We Shall Overcome

I’ve been popping into the Mesopotamia charity shop for a few years now. I’ve had a few pieces of furniture, some very useful books for Uni, some gorgeous fabrics and my food processor from there. It’s always an interesting place to have a nose around. I knew that they were doing great work to support refugees, but as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic began to be felt they decided to increase the support they offer locally. Mesopotamia is right in my community, getting food and support to a range of vulnerable people on my own doorstep.

The line-up was cracking, mostly local but a special guest appearance from our mate up north:

Pete Yen

Paul Carubuncle

Lytisha Tunbridge

Andy Vee

Ian Clegg and Jack Scrimshaw

Rachel Joy and Eagle Spits

Emma Ireland

Joe Solo

Pixie Styx

All of the performances are available to watch on the event at 

https://www.facebook.com/events/643957773124546/

We raised over £800 and that’s going to keep them going for at least the next week.

1: Your Side of the Street

2: Little Miss

3: Poor Will

4: Pincushion Princess

5: Music Note, Aubergine, Smiley Face

This event was memorable for many, many reasons. Supporting Billy Bragg, Grace Petrie, Joe Solo and Jess Silk, streaming to 800-odd people, 7.6k views over the next couple of days and almost £30,000 raised by 32 artists and 25.9k audience members for We Shall Overcome; all of these were phenomenal.

But for a Nottingham lass, a proper high point has to be getting my name in Left Lion for the first time:  https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2020/april/we-shall-overcome-2020-preview/

1: English Soil

2: Your Side of the Street

3: Tossed by a Bullock in Nottingham

4: That'll Do

With pubs and other venues shut and the government advising people against going out some will face increased social isolation. To help combat this and keep all of our spirits up during these challenging and unprecedented times we are planning a number of online events. These will also give musicians and other performers facing a temporary loss of earnings an opportunity to promote themselves to a wider audience and perhaps sell some merchandise online.

I was approached by Synergy NG9 to do a live streamed session as a fundraiser for Beeston Chilwell Area Mutual Aid Group with support from WSO Nottingham. I’d never streamed before but it was a good cause and I was a little frustrated at having to cancel live shows. It took a little testing to figure out how to get the best quality stream with the available tech, but in the end it worked. I tried something new by introducing my family photos. While I like the idea the pictures could have been clearer, so I will have to explore ways of integrating images into a stream.

It feels like a significant step to be able to do an hour show of predominantly family history songs. I’ve only done family-friendly gigs up to a half hour before. Now I know I can do an hour, I feel like my back catalogue is coming along nicely and I can provide something appropriate to a wider range of audiences.

Mine was just the first of a series of these sessions hosted by Synergy NG9. Check out what’s coming up at  https://www.facebook.com/SynergyNG9

1: That’ll Do

2: English Soil

3: Rainbow Chasers

4: Blue Scars

5: Your Side of the Street

6: Panic in the Water

7: Tossed by a Bullock in Nottingham