-
Winter 2011/12
Jan 12, 2012Hi everyone -
Another year passes not so quietly away ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihQuiyV-lXU Thanks to Ros Duffell for this). I’ve had a good year with lots of festivals - from Celtic Connections in January to Cork in October and many places in between. I was invited to Broadstairs Festival for the first time this year and had a great time, including a concert with Chumbawamba and Robb Johnson – “Fantabulosa” to quote Kenneth Williams! I’d love to visit this one again. I met some new and some old friends – NOT old you understand but old as in ‘previous’. (Actually, some were old – you know, younger than me but old nevertheless!) The same was true of Cork in Ireland. I had a great time especially in the children’s concert I did in Cork Central Library. The children who came with their parents had little idea of what I was going to do, although a few had heard some of my early children’s CDs. They were all wonderful. They sang and signed as eagerly as only children can. Whenever I have a children’s concert, whether at Festivals here in England, Australia or in Canada, I am reminded of Raffi’s song ‘Like Me and You’. Children are the same the world over. Whichever country, whichever culture, whichever religion they come from, their eagerness and innocence is a delight to behold and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to play for them. Travelling to Cork also brought back memories of a previous life, when as an academic from Sheffield Polytechnic I was an external examiner at Cork University College. It was this year’s visit to Cork Festival where I ‘outed’ myself as a recovering academic! (Thanks to John Maguire for this)
-
News, comment and information!
Sep 07, 2011I'm feeling pretty exhausted at the moment. I have to remember I'm no spring chicken and rushing around the country is now hard work for me. The traffic is so heavy and unfortunately, quite aggressive. Still, I survived - from Sidmouth to Wickham to Broadstairs to Saltburn ... a brief rest ... and then Towersey. I have to admit I love performing. Audiences were very generous and I am very grateful - THANK YOU all of you. At Towersey at the annual Monday afternoon concert, David Ferrard joined me for a couple of songs and he was really well received. Some of you commented how this spot was especially enjoyed. Having The Spooky Men's Chorale as a 'backing group' was fantastic. I thought it would be fun to have them sing the chorus to Leon Rosselson's 'You Need Skin'. They were wonderful - these big bush men from the Blue Mountains singing this particular song seemed so incongruous and yet so delightful. Kate Rowe, also from OZ joined us and we sang Les Barker's 'Ben Kanobi' shanty. We finished off with John Tams' 'Rolling Home' - it seems at Towersey I can't get away without singing this.
-
August 2011
Aug 04, 2011This is not really a proper Newsletter – I just wanted everyone to know a couple of things:
-
Newsletter – April 2011
May 28, 2011It’s been a slow year so far with regard to playing and singing. I am doing less these days but still enjoy it when I get on a stage. It’s the travelling I find exhausting. I used to enjoy that too but not any longer. Age, I suppose!
I have enjoyed singing at the new club here in Sheffield: Bright Phoebus. It’s a great evening - meets monthly and has some great evenings coming up. If you take a look at the web site and live anywhere near Sheffield, I urge you to give it a go. You’ll not be disappointed I’m sure. www.brightphoebus.com
-
Newsletter Extra – November 2010
Dec 08, 2010Hey Everyone….. I didn’t think I’d write another one of these before the New Year but here I am almost buried in almost twenty four inches of snow (Honestly. It’s fantastic!) and I am not going anywhere. So… I thought I’d write a brief Newsletter and surprise you all!
