Tag Archives: group

A Day in the Life of Katy Seath By Katy Seath

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This week is half term so I take a break from my usual Monday – Thursday evenings running Rock Choir rehearsals. Today is going to be a busy one and in a way I realise it captures so much of what makes up my work as a musician – both as choir leader, singer and performer.

Kprofessional.

Credit: Pierre LeMond Photography Studio

I’m up and out by 9am. I’m en route to meet my friend, Darren, who has asked if I can arrange a choir flashmob performance for his colleagues  at the Home Office. Instead of an open plan set up (having referred to the event as their ‘town hall meeting with 200 staff’) I instead find myself in an office with work units, chairs, photocopiers and computers. Oh dear Darren never mentioned all the ‘stuff’.  We talk through how (on earth) I am going to fit in 45 choir members.

I leave a little behind schedule to attend a rehearsal with Bassistry at a studio space near Elephant and Castle. It’s miserably cold day so its not ideal that the space only has one heater. Hot tea will have to suffice. I’ve been a vocalist for the group for almost 10 years but our live performances have been very occasional.  Made up of a variety of top players, the band is lead by Marcel Pusey. I describe Marcel as a music entrepreneur – working internationally running workshops in composing, designing educational music software that’s sold around the world as well as making albums and collaborating with other musicians/singers (like me!).

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Some of Bassistry players. Left to Right. Katy Seath, Nicola Bull, Marcel Pusey, Sam Agard.

I love his music and am excited the new album is ready to launch. Today’s rehearsal is to prepare for the show case in a few weeks. It also allows us to ascertain how the electronic sounds can be recreated on stage. It’s the first time we’ve included this element and it becomes a little stressful.  While Marcel talks with Sam on drums, I check my emails. Two more choir members wanting to do the flashmob (that’s 47 now!) Another message asks if I can do a piano/vocal gig at my usual hotel near Russell Square. Having emails on your phone can mean you’re always switched on for work and being self employed it feels like you have to.

katy on chair smiling Credit: Pierre LeMond Photography Studio

Back to the rehearsal. Cues and count ins get slightly confusing and it takes some time to put things right.  But once under way, it feels so wonderful to sing with the guys. There is nothing better to experience performing with such superb instrumentalists – I’m much more in my element singing live in this way than in the recording studio.

The rehearsal ends and it’s a quick au revoir as I head into central London. It’s still cold and miserable, so this time it will be wine to warm me up.

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The evening is purely for pleasure as I meet with five friends at a restaurant near the Aldwych Theatre. It’s no coincidence that we’re meeting here.  Afterwards we are going to watch our amazing friend, Katie Brayben, perform as Carole King in the musical ‘Beautiful’.

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We all know each other through singing as part of The Rockabellas – a vintage vocal group.  My experiences with The Rockabellas have been some of the most enjoyable – dressing up in ultra feminine styles, 1940’s hair, pillar box red lipstick and glamorous venues. But by far the best thing has been to make friendships and professional links with these incredibly talented vocalists. Their backgrounds range from West End to Ronnie Scotts and beyond. I have had ‘fan’ moments with all of them. Tonight is no different. Having just laughed and cried our way through the show, we stand in the rain by the stage door waiting for Katie. I’m in heaven. Not just because I am a huge Carole King fan and would say she inspired me to be a singer pianist, but also because I get to see a friend do what she loves best on stage.

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To hear some examples of Katy’s work, visit katyseath.com

Bassistry’s Album ‘What The Hell Do You Call This’ can be ordered through www.bassistry.com. Their album launch is at The Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on Tuesday, 10th March, 8pm . Tickets can be purchased through ticketweb.co.uk or on the door.

Learn more about The Rockabellas and look out for their new album through www.theRockabellas.com

 

 

 

Angelina Jolie And Michelle Obama Add Voices To #bringbackourgirls Campaign For Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls

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Last month over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped and thanks to social media, the protest has been loud, with powerful names giving their support. Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama have added their voices to the #bringbackourgirls campaign. The First Lady tweeted this photo and message of support.

michelle obama #bringbackourgirls

Angelina Jolie told the Agence France-Presse: “The kidnapping of these young Nigerian girls is an unthinkable cruelty, Sadly, of course, there is real evil in the world. You watch the news and you see all of the people suffering and so much cruelty.”

