Leeds Pan Central Rock the Co-operative Academy

Well the days are long gone that you could call for the kids you want, jump in the minibus and go downtown. You can't even book them in advance not unless it's the Town Hall, and even then I usually only now get them for the show itself, not the morning rehearsal.

My latest letter to the paper [on sister blog]:

http://victoriajaquissmusiceducator.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/music-raises-exam-results-good-but-not.html]


enumerates, and not for the first time, all the great great benefits that music, playing music, playing well enough to play in public, confers on a human being. . . . . . .

Well, cutting this long one short, we are me [Victoria], Yi Bai, Georgia and Joyce. Next up is Chloe [flute player and singer] who has played four times in her life so far, and never the songs we are about to take on. Then the three amazing Czech boys from the Co-operative Academy [Primrose High School as was]. I checked out the Czechs the day before; yes, Nicolas can drum calypso; yes Adrian can change chords by ear, and on the day here is Timi, who with some heavy guidance can hit the bass note on cue. And then, just as you thought this was a already proper band, I spot Gavin before he spots me!
It was a trip down Memory Lane. There's Richard, Nadia, Jacky, Marie, Diane for a start.

The whole show is about what makes Britain great, and it's its many different cultures. The break-your-heart act was the Slovenian choir with the girl lead/soloist [with Timi accompanying on piano! Now that's what I call live music]. Because I don't which school students, if any have parental permission to be on this blog, we tried pics with players leaning at silly angles, or turned round.

Foxwood Steel play for Cloverleaf at Dewsbury Town Hall

 

 

 

 

 

We know Natalie from Huddersfield Carnival. In July we played for her nephew's wedding in Sheffield; today we are at Dewsbury Town Hall for Cloverleaf's 20th Anniversary. And this building just reeks with history. Balconies, corridors, intricate woodwork, velvet curtains. Loving it. There's Bollywood dancing on the stage when we arrive.

 

I ask Natalie where we should set up; she disappears on stage to wiggle Bollywood-style and gives me to her colleague to decide. The colleague leads me and Bex back out of the hall into the Town Hall's vestibule and shows me a few tables. I look surprised; I sask, Who will watch us here? She looks incredulous, and says Do you need to be watched?

 

 

 

 

 

It's our turn to look incredulous. Then we all realise that she is mistaking us for the caterers! LOL. And still Lolling weeks later.

 

We are me [Victoria], Bex, Varshika, Vicky, Natalie, Bart, Charlotte and Holly. And instead of serving Caribbean food we serve up some Caribbean music. It's been a long week. We play tried and tested. Watch people all round the room tapping their feet and half-dancing as they chat.

 

At the end,  a guy approaches,

 

What was the name of that last song?

 

Is Heat

 

Nope. I'm sure I've heard it before.

 

You go to Huddersfield Carnival?

 

Yup

 

Every July for ten years.

 

Well, I don't mind, but I rest my case. However I went to see Bruce Springsteen once at NEC Birmingham, and he didn't play, Dancing In the Dark, and it quite spoilt the evening and then I had to drive back to Leeds at 3 in the morning, not buzzing but really irritated.