We have a new fridge. In the shop named after some spicy foods is a wall of huge ugly grey chill robots with screens requiring an app and internet connection. For the price of a small second-hand car. All we want is a smallish plug-in white box that keeps stuff cold. I DON'T NEED MY FRIDGE TO THINK!
Image shows the band Oscar's Room performing on stage at a Battle of the Bands competition - they won!
Massive congrats to Oscar's Room for winning Battle of the Bands last night at Woodys near Grantham and gaining a stage spot at the Summer Festival in June 2026. So proud of you Ryan, Oscar, Vee, and Ben. Blummin heck, you absolutely blew us all away with 2 amazing sets.
#livemusic #woodlandwaters
Image shows a ukulele in the foreground, laying on its black gig bag. Behind it is a concertina, a fiddle, and a speaker with a microphone on top.
Image shows the label inside a Risa ukulele.
Oops, another new acquisition in the instrumental department! I now have a lovely wooden Risa concert ukulele. Risa make some gorgeous ukes. I don’t know much about this one, other than she's a few years old and was made in Europe.
(Just don't ask how many instruments I own 😂🤫)
##folkmusic #ukulele
Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).
Black and white Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).
A bunch of musicians that both my daughter and son know are in a band called Oscar's Room. We popped along to watch them on Wednesday; they were really good. If you're local to Grantham, catch them at future gigs.
It's great we have venues willing to support musicians, so thanks to The Blue Man pub.
Change one letter, ruin a whole show, you say?
Stranger Thongs
Paintless
A Place in the Sin
Bargain C#nt
The Tractors
Solo gig tonight at Roosters Brewery in Harrogate, starting at 7.30pm. See you there.
I did, thank you. I usually find that learning a new tune and then almost mindlessly playing it over and over again makes a huge difference. Although tonight it took an hour of 'over and over again'!
This is happening at 5.30-7pm on 4 March in Nottingham (NTU City Campus), it's free, and obviously I'll love it if you turn up!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-...
Good luck! 🤗
Image shows an old fiddle on a stand with a bow. To the left is an audio speaker on which stands a microphone and some rosin.
My brain's having one of its 're-live conversations I've had/messages I've sent' moments, which then results in my berating myself for any (often imagined) offence I've caused. Am I the only one who does this? 😫
Sometimes I think my brain dislikes me. So I'm going to try to drown it out with tunes.
Image shows some old fiddle tune books in the foreground with some black and orange headphones on top of them and an open laptop screen in the background with music notation software displaying on it.
From 1-31 Jan 2025 I decided to learn a new fiddle tune every day to increase my session repertoire. It helped a lot so I decided to do the same for 1-31 Jan 2026. Except it's far easier & quicker this time as I've played lots of sessions and noticed I've gotten massively better at sight reading!
So so sorry to read this. Much love to you all. Hx
Oh my dears, I am so sorry to read this. Much love to you all and to Ed's family. Hx
Image shows a dusk community carol singing session outside the village church in Barrowby in Lincolnshire.
Last carol singing session of the year, this time outside our village church among its community-decorated trees. Then it was time to pop inside the church to drink mulled wine.
#CarolSinging
Yes, it saves on printing booklets and also means everyone has to look up to sing, which results in better vocal projection!
Image shows a fiddle, a concertina and a ukulele on a table, along with a folder containing songs. There is a gaudy christmas tablecloth on the table that we really like for its sheer garish colours!
Image shows an acoustic guitar in a brown case and a part of a Busson Harmoniflute (a rare tabletop squeezebox from 1860s Paris).
One of my musician friends, who lives up the road from me in our village, is originally from Sheffield. He's realised that I sing Sheffield Carols so asked me to partner him to sing some in the pub last night. So we rehearsed them yesterday and did just that. An absolute privilege to perform them ❤️
Image shows a bunch of 7 musicians and singers after a carol concert.
Image shows a bunch of 6 musicians and singers plus sound guy after a carol concert.
