https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/lunchtime-concerts/
A secret pleasure. Listen to new artists at St Martin’s on a Friday afternoon. Twenty quid £20 buys you a ticket to see an outstanding young artist plus a traditional fish & chip lunch in the Crypt.
Last night I went to listen to one of our local Community Choirs sing at the underground Grove Theatre, one of Eastbourne’s more intimate theatres.
They were an absolute joy. There is something uplifting and joyous in a group of people, all ages, getting together to sing. Songs we all knew and some we didn’t. You don’t have to be pitch perfect, just enjoy singing; sing loud and proud. It was a pleasure!
The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show came to the Western Lawns at Eastbourne.
He was part of The E-Festival- Eastbourne’s very own ECO and MUSIC festival held over three fabulous summer days July 29-30-31 across the towns most iconic seafront locations. And what a treat it was. Headlining artists were Toploader, the Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra and of course the Craig Charles ‘Funk & Soul Show’
It was also my first experience of bhangra, from the energetic Bhangra Smash Up; a three piece drumming band based in Birmingham and playing all over the UK. Find them on Facebook and TikTok.
Well done Eastbourne E festival for putting on a high quality, professional event.
As followers of my blog will know my partner is a musician on a cruise ship with his band Funky Blue. We say ‘goodbye’ a lot ‘Standing on the Docks in Southampton’ (Lennon and McCartney) and ‘Hello’ in lots of different countries as I travel the world to be with him. This year has seen a huge change in our lives. We flew back from Cuba in March and have been together 24/7 ever since. I’ve missed the travelling, but loved having him around.
Wherever we are in the world, together or apart, this is our song- the iconic Mr Louis Armstrong with All the Time in the World.
I’m singin’ in the rain
Just singin’ in the rain
What a glorious feeling
I’m happy again
I’m laughin’ at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I’ve a smile on my face
Any opportunity to do a Gene Kelly post, including this beautiful iconic picture ☔️
Every colour of the rainbow visible.
‘Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.’
Look to the Rainbow. Finian’s Rainbow (Musical fantasy , 1968)
Somewhere over there might be a better 2021 for us all.
“Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life”
John Paul Friedrich Richter.
There has been nothing roaring about 2020, but music has been a lot of people’s moonlight in these dark times.
And on that note here is a little bit more from the Funky Blue gig at the Grove Theatre, Eastbourne last month (October 2020).
‘…if you love what you’re doing, you can’t stop. It’s obsessive.’
Labrinth.
Sunday 25th October saw Funky Blue back on their first gig since Lockdown in March. Held at the Grove Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex in front of an invited audience this intimate gig showed that nothing had been lost in Lockdown.
Many of us have missed live music in 2020 and this felt like a small step in a positive direction. The venue felt safe to be in with all Covid measures in place. Thank you Grove Theatre Eastbourne.
Have a look at the night here…
busker/ˈbʌskə/Learn to pronouncenoun
Definitions from Oxford Languages
‘…Performs in a public place…’
Even in a bin…
First live music event post Covid. Good to be out in a field on a sunny Sunday afternoon listening to some talented local bands, all in our safe social distance squares
A bit of a boogie, a cold cider, wood fired pizza and churros with Nutella. We had a fab time!
We had a fabulous, fun filled day shooting this.
.
Caught up with the Braemar and Funky Blue in Bridgetown, Barbados.
We had a fabulous, fun day filming for the Funky Blue promotional video and website on the Bridgetown Boardwalk, which runs east-west along the waterfront through the capital city.
Filming finished we headed back to the ship on the dollar bus.
Back on ship the Braemar set off for a night sail to Tobbago.
Funky Blue having a Caribbean Blast.
Fred Olsen’s Braemar is currently cruising around the Caribbean for the winter and Funky Blue are enjoying every moment!
Photo’s by Gary Stirzaker.
The twenties were seen in with style by the fabulous Funky Blue on Fred Olsen’s ship The Braemar.
‘And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.’
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
I love a road trip! I especially love a road trip with my Partner. He works all over the world for 80% of the year, so I spend a lot of time travelling solo. This means that travelling times together are very special. Here is our Milly and Vinnie road trip playlist:
Simultaneously similar and different!
Milly Space 