My Biggest Weekend (nothing to do with the BBC)

Radio One may have been off in Wales having the Biggest Weekend, but I've had one of my own here at home, with my living-away-from-home daughter back in town.

It started on Thursday with a JT Soar gig, and daughter (Ayres) opening for Mountain Schmountain and Scarecrow Boat.

Scarecrow Boat frontman, Dom

Chatsworth

Over the next couple of days we visited family, went to our favourite local places - Chatsworth, and Shipley - did some supermarket stocking up, called in at IKEA (what Bank Holiday would be complete without a trip there?) - and ate fish and chips from allegedly the best chippie ever (our local)

Honeysuckle-scented
azaleas at
Chatsworth

Shipley Country Park

Late Sunday afternoon while our daughter was playing in Nottingham at Dot to Dot festival, hubby and I went urban exploring around the city, through tunnels and wandering round its oldest park, the Arboretum.

Nottingham Arboretum

Monday night found us all back at JT Soar, with daughter supporting Bristol-based band, Vinegar. Timings and dog-walking meant I missed Alex Hale's opening act, and only caught the last few songs of Make A Halo's set (but they're both local so hopefully I can catch them elsewhere soon).





Tuesday came round too soon, and the car was loaded up for the trip up to daughter's Manchester home. I still feel sad when she leaves so luckily had something to occupy me that evening - Sean McGowan back out on tour, supported by Irish singer Anna's Anchor, and local guy George Gadd.

Now it's time to put my feet up, and ignore the Fitbit's promptings, for a while.

Going it alone - Ben Marwood (and more) at JT Soar

JT Soar is a strange, secretive venue. Once a wholesale greengrocers, it still keeps its old frontage but, a bit like a speakeasy dive from America's prohibition years, hides something very different behind that exterior. There's no hard liquor on sale, though; it's strictly bring-your-own. The space is bare, there are few chairs but after all you've come to listen to musicians so does that matter? Not really, or at least not till I get cramp in the middle of the night!

Ben Marwood

I've been there quite a lot in this last year - to see Sean McGowan just before he got signed to a recording label, for my daughter's EP launch, and numerous other occasions  - so when I found out George Gadd (yep, seen him there too) was promoting a gig with three singer/songwriters, ALL of whom I wanted to see live, I got OH to give up his running and go out on a Friday night instead. 

She Makes War

The music aspect of the evening was great - George himself first to warm up the crowd, followed by Helen Chambers, She Makes War, and Ben Marwood. I loved all of them, and would go see any of them again but, sorry Ben and Helen, She Makes War (aka Laura Kidd) was the 'find' of the night. I've been following her on social media for a while, hearing new songs via her newsletter, but it was somehow only live that I thought I MUST hear more of her, so I bought a CD. 

Disarm - She Makes War

George Gadd immortalised on stickers

Something I hadn't expected from the evening, though, was to be taken aback by my daughter's absence. We've been to to gigs without her before, when she was away at uni, busy with something else, or on holiday. Lots in little pub venues, As December Falls at Rescue Rooms, Frank Turner at Rock City ... but I only realised on the night that every time I'd been to JT Soar my daughter had been performing there, and frequently promoting the event (meaning I'd spend part of my time taking money on the door!). Now of course she's off living her own life and us old parents have either got to stay home or  pretend we're really hip and know all about the contemporary folk scene, and bluff it out. Well, I'm not staying home!

 It definitely made things a little sad and weird to be there without her, and it really felt like I was stepping outside my comfort zone. It wasn't something I intended adding to my #60NewThings list, but turns out it is - going it alone with no daughter-shaped safety net. Thank you, George, for not thinking we'd strayed into the wrong place, and were really looking for some cheap fruit and veg :)

Birthday week

We all like birthdays, don't we? Cake and presents, and cake, and possibly more cake. But I never quite think a single day of celebration is enough, especially when it's a huge round-number birthday as mine is this year. So I've managed (yet again) again to drag things out over a week or so.



