After a busy few weeks, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the past 6 months or so of singing larks……a lot has been happening!
After taking ‘Two Bards and a Songbird’ on a journey from Dundee to York and Helmsley, I was straight on to devising my new show ‘a tapestry of life’ – this involved actual writing of songs! Putting my sister Andrea’s poetry to music and producing and performing a show incorporating those alongside classic Carole King songs was a real labour of love and I was so pleased to be able to perform it at Durham Fringe Festival and Dundee Fringe Festival – as well as record an actual album of the show at Beckview Studios! Yes, you can ask Alexa (or whatever your streaming service of choice is) for ‘Jessa Liversidge, a tapestry of life’ and it will play – exciting times.
Such heartwarming feedback from audiences too – this show is full of raw emotion and it was so moving to see audience members taking their loved one’s hand at different moments, tears falling, and people coming and sharing their stories with me afterwards, telling me how the words of certain songs resonated with them. Very humbling.
I was really pleased with this review from FringeReviewUK of a tapestry of life at Durham – who graded it a ‘highly recommended show’ with some really lovely comments. You can read it here –
October saw the launch of my collaborative Songbirds project with my dear friend and fellow singer/singing leader Mary Bourne. We each hosted a ‘home’ performance of Songbirds, each providing different special guests (singers from our choirs and some of our one to one students) and with each venue having a different Songbirds band – amazing trios of musicians who picked up all our many and varied songs with aplomb. Two very different venues and atmospheres, but two packed and happy audiences and sets of talented guests. We’re now in talks with different locations, venues, and choir leader colleagues about taking this show around the country – and we’re both looking forward to taking the project further in coming months and years. Do get in touch if you’d like to talk to us about bringing it to a venue near you!
I was due to take part in the York Festival of Remembrance this year – always an emotional and moving occasion – as MD for York Military Wives Choir. However, when the booked female soloist took ill just 24 hours before the event, I was asked to step in, performing some of my own choices (thanks Malcolm for stepping up to play at short notice!) as well as learning 2 songs from the original programme and leading the prom section with the York Railway Institute Band. Luckily I thrive on a bit of stress and it all came together pretty well, all things considered. The York MWC ladies did me proud as well.
Amongst all this performing, touring, and recording, have been some wonderful new workshop opportunities – with Calder Valley Voices, with Karen Sutton – the widow coach on her RISE day, an intergenerational come and sing at Durham Fringe Festival, the inspiring ‘in harmony’ vocal retreat with Mary at Snape Maltings…..already booked for 2025 include a new workshop at Rural Arts in Thirsk in January, the second ‘in harmony’ retreat in March, and a new series of ‘musical bridges’ sessions…..and hopefully many more! It’s so rewarding to bring together a new group of people each time, using singing to create such close connections and harmony within minutes. Love it!
The next 6 weeks or so will be mainy filled with festive songs, with lots of Christmas concerts and performances approaching. The first is on 29th November and the last on 19th December, with just about every day between those dates having at least one event. Luckily I love it all, and can’t wait to get going on all these songs with my groups and students this week. I MAY have been a little over-ambitious with how many songs I can teach in a matter of weeks…..we’ll see! See you on the other side……when I’ll report on what’s in store in 2025.
