IKTOMS Cornwall
Just over a year and a half ago now I organised what is probably still the silliest (and most awesome) event I’ve yet to be involved with. I took 11 singer-songwriters (and a poet!) on tour in a minibus, starting with a gig in London, moving up through York to then do a three-night residency in Edinburgh at the Fringe Festival (at an amazing venue – The Forest Cafe), then proceeding to take in Manchester and Worcester on the way back down the country.
It was a huge learning curve, and a huge amount of fun – people remember it fondly even now, and I’d like to think it was a part of bringing together some people who still remain good friends now.
In any case, when my parents mentioned that they’d really enjoyed the IKTOMS gigs I used to run in London, and would have loved to have one on in Cornwall (where they live), I quickly found myself working out a way to get down there and do it. And we’ll be doing exactly that this weekend… myself, Fiona Bevan, Kal Lavelle and Stephen Long are hopping into a rental van and driving to the South-West, where the intention is to sun ourselves in some Cornish coves, write some new songs, and to play a concert on the Saturday night at Wringford Down. I really can’t wait! It’s been a long time since I allowed myself a weekend of free-spirited creativity, so very much looking forward to it.
If you’re not in or around Cornwall this weekend (and I suppose the likelihood is that you’re not) then all four of us will be bringing the show back to Kal’s own night, WE LOVE SUNDAYS, at the World’s End pub in Finsbury Park (not the one in Camden!) on the 9th May, so join us there! If you live further afield then we’re just going to have to up our game… and I’m feeling up for occasional challenges – name your city, town or hamlet and we’ll plan a new IKTOMS tour…
I’ll attempt to post some songs up here when we get back – we’ll be recording the show.
Over and out…