Peter Marshall from ‘My London Diary‘ took this photo at Rachel Rose Reid‘s Willesden Green Wassail 2017. Turns out that megaphones are super heavy to hold up! I got quite the wrist ache leading this sing-a-long of ‘The Ballad Of Hawkwood’.
Willesden Green Wassail 2017
I’ll be performing as part of the Willesden Green Wassail next Sunday.
The event is Rachel Rose Reid‘s wonderful modern urban spin on our ancient mid-winter tradition of blessing where our fruit comes.
Starting from the tube station at 2.30pm, we will walk around Willesden Green blessing the shop keepers with a hearty group sing and stop for guests including myself to do performances along the way… More info via https://www.facebook.com/events/182383505576711/
A few words on Kirsty MacColl
Sixteen years ago today Kirsty MacColl died whilst saving her kids lives. One of my new year’s resolutions is to appreciate her greatness better by spending time with her music.
The first cassette I owned, (which came free after collecting tokens on a cereal packet) had her singing on one side and Michael Jackson on the other.
Here is a wonderful article about her – http://www.getintothis.co.uk/2016/12/kirsty-maccoll-top-10/
Here is me doing a cover of that song from my first cassette – http://music.robingrey.com/track/theres-a-guy-works-down-the-chip-shop-swears-hes-elvis
…and here is the original… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QccPUSTMriM
Performing with Peggy Seeger in Oxford
Naomi, Rachel and I had the privilege of sharing a stage with Peggy Seeger last month in Oxford during our Three Acres And A Cow show at House of the Commons.
She sang Carry Greenham home and Hey Ho Cooke and Rowe, sharing her personal memories of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp as well as joining us for our rendition of Ewan Maccoll’s The Manchester Rambler about the Kinder Scout mass trespass of 1932.
Since reading Peter Cox’s amazing book Set Into Song, Peggy has been one of my idols, so to meet and perform with her was a delight.
A little Walthstow concert to start 2017
I am going to ease myself musically into the new year with a gig in Walthamstow on Thursday 19th January at The Hornbeam, my local community centre. A place brimming with excellent people, tasty seasonal locally grown food, ale, cake and art.
The plan is to do an early set for young families and then a second one later for everyone else. I think Basia and Caitlin are free which means violin and accordion. If anyone could nudge Candy to see if she can come and sing, I’d be grateful!
5.30-6.30pm kids’ kitchen family food time
6.30-7.30pm music family friendly set
8.30-9.30pm music 2nd set for grown ups!
Interview on Greenhorns Radio
Last week I was interviewed on Greenhorns Radio by Severine Von Tscharner Fleming about music, land rights, Three Acres And A Cow and the upcoming Land for What? weekend.
They got the first spin of a new recording of the ‘Ballad Of Hawkwood’ which has been reworked with new lyrics and a lovely violin performance by Flora Curzon.
You can have a listen to the show here – http://heritageradionetwork.org/podcast/robin-grey/
