Ed was an extremely gifted guitarist who had achieved international recognition for his guitar playing – he had a bright future ahead of him. Despite the mentoring and support he received from the music business, family and friends, Ed suffered from a lack of self-esteem.
Some months after his funeral, Peter Conway met Margaret Howell and discussed the possibility of holding a concert, to celebrate Ed’s life and music, allowing an opportunity for his friends and fellow musicians to perform.
At the meeting, it was agreed, if feasible, to follow up the concert and create a more lasting memorial by creating an award scheme for young musicians.
In October 2012 a concert under the title ‘An Evening for Ed’ took place at the Albany, Deptford. Amongst many wonderful performances was an unplanned acoustic rendition of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ by one of Ed’s closest friends.
Since then, there have been regular bi-annual fundraising concerts to raise funds to give awards to young musicians (16 – 25) to help them progress with their music. Some of them have mental health issues.
Glenn Tilbrook, Steve Howe, Alec Dankworth, Beth Orton and Chris Difford have been special guests on these concerts.
Sacha T
South London singer songwriter, Sacha T, is known for writing songs in her favourite creative refuge, crouched on her Mum’s stairs with her trusty guitar. A diverse range of influences, combine with Sacha’s uplifting lyrical storytelling, drawn from personal experience, to create an evocative sense of positivity and possibility.
A diverse range of influences, ranging from John Mayer to Selena Gomez, combine with Sacha’s uplifting lyrical storytelling, drawn from personal experience, to create an evocative sense of positivity and possibility. Sacha T is known for her soulful, soothing tones that sit neatly on the blend of the pop, soul and acoustic styles, creating an indie sound that, at times, blurs the line between genres.
With her latest single “Sunshine In My Pocket”, Sacha T brings year-round summer vibes, sharing warmth in every note. The song, inspired by a favourite Dolly Parton quote - “If someone has lost their smile, give them one of yours”, was released late in 2022, landing Sacha T a spot on the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 show ‘Loose Ends’ and was also played on BBC 1Xtra and BBC
Introducing.
A beneficiary of the Help Musicians UK x Mobo fund and the Ed Renshaw Award Sacha T released her second single “Find My Place” and third single “Live” at the start of the year and is currently working on her debut E.P. to be released later in 2023.
Jay Johnson
Jay Johnson is an award-winning musician, songwriter, and producer who moved to London before his teenage years and began making music from a young age. Jay’s naturally curious mind led him to start learning the cello. He then taught himself how to play the guitar a few years after. Jay started listening to artists such as Bob Dylan, Paolo Nutini, and Ben Howard from his early teens, and as a result, their influences can often be seen in his original works.
Jay eventually began writing his own original songs, then a year later, he started busking on the streets of London, and another a year later, he began performing at pubs and venues. A few months after Jay started playing to live crowds in various venues, he decided to leave his previous career plans of becoming a doctor behind and decided to become a full-time musician. Jay’s most recent music features the styles of the early 90s hiphop artists whom he was exposed to at an even younger age.
