East Steel at Middleton Park

May 10 2015 sees East Steel at Miggy Park, South Leeds for its triumphant spring return. We have now collected quite a following but think it may have something to do with the lovely new café by the lake. Tea, buns and playing in a bandstand. Mmmm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything went to plan but we did have a nervous moment or two, as this was the same day as the Leeds half-marathon and half the band lived inside its route. As it turned out I was able to drive under bridges on the inner-ring road, so I probably didn't need to have worried.

 

We were Trish, Anne, Lynn, Pippa, Sophie, Yi Bai, Vicky, Wanda, Kirsty, Bex and myself. We played our usual set plus the new 2015 ones - Maria, Soca Junkie and Matilda. It's still a case of brace yourself and go for it.

 

East Steel is a music centre band funded and organised by Leeds ArtForms Music Service. Leaders: Victoria Jaquiss and Bex Ainge

East Plays Middelton Park, Leeds,September 2014

This time I forgot the cymbals so Bart [and Bex, at first] played on a cowbell instead of a hi-hat. Bart wasn't so sure; we're all too used to improvising. At Mirfield, Tim placed the snare on an upturned drum stool; once, in Morley Town Centre, John kicked the bass drum instead of pressing on the pedal.

 

Anyway, it's our first gig of the autumn term, and what a lovely still day. We play by the lake, and Tingley Brass Band is on the bandstand. it's a mixed blessing as the brass band gets the shelter and the acoustics and we get a constantly passing audience. And we are next door to the vegetarian Asian food stall. Yummy. [That's dinner sorted].

 

 

 

This is Middleton produce Show. There's a sheepdog rounding up geese, a birds of prey display, zumba, home made jam and buns. [That's dessert sorted], flowers [that's the garden sorted]. It's lovely, well-organised day. We love playing this one.

 

There's some great games for the kids. See kids - big and small.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were me, Bex, Vicky, Lynn, Anne, Trisha, Andy [who arrives in some style. see pic above], Kirsty, Sophie, Bart and Wanda.

 

Later on I lit the fire and put all music back into folders.

 

Next: Harehills and Beeston in two weeks time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Steel play Miggy Park

Well Debs,

Last time we played Middleton Park, we were one of a number of acts, but, reading a little pamphlet called Events in Leeds, I found our name by the 30th June as playing in said park, and then found no other act mentioned. So best be on time then.

First I had a meeting of the West Park Centre Campaign Group. I packed the van early, attended [chaired even] the meeting, then left promptly to pick up Tim back in Hyde Park, then Amy in Holbeck. The park entrance was in the same place as it was last year - always a good thing; Wanda was holding the gate for us, and here a lovely new café, with paved terrace-performance area.
















Well, before we started the set a small dog started to pull away from its owner, its lead-on-a-spring getting longer and longer until the owner let go and the metal lead went flying, whipping anything in its way, including the backs of my ankles as it did. See pictures taken two days later. I asked if there was a doctor in the house, but the doctor in our band told me she didn't think I needed A and E. Well, there's sympathy!

We were me, Vicky [with Bex's Smalls - how the heck did that happen!], Wendy, Jeanette, Peter, Tim, Amy, Anne, Lynn, Wanda, Kirsty and Trish.

Listening to us quite wore Mikey out.

We had some tea and buns, packed the van quite loosely, then I went and helped Charlotte move house. This involved watching her getting a mattress - with no handles - why do they do that - make the floppiest thing in the world and then give you nowhere to get a grip! Oh, as I said, get a mattress up some stairs.

Then a mystery cat decided to inspect the camshaft.