TO: BAND@UNFOLDINGTHEATRE.CO.UK RE: PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Hi folks – just got tickets for this Saturday’s show in Edinburgh when I spotted the call for house band members. I’m a bitter and twisted ex-musician who’s been through the grinder, and had to be physically restrained from chopping up my guitars for firewood by the missus on more than one occasion, so thought I might be the kind of person you were looking for! I mainly play guitar, but can tap/clap/shake/ hum and even sing a little, so if you’re in the market for any of the above then put me down – and if not, best of luck with the show. I’ll be there enjoying it either way :-) Cheers, Paul

PAUL HAGAN EDINBURGH HOUSE BAND THE SONG OF HOW THIS WORKS to record some of the ripples from PUTTING THE BAND the show. I’ve done that partly BACK TOGETHER: through first-person accounts: between June 2016 and February STORIES FROM 2017 I interviewed roughly 30 people, from all over the country, THE HOUSE BANDS about their experience not MADDY COSTA just of being in the show, but of anticipation, rehearsal and being inspired afterwards. But because Putting the Band Back Together is also a gig, telling its stories in songs, I’ve written that way too: wonky paeans, doggerel sometimes, to the themes that Every Unfolding Theatre show to music, past or present. The kept coming up, such as how comes with an invitation. On my House Band has expanded cultural participation raises first encounter with them, in to include singers alongside confidence, and how the Unfolding Edinburgh in 2012, I was given a instrumentalists, people who last company dismantled hierarchy. “motivational banana” and invited played 15 years ago and people Also true to the company, this to celebrate the often overlooked who have barely been learning for document is part of an unfolding sporting achievements of the 15 weeks, people accustomed to story: the show will continue to great darts players. That opened performing live and people who tour long after I write my final the door to another celebration: never get the opportunity or give sentence, and memories will of all the small and quirky ways in themselves the chance. continue to be cherished, or fade. which human beings are – as the It is an invitation developed Like any such document, this can show itself was called – Best in over the course of more than only be a snapshot – I’m catching the World, whether at something a year, as Unfolding Theatre at melodies heard on the breeze. or for someone. It’s a key tenet in director Annie Rigby, associate But it’s partial in other ways. the Unfolding philosophy: every artist Alex Elliott, musician Ross There are no stories here of human has something remarkable Millard, writer Chloe Daykin, people for whom this was just about them. But as members of performer Maria Crocker and a lark, quickly forgotten. That’s the audience came on stage to theatre-maker Mark Lloyd (whose partly because the group I spoke try their hands at scoring a treble experience of putting his own to was self-selecting: if people 20, another key tenet revealed band back together after learning didn’t think they had anything itself: we all could take pleasure he had cancer was among the interesting to tell me, they didn’t in shooting arrows for the stars, stories that inspired Annie to reply to emails or texts asking never mind that they’ll never make the work) collaborated with to talk. And I’ve had to edit to get there. Or, less fancifully: a growing community of music prevent the document becoming excellence is vital and winning enthusiasts in Sunderland to think unwieldy, which has inevitably does count – but imperfection through possibilities for the show. meant focusing on the stories of and the possibility of failure In Sunderland, musicians were realisation, or transformation, of shouldn’t stop anyone taking part. able to attend workshops once a doors opening and opportunities Putting the Band Back month, and contribute to songs as being created, because who Together is shaped by, energised they were being written – some wouldn’t want to read about the by, the invitation to take part. even heard their own stories activations of joy? Taking part in It was originally conceived for become lyrics or text for the show. Putting the Band Back Together people who used to play music, On tour, the relationship with won’t have changed everyone’s but haven’t for years, offering musicians has necessarily been lives, but where it has had an them an opportunity to join a quicker, but no less meaningful. impact, however slight, that’s the band for a night. In practice, Taking part changes lives, tale I’ve felt most drawn to tell. that invitation has been open to however minutely. So hey, ho: let’s go. Let’s meet include any kind of relationship This document is an attempt the House Band. 3 THIS IS MY STORY making you happy. I really THE SONG OF NO HIERARCHY (OR: LET'S MAKE IT TOGETHER) PENNY FOLLAS, SALISBURY HOUSE BAND love music and want to learn something a bit more Penny played piano and guitar in her youth but drifted from music challenging. And I would when her children were born. She started learning the ukulele two love to perform! I would years ago, and now plays in two bands, a big group who practise love to be good enough to be every Monday and a quartet who meet on a Wednesday and able to perform: I’m a bit of occasionally perform. a perfectionist and I don’t like to play if I don’t feel I didn’t know but the story in confident. the show is actually my story: It’s great performing with when my son was seven I was really good musicians who diagnosed with breast cancer. give you the courage to go So it was a bit weird when it for it and try it; if you’re with started, I could feel myself people who are not sure of shaking. But you get caught themselves it’s harder. The up with the music, luckily, it company are so open and sort of takes over. easy to let you play with The first thing I did when oxygen kills cancer cells. them, no matter how good or I was recuperating was get And music’s just brilliant: bad you are: you just have a singing lessons because it’s one of the best things at go, which is great.

