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Crystal Bats will be supporting UK chart-toppers Sam And The Womp when they come to Norwich Waterfront on 3rd December this year, as part of their UK winter tour.
Tickets cost £8, and can be bought from the UEA Ticket Bookings website here.
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“Arabella” – the new single from Crystal Bats – is released today. (The launch party is tonight at The Birdcage in Norwich, for anyone looking to attend.)
I appear in the music video for “Arabella”, playing synths and keyboard, and you can watch it here:
And thanks to Charlotte Rutherford for this snap of me on set at the video shoot:
On Set At “Arabella” Music Video Shoot · Charlotte Rutherford And you can buy “Arabella” on iTunes here.
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Thanks to a restructuring, and a change in the funding system for In Harmony Sistema, the continued existence of the project in Norwich was in some doubt, towards the end of last year. When its DfE Grant was cut, In Harmony Norwich was discontinued.
I found the decision to cut the funding to In Harmony Norwich unfathomable. It was a short-sighted and stupid choice, and one which I suspect was motivated more by money and “image” than by a genuine concern for musical education.
On a personal note, I was disappointed not to get to be involved with In Harmony any more – I had spent a whole year working on this exciting and ground-breaking project, and had seen first-hand what a positive effect it was having on the children and the schools involved. I had enjoyed my time on the project, and I felt that I also developed and grew a lot as a person during the course of that year.
But I feared that the much more damaging implications of axing In Harmony Norwich would be what happened to the children involved, when the rug was pulled from under them – in a music education sense. I couldn’t stand the idea that talented and motivated children, who had spent several years learning an instrument, playing in orchestras, and benefitting from all the wonderful experiences that ensemble music can provide, would suddenly – almost overnight – be left with nothing to show for that.
That is why I am delighted that the project in Norwich is continuing. Although not technically called “In Harmony Norwich” any more (as the project is no longer under the In Harmony England umbrella), the Sistema in Norwich project builds on four years of excellent work and development from In Harmony Norwich, and looks to grow and progress in the future, with more and more opportunities to get local schoolchildren playing and enjoying music together, and reaping all the rewards which those rich musical experiences have to offer.
I am currently working as the percussion tutor in Catton Grove Primary School with Sistema in Norwich. It is great to be back, and to know that the excellent work started by In Harmony Norwich is being allowed to continue – I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Sistema in Norwich, and I am proud to be involved in the next step of this exciting journey.
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I am very excited to start playing keyboards in East Anglia’s most exciting and dynamic party and function band, the Joe Ringer Band. Playing an entertaining mix of classic party tunes and modern pop hits, with everything from swing and soul to rock and pop thrown in, these are going to be some very fun gigs indeed!
My gigs with the Joe Ringer Band start from the middle of October, and I’m looking forward to getting the ball rolling with them.
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Crystal Bats are one of the acts selected to play at the John Peel New Music Festival – part of the annual Norwich Sound & Vision Convention – this year. I shall be playing keyboards with Crystal Bats at OPEN (in Norwich) on 13th October.
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I have been a proud endorser of Pellwood Professional Drumsticks for six years, now – and now, for the first time, I am travelling to Čestice, in the Czech Republic, to visit the company, and see their operation in action.
I am really looking forward to meeting Ivan and his team at Pellwood, and talking shop with them, and seeing where the drumsticks which I use on a daily basis actually come from!
Hornbeam Wood Drying, Ready To Be Made Into Sticks
The Dried Wood, Cut Into Blocks And Sorted By Weight
The Dried Wood, Cut Into Blocks And Sorted By Weight
Lathing The Blocks Into Drumsticks
Lathing The Blocks Into Drumsticks
Sticks Sorted And Packed Ready For Dispatch
Sticks Sorted And Packed Ready For Dispatch
Sticks Being Sorted Ready For Packing
Pellwood Company Sign
Testing A Few Different Pellwood Models · Cara Thompson
With The Boss, Mr Ivan Pelíšek · Cara Thompson -
Beach Shoot · Steve Hunt
Beach Shoot · Steve Hunt
Beach Shoot · Steve Hunt
Beach Shoot · Steve Hunt -
Witchers At B2 · Mark Ireland
Witchers At B2 · Mark Ireland -
Pellafort Press Opening · Rory Marsden -
On 20th July, I am going to be playing piano in the gallery at Pellafort Press – a silkscreen and printing studio run by artist Scarlett Massel – to celebrate the official opening of the Press’ gallery and workshop.
I shall be providing an entertaining mix of light jazz and lounge piano music to complement the evening.
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