Foxwood and Sparrows at Unity at 20.

 

Well Debs, you will be here for Unity. Yippee!

I don't think I'm giving away anything when I declare that it was just the best Unity ever! And then go on to describe how it was exactly that.

This is the Twentieth Unity Day on Woodhouse Moor. With the various steelbands I have played eighteen of them, being away at London Festival Hall one year, and Manchester Carnival the other.

 

 

 

The first year was when  Unity Day was the response by my mates/neighbours: Andy, Ahmet, Katie, Alison, Chris Calendar, Simon, and the rest of the crew to the fire-bombing of the Newlands and the torching of all the streets around, missing our car by metres! They booked Panick, the Music College steel band with whom I was also playing at the time. When I discovered we were to play on the Moor opposite my house, and my own bands being so local, I was astonished.

I was half on, half off the committee, never having the time to commit properly so missed this bit of casting. It didn't happen again! It was Foxwood, Leeds Silver Steel Sparrows, Steel Rising and Royal Park Steel Pandas after that. And on the tenth anniversary of Unity I was given the Community Award myself, given to me by Arthur France [from Leeds West Indian Carnival Committee].

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides playing 18 times we have also played in nearly eighteen different places: stone circle, on the path down to Headingley Lane, on the mainstage, in front of the main stage, near the side stage [with drummers stuck miked up on said stage!], in the first aid tent [that was a wet year]. and on various pieces of grass around the Moor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I always wanted to play in the World Music Tent, and so pleased when Mike Jolly asked us. What made it nicer was that, by going down next to the mainstage, that made two sets. I love a two-setter.

 

 

 Harvey J had the same outfit on as Natnat, even down to the shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chasing Cars went down so well in the Tent that we added it to the Mainstage set where we didn't play quite as well. In the tent we were me [Victoria], you [Debs], Vicky, Daisy, Georgia G2, Varshika [all the way from a night shift at a Liverpool hospital], Yi Bai, Tim, Natalie, Millie S, Chloe, Sophie, Ashley, Gary, Wanda, Kirsty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then for mainstage we lost Georgia G2 and gained Fehmina and Amy. Not quite enough room on the stage so me, Chloe, Millie S and Vicky took to plinths [aka speakers] while yourself, Gary and Ashley stood on grass in between.

 

Andrew the Photographer did some good balancing acts at the back of the stage. Don't know how he stayed upright!

 

Actually, surprised we didn't fall off the plinths which were 10 cm wider than our stands. Not at all surprised the scientist amongst us [yourself, Debs] declined the offer of the dizzy[ing] heights!

 

[When Andrew send over some of his pics there will be more of the Moor.]

 

[Next, Belle Isle]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Steel at Black Bull

Three people smiling! I don't believe it! That not the Leeds way!

Well Debs, my turn to watch you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You arrived back in the UK in time to play Blenheim [with Foxwood/Sparrows], Huddersfield J'ouvert [with Foxwood/Sparrows/South Steel], Charlesworth [with South Steel], Black Bull [with South Steel] and you have Unity to come! This is all in 8 days! On top of a top education job somewhere foreign, and jet lag.

 

 

South Steel, with leader, Charlotte Emery, rehearses at the Black Bull, Birstall, and plays gigs there a few times a year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday you were Charlotte, you, Holly, Caroline, Neil, Katie, Sarah, Ashley, Tracey, Kirsty, and at one point a large whitish dog. Natnat drummed. Me, Bex and Katie came to support and heckle [no, not heckle!].

Sometimes not playing is weird, especially if there are tunes in common, but it is also a nice change. Who knew someone was having a baby? Not this photographer!

 

 

Leeds Silver Steel Sparrows play Breeze Millennium Square

On Wednesday 22 July Kirsten, Caitlin, Lucy and Alice played their first Sparrows' steelband gig. Old Sparrows were Georgia, Chloe, Naomi, Millie S. Support were Yi Bai [actually drumming] Vicky, Julie; parent support: Trish, Sarah; leaders - we were me and Bex.