SOMETHING MORE THAN NOTHING never going to be the world’s DAVE, LUTON HOUSE BAND best ukulele player, but I can strum a few chords together, Dave played brass in his younger years and performed in a brass and Ellie – who’s also in the band until work as a primary school teacher made it difficult to Meetup group, and played in commit – and “motivation dried up as well”. He tried to teach the House Band – can sing a himself guitar, “and lasted about 10 minutes”, so switched to bit, so why not just do it? So ukulele, with the faultless logic that if young children can learn I’ve managed to book us a gig to play it, he ought to have no trouble. He now runs a ukulele for a local festival in July, and group on Meetup, through which he received an invitation to join we’re going to the Luton Beer the House Band from the Hat Factory – a neat bit of outreach Festival this weekend: we’re work from the venue. just going to turn up and have a jam in the corner. There’s I’ve been playing ukulele and like everything, practice probably a lot of people who about six or seven months: makes perfect. I found as I sit at home and have a little it was a little challenge I set was strumming away I got play and don’t really think myself, to learn from a teach into it, and it was the first they can do it; what I want to yourself app. I set up the time I’ve played ukulele do is go out and find people, Meetup group because I got publicly outside my class of whether by sitting in the pub bored of playing on my own: children, so it was quite a having a jam, or busking at it’s quite a recent thing, and big experience for me. And a the beer fest, and give them there’s only a couple of us who really nice thing to do. the confidence to be able to attend regularly, but out of Having done the show, I play in public rather than at molehills mountains are built realised that I can play – or, home on your own. The show (or whatever the saying is!). I can play to an audience. It has really inspired me to keep Ross did say during the did help that I had a drink playing, rather than giving up House Band rehearsal that in between the rehearsal and thinking I’ve had my little the chords are not easy for and the show, but generally fun. I want to do more, it’s ukuleles, but life isn’t easy I thought: I can do this. I’m really spurred me on. 4 THE GIVE AND TAKE experienced players. THE SKILLS INSIDE elements of it and the most STEVE WILLIAMS, NEWCASTLE HOUSE BAND It’s Ross’s songwriting ALLEN MORNINGTON WEST, SALISBURY HOUSE BAND confidence-boosting. Also, for the show that makes I love the idea of going to a Steve has played in bands all his life, as drummer, guitarist, this work. His songs are Allen ran a folk-rock band in the 1970s that was so successful he booking and not having to set bassist – he’s adaptable, just happy to play. If asked to rank the very, very simple, but there’s even paid “musician tax” one year. But a work promotion prompting up the PA, and not having to most important events of his life, he’d say getting married, the also a depth to them, which a geographical move meant that his more conventional career took worry about whether I have to birth of his son, and hearing his record played by much-missed DJ means if you’re learning the over. “There was a year when I spent more time out of the country be out front, because someone John Peel. He joined the House Band for all three nights of the run guitar and you only know than in,” he says. “That means you can never meet anyone locally else is out front: just plug in in Newcastle, and when we spoke was considering travelling to 10 chords, you can still play, with whom you can build a musical relationship.” It wasn’t until and someone else says you’re Leicester to join in there too. but if you’re an experienced retirement approached – “69 is how young I am” – that he decided on, brilliant. player you can play around it was high time to start playing again. He now plays in two bands, a Out of that evening I wrote I thought Ross and Annie welcome. And it was really with the music and get a lot folk group that meets every Tuesday to practise but rarely performs, a trite and trivial song, which took everybody through the lovely that there were some out of it. I played drums and and an English barn dance outfit established in 1978. one does once in a while, but rehearsals brilliantly. We people who were in their late would ask Ross or Annie in one sense it encapsulated had people who are quite 60s there, and some young if they wanted a simple One of the things about what the evening was for experienced amateurs like kids – imagine what it would rhythm, a fill, it was very playing with people on spec me: about recognising you’ve me, and people who are be like as a kid to play with much give and take. So I felt but to order is that you have come to the third stage in life relative beginners, and they Ross. It’s so good for young I had a contribution to the to find in yourself the fact and, looking at what you’ve made everybody feel very people to play live with songs, and that was great. that you have sufficient skills done, how do you bring it to match them. Finding that back together again and how those skills actually really are do you rejoice in it? It’s of there – because you only have that evening, of that time, IT ALL STARTS WITH YES I am getting older, and if I don’t an hour and you’re on – that and an unusual expression of DENNIS, SUNDERLAND (AND NORTH-EAST) HOUSE BAND cram it in now I might not be was among the most thrilling personal output from me. able to, because the mind and There’s a song about Dennis in Putting the Band Back Together, a body do deteriorate, there’s no tribute to one of the people who has been central to the Sunderland doubt about that. So I’ve told House Band, and indeed the entire show, from the beginning. Dennis all my family that I’m fulfilling THE SECRET ROCK CHICK brought his brother, his daughter’s father-in-law, and friends to the the dreams I had when I was DOROTHY MUCKLES, SUNDERLAND HOUSE BAND