Nothing’s ‘normal’ any more. For all of us, what’s happening now can, to put it plainly, be a real headf*ck.
Category: Performing Arts
Imagining the future
Towards the end of 2019, I was on panels discussing Decolonising Culture (Royal Academy) and Reimagining Britain (Queen Mary, University of London/ Wasafiri Magazine’s 35th anniversary). Many… Read more “Imagining the future”
The Moon Shines Bright
Sam Lee is a celebrated folk singer, collector, interpreter and revivalist of old folk songs. With ‘The Moon Shines Bright’, Sam borrows from the Gypsy and traveller tradition a song which asks us to stop and see what our increasingly standardised world is doing to us.
On ‘The Moon Shines Bright’ Sam’s joined by Elizabeth Fraser who weaves a magical fragment of the Scottish folk song ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ into ‘The Moon Shines Bright’.
With themes of dark, short days, the end of one year and the start of another, of the Winter Solstice, of the impermanence of life and need to love, be loved, forgive, hope, nurture and connect with nature, this is the perfect song to herald the New Year.
Wishing love and peace.
Find out more about Sam Lee and the recording of ‘The Moon Shines Bright’ – here
Hear an earlier version of ‘The Moon Shines Bright’ recorded four or five years ago, sung at Winchester Cathedral without Elizabeth Fraser – here
Find out more about Sam Lee and his forthcoming tour – here
More about Elizabeth Fraser – here
Download ‘The Moon Shines Bright’ – here
Creative Direction
Madani Younis is to leave his role as Creative Director at the Southbank Centre after just 10 months in post. Wow. Something’s not quite right is it?… Read more “Creative Direction”
Natacha Atlas – Strange Days
I heard a live preview of Natacha Atlas’s album STRANGE DAYS at an intimate gig in Blackheath earlier this summer. It was an extraordinary experience, hypnotic, transporting,… Read more “Natacha Atlas – Strange Days”
Developing Audiences
As someone who works in the Cultural Industry, I’m fascinated by the ongoing evolution of audiences: the way that some stick to what they know, detest change… Read more “Developing Audiences”
Happiness
Happiness (below) is a short film made by Steve Cutts. It’s a masterpiece.
We live in a society where the focus on well being and mindfulness is in the ascendant. It’s the natural corollary to lives lived in the shadow of an exploitative system – where what we buy is, we are told, what defines us. Th film looks at the myths we are sold – about the true path to happiness being just ‘x’ or ‘y’ and hang the consequences. It asks questions.
Perhaps the true path to happiness doesn’t lie in unrestrained consumption, but rather in developing yourself and your own resilience?
Happiness, by Steve Cutts
