The brief…

Here are the details of your first Cafe Jazz gig, which will take place on Monday October 5th.

Year 1 9pm – 9.45pm: Darren English & Naomi Heap. (You can play together or share the 45mins between you, whatever suits you, and Naomi, if you need to bring a guitarist in to accompany you that’s fine too.)

Your theme is Blues to match up with week one of the LPW programme. Musicians, it is your responsibility to devise your own set lists to fit this theme. 

‘The tutors have repeatedly said that it this will be a real gig in a venue with real expectations, …so make it good!’

At first I wondered why my name was on the list, without band, but once I asked around I understood that as I had played gigs in Cardiff my name was put forward to do the first gig along with Darren English – like Guinea pigs.

I don’t play an instrument well enough to accompany myself so I had to decide what the best option would be to make the gig as best as I could.

I had a few free hours between classes so I grabbed the musicians off my course who were hanging about and we put a set together. I asked them to go and learn the set so that we can run it through top to bottom in a rehearsal on the day (as that’s the only time we can get the rehearsal space!)

Despite the rush and some confusion I’m looking forward to the gig, to see how the other musicians do in a live setting and to work on my direction skills as singer and ultimately it’s my name on the list so it’s on me to make it good!