Graduation Day

So Tuesday was Graduation Day at Norwich University College of the Arts.  After each ceremony (there were three in all) Eastern Straynotes were on hand to play acoustic jazz for the champagne reception.  Electrically amplified music is forbidden in Blackfriars Hall so Andy Kirkham (centre of picture) was able to demonstrate his powers of vocal projection.

Personally I love playing acoustically, finding a natural balance between the instruments and tailoring that to the demands of the space and the occasion. It can be challenging, certainly, but it is music making at its most refined and satisfying.

This is the band's fourth year playing for this event so I can only assume we must be doing something right.

Out on the Town, part one

It's not often the Straynotes play in public but recently we managed to do so three times in six days.

I wish I had a photo of us playing at the ShopArt! Live event, organised by Norwich Arts Centre in a disused estate agents' premises on King Street. We played behind a pane of glass each, on the other side of which was our audience. Highly conceptual, and making a big enough impression on guitarist Andy Kirkham to cause him to change the band's name. Fortunately The Manikins reverted to Eastern Straynotes as we cycled home.

Also on the bill was the legendary Bruce Lacey, pictured with a robot he built in the 1960s. The camera angle was poor so you may have to take my word for it. And there's Andy maintaining a safe distance behind.