early workshops. He stayed with the House Band throughout its younger. It’s affected looking time in Sunderland, and has travelled with it across the north-east. after grandchildren – I’m in Dorothy’s first experience of singing was joining in with the hymns But in the show, Ross gives his biggest reason for writing a song danger of missing some of at her local church. It’s part of a partnership of five churches in about him: Dennis acknowledges that he is, and always will be, “a their growth periods – but my Sunderland, and with her friend Barbara she helped to form a crap guitarist”, but goes for it anyway, and that’s inspiring. daughter and son think it’s great. community choir drawing on all of their congregations. In 2012 that The thing that sets Putting group performed at the Olympic torch ceremony in Sunderland, and I first asked my mum and going to stick it out. the Band Back Together apart they’ve kept a busy diary ever since. dad for a guitar when I was I’ve learned to play the is that it’s very creative. At a five or six, very little. They’d ukulele, and I’ve been trying pilot meeting for it, I said if I’m I was quite nervous when 63-year-old closet rock chick. give me a plastic guitar, and to improve my guitar skills. I going to be involved, I want it I first came, but it was so Two years ago I got a not knowing what to do I’d even went to college for two to be original: I don’t want to welcoming – and really condition called muscle be tightening the strings and years, and at the end of the be doing covers, I want it to be exciting, how they took the tension dysphoria and snap the neck within a couple course, the lad who took it very original, very wacky, very nucleus of an idea and said basically lost my voice. I had of days. After two years of said: “Dennis, you started as creative, and it’s been all of that. we’ll do this now, try this now, to go to hospital and have that, I gave up. I’ve always a beginner, and you’re leaving Now I’ve done this, I’m craving so you could see how it all speech therapy, and now been very bad-tempered, as a beginner.” As part of the to do more but I don’t know builds up. I have no musical I’m trying to find my singing can get more funding to carry easily frustrated, no patience, Cultural Spring in Sunderland, how I’m going to take it forward. background whatsoever: I voice. I thought this would on, because it empowers not a very good learner, so I I’ve been involved with a I’d like to think I could create can’t read music, I know from be less pressured than being people to think, ‘Oh, I can do just dabbled and dabbled with ukulele band, Putting the something but past experience listening that when the little in a choir, where you have to that.’ You think of the word music, but a couple of years Band Back Together, the with this old brain of mine is I’ll dot goes up I have to go up. But really belt it out. And it’s been culture, you think people ago I thought, I’m going to Whitburn singers, a massive start something off and won’t I get a lot of enjoyment from great: a gentle reintroduction going to the opera, stuff like go for it. It’s what I’ve always production by Wildworks – finish. I need a kick up the it, and this is just fantastic. I to singing and performing in a that: but it’s nothing like that. wanted and no matter what, I’ve said yes to everything. backside basically, and this has didn’t realise, but I think I’m non-threatening way. It’s what you are and what no matter how I struggle, I’m This sounds really crude but done that. a closet rock chick really: a I hope the Cultural Spring makes you human, isn’t it? 6 7 THE SONG OF BOOSTING CONFIDENCE wanted to play music and chat with Ross, and with each other. So that’s what we did. And it was so rich. It made me wonder who workshop plans are for. Are they sometimes, really, about making us feel safer? Do they sometimes get in the way of us listening? What else? The House Band in Sunderland has been with us for two years now. I gave birth to my second daughter during that time. I brought her to a workshop when she was two weeks old. And Mark Lloyd, who made the show with us, died a few months before we opened. The fact they’d played music, and laughed, with him, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS (1) has made for a very particular ANNIE RIGBY, DIRECTOR (AND HOUSE BAND MEMBER) bond. For a period of time, our lives have run alongside each I’ve “interviewed” Annie a couple of times since joining Putting the other. Band Back Together, but somehow never asked the right questions. Now we’re on tour, And the right question was always really simple: how has working sometimes we only spend a with participants – over an extended period in Sunderland, and in few hours with our House a shorter time-frame on tour – affected the way you work, and how Band players. But, a similar you see yourself? In a text Annie wrote to be delivered at a panel connection seems to happen. I discussion held at Battersea Arts Centre, London, to share this love getting a glimpse of how document, she noted that artists are rarely asked those questions. playing in the House Band sits The absence of this dialogue creates a hierarchy, in which within people’s lives. That’s information is only ever being passed downwards, from enlightened what has struck me most about artists to amateurs; and in turn that limits creative potential. reading this. Initially I thought I might include a few quotes from Annie’s text And what else? I’m playing here. But then another conversation with Annie prompted her to my accordion again! After write this instead: years of not. I’ve learned basic drums for when there isn’t a I’ve got so much to say about invitation reaches really wide. drummer in the band. I’ve sung this, I never know where to It brings very different people on my own in front of people. start. But let’s have a go. together. That really matters The show encourages people Basically, it’s made me really to me. to let go of what’s holding happy. What else? It’s made me them back. It’s made me to do I love seeing the different let go. I remember planning the same. people who turn up. Kids early workshops, right at It’s raised my confidence. aged eight through to people the beginning of the creative It’s improved my well-being. in their 80s, beginners, process. I’ve done lots of I’ve made friends. These are professional musicians, workshop plans in my time. the things I hope participants lefty hippies alongside I know lots of clever drama might say. I suppose what’s UKIP campaigners, jazz exercises. But when we got been so rewarding for me, is trombonists, rock guitarists, there, I realised the people that I’ve been a participant, as church choir singers. who’d come didn’t want to well as a director. It’s been a Something about the play drama games. They shared journey. 