 

 

Still new to our repertoire, California Girls was soundly massacred, and not for the first time. Give us a year and we will wonder what the fuss was! Sadly this is today!

 

 

 

This was Breeze in Millennium Square, a departure from Briggate on account that someone has already spent a day building this stage for Alfie Boe and co. Not an opportunity to miss. But it did rain.





We had smoke machines and lighting and some lovely architecture; not so many shoppers passing, but you can't have it all!

Andrew and Trish took some nice pics. I'm off to learn California Girls some more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Steel at Pool-in-Wharfedale

 

In the last four days, between East Steel, Foxwood and Sparrows, we have played six gigs in four towns/villages, namely in Birmingham, Leeds, Huddersfield and now Pool [in Wharfedale!]. [Now Poole would have been a gig too far.]

 

So when Richard said he would like the sound of a live steel band wafting across the Pool Festival, I thought his reasons for wanting us at his event worthy enough to agree to. He deliberately placed us to one side of the action, and there we were, wafting for the duration.

 

 

 

It was definitely a tea and buns event, and, in fact a cream tea event, with optional plants on the side. I bought peas and courgettes.

 

We were me, Vicky, Maddie, Lynn, Yi Bai, Wendy [we had both video-ed the Wimbledon Men's Final] Pippa, Kirsty, Wanda, Anne and Trish. It was a perfect unpressurised end to the Madness [that was the six in one in four].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foxwood Some Sunday for the Ten k Kirkstall Road

In the morning Sophie and Bex are running the Leeds 10k, and we are trying to secretly arrange a little gigette for them at the side of Kirkstall Road.

 

First up Vicky calls round and we try to discover from inside the Little Blue where my soprano and her second pan is. then Bart rolls up in his car packed to the rafters with djembes and stuff . We squeeze ourselves and our gear into the charabang, tell Yi Bai to meet us by the viaduct, and head off to be in time for our ladies on the outward run.

Three years ago we were officially on the traffic island [always a preferred performance area!]. Where we played on and on from 9.30 till midday; today we are just popping up. Yi Bai finally spots us, and we become a quartet.

Well, Debs, the best laid schemes, as Rabbie once said, go aft agley, and when we open the pan bag, it is not my soprano (aka tenor) that greets us, but half a double tenor. Or Billy Two Chords, as he might better be known. So, with Vicky and I swapping round we play the first two lines of Chariots of Fire until Walt rescues us by correctly identifying Gig's pan (C soprano, no notes written on) on the pan rack at home.

2013

  

2013

Theory is that the runners are passing all the time, so only the family across the road knows we are on repeat.

Well, we planned to play for Sophie and Bex and then go, but how do we do that!. All the runners are, well, some of them, applauding us, one even pauses to play a note (let him off with that in a good cause]. Eventually we decide everyone has seen/ heard us at least on either outward lap or homeward one, so we tear ourselves away just as we have found Road is Mine and other minimal chord tunes. Yi Bai and Bart keep up tambourine and djembe relentlessly covering one of the best fine messes of the year, decade even. Next!

Foxwood Steel play Huddersfield Carnival

July 10 2015 and two of us (me and Nat) are on our fifth gig in three days in three different towns. I have to get the van in to Huddersfield Station carpark before 11 a.m.

I do this and park up, and head for some retail therapy as I now hate what I am wearing. One by two and by three the band members tumble out off their trains and out of the station. Today we are Foxwood with guests, Claudia and George, who seems to have recovered from bumping into a few familiar tunes in the Street last night.

 

We play in St George's Square, outside the station, and we decide to play as the crowds are assembling and up to the point that the parade arrives. Unfortunately the band on the stage has planned to do something similar, but they have microphones and very big speakers. I think they also may have a setlist.

