Simon's Birthday Bash
I thought for a change I'd share with you what I was doing at the weekend. On Saturday night Jayne and I went to the 50th birthday celebration of my old friend, the poet and performer Simon Pitt.
Simon and I go back many years. We've collaborated on several books - click here for one example - and also shared a stage in years gone by. But basically, and most importantly, he's one of my closest friends.
Anyway, for his 50th, Simon decided he wanted to do something special, so he hired the large upstairs room at the Old Royal pub in Birmingham (England). He invited all his friends, and arranged a night of cabaret-style entertainment.
All the acts were friends of Simon and gave their services free. And naturally, Simon himself was top of the bill, performing with ace guitarist Tony Wille in their long-standing words-and-music partnership, Redman, Greenman.
Everyone had a great time, and it was wonderful to meet so many old friends we hadn't seen for a long time. Jayne and I got a table near the front. We took quite a few photos, so I've copied some of the better ones below.
The show was launched in good style by blues duo Kirsty and Kenny...
Here's Arts Council West Midlands' Literature Officer Adrian Johnson, reading from his novel. Adrian also stepped in at the last moment as compere for the evening, which he did with his customary aplomb.
I hadn't seen Sally Lavender before, but she blew everyone away with her rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, accompanying herself on the recorder. You really had to be there!
Here's the birthday boy, Simon Pitt, in full flow. Sorry the picture is a little dark.
And here are Tony and Simon performing their encore, The Monster Mash/Unchained Melody (again, you really had to be there...).
Finally, who's that idiot with a new video camera getting in everyone's way?
Well, yes, it's me, I'm afraid. I videoed the whole of Simon and Tony's set, and I'll try to put at least some of it on my blog in due course, so you can get a flavour of their unique style. But first, I have to work out how to transfer the video to my PC, how to edit it, how to upload it, and so on. Watch this space, I guess!
P.S. If you'd like to see any more still photos from the event, you can do so by clicking here. I'll try to put some captions up soon.
Simon and I go back many years. We've collaborated on several books - click here for one example - and also shared a stage in years gone by. But basically, and most importantly, he's one of my closest friends.
Anyway, for his 50th, Simon decided he wanted to do something special, so he hired the large upstairs room at the Old Royal pub in Birmingham (England). He invited all his friends, and arranged a night of cabaret-style entertainment.
All the acts were friends of Simon and gave their services free. And naturally, Simon himself was top of the bill, performing with ace guitarist Tony Wille in their long-standing words-and-music partnership, Redman, Greenman.
Everyone had a great time, and it was wonderful to meet so many old friends we hadn't seen for a long time. Jayne and I got a table near the front. We took quite a few photos, so I've copied some of the better ones below.
The show was launched in good style by blues duo Kirsty and Kenny...
Here's Arts Council West Midlands' Literature Officer Adrian Johnson, reading from his novel. Adrian also stepped in at the last moment as compere for the evening, which he did with his customary aplomb.
I hadn't seen Sally Lavender before, but she blew everyone away with her rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, accompanying herself on the recorder. You really had to be there!
Here's the birthday boy, Simon Pitt, in full flow. Sorry the picture is a little dark.
And here are Tony and Simon performing their encore, The Monster Mash/Unchained Melody (again, you really had to be there...).
Finally, who's that idiot with a new video camera getting in everyone's way?
Well, yes, it's me, I'm afraid. I videoed the whole of Simon and Tony's set, and I'll try to put at least some of it on my blog in due course, so you can get a flavour of their unique style. But first, I have to work out how to transfer the video to my PC, how to edit it, how to upload it, and so on. Watch this space, I guess!
P.S. If you'd like to see any more still photos from the event, you can do so by clicking here. I'll try to put some captions up soon.
Labels: events
Nick at 3:08 AM 
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