Another fab time last night singing Christmas carols and songs, this time as part of a group of performers leading the singing in our village. We displayed the lyrics on a screen for everyone (controlled by our splendid new sound guy who did both sound desk and screen).
Image shows the BBC 6 Music page for Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone. The track playing is He Comes In The Night by Angeline Morrison.
How super hearing the truly wonderful @angelcakepie2.bsky.social on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music just now. A gorgeous voice and a lovely person ❤️
Turned on the radio to Guy Garvey's Finest Hour on #BBC6Music a few minutes ago and A Whiter Shade of Pale was playing. The words, "Do you want a cup of tea?" were out my mouth even before my brain was aware of it!
#IYKYK
Image shows a group of around 20 people are dressed in winter hats and coats. They are singing Christmas carols outside.
Another carol singing session completed. This one in my own village of Barrowby in Lincolnshire. Outside. And yes, it was cold. Very cold. Even with my big coat on!
#Lincolnshire
Image shows a winter tree lit by green lights. Next to it is a conical tree shape made of lights with a illuminated star on top. In the background is a castle wall and an illuminated doorway.
Image shows a huge white Christmas bauble shape illumated with white lights. 3 people are standing inside it.
Image shows the front of Lincoln Cathedral illumated woth cerise-coloured lights.
Image shows the grounds of Lincoln Castle with a variety of coloured Christmas illuminations around it.
A stunning night last night at Lincoln Castle Christmas illuminations.
A really beautiful display at the castle (and Lincoln Cathedral looked fabulous too).
#Lincolnshire
Image shows the White Swan pub in the village of Barrowby, Lincolnshire. It is taken at night so the sky is dark, although the outside of the pub is lit. The pub is a corner pub and a wet road and pavement glistens to the front and side. The downstairs pub windows appear to be purple and red because of Christmas lights inside the building.
A fab night at our bi-monthly Singers' Night in my local pub. A couple of people snuck in some Sheffield Carols, and I intoduced the group to the song 'Boxing Day' by Robb Johnson. I've been asked to take my Sheffield Carols book next time (by those who grew up there!) so I'll expect much singing!
Absolutely, Andy. I always get moved by singing there. You feel the experience in the core of your being. And it's very levelling; it doesn't matter who you are - total novice or seasoned professional - everyone is singing together and welcome to participate.
I bet it was wonderful watching the both of them though!
PS I've bought a standing ticket for BH next November so will hope to see you!
And lovely to sing carols with the 3 of you this afternoon. Hope you had a safe journey back.
Image shows Sheffield Carols being sung in Dungworth near Sheffield.
Image shows Sheffield Carols being sung in Dungworth near Sheffield.
Had a magnificent afternoon singing Sheffield Carols for over 2 hours in Dungworth near Sheffield. These sessions really are special; singing together is a huge passion of mine and this village along with some of the people who come to sing here have played a huge part in my journey as a musician
Image shows the folk band Magpie Lane performing at Royal Traditions folk club near Sheffield. The band are holding their instruments and standing next to a lit-up Christmas tree.
Image shows Matt Quinn and Jon Boden accompanying carol singing on Wheatstone Maccann Duet concertinas at Royal Traditions folk club. They are both dressed in black shirts. Jon also wears black jeans and Matt wears dark blue jeans. Jon is standing on one leg.
A glorious night of songs & friendship at Royal Trads. @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social were super (lovely to meet @audinarymusic.bsky.social in person after years of online chat!) Then hearty singing of Sheffield Carols, expertly(!) accompanied by @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social & @jonboden.bsky.social.
It's #BandcampFriday, the day when the lovely @bandcamp.com waives its commission! If you pop by my Bandcamp store there are my unaccompanied folk songs and some merch too. And if you join my mailing list you'll be first to hear about new releases too.
helenlindley.bandcamp.com
Let me guess, the inns are all full but someone's got a spare stable at Horse Guards?
For those that use f site, I now have a music page there too. It's a new account so if a few of you fancied following, that would be really rather splendid and I'd be overflowing with gratitude (okay, I'll stop with the overly flowery language 😊😉)
www.facebook.com/share/16Ts4V...
