to The Acoustic Couch, Bracknell from the 4th – 13th January 2018.
On the bill with us tonight will be Rick Sinfield, Dandy Man and Slip on John.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1928701780782066/
This is Halloween! This is Halloween!! Escape the Trick or Treaters and come along to our next outing to The Couch, to relax and sample our eclectic folk rock, alongside some other fabulous acoustic acts. As always, you will be waited on by 'fiendly' staff.
Timings:
Doors 7pm
7:15 - Andrew Darlin
7:35 - Dandy Man
7:55 - The Fishwives Fancy
8:15- Davie Mcgirr
BREAK
8:50p - Abi Powell
9:10 - Rain Crew
9:30 - The Garfunkels
9:50 - Toxic Sofa
Appearing alongside other talented local musicians and artists
Appearing alongside other talented local artists
Wednesday 27 September 19.30-22.30 -
Well now, chums! Who's coming down to The Atrium at South Hill Park on Monday night for an evening of top-class acoustic music in the Acoustic Cafe, organised by the fabulous Mr Graham Steel and his wondrous Music Company, aided and abetted by the Master of Sounds, Mr Tom Burden, and featuring the multitudinous talents of Gillian McCoy, Steve Savory, Adam Giles Levy, Anthony Bennett, and Bracknell's answer to Sonny and Cher, the never-knowingly-understood Toxic Sofa!!! You'd be mad to miss it!!
Celebrating the opening of the new shopping centre in Bracknell
Appearing alongside other talented artists
Celebrating with other artists the opening of the new shopping centre in Bracknell
Appearing alongside some other talented artists
We should be on quite early. Would be great to see you there...
A return visit to this great venue
Our first outing at this event. Excited....
Our second outing at this fabulous venue, alongside other artists...
Come along and join us at the best showcase acoustic evening in town!
at The Acoustic Couch, Market Street, Bracknell, Berkshire, along with a selection of other local acts
An event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Great Hollands.
The motorcycle show returns to Holy Trinity Church, Bracknell, Berkshire, and promises to be bigger and better this year!! We will be organising the live music once again, so watch this space for a list of local artists who will be performing
Come along and join us at the best showcase evening in town! Other musicians on the bill to be announced shortly...
Come along and join us at the best showcase evening in town! Other musicians on the bill to be announced shortly...
The Toxics are once more being let loose on the brave folk of Bracknell in the New Year. Join us as we look forward to 2017
Come along and join us for our last appearance at the cafe this year. There is a themed buffet available 19.30-21.30 for £12 pp and the acoustic music entertainment is free! Other musicians on the bill to be announced shortly...
Organised by Abi Powell. We've got 7 amazing acts to play! Entry is £5.00 and all ticket costs go to Children in Need! More information to be released soon! Hosted by Bracknell Rugby Club in Lily Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire
This is Halloween! This is Halloween!! Escape the Trick or Treaters and come along to our next outing at the cafe, to relax and sample our eclectic folk rock, alongside some other fabulous acoustic acts. As always, main meals are 2-4-1 before 8.30pm and you will be waited on by 'fiendly' staff.
Really looking forward to performing at this gig. All in aid of OXFAM and bringing together a host of talented performers (and us!!).Other performing include Abi Powell, Ted Robinson, Mike Tuffery, Zach Johnson and Emma Kennedy and Steve Schulpher. One not to miss and raising money for an extremely good cause...Tickets £5 - available on the door.
We will be playing in The Studio at Norden Farm in Maidenhead as part of their 'Studio Session'...
Back here again in July, and the event has an American theme, for some reason... So get your Goddamn asses down here and enjoy 2-4-1 meals whilst taking in some USA culture and no doubt some C&W and Hillbilly Blues (and not a Donald Trump mention all evening, we promise lol!!) xx
Hi all! We will be playing a half hour set at North Greenwich tube station tomorrow, as part of the Stone Free Festival. We are also VIP guests of 'grumpy old git' Rick Wakeman, who will be performing a one-off updated version of his 'King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table' in the round at the O2. Perhaps as we are on at lunchtime we may be able to persuade him to hand out our cards at the station (if everything is in hand lol!!)
Yes, we officially have a slot this year at this fabulous free event, set in the grounds of the beautiful mansion that is South Hill Park. The event covers Saturday and Sunday and there are plenty of activities for the kids as well as the great selection of foods on offer. Visited by thousands last year... (And Kim gets to play her bass - which will she choose??!! :-))
The anniversary gig for us - we played our first gig at this festival last year. Hic! Time to be confirmed
The Toxics are once more being let loose on the brave folk of Bracknell. And meals are 2-4-1 until 8.30pm
Back again due to popular demand, Toxic Sofa will be providing musical entertainment throughout the day, along with some other talented local musicians
Toxic Sofa are on first - 1 of 8 acts. Come along if you can and offer your support (we will wash it and give it back - promise!!)
The Toxics are once more being let loose on the brave fold of Bracknell. And meals are 2-4-1 until 8.30pm
Yes, they liked us so much, they are letting us out again at South Hill Park, Bracknell's, Atrium Cafe, along with 4 others. Main meals are 2-4-1 until 8pm. Set list includes, Bowie, Buggles, Blondie, Floyd, Gloria Gaynor plus some of our own self-penned observations on life. What's not to like?
Join us for some classics and originals as we entertain once again in South Hill Park, Bracknell's Atrium Bar. Free event and we will be sharing the bill with three other acts :-)
Toxic Sofa take over the Atrium Bar, playing original songs, classics and maybe a few Xmas tunes...
Described as Farnborough's most vibrant celebration of local bands, the arts, beer & food! Toxic Sofa will be gracing the stage @ 2.30pm with half an hour of ecclectick accoustic folk rock. Hope to see as many of you there as can make it... Cheers! - Hic!!
https://www.facebook.com/swanmusicfest
Venue::
Cody Sports & Social Club
The Fairway
Old Ively Road
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 0FE
We will now be playing in The Studio at Norden Farm in Maidenhead as part of their 'The Studio Session' on Saturday 29 August. It's a ticketed event but we have a limited number of discounted tickets. Let us know if you want one. More info here: https://norden.farm/events/the-studio-session-53
Toxic Sofa will be playing a 45 minute set alongside talented singer/songwriter Abi Powell and Tony Brown of The Capo Thieves. Free BBQ too!
Come along and see us play a 45 minute set of original songs and covers