9 EQUAL PARTS TO PLAY working well. The beauty of GRAHAM HUNT, SUNDERLAND HOUSE BAND it is that Ross and Alex start There’s a beautiful thing François Matarasso, a writer who off with an idea, then me and specialises in writing about community and participatory Graham started playing saxophone in 2014, and when we spoke in Charlotte will say maybe it’ll arts (and finding ways to differentiate between the two) summer 2016, he still considered himself “very much a novice”. work better with a different has written about Ukelila, an organisation that gives mostly He’d loved the instrument for years, but “there was always note, or if we shorten the immigrant children music lessons in Beringen, Eastern something getting in the way” of him learning. And then, one day, passage, so what we play Flanders. After attending a few classes, he noted: there just wasn’t. He was one of two saxophonists in the Sunderland is very much an evolution. House Band: the other, Charlotte, was in primary school, and came It really has felt an equal because her dad thought it would be good preparation for her first process in terms of listening grade exam. to people’s thoughts and “Ukelila does not want them to master suggestions. their instruments but to befriend them, Saxophone is one of those it was the guitars and the I’m not the most instruments that anybody ukuleles and I was the only confident of people, but to experience the joy of music as a source could blow down it and get a saxophone. But four or five that encouragement and of communication and expression and to note and think, ooh, this is a weeks after I started, I was low-pressure environment good start. It doesn’t prepare joined by young Charlotte has made it very warm understand that it really does belong to you for all of the complexities and that was really good and welcoming, and made them.” though. I didn’t know how to as I was able to get a duet everybody come together. read music either, so it’s not going. There’s been a mutual Being a part of this has made just learning the instrument, support between us: she’s me start to think seriously I’m not sure my guitar teacher ever invited me to befriend the it’s also learning crotchets got a more natural ability about whether or not I could instrument. I was a reasonably proficient player, and yet I never and minims. That’s something with what note sounds right, do a buskers’ night in a local got my head around even basic chords, or how to make up tunes I still struggle with a bit. and I’ve got a bit more of a pub, where normally I would on my own (despite a lot of trying). At first in the House Band sense of what sounds as if it’s not entertain that idea at all. I think about this often now my children are learning piano, and their teacher ends every lesson with improvisation – because what’s SIDE BY SIDE, INCLUDED Chris: I do as much social the point of playing an instrument if you’re NETTY AND CHRIS, LEICESTER HOUSE BAND engagement as I can, because INTERLUDE: only ever doing what you’re told? it’s been proven to improve A SHAME-FACED The Leicester performance of Putting the Band Back Together mental and physical health. I And I think about it in relation to Putting was unusual, and all the more special for it. The House Band that didn’t go to the doctors for 35 CONFESSION the Band Back Together: how it entwines its night were all members of the Fosse Music Collective, a band set years, then all of a sudden I’m invitation to play music with a reminder of the up by Tim Sayers as part of his work as the Arts in Mental Health ill, the kids are grown up, I’ve friendship inherent in playing – whether with Coordinator for Leicestershire Partnership Trust. I’ve always been split up with their mum, I’m other musicians, or the instrument itself. struck by the grace and generosity of the House Band invitation, in this other world. It took but never more so than when watching the company absorb this me a long time to learn how The guitar was never a friend to me, only profoundly neurodiverse group. It made me contemplate how to cope, I had to do classes a frustration. I convinced myself that comparatively limited the approach to inclusion is in theatre on anxiety because I’d go working alongside this show would generally, how narrow the general definition of “normal”, and how out of the flat and go straight change that: I bought a proper tuner, trammelled the conversation around difference. back in. I’m in recovery and a second-hand book of chords; from drugs and alcohol I even invested in a new amp. But Netty: I’ve had breast be playing. But by the end of and two mental health the roots of my lack of confidence cancer, so I could relate the rehearsal, I felt I could diagnoses, and recovery is run deep. to the story and found it do it. It gives you confidence about growth. There’s still quite therapeutic, because when you do something like a misunderstanding around That’s a weird thing to confess in I could understand where this, off the cuff. When it mental health, as soon as this document. It’s as if I’ve broken they were coming from. comes to doing other things, it’s mentioned there’s this the show: refused to heed its call. It was a bit scary at first, you think: I did that all right, stigma. But we understand because we’d never heard with about half an hour’s each other: we work with Then again, it’s still on tour: anything the songs before and didn’t practice. And that helps your whoever turns up, we learn to might yet happen... know what part we would self-esteem. improvise. 