CNN screened a video released by Nigerian Islamic group Boko Haram which featured the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, who claimed responsibility for kidnapping the girls and vowed to sell them into slavery. Reportedly, 276 girls were kidnapped from a school in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state.

Visit Change.org to sign the petition and use the #bringbackourgirls hashtag.

 

Chesham Writers and Scribblers Group

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Chesham Writers and Scribblers is an informal and inspirational writing group for aspiring authors, which has been meeting regularly since 2012.  The diverse group of people meet each month at The Drawing Room in Chesham to discuss debate and dissect their work. Writing can be very solitary, so to have such support and feedback from likeminded people is an enormous help. Visit their blog  writersandscribblers.wordpress.com New members are warmly welcomed, whether a published writer, scribbler or beginner.

Chesham Writers and Scribblers Group
The group also uses a range of jointly-agreed short assignments to explore various themes, aspects and genres of writing – which they then share at the meetings. They also attend monthly mentoring sessions and have regular six hour daily workshops with published author Margaret Graham

To date some of the group have successfully published novels either through the traditional route, a co-operative or through self-publishing. Others have had their own stage plays performed and submitted various competition entries.
Their aims and achievements

Jane Carling, founder of the group, always dreamed of becoming an author, but life got in the way. She finally self-published her first novel, Pandora’s Box, romantic fiction story set in Greece and is available on Amazon. Her next project is a collection of short stories. Visit her website www.janecarling.co.uk

Clare Elstow has written extensively for television and is now exploring new genres and styles in both prose and poetry. She particularly enjoys short-form writing, but hopes to embark on that elusive novel eventually…

Jan Flannigan has won reader awards for her fan fiction. She decided to join the group with the hopes of improving and is in the process of writing her first crime novel. Visit blog janetfl.wordpress.com

Pat Heath is a doctor turned author, currently working on a self-help book for people who discover they have cancer…

Michael Rowan is yet to publish a book, play or poetry unless you count a poem in the school magazine when he was thirteen. Since this early success he has developed a love of writing nurtured by the group…

Maryam Sharifi is from Animation. The bug started when she helped to develop an award winning animated short story. Now working on ways of promoting her next project, Burrow Market for which she wrote the script, amongst other things, she also wishes to publish children’s stories. 
Visit her blog maryamandjam.blogspot.co.uk

Catriona Troth is a freelance writer and regular contributor to the literary e-zine Words with Jam. She is the author of two novels, Ghost Town and Gift of the Raven, both published with the Triskele Books author collective. Visit her website www.triskelebooks.co.uk

Paul Vates had written for stage, print and screen. His latest play, Voltemand and Cornelius are joyfully returned is in development whilst he is working on his first novel…

 

Russia: Disclose Whereabouts of Missing Pussy Riot Member. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova Still Missing

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Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Pussy Riots, Russia, missingConcern grows for missing Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.

Amnesty International has condemned the continuing refusal to disclose the whereabouts of a member of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot, who is rumoured to be in transfer to a prison colony in Siberia, saying it is clearly yet another attempt to silence her.

Denis Krivosheev Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director at Amnesty International said:
“Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has publicly complained of threats she received from prison officials. We are concerned that she now may be being punished for this and for speaking out about deplorable prison conditions.

“The Russian authorities must immediately tell her family where she is and allow her access to a lawyer. She is a prisoner of conscience who should have never been taken to jail in the first place. Refusing to say where she is simply fuels rumours of the worst case scenario.
“If reports are true, transferring her to a prison colony thousands of kilometres from Moscow would make it almost impossible for her relatives and lawyers to see her. This would be a violation of her human rights and of Russia’s own laws.”

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova’s whereabouts have been unknown since 22 October when she was reportedly taken from the penal colony where she was serving a two-year prison sentence. It is believed she is being transferred to another place, but the destination has not been revealed.
Her husband has now said a penitentiary administration source informed him of the possible move to a prison colony in Siberia.

Amnesty has made Nadezhda Tolokonnikova the subject of an urgent action campaign, calling on the authorities in Russia to disclose her location immediately.