Recently I had the pleasure of being invited to a friends House Concert and it reinforced the knowledge that this region has such an enormous wealth of unrecognised talent. The quartet - Bushfire - under the leadership of professional musician Kent Daniels produced an outstanding evening of entertainment to a houseful of friends and family.
The music was some of the finest I've heard for a long time. Contemporary Australiana mixed with some traditional airs, irish reels and jigs, original comedy and indies, and beautiful original ballads; delivered in a polished performance from experienced musicians and a trail of varied instruments that would make your head spin, and wrapped in an endless store of yarns and anecdotes.
People bought their own drinks, the hosts provided a yummy supper, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, and while the music played you could have heard a pin drop. A nominal door charge paid the musicians fee for the evening.
For music lovers, a House Concert is the ultimate listening environment. It demonstrates a mutual respect for musicians and audience that you just don't get in a commercial, licensed venue. There's no ugly attention-seeking drunks vying for the limelight. You get to choose the audience you're surrounded by. And you get the opportunity for personal interaction with the performers - to hear the stories behind the music.
There is significant growth in the rise of House Concerts - Australia has lagged behind Europe and the States of course - and whilst they've always been around in the Folk world, it's great to see other genre's getting on the bandwagon too.
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WIN IN NOVEMBER: *follow the blog *become a member or *join the mailing list and you'll go in the draw to win a copy of the new album "UNDERCOVERED" ....drawn end of November.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Inspired, Creative, and Blessed
This stunningly beautiful weather as we move into Spring is certainly inspiring! And there's lots to get inspired about right now too.
I'm working on writing this year's Christmas show - check out the Projects page - getting the scripts finalised, the music sorted, and creating the set (some challenges there!)
I've also agreed to become the new director for Novocastrian Players - a local theatre troupe with a 40+year history. It means I'm writing a new show for them and doing the prep for its production in mid 2013. I'm looking forward to working with such an experienced troupe.
With 2 shows to write, I've been heading off to the beach for inspiration - and this glorious weather is helping the process.
At the same time, I'm working with a new backing singer - Kathy Clarke - who has a stunning voice although next to no performance experience. But it's joyful to be able to share the skills and knowledge with her and watch her develop her skill set. It's been some 12 years since I've had a singing partner (it took me a loooong time to get over the loss of Jules!...hint hint Jules - are you ready to get back into harness yet?)
And on top of that, I loved working with Anousha Victoire on the Petticoat Pioneers project....she obviously enjoyed the work too because she's asked me to form a new duo with her. We're also working on another project similar to Petticoat's. So I'm excited to see what 2013 will bring.
Being immersed in the creative world of music is truly a blessing. I look around me at a world gone mad; where greed is the new god; where suicide is rising because people can't cope with life; where humanity and community are foreign words to those who hold power; and I know that the Grace of Creativity is where I find my centre. I'm thankful every day for the blessing of family, music, and creative inspirational friends.
I'm working on writing this year's Christmas show - check out the Projects page - getting the scripts finalised, the music sorted, and creating the set (some challenges there!)
I've also agreed to become the new director for Novocastrian Players - a local theatre troupe with a 40+year history. It means I'm writing a new show for them and doing the prep for its production in mid 2013. I'm looking forward to working with such an experienced troupe.
With 2 shows to write, I've been heading off to the beach for inspiration - and this glorious weather is helping the process.
At the same time, I'm working with a new backing singer - Kathy Clarke - who has a stunning voice although next to no performance experience. But it's joyful to be able to share the skills and knowledge with her and watch her develop her skill set. It's been some 12 years since I've had a singing partner (it took me a loooong time to get over the loss of Jules!...hint hint Jules - are you ready to get back into harness yet?)
And on top of that, I loved working with Anousha Victoire on the Petticoat Pioneers project....she obviously enjoyed the work too because she's asked me to form a new duo with her. We're also working on another project similar to Petticoat's. So I'm excited to see what 2013 will bring.
Being immersed in the creative world of music is truly a blessing. I look around me at a world gone mad; where greed is the new god; where suicide is rising because people can't cope with life; where humanity and community are foreign words to those who hold power; and I know that the Grace of Creativity is where I find my centre. I'm thankful every day for the blessing of family, music, and creative inspirational friends.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Catching the Fever
Music is not an Olympic sport....thank goodness! Yet some people turn it into a competition, falling into the trap of "compare, compete".
This week, I've watched young men and women telling themselves that they are failures because they didn't win "gold" at the Olympic Games. Yet they've already proved they are 'winners' [whatever that means] by simply being good enough to be selected to participate in a world games.
How often do I see musicians telling themselves that they are 'hopeless' because they don't play or sing as well as another musician?! How often do I hear musicians expressing destructive envy because someone else got the gig and they didn't?! (it goes something like this ...."oh listen to THAT, I could run rings around him/her, how come THEY're getting payed to play here, I should be playing not them, he/she is crap, I'm better than that).
Perhaps its simply a human trait to measure ourselves against others....then again, maybe it's something we learn from a competitive society. Either way, when it comes to music comparison with others is demeaning to ourself as well as diminishing them. Engaging in competition with other musicians is purely useless - what does it prove? Compare and Compete is fruitless exercise, it's highly negative, and it doesn't uplift either party.
