I had a brilliant time singing in the Great Hall Dartington on July 5th. It is so liberating to have the chance to
sing what I am so passionate about. My
thanks to Kay and Stephen at Ways With Words Literature Festival for having me
again. I have been preparing for New Networks for Nature Conference in the last few weeks. I am launching my new solo album
there. I will sing there for the first time the song I have written from
interview with Jonathon Porrit who is a big name in environment/ecology and appears on TV, Radio frequently.
Jon works alongside Prince Charles with huge cos. like M&S in amazing
ways I interviewed him in Bristol at a cafe following
the launch of his book The World We Made
He told me about his childhood and I asked him
some honest and profound questions so I
could get a heart felt response. A song
‘has to go quickly from the heart to the heart’ (Leonard Cohen) . I wrote the song using his words and ideas,
sent it to him, he said he loves it and wishes me to contact him when my solo
album is beginning to emerge. In fact
I’m just about to go and rehearse that song right now.
I’m writing a new song especially for the conference from my research into the other folk appearing there, Germaine Greer, George Monbiot, Mike Mc Carthy.
I’ve decided also to sing songs I’ve written with Devon
people too. The more I think about it
the more relevant these songs become as society shifts towards caring for the
soil and for community(yes it is happening!!
there are signs of regeneration in both fields all over the country) So
I shall sing my song about Jack Connabeer again and again. Jack owned a small farm on the side of Hood
Ball.
The hill overlooking Riverford Bridge opposite the
well-known organic farm,
Jack Loved the soil and he loved the land and he planted an
orchard by Riverford Bridge
And he Married Heather and they and their children looked
after the farm
Jack was a celebrated dry-stone waller, Devon hedge layer
and speaker of the Devon dialect
I wrote this song with him and after my interviews I returned
to him with a first draft which he amended until he was satisfied. I enjoyed wworking with Jack and miss
him-sadly he died about 6 years ago.
