A Tale of Two Cities

When I was a little girl, if we were in London, for a treat my mother would often take me to Harrods. I remember being mesmerised by its maze like interior; corridor after corridor running through never-ending rooms filled with luxurious displays of the very finest wares that money can buy. I recall also, standing in awe within the grandiose splendour of the Food Hall, speculating as to just how many people actually had the privilege of doing the weekly shop there. One could argue that its status now is more that of a tourist attraction than a shop, but to me, it is still as exciting a place to be as ever, and it buzzes constantly with all the energy and cultural richness of Heathrow airport. Because of all this, singing there the other week was not only an enormous privilege, but also an incredible, if yet surreal experience, and one that I don’t think any of us will ever forget.

We arrived at the back of the store at half past three to a security escort who took us to the Montreux Jazz Café on the third floor, and by four o clock we were sound checking. This was a strange experience in itself, because as soon as you start to sing and play, people start to look and listen! It’s then that you realise the enormity of what you are about to do, and if there are nerves to be felt at all, then this is the time! Things were about to get even stranger though, because the Café then began to fill with friends and family that had travelled some way to see us, but there were at least three groups who turned up as a complete surprise! It was very emotional and humbling to have so much support, and it’s fair to say I was in a state of mild shock by the beginning of our set! It’s tempting to suggest that no-one actually believed we were playing there and had to witness it with their very own eyes…but the truth is that it was me who had the most trouble believing it was real!! This really was a very special occasion, and I had been treated by my boyfriend to a five star weekend in the capital to mark the event. For Mike it was special also, as it was the start of a week long birthday celebration that then continued in Morrocco. It was lovely to meet the rest of his family whom I had heard so much about over the years. A big thank you to everyone who came, especially Steve Stoddart our videographer, who took the brilliant photos below.

At 5 o clock we had 1 hour to showcase the best of our original songs as well as a few carefully chosen covers. Our new bass player was as cool as a cucumber throughout, but for Mike and myself, this moment was such a milestone, not only within our history together as Chasing Storms but within our entire respective music careers. Wanting to be true professionals though, we did our best to hide our nerves, smile, and just enjoy the moment! We played a mixture of material, from the first song we wrote together, ‘The Mists of Avalon’ to the four that will be on our new EP, together with a brand new song finished only the week before. As this song is yet untitled, we gave our audience the challenge of giving it a name; a challenge they rose to very graciously, however it still remains wanting! We made it successfully to the end of our set, and even got asked for an encore. Fortunately we had ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ up our sleeves, which went down well too.
After bidding our farewells to friends and family, and being escorted underground through one more final security check, it was time to relax and enjoy the rest of our evening in the city with our respective loved ones. Every moment over the last few weeks had built up to that one singular moment, so it was difficult to know just what to do with myself after, but as long as it involved a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc, I was happy!

So…what next? How do you follow a gig like that? Well, how about the Montreux Jazz Café again, but this time in Paris? Yes please! April in Paris!!! So, on 12th, we will be heading to the French Capital for another 1 hour showcase at the Gare de Lyon! Now, the more astute of you will have noticed that this date clashes with the weekend of The London Marathon, so it’s with a certain amount of sadness that I have had to defer my precious place until next year. I was disappointed, however it has proved to be a blessing in disguise because I have been able to devote my time completely to Chasing Storms, which is a privilege in itself.

With less than six weeks to go before we board the EuroStar, there is still lots to do. All the recording for the EP is finished, but we still have the mastering, artwork and CD production to complete. This Saturday 8th March we will be live on Felixstowe radio, and on 21st March playing live at The Douglas Bader in Martlesham. We will be gob-smacked if half as many friends and family turn up in Paris as they did in London….but the way my life is going at the moment, you just never know!!