10 THE SONG OF WHAT COMES NEXT PICK IT UP AND START AGAIN we’ve had two rehearsals MARK GORDON, NEWCASTLE HOUSE BAND now in a space in Newcastle, with seven or eight people Mark is one of the surprisingly few people I spoke to who was a fan from the 20-odd who joined of the Futureheads and joined the House Band after recognising online. The drummer from the Ross Millard’s face in a theatre brochure. He played guitar in all show is really into it, which three shows at Northern Stage. is great because if you’ve got your drummer you’ve got I’d been in a lot of bands and exploring the reasons your ground level, and I’m when I was younger, went why you stopped, and it was playing bass with them which through the whole thing nice for me to reflect on that is really exciting because I of wanting to get signed, for myself. haven’t played bass for years then you get a bit older and After the shows we spent and years. We’ve just done a realise that’s probably not a lot of time chatting about few covers to get ourselves going to happen, people music and bands we’d been started, but someone’s got move on, the bands that in: some of them still are in some original songs we’re you’re in fade out. I still bands, but most people, like going to do, and Dennis from play with friends, just doing me, have drifted and just do Sunderland was talking about covers, but that kind of being the odd bits and bobs. We all doing some of his writing set a ‘serious’ band stopped a had a few drinks on the last to music, in a similar vein to while ago. When I heard night, everyone’s euphoric, what the show has done. So it about the play, I thought it and I started asking around feels like there’s scope there, would give me a chance to who would be interested if we keep playing, to start re-examine some of that in carrying on. I set up a developing something new stuff: it’s about starting again little Facebook group and and a bit different.

LITTLE TO A LOT I really enjoyed how all those KEVIN, LUTON HOUSE BAND small parts make up the whole production. And it was a lot Kevin left school at 16 and joined the Merchant Navy, so when he cooler than I thought it was says that his guitar “has been all around the world with me”, he going to be! After doing it I really means it. He’s always enjoyed jamming with people, but never looked around on a musician’s played seriously, and some time in his 30s gave up altogether. He’s Meetup group and found now 55, and the show caught him at “quite a fortuitous moment”, something else: I went along soon after he had decided to start playing again. thinking I was just going to play with a few guitarists in a About six months ago I because you look at a weight back room of a pub, but I’ve finished an Open University and think, I’m never going ended up in a band. At the degree in psychology. I really to lift that, but you just put a moment it’s me, a bass and the enjoyed it, and what it taught little bit more on each time most incredible singer, and me was the importance and then all of a sudden... I everyone has come to it with of applying yourself, and lift silly weights now, I just their stories: the singer runs a sticking to something. keep applying and keep the huge group on a karaoke app, Whenever playing guitar consistency going – and and started singing when she got hard I gave up, I put it that’s what I’m doing with lost a daughter a couple of in my head that it was me the guitar. years ago, as therapy. We’ve and I couldn’t do it, but this Being on stage with got a set now, we’re practising, time I thought: I’m going to the House Band was great and we’re going to recruit stick with it. I also started because you’re playing a some more musicians through lifting weights a couple of part: I like being in a team, I another Meetup. It’s great years ago, and that’s brilliant like being with people, and being with people again. 13 and she was mesmerised. NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW and rather than going to I’m sure that would have BOB, SUNDERLAND HOUSE BAND listen to somebody, this happened at some point, is getting involved in a but I like that it happened Bob lives a 40-minute drive from Sunderland, but that didn’t different level. Even if because of this. dissuade him from taking part in Putting the Band Back Together. you can’t do it very well, The only other guy in the Three years ago, he suggested to a friend that they join a choir, and it doesn’t seem to matter House Band was a proper when the friend objected that “we can’t sing”, he replied: “Let’s to most people as long as guitarist who’d done it a few not let that stop us.” He’s been part of the Customs House choir you’re enjoying it. I’ve times in Sunderland – so I in South Shields ever since, and also sings with a choir at Sage played guitar for seven really felt the odd one out, Gateshead. years, my wife asked a lad the sore thumb at the back. to give me a few lessons But it didn’t matter: it made My wife got me a ukulele and that’s the lad I still play space for me to be as good or for Christmas, and I thought guitar with, go to gigs with as bad as I was, and that was coming here would push me and go to the choir with. OK. Maybe someone who to learn it quicker, rather We have a laugh, meeting didn’t know the company than stumbling around as I like-minded people. And or who was a bit less robust do with the guitar. It puts it’s learning, it’s pushing or had anything riding on a bit of structure to the yourself a bit. I’m 67: I their ability to play the learning, plus you see how don’t want to just sit in a guitar might have felt more you put a song together: corner somewhere and fade A BEAUTIFUL SPACE FOR EVERYONE TO JUST BE exposed, but I think the all interesting educational