#14 Live from the Woodshed

Post Covid experimental recording - trying to get back to practice. 

There's a keyboard and a cat to liven things up! 

#13 Live from the Woodshed - a place to pause and breathe

This episode was inspired by my friend Jemima who wrote an email about needing a "sound bath" to soothe her.

Thank you for getting me back into the woodshed Jemima. 

Hope you enjoy singing along...

#12 Live in the Woodshed : Nightingales at 7.38pm on 6th May

Long day, feeling exhausted but rather than dive into a box set with a glass of wine, I came to the shed and started chatting and then started singing...

Something about the evening light conjured up nightingales and my favourite old fashioned songs..

Sing through it. Sing with it.  Live from my Woodshed.

#11 Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen - improvised from my woodshed

Sometimes, I just have to come into the woodshed and create rough and ready versions of songs.  A way of coming back to process and singing what I feel.  I layer the vocals and get deep into the song as if it's a painting.

This afternoon it was Leonard Cohen's Everybody Knows.  

Enjoy the process! 

#10 Live from the Woodshed with musician/broadcaster Keith Warmington

My first real live guest in the woodshed. Keith Warmington, broadcaster, harmonica player, guitarist and songwriter.  And my neighbour.  This is the first time we've seen each other properly since the summer and it's just a chat really. 

Our last gig was in January 2020.  I remember saying to him that I thought it might be my last gig for a while. 

Then, a few weeks ago in April 2021, he sent me his lockdown song and I had to invite him into the Woodshed to sing it.

There's more of this session but the sound was a bit wobbly (again).  I promise I'll sort it out for next time!

#9 Conversation with singer/filmmaker Roxana Vilk

#8 Live from my Woodshed with writer Cathy Rentzenbrink

"Try to enjoy the Process"

I invited the wonderful writer and writing mentor Cathy Rentzenbrink into my Woodshed and the sound failed. 

This meant that I could hear Cathy but she and the audience couldn't hear me.  So she was alone. With occasional interjections from me on the live chat.

Like a true pro, she carried on talking in this very special episode, a writer alone in the woodshed reflecting on writing, creativity and how fear blocks us.

Thank you Cathy for embodying what this show is about.  Making it up, improvising even when no-one is listening without worrying about feedback from the audience, and just letting it flow.

Cathy talks about "writing what the heart longs for" and how you can't ever know at the beginning of a creative project what things are going to turn into.  "I have to follow my nose and trust"

This is the art of improvising in action - Cathy's authenticity - communicating, leaving space for silence and letting herself reflect in real time.  As well as a poignant observation of the loneliness of the pandemic.

"I feel so moved by the existence of other human beings.  I want to reach through the screen and stroke their faces"

Do listen and enjoy.

#7 Live in the Woodshed with Kate Dimbleby

An episode that started with sun and ended with a hailstorm!

Talking and singing about weather, emotional and atmospheric and how we find ways to move through it.

Minky the cat shows up of course.  And Prince.  No, not Harry.

#6 Live in the Woodshed with Kate Dimbleby

Just plough in or wait for perfection?  It's becoming clear what I like...but this was a lovely live show with a song from Bugsy Malone, a pissed woman from Vermont (does that mean drunk or angry?) and finally a treat from Cheryl and her Mum singing their way to the grocery store!

#5 Live in the Woodshed with Kate Dimbleby

An intimate audio experience live from my woodshed - about singing what you see and making it up as you go along.

This one is all about Cheryl and the sun!