ordinary extraordinary

Lene Lovich was the singer I saw as a kid on the tv and realised that ladies were allowed to be weird and funny, were allowed to leap about like monsters singing strangely. Last week Lene popped into The Playhouse Bar, we know each other a little, but this time she gave me a brooch, "Give this to anyone you know who might commit suicide, it will keep them safe." Will do Lene. Two days ago I went to a meal in London and was placed in a seating plan next to Robin Millar one of the world’s most successful ever record producers with over 150 gold, silver and platinum discs and 55 million record sales to his credit.We chatted, Robin is blind and hears your truth through how you speak your words. I'm making a point of noticing that I have spent time with these inspiring and quite ordinary extraordinary folks.

we rarely work in isolation

We rarely work in isolation....just thinking about all the folks who have helped make the book, there is a community of Butchers who have laboured. We were starting to put a budget together for our next show and realised that our team was growing from a band of 4 musicians in a small van to a troupe..........the troupe makes a whole new world for folks to live in.....a big cheers to the troupe.

Butcher Xmas

Butcher phase comes to completion...

This is always an evocative time of year as it reminds me of being in Berlin. the chill of outside and the orange light of indoors and the hope of Obama being elected.... a mirroring of experience.

On Sunday we took down the exhibition, I wasn't looking forward to it, but the event was extremely practical and not an emotional wrench....we took the work down in three hours whilst listening to radio 4 ramblings and radio 6 excitings. That episode is now complete, it feels good. We have work to re-exhibit. We have a live-show format. We have one set of experiences to work from. Next move to take the work and ourselves on a journey....back to Berlin. we have grown into artists who make work. As musicians one is channelled into 'chasing'. No more chasing, because the chasing leads not nothing at all. Chasing shadows. Nope, now is for being authentic, sharing ideas, making worlds for folks to visit and having fun.

Third week of exhibition...

The launch events were tantalising... both the War Memorial and Horse Hospital events were a stunning experience for us and the audience, genuinely so ( apart from some crying children).
A real feat of energy, stamina, holding our nerve and being there.
Sustaining the momentum is more of an uncomfortable ride.... there is so much more to see and feel and listen to, but one doesn't want to keep hounding ones' friends and colleagues.... now we are really learning how to hold our nerve....
But swimming in the sea of a newly launched product is bewildering, we did a fantastic dive into launchdom, now we are swimming in the dive pool, here's a plan.... hop out, then into the long distance pool and show some real strength.....
Next stop Berlin..... come and slap our wet arses and give us a towel whip before we leave, one more chance to join our world at the Horse Hospital London on Thursday 1st Nov.....7.30pm, £6.50 or write to us, tell us things, request a pass and get in free! See you there

The Wire: Adventures In Sound And Music: Article

The Wire: Adventures In Sound And Music: Article

Two weeks to go

It will be difficult to remember the intensity of these last few weeks and indeed the coming 14 days. each day consists of many different tasks finishing at midnight either screen-printing, doing risk assessments, making lists. Sal and I walk against the tide to Stew on a Friday night, dressed for cold and dirt, ready for the business of book building. The previous two weeks were full of panic attacks, waking up with your heart thumping with a list of things not done, not even considered. Sal has been prescribed a paper bag to breathe into to calm herself down, by the doctor. I spend a lot of time talking myself down and being kind to my brain and accepting kindness from others, my friends and colleagues have shown support and willingness to help that has been beyond what I thought possible. Ask, it's worth it, it takes you into a realm of interaction that is great. Is this enjoyable? Well, it is uncomfortable. I have moments of rising fear, but also excitement. I want this to be brilliant, to make others feel something. To be able to put on an other-worldly show.... to invite folk in and play sounds that will make their heads feel something good/scared/thrilled/ step out of yourself be somewhere else, even though you are close to home. escape only really happens in your head. Therefore the potential for escape is always.