'Sing for Your Life' was a series of six weekly songwriting workshops for all ages, held at the Memorial Hall in Beverley in May-June 2004.
I delivered the workshops as Leader and Host Tutor, ably assisted by fellow musician and community arts practitioner Jennie Beasty and musician and professional recording engineer and producer Nick Stubbs. Visiting singer-songwriters Sid, Griffin, the late Alistair Hulett (R.I.P.), Karine Polwart and Brendan Croker, each of whom brought their own focus and a fresh perspective to the course.
Six of the songs were recorded in a professional recording studio. This was a first time experience for each of the participants. They approached the challenge with enthusiasm, excitement and commitment, and with superb results. The participants each received a souvenir CD of the recordings, entitled 'Playhouse'.
The following is a transcript of a letter sent by workshop participant Chris Green, whose song 'The Beverley Fair' was included on the CD : -
Thanks for sending the CD.
I am absolutely delighted with the track. Especially when you consider it was a one-take wonder, with no multi-tracking or harmonies and yet it came out fantastic.
I'm so pleased, that I'm recording another of my songs on Monday that will be entered for the BBC Radio 2 song contest and I'm also writing a musical for the professional stage - on the other side of the Pennines. So you see, the workshop really did inspire me, and I would like to thank Jennie for her great fiddle playing, Gary for his great mandolin playing and Nick for producing my first recorded song.
Can't stop playing that track!
Regards,
Chris