Finally getting a chance to post the final batch of photos from the Nov-Dec UK tour! Last Monday we drove from Manchester to Cornwall, getting home in time for me to collect Eli from his school bus in our village, where we were bemused as always by the local news headlines posted on the sandwich board outside the shop -- all credit to Martin for spotting it and taking the pic. On Tuesday we actually managed to have a day off, but on Wednesday it was back to the grindstone, with three in-studio radio interviews in three different stations. Our first port of call was The David White Show in BBC Radio Cornwall headquarters, where JR Francis - Musician from Winter Mountain was finishing up his interview just as I arrived for mine. David asked if Joe and I would consider doing a song together, and despite having never even met each other before, let alone played and sung before, we managed to cobble together what I think is a lovely-sounding duet on The Wild Mountain Thyme (Joes guitar in standard tuning, mine in DADGAD and the two of us taking it in turns to sing melody and harmony), which David played on his show the next day. On Saturdays BBC Introducing Cornwall, David very kindly played my new single The Silver Lining as well as Wednesdays interview, my live in-studio rendition of Walking Into White and the duet with Joe. You can listen back to the whole thing for the next three and a half weeks on bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02cf3tc -- my bit starts at at 01:32:48 and continues for just under 20 minutes. We left BBC Cornwall with just enough time to grab lunch on the hoof from Tesco, then headed out to Tregony, where I had a most enjoyable interview with Cheryl Gordon on The Hub Radio, playing a couple of live numbers as well. After that, it was on to Falmouth, Cornwall, where I was the featured guest on Simon Neilds About You programme on Source fm -- an hour-long show during which I got to select the music and talk about it as well as about me! Martin dropped me home with minutes to spare before I had to head out again to choir practice with the Pipers Singers -- were getting ready for our Christmas concert at St Buryan Village Hall next Wednesday 17th, when in addition to singing alto in the choir Ill also be singing tenor on two carols performed by a quartet consisting of myself, Rachel Thomas (soprano), Barbara Cressey (alto) and choir director Philip Chant (bass). Thursday was another busy day: in the afternoon I gave a two-hour stagecraft workshop to Luke News MusicMixX students at Mounts Bay Academy, and in the evening I had a gig at Philleigh Folk way out on the Roseland Peninsula. So nice to see so many familiar faces there, including one couple whod been to see me at at least five other venues around Cornwall! True fans! Big thanks to Greg and Chris Williams for having me back at Philleigh for the second time; they also played support on the night, as did a very nice fellow called Pete who did double duty stoking the fire in the wood stove directly behind the stage. And thanks to Elaine for looking after the raffle, even though I didnt win! Boo! Friday was the final gig of the tour -- and the year -- for me, and I was delighted that it was at The Acorn in Penzance, Cornwall, with the aforementioned Luke New as MC, four young students whod been in the stagecraft workshop -- Olivia, Nat, Huck and Woody -- playing support, and more students helping out with tech (Callum and Bryce) and photography (Darcy). Great big thanks to them as well as to all the Acorn crew -- Vanessa, Steve, Andrew, Phil, Richie and Zoe -- for making it such a great night! And the biggest of all thanks to my wonderful long-suffering manager, road manager, sound engineer, van driver, suitcase carrier and maker of musical magic, Martin Stansbury, for getting me through this marathon three-month tour in one piece -- I couldnt have done it without him, and it was lovely to have his lovely girlfriend Faye in the audience (with her mum and stepdad), as well as my wonderful husband Feargal and our children Eli and Lily Jane! It was a fantastic way to finish the year … Only Im not quite finished yet, because this coming Monday the 15th Ill be hosting an open session at Out of the Blue Porthleven in Porthleven -- not a concert but an informal singaround with all welcome to participate or just listen! Come one come all! Then theres the Pipers Choir concert at the village hall on the 17th, and Nine Lessons & Carols with the church choir in St Buryans Church on the 21st. Looking forward to the rehearsal for that tomorrow evening, as well as to the Pipers Choir rehearsal tonight! Its good to be home. :-)
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 09:23:47 +0000
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