And isn't that what music is supposed to do?.......uplift us all?
Celebrate the uniqueness in each one of us I say! Admire the skill of other musicians, aspire to do better if you must, but recognise that you don't have to sound the same as anyone else. Enjoy and appreciate the skill that you have. Because those who have the ability to play an instrument or to sing are blessed with a gift. Such a gift is compounded when it is shared with others. The more you give it away, the more rewarded you feel.
So don't catch the disease of compare/compete.....but catch the fever of uplifting each other through music.
This week, I've watched young men and women telling themselves that they are failures because they didn't win "gold" at the Olympic Games. Yet they've already proved they are 'winners' [whatever that means] by simply being good enough to be selected to participate in a world games.
How often do I see musicians telling themselves that they are 'hopeless' because they don't play or sing as well as another musician?! How often do I hear musicians expressing destructive envy because someone else got the gig and they didn't?! (it goes something like this ...."oh listen to THAT, I could run rings around him/her, how come THEY're getting payed to play here, I should be playing not them, he/she is crap, I'm better than that).
Perhaps its simply a human trait to measure ourselves against others....then again, maybe it's something we learn from a competitive society. Either way, when it comes to music comparison with others is demeaning to ourself as well as diminishing them. Engaging in competition with other musicians is purely useless - what does it prove? Compare and Compete is fruitless exercise, it's highly negative, and it doesn't uplift either party.
And isn't that what music is supposed to do?.......uplift us all?
Celebrate the uniqueness in each one of us I say! Admire the skill of other musicians, aspire to do better if you must, but recognise that you don't have to sound the same as anyone else. Enjoy and appreciate the skill that you have. Because those who have the ability to play an instrument or to sing are blessed with a gift. Such a gift is compounded when it is shared with others. The more you give it away, the more rewarded you feel.
So don't catch the disease of compare/compete.....but catch the fever of uplifting each other through music.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Music in the Community
I had the pleasure this week of addressing a local Rotary Club where I shared some of my songs, along with some insight into the life of a working musician.
Just as there's a marked difference to working in a major corporation vs working in a small to micro-small business, so it is with Music and the Arts. Some musicians are in there for fame, fortune, recognition ....and few of those will achieve their big dreams in a world where commercial interests take priority over the artform. But - and leaving aside the hobbyist players - there is a substantial number of musicians, working at community level, with a whole different set of priorities.
Community musicians have a passion to engage with their community, to make a contribution to the betterment of their community, and to foster a passion for their art within the community. Some of them do this by actively working with individuals and groups - teaching, sharing, encouraging others to get involved in music. {A great example locally is Mark Jackson who instigated the Newcastle Ukestra which now numbers hundreds of individual members. Many of those had never known the joy of making music. The movement has community members helping other community members in small groups and encouraging friendship and connection amongst people of all ages}.
Others make a difference in the daily life of individuals by busking - uplifting someone with a smile makes a difference. A thread of music from another human being may just distract and uplift someone carrying a particularly heavy burden at that moment. Whilst others take the stories of individuals in the community and write them in songs, creating a melodic record of the day to day life in our community, our society.
It's an important role that these artists fill in the world around us. Yet they are - for the most part - terribly undervalued, underrated and unrecognised for the contribution they make.
Mega concerts and huge arts events may be a commercial drawcard which benefits Councils and governments through tourism dollars. But it is the smaller, intimate, community-focused, Arts & Music-based functions and events which enriches the individuals who live in the community and which builds a community spirit. And it's community musicians and artists that make those things come alive.
Just as there's a marked difference to working in a major corporation vs working in a small to micro-small business, so it is with Music and the Arts. Some musicians are in there for fame, fortune, recognition ....and few of those will achieve their big dreams in a world where commercial interests take priority over the artform. But - and leaving aside the hobbyist players - there is a substantial number of musicians, working at community level, with a whole different set of priorities.
Community musicians have a passion to engage with their community, to make a contribution to the betterment of their community, and to foster a passion for their art within the community. Some of them do this by actively working with individuals and groups - teaching, sharing, encouraging others to get involved in music. {A great example locally is Mark Jackson who instigated the Newcastle Ukestra which now numbers hundreds of individual members. Many of those had never known the joy of making music. The movement has community members helping other community members in small groups and encouraging friendship and connection amongst people of all ages}.
Others make a difference in the daily life of individuals by busking - uplifting someone with a smile makes a difference. A thread of music from another human being may just distract and uplift someone carrying a particularly heavy burden at that moment. Whilst others take the stories of individuals in the community and write them in songs, creating a melodic record of the day to day life in our community, our society.
It's an important role that these artists fill in the world around us. Yet they are - for the most part - terribly undervalued, underrated and unrecognised for the contribution they make.
Mega concerts and huge arts events may be a commercial drawcard which benefits Councils and governments through tourism dollars. But it is the smaller, intimate, community-focused, Arts & Music-based functions and events which enriches the individuals who live in the community and which builds a community spirit. And it's community musicians and artists that make those things come alive.
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