To start, we packed the car with adults and baby grandson, and headed north to youngest daughter's flat for the first of my birthday lunches.  There's an odd mix of beverages on offer when everyone's gathered together but the cake looked more traditional - and tasted delicious.

On my actual birthday the rain came down, so elder daughter came round (with baby) and prepared 'high tea' for lunch - three sorts of delicate, crust-free finger sandwiches (including smoked salmon), with scones and cake to follow.  The only thing we lacked was a fancy cake stand to serve things on, and maybe some pretty china tea-cups would have looked better than mugs, but neither would have improved the taste :0














Next day, to prove its total disregard for the calendar, the sun came out. Although we had 'chores' to do, I managed to sneak a few hours outside at Allestree park on the edge of Derby. It's mainly laid to golf course but the walk around the lake is attractive, especially with blue sky reflecting in the water.

Still not finished with this birthday ... Friday evening saw us at Nottingham's JT Soar listening to George Gadd, Helen Chamber, She Makes War, and Ben Marwood.

Then at the weekend, my youngest daughter came home, and we had another day out - this time to Chatsworth.
















It's been a lovely week, and I think I've done quite well with my celebrating, but maybe now it's time to get back to normal ...

A Christmassy evening

The last minute run-up to Christmas seems to have gone a bit weird, so I didn't get time to do everything I'd planned, so this was my first, and last, Christmas market of the season.

























We avoided the one at Chatsworth (which we loved last year) because of wet weather, we missed the Lincoln market because it ended sooner than I expected, and I thought we'd never find time to get to Nottingham's, but we had an hour or two to hang around before a gig last week, so walked into the city centre following the lights and music to check things out - and find something to eat (of course) from among the venison and ostrich burgers.











There were fairy light galore, rides for children, an ice rink, a pop-up pub, and stalls selling everything from Christmas jumpers to cheese...










... even some snow to add to the wintry atmosphere (and coming from a machine, it didn't settle and cause traffic problems, which has to be in its favour)

Then it was time to head to the gig to see my daughter, Ayres, performing. The venue, JT Soar, was suitably festive with twinkly fairy lights, there was a Christmas play list on between acts, and  Cameron Sinclair Harris and his band definitely got in the Christmassy mood by dressing up - Santa, an elf or two, and a turkey on drums.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Busy, busy, busy. Can I have a rest now, please?

It's been one of those non-stop, out-every-night weeks - and now I'm exhausted!
It started really last Sunday, getting up at six in the morning ready for Leicester marathon (fortunately, no one was expecting ME to run!)

Monday evening we were at a gig organised by my youngest daughter at JT Soar in Nottingham, with Meg Garner's personal, intimate poetry, a set from my daughter playing as Ayres, local guy George Gadd playing anything and everything except music from his new ep, and 'on-tour' artist Chloe Glover. I've seen Chloe before, back in June, singing her mix of  ballad-style songs and 'loud shouty stuff' (her words, not mine! ) and liked her music then but haven't really got round to checking it out properly. Seeing her again convinced me I should!


I might have got away with staying in on Tuesday, but I thought I should nip to to see my parents, nearly a thirty mile round trip, so it takes a chunk out of the evening leaving no time for lazing in front of the TV

Ayres

Wednesday was another gig night, this time at The Speciality Coffee shop in Nottingham, to catch Dave Giles and Lewis Fieldhouse on tour with a special addition to Nottingham's bill of Ayres opening for them. It was an unusual location - a cafe - discovered by Dave on a previous trip to the city, and somewhere I must have walked past several times but never noticed. it was certainly lighter and airier than many gig venues - and had seats for all :)

Dave Giles

On Thursday we were off out to Nottingham Playhouse to see Arthur Miller's classic All My Sons, about a family torn by the death of a son in WW2, and a cover-up at the family armaments factory.

By Friday I was hoping for a night off and a chance to sit and read my book, but I was made to go running. I'm sure it's good for me but it was dark and dismal and hard work.

