Last weekend we played our first gig in over a year. It was a sun drenched weekend full of all the good things we’d missed, and gave us a chance to reflect on what has been, and what’s to come.
Prior to the pandemic, we’d been full steam ahead promoting our project Kolar’s Gold. Heads down, we’d launched into the realms of radio, TV, press, trying to find any way we could to get the project out there. Fired up by the belief that Kolar’s Gold was something special, we went banging on the doors of media gatekeepers who more often than not wouldn’t give an independent band lacking in famous names a second glance. Would we do it all again? Absolutely! For all the media bigwigs who ignored us, there were passionate radio hosts and journalists who shared our feeling that the Kolar’s Gold stories were worth telling. It was hard work, but we were on a roll.
Then came… nothing. Everyone was locked down and the music stopped. Tour plans were scrapped, zoom chats became the norm.
Fast forward a year and a bit and not only could we meet, but we could hug! Even Laura had dished out a few by the end of the weekend!
Instruments in one hand, beers in the other, we arrived in Neal’s garden. We had seen each other a couple of times over the past year, but this meeting held more promise. It wouldn’t just be the swallows hearing us this time, but real life people at a real life gig.
With relief, we discovered that not only could we still play our instruments, the connection that existed between us as musicians and friends had not been dimmed by distance or time. The following hours were spent not just remembering the notes, but creating new arrangements, new tunes, and in some cases, new patches of sunburn.
We topped the afternoon off with delicious fish and chips and with pink faces and full bellies packed away our instruments for the day.
On Sunday we ran the set one more time, then sat down to plan dates. The logistics of 5 diaries, and uncertainty of Covid restrictions meant that the first window of time we could find was October! We decided that rather than pack that weekend with gigs, we’d use the time to work on new music, and have fun together without the pressure to perform.
With a couple of hours till we were needed at the venue, we took a detour to Laura’s house to watch a bit of the England match, then set off to Lostwithiel.
It was a strange feeling, arriving at LostFest to find happy faces and live music playing. With the exception of face masks, life felt ‘normal’. We watched our lovely friends ‘Blowing my own trumpet’ play their set, then after a quick sound check it was our turn.
The music went surprisingly well, and performing together was a joy. We are so grateful to the organisers of LostFest for navigating the complex world of Covid restrictions to put on an event that was a safe, wonderful celebration of live music.
The pandemic took so many musical opportunities away, but by removing all distractions it also revealed the heart of what being in a band is all about. On that glorious sunny weekend, it was the simplicity of friends meeting to make music that bought us joy. As we navigate our way towards a more normal way of being, it wont be a longing for ‘success’ that drives us, but friendship, community, and the prospect of a few more beers in the sun. :-)
