October 6, 2010
Compère and poetry slam maestro Alan Buckley opened this epic show by talking about the ‘tribe’ of supporters that had come to celebrate the life and work of the late Kate Garrett. The atmosphere was both vibrant and nostalgic for a life that was cut short and yet had been so fruitful. Both the audience and the stage was packed with people wanting to celebrate Kate, someone who inspired and continues to inspire so many with her rooted, inventive music. Following an introduction that recalled Kate’s life and her work with Ark T community arts in Cowley for which she raised money to set up the Young Women’s Music Project, The Kate Garrett band played a beautiful number ‘Simple Life’.
Alan Buckley interspersed the music with a striking reading of Hardy’s ‘The Darkling Thrush’ that was Kate’s favourite poem by one of her most-loved poets. Uneek, part of the Ark T initiative, followed with her MC style that really changed the pace of the evening and had a great impact, not only because of the triumphant performance of Ark T’s Zahra Tehrani on drums. Rachel Hughes too on the piano and voice unleashed a stunningly deep, throaty voice singing her own song ‘Stormy Weather’ on which Kate had once played flute. Duotone and its cellist Barney Morse-Brown was awesome, with Barney being a continued presence throughout the evening playing with many different groups of musicians.
The evening was described by one of the musicians as a ‘school concert’ and this is a great way to describe the evening. With the off-stage musicians smiling and dancing in the wings, the relaxed atmosphere and the variety of performance- from poetry readings, to MC-ing to accapella, electric guitar solos and soft folk played by a full band, the concert reflected the dynamism of Kate Garrett whilst showing the talent that surrounded her and continues to thrive and remember her contribution to the British music scene.
Alan Buckley interspersed the music with a striking reading of Hardy’s ‘The Darkling Thrush’ that was Kate’s favourite poem by one of her most-loved poets. Uneek, part of the Ark T initiative, followed with her MC style that really changed the pace of the evening and had a great impact, not only because of the triumphant performance of Ark T’s Zahra Tehrani on drums. Rachel Hughes too on the piano and voice unleashed a stunningly deep, throaty voice singing her own song ‘Stormy Weather’ on which Kate had once played flute. Duotone and its cellist Barney Morse-Brown was awesome, with Barney being a continued presence throughout the evening playing with many different groups of musicians.
The evening was described by one of the musicians as a ‘school concert’ and this is a great way to describe the evening. With the off-stage musicians smiling and dancing in the wings, the relaxed atmosphere and the variety of performance- from poetry readings, to MC-ing to accapella, electric guitar solos and soft folk played by a full band, the concert reflected the dynamism of Kate Garrett whilst showing the talent that surrounded her and continues to thrive and remember her contribution to the British music scene.