The Art of Celebration.

The Art of Celebration - the new album by these lovely people - the Rend Collective who hail from Bangor, Co Down (about 2 miles away from where I live).  

I love the title of the album - I've heard them describe the 'art' element as something that's both playful and something that has to be worked at.  It's all about joy - and that's a gift.

Tonight, I'm heading up to Belfast where we're recording their concert for a radio broadcast later in the year and we'll record a quick interview with them.  I've worked with them before and they're the real McCoy - joy-filled, lovely, happy, real people.  No celebrity nonsense going on here.  If you didn't catch them on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show and you like a slightly folky, slightly rocky, slightly whacky sound… have a listen to some of their sound here.  

Looking forward to this gig!

New Irish Arts

I was having a poke about on the web and realised someone had posted our appearance on BBC Songs of Praise - it's "Still, my soul be still" - hope you like it. (Since it's from the telly, the words are there so you can sing along with it!)

This was part of the chamber choir and orchestra - I'm looking forward to the big event this summer at the Waterfront when we're part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention. There are still some tickets available for that if you're in Belfast in August!

365:085 Grand Opera House, Belfast

Was at the Grand Opera House last night - "Beauty and the Beast" (Belfast Operatic) and was incredibly tight production - very impressive. I love this building - really cheesy and OTT but it works. Tea with the family before hand was just lovely too - good to catch up with Betty, Jack and Sian.

365:072 New Irish

Lovely concert in Ballymena tonight - chamber choir and some musicians - lovely lovely lovely music. The guy in front wasn't taking part....but he had a great "ear" for music....

365:041 Currently listening to...

"Gospel Road" - Brian Houston. Track of the day - "The Lord is Still the Lord" - mmmm. Have a listen to the words and tell me this isn't a song for the season.

365:037 Windmill Lane Studios

No posting yesterday - had an exhausting day recording an album in Dublin. A very early start, and about 12 hours off and on just standing singing fabulous worship songs to the tracks laid down by the orchestra over the previous two Saturdays - possibly one of the top ten most satisfying days? Didn't get home until after 3am but wouldn't have missed it for the world. Too bad we have to wait for months to get the results!

365:034 Sing out!

Big fat high notes for the sopranos make me glad I'm an alto. Windmill Lane Studios here we come!

365:003

One Sunday a month I help out with the music at a local church. This evening, the heating put up a pretty feeble resistance to the -4 temps outside. My hands were freezing cold and it made for a few interesting chords.