Due to unforeseen circumstances I didn't get a chance to do any kind of end of year reflection or news or even say “Merry Christmas” as I usually do on here, my dear reader. Those circumstances, family stuff - all good now, have thankfully eased enough that I have started to get back to my desk and so update my adventures and ponderings to this here website. Several things happened in the last few months of 2022 which I didn’t want to pass by even if they have now passed, so here’s my roundup. Apologies if it’s a bit of a long one…
NEW PROJECT NEW SINGLE:
I am delighted to announce the release of ‘Daring Highwayman’ (Nov 22) the first single, vocals by yours truly, from my collaboration with Marry Waterson and Nathaniel Mann. We are now called Hack-Poets Guild and have signed to the mighty One Little Independent label. We recorded the album, Blackletter Garland, during lockdown gloriously produced by my own Gerry Diver and we are now able bring this project out into the world. Hooray!!
We have tour dates in March coinciding with the album release. I will do a fuller post of this next with the video and links etc. At time of writing the next single in our trio of releases prior to the album has just gone out, the fabulous "‘Ten Tongues” this time with vocals by Marry Waterson - again I will do a more detailed post of this on here as soon as I can.
BLOOD WEDDING:
Together with renowned folk singer, fiddle player and Bellowhead front man, Jon Boden, I was invited to write songs for a theatre production of Federico Garcia-Lorca’s play ‘Blood Wedding’ and teach the songs to the students on the MA in Classical Acting course at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. It was a delight working with translations of songs from another language, working out how to twist and turn the rhymes to make sense in English whilst being honest to the original Spanish text, imbuing them with melody and rhythm, atmosphere and breath, then imparting them to others to sing as characters in the context of the play with it’s own myriad complexities and intentions. An interesting quest which I very much hope to get to do again. Garcia-Lorca though! I wasn’t familiar with any of his work at all previously so must rectify that immediately. The production I worked on has finished, sadly, but if you see a production of Blood Wedding anywhere I would recommend it, also do let me know.
ARCADIALIVE:
I continue to perform with the utterly amazing ArcadiaLive film and ensemble which I feel so blessed to be a part of. We’ve had several gigs up and down the UK this year and a highlight was performing at the Amsterdam film festival. I look forward to two more dates in 2023 - March 3rd at Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds and March 4th in London’s Barbican Centre. See previous Arcadia post here for more deets.
TRADSONG TEACHING @ EFDSS:
I will be leading the Traditional Song Class again this term at the Saturday Folk Music Workshops for EFDSS at Camden’s Cecil Sharp House. We had a great time wassailing at the end of last year and actually wassailed our way into this year too, we are only one class in so far, so still time to join, it’s a great way to start the weekend - with a good sing!
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE…
Joining Gerry Diver and a host of artists to perform at Shepherds Bush Empire with Tom Robinson + Band!
Recording the song Rowan Tree with composer Jim Barne for the end credits on the film ‘Living' staring Bill Nighy, directed by Oliver Hermanus released in UK in December.
In autumn I had an absolute blast playing in a garden high, high up on top of a massive building in London’s Fenchurch Street with artist Jony Easterby and crew as part of his continuing Remnant Ecologies Installations. With a particular emphasis on blackbirds Jony installed a multi-speaker recording of a song I wrote to very spooky effect all round the site - I then joined The Mighty Jungulator on liveloops, Pippa Taylor on violin and drones + Jony on guitar to spend a crisp October afternoon improvising on songs about birds whilst facing out across miles of the South and East of London.
Last but not least, thanks to the Nest Collective I got to sing with the nightingales yet again down in beautiful Sussex with singer, promoter and author Sam Lee. I have had the privilege of doing this several times now and can’t compare it to any other gig, it is truly magical engaging with these incredible creatures in this way.
Good memories all.
SAD NEWS - COLIN IRWIN RIP - MUCH MISSED:
A very sad loss in November was the sudden passing of music journalist, author and writer Colin Irwin. Colin generously championed so many musicians in his work particularly in the area of folk music. He interviewed me several times for various papers and magazines including, fRoots, Mojo, Uncut, the Guardian etc, over the years and gave both Gerry and I so much encouragement in our music careers. Writing for mainstream press he pushed folk music into areas it often gets shut out from. I have to admit to feeling a bit lost in regards to the folk scene without him around. Gerry and I also worked with him, pre-lockdown, on a stage piece he’d written about the inimitable Irish singer, Margaret Barry, which was so much fun to do. He died so suddenly I can’t imagine how shocking it must have been for his family - he leaves a great legacy of writing and will be remembered for his warmth and humility. He was a generous, kind and fun soul and I miss him. RIP dear Colin and thank you xxx
OK 2023 HERE WE COME:
Sooooo thank you and goodbye 2022 with all your successes and your sadnesses and your weird Christmas (I just couldn’t get there this year - don’t know why). Looking back its been a pretty good year for me as far as work things go, I started out very tentatively, coming out of lockdown as well as my own health issues - awful dose of Covid in spring, and by the years end I feel I’m now firing on, well, most cylinders anyway and I’ve had the opportunity to do a whole bunch of amazing things I haven’t done before.
Meeting and working with new people has been thrilling as has re-connecting with some I haven’t been in touch with for ages. God, there really are some lovely people around, good to remind myself of that when I’m down in a social media induced slump.
Hello 2023.
Take care people
Love you. Lisa xxxx