Tonight I’m going “talent-spotting”. They won’t know that’s what I’m doing. I shall be a spy. A member of the audience like any other, but with a secret agenda. To find singer-songwriters to play at the July ShedSongs event. It is an odd thing to do, because I’m not just listening for who plays/sings well, but listening to lyrics, and thinking of the Big Picture, and who will nestle amongst the other performers. Something that stands out as different, but not too different, harmonious, complementary even, but not jarring. I don’t want the music at Life and Other Art to be like the ignored string quartet in the corner. Neither do I want them to run away! I want people to grab their cuppa and their cake, leave the assorted nudes for a while, watch and listen. I also want passers-by to be drawn in off the street by the music, then go and look at the art too.
I’m curating the sounds I suppose. I like to have a good mix of people, and I like to especially have a mix of experience. I like the fact that I might choose someone who hasn’t performed in public before, and also someone seasoned and experienced like Dan (I have mentioned him before but won’t expect you to go searching… www.dan-whitehouse.com). What happens is fresh, and fun, and chatty. Performing in a shed – I’m told – is not like a stage. There is little between the artist and the audience. There is conversation between songs and during tuning… there are jokes and heckling, and another cup of tea. The shed joins in… percussion of course.
I’m hoping to have an even jammier-packed programme this year, so that everyone who comes hears something lovely as well as engaging with the exhibition of quilts from the Rebellious Quilters, and life drawing and other art (hence the title) from the life drawing group. Each year this event has grown, and I’m immensely proud to have been one of its instigators!
Next morning update…. Found a couple of people…. Watch this space for news!
