The Front Line

I seem to be saying 'thank you' a lot at the moment. Maybe it's a sign of where I am, grateful for what I've had, what I have and what I may no longer have.
And talking to a friend about music and moments for certain songs and what they mean to us. And that made me think of The Front Line.
Side 1.
The Mighty Diamonds - Right Time
U-Roy - Natty Rebel
Johnny Clarke - Declaration of Rights
I-Roy - Don't Touch I Man Locks
The Gladiators - Looks Is Deceiving

Side 2.
Delroy Washington - Freedom Fighters
U-Roy - The Great Psalms
Keith Hudson - Civilisation
The Gladiator - Know Yourself Mankind
The Mighty Diamonds - Africa

I have had this record - LP for a long time. I copied the cover and had it on my wall at university. It made me feel strong. It made me feel like a fighter.

I would never have seen this cover or heard this album if it had not been for Matthew Duffield. I often wonder what he is doing now, what bands he has discovered, what music he has introduced to people. If he has the cast of his face, or was it hands that was on his parents' mantlepiece? He was so cool. He would go down to London and come back with music the rest of us had never heard of. And if you liked it, he would buy it for you on his next trip. I asked him to get The Front Line for me. And he did. It added to my life, the way I thought, the feelings I had, the images I appreciated more and more that stood for things, spoke to people. Do I love the cover more than the music? Probably. Made me see the power of visuals. I need to replay the music. Make the effort to lift the lid on the turntable.

And on the other end of the scale, thank you to Jez Wade for my bright yellow LP of Elton John's A Yellow Brick Road which I love because he gave it to me. I don't have that cover on my wall. It doesn't make me see the world differently. It doesn't smack me in the face the way The Front Line does. But it is part of my life.
Makes me think of all the senses and their power.

Juba Do Leao and Christian Aid - RNCM

We had a rehearsal yesterday with Juba do Leao. We have performed in many venues, from Festivals, Platt Fields, Picadilly Gardens, Oldham streets, clubs, The Attic, private parties, The Contact Theatre and now the Royal Northern College of Music. This is the first where we're working out the details of the exits and entrances, changes of costume in full detail. It's exciting. This band is unique in the way the drums, melodies and dance are created. They connect so that sound and visuals come together rather than occuring as separate unities. It makes your heart soar because it is so strong and vibrant and uplifting. Both performers and the audience feel it. And as in all the best shows, the one lifts the other.
Taking it one step further, for this show, it is to support Christian Aid, who help where help is needed around the world, this connection is magnified. The connection between the drummers, melody band and dancers connects the audience and both connect with the work of Christian Aid. It's joyful. Triple whammy.

Music, arts and festivals and competitions

Chorlton Arts Festival 2009 has begun!
I hope tomorrow is sunny and warm so that the Festival Launch events can be enjoyed to the full. Food eaten outside, people sitting around on the grass to watch the dancing and music. Standing around chatting and drinking, browsing around the stalls in the Arts and Crafts fair. Seeing people you haven't for a while and then strolling home, content with your little packages containing goodies and gifts and pretty things to take out and turn over in your hands and be pleased that you bought them.
So. Please be sunny and warm.

It did rain in the night and it felt good to be warm in bed. But that is today. Tomorrow will be different.

Hopefully see some of you there. I'm writing today. Second chapter of Leaving Coty having sorted the first chapter out yesterday. I've lost count of the number of edits. And pack up the props and stuff for my stall tomorrow at the launch. I won't have time in the morning.
Tonight, I'm going to watch a competition, The Rosamund Prize at the Royal College of Music in Manchester. It's a prize for composers. My daughter Genevieve is performing the piece by one of the students. It is a magical piece, the music haunting and suits Genevieve's voice perfectly. She dances too!
Good luck to all the participants.