Excuse typos: done on my iPhone while waiting for the game to start…
Despite rain that became torrential by 11pm, we had a fantastic night for our daughters’ joint 18th and 21st party.
The minstrels set up on the decking outside my studio (thanks to the kindness of a friend of ours with two large gazebos, and when the rain became too severe to continue playing amplified music we went indoors with acoustic guitars, banjo and ukelele.
A little background: for as long as the girls can remember (and stretching back well before they were born) it has been our family’s habit to play live music at family events, and it has more to do with participation per se than expertise, although my nephews Richard and Dan Baker have subsequently become musicians of a high standard.)
My daughters said that this was what they wanted for their joint party and that’s what they got…
Highlights: numerous, but notable in particular…
The action then moved indoors as the rain started to work its way around the sides of the gazebos and it became potentially lethal to carry on with amplified music.
We spent another 2 hours in the living-room with acoustic instruments and further highlights included a lady friend of ours who has mever displayed the slightest indication of musical talent launching into an impassioned and powerful rap over the Bluegrass version of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. The power of the music was upon her and she was moved to testify!
There was a young lad present who sat quietly with an acoustic guitar and played along, following the chords either by ear or as I mouthed them at him. The baton is passed on…
Anna Waldmann and Sam Campbell, Tam Stone, Kenneth Cook and Stuart added guitar, ukelele and good spirits to the mix.
Wonderful evening of music in its original context, far removed from the madness of pop stardom.
