Below is a list of selected projects not featured elsewhere on this site. I am currently updating the site and will be adding archive material here, including images and sound files, as time allows.
‘Harmonise’ (2014 -16) - Lead Facilitator with Music Action International, working in primary schools with a team of musicians to create original songs and music around the subject of refuge, leading to a performance with four schools (120 pupils) at Z-Arts Manchester in July 2015. This followed on from a pilot project, ‘Singing Without Borders’ (2013). We are in the process of creating a resource pack for KS2 based on this work.
‘Past, Present, Future...’ & ‘Sandygate Squared’ (2011 - 2012) I worked with Burnley Youth Theatre, several primary schools, Burnley Clarion Choir, and Burnley Municipal Choir, to create a site specific performance in the Weavers’ Triangle, called ‘Past, Present, Future’, which involved about 100 people. This was subsequently filmed by Seal Films as ‘Sandygate Squared’. This featured a number of traditional songs, and one new song written with the participants, integrated with short drama scenes that linked the heritage of the Weavers’ Triangle with an argument about the importance and relevance of this kind of history to young people in the present.
‘Born Into A Different Age’ (2010), a commissioned piece of music (based on workshops) exploring the connections between young and old people for Staffordshire County Council Arts Service and Age Concern Stafford and District (performed with an intergenerational choir of almost 100 people at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre in May 2010)
Musician/Facilitator for Re-Membering (2010) – a performance, new music and writing project lead by Artists In Mind, Huddersfield. Led by writer Simon Murray, participants produced a book and an integrated performance of poetry and music as part of Huddersfield Literature Festival 2010.
Lead Artist, Thinking Independently (2009) – with filmmaker Bryan Dixon – and the Working Class Movement Library, Salford. The production of three films based upon the writings of the radical Thomas Paine. Workshops took place at three schools/colleges across Greater Manchester. The resulting films addressing the relevance of Paine’s thinking to young people today varied widely in style from factual/documentary to music video, to satirical comedy spoof. The films can be viewed in context via the following weblink: http://www.wcml.org.uk/contents/activists/thomas-paine/
Composer, Marshall’s Arm Sculpture Trail Opening Event (2009) – an outdoor promenade music performance celebrating the opening of this trail. Commissioned by Action Weaver Valley, involving year 5 Primary School Students and five professional musicians.
Composer, The Stalybridge Lockgates Sundial and Time Capsule (2009) –
commissioned site-specific music and soundscape, for the launch of the sculpture and the dedication of the time capsule. It required the co-ordination of a prerecorded piece of music with a live brass band (on a canal boat), bell-ringing and a school performance.
Lead Artist, Ridge Hill: A People’s History (2008) - an Oral History project that looks at the heritage of Ridge Hill, a working-class estate just north of the town of Stalybridge, as defined by its inhabitants.This resulted in a trail leading round the estate, a multimedia DVD-Rom and a book.
‘Cross Your Heart' (2008) - Musical Director, Song Writer/Composer and Musician for this play by Janys Chambers, which portrayed the lives and concerns of young people living in the less glamorous parts of Cheshire. A group of young people were fully involved in developing all aspects of the production. The process was documented by film maker Lucia Cuevas, (DVD available). This followed the success of a 2006 project, 'The Maize Field’
'On Common Ground' (2007) – Songwriter, Composer and Musical Director for this community play, a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout in 1932. Working with local people and writer Caroline Small and Director Phil Coggins, we produced and performed a play about land issues. The play was featured on BBC One and Radio 4.
‘The Ghost Of A River’ (2007) – Writer and Composer for this ‘audio trail’, , which examined settlement, industry and the environment around Nether Padley Gorge, Grindleford, commissioned by Moors for the Future, which can be downloaded free from: www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/mftf/audio_trails/ grindleford.htm
(recommended by the Guardian newspaper’s ‘Great Outdoors’ supplement in Summer 2007!)
‘Dandelion’ (2007), a music and video DVD, that looks at how older people reflect on their lives, based on conversations with older people throughout the county. Created with Wear Purple (Age Concern’s arts project) in Cheshire, and video artist Heather James.
The War Road - 2006 – Composer, Trainer and Facilitator at Glossopdale College in Glossop, Derbyshire. Year 9 students investigated the causes and consequences of war, by interviewing veterans and refugees from wars since World War Two. The resulting CD of songs, called ‘The War Road’, based on documentary material, was launched in September 2006. This project was part of the 'Their Past, Your Future' project, and was managed by High Peak Community Arts.
'Our Town' 2005 A large-scale commission for Ellesmere Port Borough Council, in collaboration with writer John Lindley. It used songs, video and documentary material, and poetry to tell the story of the town in the words of the people who live there. It was premiered on 9th December 2005, performed in Ellesmere Port's new Civic Square. It is now available as a DVD.
'Walking To The Future' 2004 - two residencies in rural Cheshire in collaboration with videomaker Heather James and poet John Lindley (Poet Laureate of Cheshire 2004). Culminated in site-specific multimedia performances involving songs, video projection and poetry. A DVD and CD of these projects is now available on request.
Artist, Gamesley 1968 - 2004 - an interactive CD-ROM oral history of a Manchester overspill estate. Includes a video made by young people, 3 Quick Halves, about alcohol use and abuse. High Peak Community Arts, 2003 - 2004
Threads, large scale Millennium project centred around the Youth Base in Mossley. Artistic Director. Oral history workshops, video, sound and music production with young people led to community play (‘Old ‘n’ New ‘n’ Mekkin’ Do) based around recorded experiences of elders. Performed at Mossley Hollins High School in November 2000. Employed by CAN, collaborated with Tameside Youth Service and All Saints Church.
News and links....
Wednesday, May 03, 2017
Members of the band talk about the music - click on the picture to watch itSend Comments
50th Anniversary of the Colonels' Coup in Greece
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Greece solidarity Campaign & Anti-Fascist Action for Greece presents this event marking 50 years since the fascist dictatorship in Greece. Iris (from RISE!), Kostas Voros and myself are doing are couple of songs. 6-8.45pm Friday 28 April 2017, Diskus Room, 128 Theobalds Rd, London WC1X 8TN
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Announcing our May tour:Stoke Thursday 11th May 7.00pm Oldham Friday 12th May 7.00pm Manchester Saturday 13th May 7.30pm Leeds Sunday 14th May 8.00pm Information for all gigs: bit.ly/RISEmaytour
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
You can now buy my albums 'State Of Hysteria' and 'System Fault' direct from the 'Recordings' page using Paypal. To listen before you buy, just click on the headline of this post.Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Greetings for 2017 - thanks to everyone who come to the fantastic Solidarity Social on the 17th December. Collectively we raised over £800 - thanks to Caro C for organising. Here's a photo (thanks Pari!), there are more on the RISE FB page. Welcome to my new site!
Thursday, December 08, 2016
long overdue....hope you like it....if you find something that doesn't work, please let me knowRISE! - epic songs for epic times
Thursday, December 08, 2016
Our next gig is on 17th December - details on the flyer
