Music and Madness

A lovely outing on BBC Radio Norfolk today on the Roy Waller show, we were slightly aprehensive but Roy had slightly more serious approach this time round. He asked us things like 'Are you where you'd like to be in your career", "what would you like to do next, how would you like it to progress?" and heavier questions. We played one of our newest pieces, who knows how it went down out the end of a radio...hopefully better than the Cliff Richard lookilikey tribute man who was on before us... (you see our aprehension?!?!)

Anyway, lots of discussions about what's next for Horses Brawl and how to get gigs further afield and how to make enough money to pay the rent without compromising or doing other gigs which are totally depressing.

On another note...Andre and I potted about 20 pepper plants yesterday and are looking forward to an enormous crop (after planting rather too many seeds and then being surprised at how many and big they are! I may have to brand them and sell them at Horses Brawl gigs).

The cat is on a new fitness and food regime after becoming a bit too docile and plump, Shoogs now has organised excercise with a ball of string and one of us at the other end.

But what I'm actually doing is...

...thinking about new tunes which could be the next brawl favourite. We're getting to close to haveing an album's worth of music, it's a long process, sometimes tunes and ideas just come together in a day and sometimes it can take weeks and then not be anything. It has to be how we feel about a piece of music, there is also a piece I don't want to use called 'Hang Sorrow', it's a really good tune from Playford's Dancing Master, but It makes me too sad because of it's title, I will never be able to dissassociate it's meaning or possible origins.

I've been a bit slack with writing this blog, although I really enjoy it. I've felt in a bit of a muddle, with a few things. Letting thoughts get in my head and in the way of focussing on what i'm doing.

A couple of new pieces I am soooo happy with, so I hope that the two dance books I ordered will give me at least a piece each and then I will be happier.....

We may make a return visit to Machaut but I am aware that I want to keep all the different elements working together, if we stay more with one composer or style then sounds become similar, I want to keep making pieces which each have their own identity.

what am i doing?

I've just sent this out to our mailing list....

Dear Brawl Friends,
Just before we head off on tour to Hexham, Devon and London over the next couple of months, we have a selection of performances in East Anglia.

Friday 22nd August - 3pm ish - Horses Brawl will be appearing live on BBC Radio Norfolk
Sunday 24th August - 10pm ish - Norwich Playhouse Bar - An eclectic mix of music presented by Howlback Hum - FREE ENTRY
Sunday 7th Sept - The Greenpeace Fair - Nr Bungay - main stage 5pm (music all day inc. The Rampant Horse Collective at 11am and Norwich Fiddle School at 12.30pm)

Then we are off to London for the Colourscape Festival - An amazing sensory experience, followed by a couple of trips up to Hexham to run workshops and perform in the abbey for Hexham Abbey Festival, then a North Eastern Early Music Forum workshop - Horses Brawl styles, plus a double bill with The Bruce McGregor Trio at The Denholm Meet on the Scottish borders.

The Paston Festival follows with a morning workshop (for singers and instrumentalists A=440) and evening concert with special guests Philip Thorby and Jennie Cassidy (voice), followed by a tour in Devon and back in time for Tune-Up Folk Day at The Raveningham Centre - workshops for fiddle, flute, whistle & guitar plus folk orchestra and performances from Horses Brawl and the Rampant Horse Collective.

So hopefully see you soon.

Laura & Adrian




HORSES BRAWL AUTUMN/WINTER TOUR 2008

7th Sept THE GREENPEACE FAIR South Elmham, Suffolk

13th Sept COLOURSCAPE FESTIVAL Clapham Common

1st Oct THE MEET, Denholm

3rd Oct HEXHAM ABBEY FESTIVAL Box office: 01434 652477

4th Oct HEXHAM ABBEY FESTIVAL Workshop

12th Oct *THE PASTON FESTIVAL Norfolk

15th Oct DEVON TOUR South Zeal, Victory Hall, Box office: 01837 840564

16th Oct DEVON TOUR Abbotskerswell Church, Box office: 01626 334445

17th Oct *DEVON TOUR Diptford Parish Hall, Box office: 01548 821704

18th Oct *DEVON TOUR Awliscombe, St Michael’s Church, Box office: 01404 43480

19th Oct *DEVON TOUR Hartland Parish Church

1st Nov TUNE-UP FOLK DAY The Raveningham Centre, Norfolk

16th Nov *GREENWICH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF EARLY MUSIC Blackheath Halls - 11.30am Box office: 020 8463 0100

4th Dec NEWBURY CORN EXCHANGE Box office: 01635 522733

6th Dec THE NATIONAL THEATRE Concert Pitch 12.45pm & 5.30pm

7th Dec THE NAVE London, N1, 11.30am Box Office: 020 7704 2158

9th Jan 09 *THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY London 6.30pm

* With Philip Thorby