 

 

Competing with stage sound systems is a bit disheartening, but we won our own crowd over eventually.

 

Got filmed and interviewed by Kirklees Television, who also interviewed me about the value of Carnival to Huddersfield. I say all the right things about the value of the Arts in a person's life, and carnival to a town [besides obvious financial benefit to those with things to sell!]. But I do think that these traditions were hard fought for and worth preserving.

 

 

Today we are me (Victoria], Bart, Bex, Vicky, Yi Bai, Natalie, Sophie, with guest Sparrows: George and Claudia. Small but perfectly formed.

 

 

 

If it's Friday, and it's July it must be Broomfield, Blenheim and Huddersfield J'Ouvert

Dear Debs (soon to be here in the UK in person), you will know that morning after a long pan day feeling. Bex and I took no chances and reloaded the Little Blue last night ready for this: our three gig day.
 

First up: Broomfield School in Belle Isle/Middleton, south Leeds. It was their Carnival day and this was a thank you to them for releasing Bex for Brum. We were (shift-changing like crazy) me, Natalie, Claudia, Katie, Yi Bai, and one other (forgot who right now!).

Bex also brought her little Clapgate band, now on their second public gig.

We just escaped Broomfield before the Grand Locking of the Gates, and headed over to Blenheim, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary. (This is a school they attempted to close/merge with Little London a decade ago, and I campaigned along with the rest of them to keep it alive. Good thing too as it is now having to expand!) We have now lost Bex, and gained Vicky, Bart, Tim and (all the way from Abu Dabi, pausing only to pick up a hire car!) yourself: Debs.

We are here because Paula and Kristie kept the pressure up for a good weeks, and it is ace. I have taught here myself and so have two of today's players. In fact Tim is here still).

 

After Blenheim I have dubiously agreed to Huddersfield J'Ouvert as this one of Katie and Natalie's favourite gigs of year, and I must admit once you are there, it's a laugh. (though less if you are driving)

Well, Andrew-the-Photographer calls round at 7.45 and we hit the A62. Katie and Natalie are waiting, with those now famous words, "Is this it?" "No", I say, "we have Debs and Charlotte", They reply with those ominous words, "They are in the Head of Steam, and they are drunk". Katie and Natalie are up in arms. Very amusing!

 

Having discovered that Caroline from South Steel was also in the pub we phone her to join us. She agrees to wear a Sparrows' hoody that happens to be in the van, but she is no more sober. Not so amusing!

 

Well we soldier on for a bit, variously threatening Debs and Caroline and cajoling them into remembering anything. Natalie offers to leave if we don't improve, but, over the next 30 minutes, as we hopelessly try Charlotte first on the tune [yes a great drunk tune-player], and then on the chords, leaving you, Debs [just off the plane from the Emirates, and Caroline [hasn't played with Foxwood for a year or so, maybe five!].

 

Fortunately what does happen is that Natalie and Katie start drinking, and the others start sobering up. As the driver, I am A, sober and B, long since past caring.

 

When, enter our small part of this Huddersfield street, one George the Sparrows' drummer, who has just got off the train from Birmingham Music For Youth [where we left him yesterday four gigs earlier], and who is somewhat surprised to hear and then see four people and some tunes he just about recognises.

 

Of course, I ask him A, if he has ten minutes and B, would he wear this red Foxwood vest as we are doing publicity photographs. The audience is scandalised. How will he know your songs? Well, we have long since had a common repertoire between Foxwood, East Steel and Sparrows for such Fine Messes. Natalie says she has never been so happy to see another drummer. She jumps onto the guitar pans and we rock.

 

George gives us twenty minutes, till the end of our session. Then he goes off to finish cleaning his old flat [it's uni changeover day for him], and we pack the van and then go back to Leeds.

 

 

So, disaster averted, all's well that ends well.

Tomorrow is Huddersfield Carnival Proper, but that is another day. G'night.

 .