away. I’d rather be doing DANIEL BYE, LANCASTER HOUSE BAND company did everything they stuff. something, and this is great could to put the right support I’ve always liked music – it’s invigorating. Dan is a theatre-maker, writing and performing his own solo shows structures in place without and collaborating with others to make work for adults and children. being patronising, and that’s He learned to play guitar as a teenager – although, he says, “it a difficult balance to strike. could be argued that I haven’t really learned” – and is remarkably Ross has not had any training THE TRICKLE EFFECT sanguine about the fact that: “fundamentally I haven’t got any at that, there’s no school you ADAM FEATHERSTONE, EDINBURGH HOUSE BAND musical talent. I need to work quite hard to be pedestrian, but go to: he’s just got that knack that’s still quite a satisfying thing to do.” He joined the House Band for putting people at their Adam tried playing guitar as a kid, and when that didn’t work out, he during a week of childcare with his first baby, which might have ease and being human. moved on to drums. Now in his 30s, he’s played for more than two contributed something to his euphoria levels. The one bit that made decades, but struggles to fit it in around work. Like many people me a bit scared was in I spoke to, his enjoyment in taking part was laced with a sense of I probably would have genuinely exciting moment. Happiness: everyone gets a identification: he, too, used to be in bands, “and then life gets in the wanted to take part in I did very little prep in few bars to do their thing, way, doesn’t it?” the House Band anyway, advance: I really met the and to keep time and do because I know Annie really brief in that the last time something worthwhile I teach music in a lovely to be shown what well and I like the work, I picked up my guitar was or interesting felt quite special-needs school, so to do by someone else, but also I’m a massive fan probably 10 months ago. terrifying. I think in some I teach everything but and get that enthusiastic of the Futureheads, so to I’ve no ear for music and ways they’re right not to at a quite low level: lots feeling back again in the be in a band with Ross I never learned how to tell people in advance that of keyboard, a little bit rehearsal before the show. as much to get a few good was just the most thrilling think musically; as a set of they’re going to have to do of guitar, composition, I’ve been meaning to musicians playing music possible thing. There was mechanical interactions that, because I think less a lot of different things. start a band for a while for the fun of it, not for a point during one of the with an instrument I got people would come. But I don’t often get the now and it gave me the money or anything else. songs, Happiness, where he to a point when I was 18 there’s something about chance to do much music encouragement to just It’s interesting to think turned around and smiled where I was kind of all giving people space who myself because I’m too get out and do it. I’ve put about that trickle-down at everyone in the band, and right, but I haven’t played might not be the most busy teaching it, so it was together a nice little funk effect, because I’ll get I could have just died then. regularly since then. One of brilliant musicians in the good to play with some ensemble, with some someone else involved who I’m being slightly flippant, the beautiful things about world that is quite beautiful, other musicians, and in a people I studied with didn’t see the show and get but also I’ve just described playing along to Ross’s in the way it supports the different style (I did a jazz and haven’t seen for a them to play some music, that and a little shiver has instruction videos is that it’s message of the show and the degree a long, long time long time, and hopefully and then they might get gone down my spine: as the first time I’ve played the way it supports the people to ago). And I’m so used to the first rehearsal is in a someone else to play some a kind of fanboy, it was a guitar in front of the baby, be part of that message. teaching that it was really couple of weeks’ time. It’s music, and so on. 14 15 THE SONG OF CROSSING A POLITICAL GULF (OR JUST IGNORING IT'S THERE) in that arrangement as everyone else. What I’ve really taken from it is it’s improved my understanding of music a little bit more, and how certain instruments can fit in in certain places where others maybe can’t. And I’ve enjoyed taking a different kind of approach with writing songs. I was used to writing in rehearsal: you’d go in and say, it’s going to be dead intense, we’re going to have serious aims, we’re not going to leave till we’ve done x y z, and a lot of the time that’s quite futile. Here we all got together, talked a lot about our relationship with musical instruments and our IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS (2) favourite records, people would ROSS MILLARD, COMPANY MEMBER suggest the first tune they ever learned and we had a go at doing Back in 2004, Ross and his band the Futureheads released a self- that; it was just really relaxed, titled album that I listened to on repeat, and can still sing huge we poked and prodded in a few chunks of from memory. A few months later they put out a cover places to see what felt like a version of Hounds of Love that remains one of my Desert Island good direction to go in. My sense Discs. So I was already quite the fan, but even so, spending a year of ownership over the songs isn’t with Ross has been a revelation. The immediacy with which he puts like, I wrote these: I had input people at their ease, encourages them, despite – as he says below into this as much as everybody – no specific training, is remarkable. Plus his singing voice keeps else had input into other areas. tying knots around my heart. I have definitely played more music in the years since the When we stopped doing without any prior knowledge Heads went on hiatus. I suppose Futureheads I hadn’t been in of the music, and