Weekend at last - that's supposed to be a time for rest, isn't it? Anyway ... the past couple of days we'd been checking the weather forecast regularly due to incoming storm 'Brian' and with rain expected anytime after Saturday lunchtime and then hanging around for most of the weekend, we decided to chance the morning drizzle and have a walk round Chatsworth gardens to catch the sculpture exhibition again. Of course, we managed to get wet, though not as much as on our previous trip, and we did see all the exhibits at last. I just wish we could have found a bright sunny day.

Then in the evening, guess what? we were off out to Nottingham again! Third gig of the week, third venue - The Maze, this time to see good friend Joe McCorriston and his mate Gaz Brookfield.

At last! It's Sunday, I'm going to stay in all day. In fact, I might be tempted to stay in all week!

Ayres EP Launch

These days I'm out and about pretty frequently to see bands and solo artists performing in local pubs and music venues, but last week saw a very special occasion - my youngest daughter's EP launch!















But before you set your expectations too high, No, it wasn't the glamorous glitzy show biz event you might expect, but much like a normal DIY gig except with my daughter headlining.

Everything actually was a little D I Y - the 'studio' was a converted bedroom, my daughter burned the cds herself, and did all the artwork for the inserts, which we then printed on our dodgy home printer. It doesn't take away any of the thrill of it all though.







She's been playing for a while now as Ayres (it's a reference to the Alice Ayres character in Closer), and obviously I've heard these songs as they've developed and been performed but there's something really special about hearing them on an actual cd. I wasn't allowed to listen to any of the work in progress as vocals and backing tracks were laid down, so hearing the finished product was amazing. I think it's wonderful that with the tech available today and a little help from friends in the DIY music scene, she can put together a professional-sounding ep, share it online through sites like Bandcamp and Spotify, and follow her dreams without having to wait to be 'discovered'. Who knows where it may lead ...
Ayres describes herself as a mix between Frank Turner and Conor Oberst; me, I'd say Sandi Thom. You can hear it and make your own mind up though - it's called Put Me Back, has four tracks, and any or all can be downloaded for free from Bandcamp, or bought on cd, in which case you get one of three 'thank you' stories to the people who helped, encouraged, and supported her on the way.
Edited; now available to stream for free on Spotify here

Three Days - mainly in pictures

 I've had a busy sort of time these last few days, pulling in a bit of all the sorts of things I do.





Firstly ... Thursday evening, at J T Soar in Nottingham for music and spoken word.
Joshua Jones, Scarecrow Boat and Phaedra's Love on tour, my daughter snagging herself a set as Ayres, and local-ish band Fatmate from Leicester rounding things off.

Scarecrow Boat (sorry about the lighting)

A good evening, even though I had to do a stint watching 'the door', a sizeable crowd, and lots of new sounds to hear.

The door

Friday - into town for a quick look at the Weeping Window poppies designed by Derby artist Paul Cummins. They're also 'on tour' and till 23rd July will be pouring from the top of Derby's Silk Mill rather than the Tower of London.


To be honest I found them less impressive in real life than they appear in photographs, but at least in can say I've seen them.

 On the way to the Silk Mill we passed the memorial to the time Bonnie Prince Charlie spent in Derby as he pressed south towards London in 1745. This was the furthest he got. before he decided to retreat, and his bid for the throne ended at Culloden. It's not easy to photograph this 'plaque' as it's quite long and placed on a narrow walkway by the river. It says "Prince Charles Edward Stuart arrived in Derby on 4th December 1745 and held Council of War in Exeter house on this site".*














And Saturday was a much quieter day spent in the garden - shelling peas with the help of my assistant (he was in charge of any that fell on the floor), and admiring the flowers.

waiting for the first Day Lily to open

 Lavender is now reaching across the main path, the later pink roses are flowering, as is the first sweet pea. The day lilies maybe need some more sun.

first sweet pea

So, a gig, a bit of art and history, and lounging in the garden - good times :)



 *there's even a Wikipedia entry