Another showcase from the all-arts group The Vibe last Monday - with Widsith and Deor Storytellers headlining! at the excellent venue that is the Picture House. Julie Yount of The Sidewalk Anthem was again a splendid host and played songs that were a star of the evening. There were stalls of cards from a portrait painter - one could believe they looked exactly like those they depicted! some lovely colourful postcards of paintings from Alexandra, and Lisa's truly beautiful handmade wax design cards, decorative flowers and boxes, plus Japanese calligraphy demonstrations and even massage tasters by Isca Therapies! Sets included ones from Peter Farrie and Gabriel Collins (who played at the CCANW fundraiser we organized earlier in the year), this time on electric piano, and ourselves. We chose a single new story from the Caucasus called 'Anait' a wonderful tale in two parts - half fairytale, half horror story, and as before, it amazed us how quiet the bar went, and how folks just passing through, or coming up after a film not expecting a mixed arts showcase to be going on, stopped and listened. In some ways the Picture House as an arts cinema with regularly changing art exhibitions is an ideal place to host such an event - but in other ways, it is of course a cafe bar, and hence many people pass through wanting a drink after or to go with their film/popcorn or meet friends...as such, all acts had to attract what you might call 'passing trade' rather than a formal audience. But it worked! which is, for us, one of the marks of a good story. Our sword, ghoul head and spooky hand all drew attention, and our flail a gasp! People said kind things - including one who said she was on the edge of her seat, wondering what would happen next! And another who praised us for our high energy performance. The book stall also attracted interest, and all in all, the whole evening was a success.
Big thanks to all the members of The Vibe who performed or had stalls, those who came to support the rest, and especially to the ever good-humoured Julie for putting the event together and hosting it so well, as well as running the group so admirably.
Check out the group and maybe even join! at;
