A V.I.D. (Very Important Date)
Wednesday 30 April.
Please put it in your diaries. Especially if you live in London :-).
Finding myself a Lady Who Lunches, I’ve been thinking I should use this time to do Something Useful. Rather like those rich Manhattan women who don’t have jobs but volunteer for Worthy Causes and organise charity soirees on the Upper West Side.
And strangely enough, a reason to do just that fell into my lap last week.
I heard, via Facebook, about ‘Oxjam’ - something which Oxfam is organising in April. Basically, they’re asking people to put on live music events throughout the UK during that month, to raise money for Oxfam.
So naturally, I thought: ‘I can do that’. 
And without thinking too hard or for too long (which is probably the best approach in these situations), I contacted the East Dulwich Tavern - a great local venue back home - asking them if they would be up for hosting an Oxjam gig. And they said yes. And then I contacted my singer-songwriter friend Sarah Gillespie, asking her if she would perform. And she said yes. And then I asked her if she would ask Chaz Jankel from The Blockheads if he would perform. And he said yes (as did Blockheads’ singer Derek The Draw). And then I asked my comedian/writer friend Simon Hickson if he would MC the evening. And he said yes. And so did fellow East Dulwicher and British jazz heavyweight, guitarist Dave Cliff.
It’s all coming together brilliantly, and I’m very, very excited about it all.
Yes: very.
The next week or so will be spent finalising the line-up, and creating all the publicity material. When I’m back in England, Simon and I may also trawl local shops and other business to see if we can get some prizes donated for a raffle or auction on the night.
I’ve long wanted to do something like this, marrying up my music with Doing Some Good. Sarah herself has been a big inspiration, as she’s organised several charity gigs over the past few years, and raised so much money for such good causes.
If you’re a musician in the UK reading this - or even if you’re not, and you just know some musicians - then I’d ask you to please consider doing the same, and put on a gig next month. Let me know if you do!
March 19th, 2008 at 5.43pm
How about a slot for all those people who can ‘just about play an instrument’ sight reading a piece that you give them. I could offer ‘just about’ talents in trombone, piano and the vile-din.
This may be a very bad idea.
Fact: ‘violin’ in Russian is Skreepka, which I always thought very onomatopœic.
March 19th, 2008 at 5.43pm
Pete could perform his Kenneth Clarke number
March 19th, 2008 at 5.44pm
Rachel - I highly recommend you organise such an event. In Nottingham.
that’s so true about ‘Skreepka’, ha!
March 19th, 2008 at 7.35pm
Although I’ll be in the UK then, I will be in Scotland on April 30 so will miss seeing you and Sarah
You’ll just have to come on over to Canada and prick the Mickey bubble
March 19th, 2008 at 8.12pm
ahh Andrew - so near and yet so far! shame. are you coming to London at all?
March 19th, 2008 at 10.14pm
Yes, I’ll be there from 23 - 28 April
March 19th, 2008 at 10.44pm
Andrew - lets meet for drinks!
I often reminisce about swooning down 5th Ave with you in the back of a stretch limo, discussing Mozart with F. Murray Abraham…
hang on was that a dream?
March 20th, 2008 at 1.45am
well i havent seen you sing for ages, so i promise promise i will be there !
hope that sling is coming on well !!
March 20th, 2008 at 2.48am
I’m not sure the Kenneth Clarke song will be ready by then but I’d love to come along, maybe join in and jam (or sit in and karaoke?)
March 20th, 2008 at 2.49am
Bugger, I’ll be in sheffield teaching!
March 20th, 2008 at 3.58am
Sarah (and Andrea too if you’re around) - Irene and I would really love to meet for a drink. Shall I email you with some possible days/times?
And how could I forget that dream of an evening in New York, the lights of Times Square and Broadway, the jazz cellars of the village, the cocktails on the Upper East Side, the Chrysler building shining into the sky, talking long into the night about music, theatre and socialism - while Michael Buble sang Sway on the limo TV?!
March 20th, 2008 at 6.35pm
Andrew/Sarah - yes yes yes to drinks. but only if you promise to replicate that night out in New York. I’ll settle for Sir Ian McKellen in the back of a limo as opposed to F Murray Abraham, though.
March 20th, 2008 at 7.54pm
Fri 25th for lunch? Or I could evening as well - just that I have friend over from NYC staying with me then.
I remember drunkenly asking F. Murray Abraham (or F, as I affectionately like to call him) if he thought Salieri would be jealous of him!?!?! Eh? Eh?
March 20th, 2008 at 8.50pm
25th for lunch it is, with or without F, Murray or Abraham.
March 21st, 2008 at 1.25am
Can I arrange a lunch date on here too?