International Women’s Day YMCA Staff choir Thursday 10th March 2016.
Megan of Housing at the YMCA had asked if the choir could sing at this event seeing it as an important event to highlight as she deals with discrimination issues and sexual violence issues against women as part of her work. She had organised with Splott and Adamsdown “Communities first” for us to do a 20 minute set. We arrived and warmed up upstairs – the choir were really on form and sang their hearts out. The room situation was not ideal for a vocal group due to the big echo – which seemed to amplify speech and drown out song – also a festival atmosphere with bouncy castle – generator etc – however it was a really successful event for the choir and they showed their harmony singing off extremely well singing a variety of women’s songs…Mzabalazo, Born this Way(Lady Gaga), Bele Mama, as well as some other favourites.
Oasis Women’s Group event for International Women’s Day at the Star Centre Splott March 10th 2016
Ruth from the women’s group at Oasis (the day centre for refugees and asylum seekers and volunteers from the local community) asked me if I’d be able to be involved in the women’s group part of the event held at the Star Centre which was organized by Communities First Splott and Adamsdown.
In the lead up to the event we worked on songs like “Mzabalazo” meaning we are the women – in the struggle – also other favourites and a bit of live “workshopping” using the drums and call and response singing. It was such an amazing turn out of the women and they were very confident to sing and drum. Even though the event was in a large sports hall which was really echoey and had bouncy castle etc we made a good sound which carried well and we had some lovely comments afterwards and even some people joining in. So pleased at the turn out and participation of the women as it must have felt rather daunting
Variegated Women International Women’s Day event at the Bristol Folk House 12th March 2016.
This was an event organised by Frankie Armstrong http://www.frankiearmstrong.com/ for the “Variegated Women” with support from the “Bellies” a punk “Avant garde” duo from Bristol.
This was as exciting event to be a part of with the mixture of groups that come from the larger Variegated Women adding a real variety of sound and song. Also it is me performing and not being there to lead a choir so gives a different experience for me plus I don’t have my back to the audience for a change!
So lovely to see all eyes from the audience looking out for Frankie as we did a dramatic opening to our set with us coming in 1 by 1 and Frankie was last. She has such an amazing following in Bristol and it was obvious that – though we others did fabulously too – in my opinion the audience were really lapping up everything that Frankie sang on. The previous year she had performed the Brecht songs at the Folk House with Mikey Price as part of a UK tour and this is maybe how she’d amplified further her recent reputation as it truly was an inspiring, lively, moving a strong performance.
Anyway it was a very successful event for us Variegated Women too!