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Last night (Friday, 4th September) I gigged with the Derbyshire Volunteers at the Derby Festé Grand Ceilidh on the Market Place. We started at 9 pm, but by that time, the Market Place was absolutely teeming with people. They were all curious as to what was going to happen. There had already been something happening over by the Old Silk Mill, but we'd been setting up so I didn't see any of that.
What I did see was various artists walking about on stilts, some dressed like circus acts, others like something out of Doctor Who. Fantastic!
On the stroke of 9, we got going with a circle dance involving a random sequence of figures, such as "right-hand turn" and "do-si-do" and there were easily a couple of hundred people dancing - of all ages and sizes. It was great to see the ethnic diversity as well, especially as barn dancing (or ceilidh dancing) is often thought of as something old-fashioned and quaintly "English".
We were due to play till 11, and were cracking on at a fair old pace till it started to rain with 20 minutes still to go. As the stage had been put up without any roof or covering, we had no choice but to stop the show in order to avoid being electrocuted!
At least we left the audience wanting more!
Look out for the video, which I'll be posting in the next day or two.
Saturday 5 September 2009
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Swinging into Autumn
Well, that was the "summer", I suppose. Not many gigs, but not a total dearth, thank goodness.
I've been taking the opportunity to catch up on some reading, particularly Alan Bennett, who has to rate as my favourite author. He has such a wry sense of humour, it never fails to raise a smile, even the occasional guffaw.
So what's new? The Ram Company have been working hard, behind the scenes, polishing up the "Waltzers and Wonders" show - new coloured shirts for one thing, and a really satisfying photo shoot on the stage at the Derby Guildhall. We're getting more enquiries about the show from festivals and larger venues, so watch this space!
I've also been doing a few gigs with the fabulous Kellys Heroes. Check out the video here.
My super agent Fifi (Fiona Maurice-Smith) is still feeding bookings my way, bless her. What would I do without her? I know it's trendy for people to knock agents, but Fi really does work hard for her commissions, and I for one do appreciate the fact that she takes a huge burden off my shoulders and lets me just get on with providing the show. Thanks Fi.
The Big Dance of 2008 was really good ... you might just catch a glimpse of the Derbyshire Volunteers on this video compilation of the event.
Looking forward to the Derbyshire Volunteers gig on Derby Market Place this Friday, 4th September 2009, 9 - 11 pm. The occasion? The rather grandly-named Derby Festé. I've been told there could be a couple of thousand people dancing! Let's hope so, eh?
OK. I've got to try hard to get myself back into a routine of getting up at a reasonable time in the mornings. Over the summer holidays, with Ben off school, we've got into quite a lazy pattern of going to bed really late (it's nice and quiet at night, very conducive to working on the computer) and getting up correspondingly late next day.
I've been taking the opportunity to catch up on some reading, particularly Alan Bennett, who has to rate as my favourite author. He has such a wry sense of humour, it never fails to raise a smile, even the occasional guffaw.
So what's new? The Ram Company have been working hard, behind the scenes, polishing up the "Waltzers and Wonders" show - new coloured shirts for one thing, and a really satisfying photo shoot on the stage at the Derby Guildhall. We're getting more enquiries about the show from festivals and larger venues, so watch this space!
I've also been doing a few gigs with the fabulous Kellys Heroes. Check out the video here.
My super agent Fifi (Fiona Maurice-Smith) is still feeding bookings my way, bless her. What would I do without her? I know it's trendy for people to knock agents, but Fi really does work hard for her commissions, and I for one do appreciate the fact that she takes a huge burden off my shoulders and lets me just get on with providing the show. Thanks Fi.
The Big Dance of 2008 was really good ... you might just catch a glimpse of the Derbyshire Volunteers on this video compilation of the event.
Looking forward to the Derbyshire Volunteers gig on Derby Market Place this Friday, 4th September 2009, 9 - 11 pm. The occasion? The rather grandly-named Derby Festé. I've been told there could be a couple of thousand people dancing! Let's hope so, eh?
OK. I've got to try hard to get myself back into a routine of getting up at a reasonable time in the mornings. Over the summer holidays, with Ben off school, we've got into quite a lazy pattern of going to bed really late (it's nice and quiet at night, very conducive to working on the computer) and getting up correspondingly late next day.
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