it’s always a when you’re touring you a room making music with bit of a surprise because you soundcheck and you play the anyone else for more than a don’t know anyone’s ability show, you don’t really play much few hours in 15 years. This was level, you don’t know what beyond that, other than when one of a couple of things that instruments are going to come you’re home writing. I’ve really came along in the aftermath through the door. enjoyed playing music with that put me in a position At the start of the process loads of different other people: where I was meeting and I had no idea what we were I think it makes you a better playing with relative strangers, going to end up with: it’s player, and it also makes you and because I don’t have any not like the songs have been realise that some of the, what I background as a teacher, I conceived with that in mind. perceive to be, little stumbling didn’t know whether I had It’s been good fortune that blocks in my ability, they don’t the social skills to be able to they’ve managed to be songs really exist. They’re almost deal with it. But I’ve found it that are flexible enough to your identity in your playing, an amazing experience in the have all these other people join something that characterises sense that it’s given me some in. Everyone who comes along, how you play: you can’t play confidence to try and arrange there has to be a place for that everything all the time, if you something in a big room, person and that instrument, could you wouldn’t really be you, where people are coming in and they have to feel as vital would you? 17 THE SONG OF SO MANY ACCENTS (AND HOW WRITING STRIPS THEM AWAY)

SINGING THE HAPPY BLUES this mild-mannered ex-civil FIONA ALLEN, EDINBURGH HOUSE BAND servant brackets retired is a blues singer in a sleazy satin Fiona sings in “two and a bit choirs” in Edinburgh: an a cappella dress, and I just wanted community choir, a very small group (I assume this is the bit) her to come out to play, that sings in nursing homes, and Protest in Harmony: you can but I don’t know what the guess from the name what they do. In 2016, Protest in Harmony audience made of this little performed at the Scottish Parliament for the 40th anniversary round elderly lady. Bless her, of Women’s Aid: another event Fiona describes as “such a she said: “You’ll just have buzz”. to say, listen folks, don’t be under any illusions, I’m not I sang a lot when I was god we can’t possibly be your average little round at school, then had seen to fail or even not to elderly lady.” I thought that a long period of not be all that good. The thing was wonderful. singing, because of life about the community choir I absolutely adore blues, circumstances, exhaustion, is, we don’t audition and we but can you imagine this illness, any of those things. I don’t have to read music, accent singing blues? I’m got into the first choir kind but we produce the most not your natural blues of accidentally, because my amazing sound. singer apart from the voice: upstairs neighbour used At one point during the I look like something that’s to sing with them and she House Band rehearsal, wandered out of Thomas took me. I didn’t used to apparently I bounced up and Hardy; the voice is fine, be terribly good at meeting down on my heels and said: it’s just the diction. I can’t unfamiliar people, so it was “Oh ho, I’m so happy!” The remember who it was said nice to be taken along – and cast were killing themselves this to me, but if it’s part of be vouched for, if you like. laughing because I got your soul it will always be British people have self- completely hyper. It was just part of your soul. To some consciousness built into such fun! I had a pedicure extent, it doesn’t really us: we don’t want to be a couple of weeks later and matter how good you are or different, we don’t want to told my podiatrist that I had how bad you think you are: be conspicuous, and oh my to take part because inside you should have a crack at it. 18 promise that I would only get LEARNING TO LET GO but there was no sense at involved in music again if it was MARK WALLACE, EDINBURGH HOUSE BAND all of anybody trying to find on my terms. I stopped playing musical superiority, the way for about five years, and also Mark is the director of Beaford Arts, an organisation that works you would often find in a became a dad in that time. But with promoters across Devon to programme contemporary jazz session. I just recall about 18 months ago a friend of performance in non-traditional rural venues. He booked to see having a great time: nervous mine from university asked me the show for professional purposes – but took part in it as a to start with, I felt my to play a couple of shows with lapsed musician. He ran a jazz band in college but felt he was timing was not bang on, but his band, as a favour. That’s what “never good enough to make a living out it”, and no longer plays it didn’t take long for us to got me playing again: having in public except to accompany his teenage daughter, a jazz lock in together, and fairly someone say, I need your help saxophonist. early on I thought, this was with this, and we’ll arrange it in actually working like a band, a way that fits you. After that, I I immediately recognised at and do it ourselves? I know we were actually playing thought I’d check the musicians least three of the 10 reasons what I’d like to sound like, and together. wanted website for Liverpool, in given on stage for why people every time I sit down to play It’s made me think about case there were a couple of guys stop doing music and felt quite the piano I just don’t have the carrying on playing music. locally who want to meet for a a strong affinity to another technique to get anywhere In the same way that you jam, just some people who want four of them. Probably the near what I’m hearing in my realise at 20 that you’re to do it for the love of it, to try and biggest stumbling block for head; I don’t have the time to never going to be David re-create that basement again. me personally