Last night was brilliant, well done everyone who came out of their comfort zone and sung in front of people you all smashed it!
Over three nights, from October 24th -26th, East Marsh United presented three great evenings of talent and entertainment at Freeman Street Market in the heart of the East Marsh.
Our Arts Council funded Hear Me RAW project kicked us off on Thursday 24th with the energy of young musicians taking the space and delivering a cracking night of music that ranged in style from modern rock to classical opera. What a wealth of talent was on display.
Lowercase Theatre took control of the space on Friday 25th and gave us a further glimpse of their new show, Is It Dead Out? A funny and moving exploration of small town life, going away, coming back and all the landmarks and experiences that create our sense of home and roots. We were also treated to the musical talents of the young, jazz influenced band Moonpocket. Our headline act of the night came from James Alexander Hall. His one man show Smorgasbord is a hilarious combination of clowning, dancing, audience participation and jokes that make you laugh until your ribs ache.
Our annual East Marsh Happening brought our community together with songs and laughter. Together we raised a significant donation of food for the We Are One Food Bank. We also raised a generous cash donation for a family very close to all our hearts.
As always, we had a wonderful evening of uplifting fun. The Happening is different every time, and that’s why it’s such a special night for us.
The Happening: A Parker Family Perspective
The following section was written by our community wordsmith, Mike Parker.
It’s Saturday night and we’re at Freeman Street Market for The Happening; an event to close the summer, and look towards the upcoming busy autumn and winter season of events. Yes, I said it, in the words of Game of Thrones- Winter is coming!!!!
Did you blink and whizz through this year too? Not just me then!
Anyway, as I said. Yes, it’s Saturday night and we are at Freeman Street Market and for me, why would I want to be anywhere else? A million miles away from noisy pub chains charging a fortune, Ant and Dec can keep their Take Away and Mr Simon Cowell, you too can keep your X Factor. Here tonight we had the aww factor, the warm and fuzzy factor, the proud factor and the wow factor.
This is a more traditional Saturday night; more akin to The Generation Game as the acts present themselves to us. Apart from the amazing House Band, we’re all part of our Peace Choir, with the acts literally ranging in age from 8 – 80. The Peace Choir still continues to amaze me. This is a group of people that meet up for an hour or so on a Tuesday and are welcomed with open arms regardless of age, ability, or background. They just get together, sing and more importantly, smile.
So, the Peace Choir sings their repertoire beautifully as always. The proud factor and wow factor comes from two very young, talented violinists and an impeccable solo on a welcome new addition to the set list, Good Riddance, Time of your Life by Green Day.
Chosen Family seems to be becoming a bit of an anthem for the choir and it’s not until you listen to the words that you understand the relevance and poignancy. This is performed with such meaning. And there is another awww factor and proud factor from a solo by another very special young lady.
We are all set for the Bandearoke, compered by our Matt, with his usual fun, enthusiasm and professionalism. Yes, karaoke with a live band. Daunting but amazing at the same time. When I think of karaoke, I automatically see the stereotypical drunk women bawling out Gloria Gaynor, or the uncle blurting out My Way. However, this is brought to us by East Marsh United with Peace Choir members. I may sound biassed but from the little ladies singing Let It Go from Frozen to the, ahem, older people with their renditions of Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma and Bill Withers’ classic Ain’t No Sunshine; songs from the show Grease, and covers of Greenday and Adele songs demonstrate the diversity and varieties of talents that are there for all to see. I’m not going to name names, but there are three special ladies here that blow me away, not just with talent, but also humility.
The House Band gives a short but very well received set and deserve a special mention as they learnt to play a lot of these songs at very short notice in order to make the singers sound amazing. Job done as far as I am concerned.
Can’t wait to see what the next few months bring and even beyond that. Once again, a Chosen Family has made the East Marsh, United.
Well done to all!!
A Poem from Mike Parker
The famous East Marsh
The talk of the town
The runt of the litter
That’s always talked down
The jobless no-hopers
That sign on the dole
Sponging and smoking
With one common goal
The goal is, do nothing
Below lower class
The ones that don’t thieve
Just sit on their ass
Now some of this story
Is so sad, it’s true
But it’s the same everywhere
Maybe right near you
Yet from what I have seen
I live there, you see
Is beauty that’s round there
Chosen family
That is now the anthem
We’re not all the same
An East Marsh United
Regardless of name
Last night we made music
People of all age
Alone or in a choir
Performed on the stage
With different talents
Abilities too
But one thing was equal
The love in the room
This is just a glimpse
Of us at our best
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine
Bring me—-ah, you know the rest!!!!!!!!!!
Photo credits:
RAW and Happening – Kelly McLaughlin
lowercase – Emma Gibbon