is that, having develop that technique and so Bowie, I’m at the point – in MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS Sure enough, I’ve met a drummer been working professionally I choose not to play in public, my late 40s – where I’ve PAUL HAGAN, EDINBURGH HOUSE BAND and a bass player, we meet once a in the arts now for about 15 because I couldn’t possibly be realised I enjoy playing week in town, and just play songs years, I meet really, really happy with what I was doing. music and it’s going to be Paul lives in Liverpool but his wife is from Edinburgh, so they regularly we love. I call it the “dad band”. good people, excellent I did the show because I an enjoyable pastime that is go to the fringe festival, and his family know to look out for shows Within about six weeks of professionals who are at the thought I would hate myself going to enrich my life. The he might like. His father spotted a listing for Putting the Band Back playing in the show in Edinburgh, top of their game, and it’s if I didn’t grab that chance. sheer high I felt being up on Together and said: “It’s perfect for you – it’s failed musicians.” we decided that we should book reassuring to hear you as And the experience itself the stage, and for some time Thanks, Dad. For a few years, Paul had an actual career with the band a gig in the pub at the end of the another sector person feel was great: I realised in the afterwards, has given me Amsterdam, recording three albums and touring widely, but while they road. The show had been a very the same thing as me: which rehearsal they’d written the that slight kick to say: don’t had some chart success, they “never reached the point where you timely reminder of what it is I is that we’re surrounded by music for guitarists – E major be quite so precious and were bringing in much money”. He’s now “grown up, with a mortgage enjoyed about making music – so many brilliant people, how is not the obvious key to jam pretentious, just get out and and things”, and works as a web designer at the University of and part of that is being in front could we possibly step up in if you’re a failed pianist – have fun. Liverpool. Paul wrote the email that starts this document, and emailed of an audience. I’m a terror Unfolding Theatre again after the show to say thanks, adding: “I for that. But it’s also a mood- can happily say I now have another great reminder of why music enhancer: if I’m feeling down or is so important, and why going back to it after a few years in the tired or frustrated, I lock myself wilderness is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” away for half an hour and learn a song. The head space that you can After I left Amsterdam, I did long time: I’d been working get into when you’re playing or a bit of travelling in America, hard at it, but the pleasure and writing music, where you forget and a friend of mine who lived fun was gone. That’s the point everything, allows you to relax in Seattle arranged for me to where I thought, I’m not going and be a bit more yourself I guess. meet a few of his friends in a to do it any more: I’m going The show got me thinking basement for a jam. When I to throw all my guitars in the a lot about why I stopped, the arrived, they didn’t even stop Mersey and never touch an things I didn’t like – but also the playing: they had a guitar and instrument again. Thankfully happy memories and the positive a seat in the corner for me, my wife stopped me – things. Partly inspired by that, gave me a nod, and I spent although she probably regrets and at the behest of my dad, the next four or five hours it now, everywhere you go in I’ve started writing everything playing music with a bunch of our house there’s a guitar. I down. Whether anyone will ever strangers and feeling so happy think I’ve got 17 at last count. want to read it, I’ve no idea, but and joyful about it. I hadn’t But it was a kind of I wanted to jot it down before I felt like that about music in a epiphany: I made myself a forget all the fun we got up to. 20 21 THE SONG OF SIX MONTHS LATER Writing and research by Maddy Costa

With huge thanks to everyone whose words appear in this document, for all the invigorating and enjoyable chats: I’d have had no story without you.

Additional thanks to “A”, Anthony, Carol, Charles, Charlotte and her father Gareth (Sunderland House Band), Paul, Matthew, Mandy and Tim Sayers (Leicester House Band), Zen Hashmi and Zoeen Hashmi (Luton House Band) and Adris Asghar (Farsley House Band), for also contributing their time, conversation and inspiration to this document.

More thanks to François Matarasso, whose work in this field continually inspires me, and whose piece about Ukelila can be read here: www.arestlessart.com/2016/12/16/a-hippo-among- fish-thinking-about-children-and-music/

Final thanks to Unfolding Theatre, for the invitation, the ongoing dialogue, and especially the generosity.

UNFOLDINGTHEATRE.CO.UK

TO DATE 419 PEOPLE HAVE PLAYED IN THE HOUSE BANDS OF 54 PERFORMANCES OF PUTTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER. THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

Trusthouse Charitable Foundation

DESIGN Wayne Gamble TO: [email protected] RE: SO I’M THINKING… What should I do now that it’s all over... I dare not visit Cash Converters for fear of coming out with a drum kit. And much as Jan loves me, she’d love me a little less if a set of those appeared in the house. It’s not like shoes and handbags where you can say... oh, those... I’ve had them ages!! So I’m thinking... yeah what am I thinking... I’m thinking I should say a HUGE thanks to Annie, Ross, Maria & Alex and everyone else involved for making this last month or so such a fun-filled experience for me. A journey that started with fears and anxieties ended on a note of joy and happiness. I’ve now fulfilled one of my life’s ambitions/ dreams to be on stage in a band... at the grand old age of 60!! It’s been a truly uplifting experience. Thanks again Dave x DAVID RIDLEY SUNDERLAND (AND EDINBURGH) HOUSE BAND