Touring with Music in Hospitals

Hockings ice cream - sensational and my just desert I think (at Westward Ho, mid tour)

Many hours of driving, many winding lanes and breathtaking views, many friendly faces - these have all been part of a tour with the wonderful Music in Hospitals. If you've never heard of them check out their website. As it says on there, they aim to '...improve the quality of life, for adults and children with all kinds of illness and disability, through the joy and therapeutic benefits of professionally performed live music in hospitals, hospices, day care centres, special schools, nursing and residential homes.'
As part of the Ruskin Ensemble duo, with violinist Jane Gomm, I've been touring in the West Country for the last few days. There is no doubt about the joy. It sounds like a cliché but when you've seen it with your own eyes it is impossible not to feel moved. It is incredible that music has such an effect and makes me feel privileged that I can play in such settings and feel that it makes a difference. So think of all those people who can't get out to concerts or go to gigs. Visit the Music in Hospitals website and read about their work and maybe even hop to their donations page to donate a pound or two to help them keep up their great efforts in organising musicians to go out and spread the music to places and people it otherwise wouldn't reach.

Boogie Night at the Museum - Inspired Fringe Fun

Sound checking in the stately vault of Chamber's Street Museum for my slot on their main stage I was dwarfed by the immensity and splendour of it all and to hear the guitar booming out into the galleries beyond the atrium in such an enormous resounding way made me feel somewhat shy. I chose to do my 2 Sindo Garay Cuban bolero pieces followed by Choros No.1 and the Paco Pena 'Herencia Latina', to end on a rousing note. There was a quiet dressing room up on the top floor where I was honoured to meet the extraordinary Movin' Melvin Brown, who was also on the bill.
Performing in such a lively and glorious setting was a tremendous experience although with so many people all having fun I couldn't exactly hear what I was playing. But I enjoyed myself and I had lots of lovely people coming up to me afterwards, as I explored the exhibitions, to say how much they had enjoyed it. So it was very rewarding.

The National Museum of Scotland - Chambers Street

Hahaha... would you go and see this?

Thank you, Broadway Baby, for the intelligently composed review and they give me 4 stars (so I'm pleased with that).
It would be interesting to talk to a reviewer. I'd love to ask why does he think it was brave to include 'Usher Waltz'. I have a rip-roaring amount of fun playing that. I don't think it was brave to include it, it was fun to include it. It is great when you see audiences members jumping in their seats! Not many pieces in any intrument's repertoire do that.
On to 'Love is a Cat Skin Rug' the new show from Headless Doctor Theatre Company

The cast of Headless Doctor Theatre Company perform 'Love is a Cat Skin Rug', their exuberant new show

This play uses lots of music and one of the pieces is my recording of 'Lipa Vekovaya' by Serge Rudnev - I am most flattered. The play is a delight and is currently playing to packed audiences as part of the free Fringe. It deserves to be more widely seen. I found it hilarious and also poignant. Very moving. Best of luck to them.

Edinburgh Fringe Here I Come...

I'm doing 11 - 24 August, back at C Too, the Church - venue 4 and you'll find it at 14 Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2PW; the lovely church of St Columbas' by the Castle. My programme is available by clicking on on the programme tab above. This year I'm also bringing CDs for sale - of last year's programme I hasten to add. So to those who asked me for one last year, I say: come and get 'em!
Book your tickets online here 
So come to       C Too

Can Classical Guitar compete with the World Cup Final?

Today was the final day of the fantastic Toronto Fringe.  I was mighty relieved to find that, even though I was performing at the same time as the World Cup final kicked off, a very jolly and appreciative audience materialised to listen to me play - thank you to all of them and to each of my other audiences too. It was a pleasure to perform here. 

 The city is vibrant and friendly and I've enjoyed exploring. I like the vivid wall paintings and I like the music shops. I visited Steve's Music Shop at 415 Queen Street and got four sets of strings - much much cheaper than back in the UK I have to say. Actually music seems to be very important here. Examine the photo below right - (ignore the git with the camera) - what does it say above that shop? Yes. It says 'The Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music'.  That seems like a very good thing to have in your city.

There were lots of amazing shows on at The Robert Gill Theatre but the wonderful thing about it, apart from it being a very comfortable auditorium and a cool haven after the blisteringly hot sun outside, was that it has a great team of technicians. Thank you to Vanita and Theo. Such a calming influence and so skilful and efficient.

I'm pretty exhausted now but  glad I came.

Reasons to Love Toronto

• It has a Fringe
• neighbourhoods with sidewalks inhabited by strolling people who greet each other and exchange pleasantries
• people sitting out on their porches - porches themselves even - great feature
• childrens' playgrounds full of toys that stay put (even increase, as people contribute them)
• maple syrup
• brilliant service in the shops and businesses. Here's an example.

AzureProduction - a little company who in no time flat copied me some CDs off my master and had them not only packaged but also shrink-wrapped in time for my first show - a two day turnaround.
Thank you, Caine and colleagues. I appreciate it.

Bemusement on the Toronto Fringe

I've had a review - and it was a nice one thank goodness. But I have a sneaking suspicion that due to a concatenation of historical circumstances, classical music on the Toronto Fringe is a bit unexpected.Consider the evidence:

1.  Bemusement when you tell people what your show is
2. Press and media discussion of the Fringe referring only to theatre
3. Shows listed by venue in the Fringe Programme, rather than by art form
4. The opening sentence of my review:- ‘Classical Guitar Concert, performed by Jonathan Prag, pretty much gives it all away in the title. The show is a 45-minute concert of classical acoustic guitar pieces...'

A parade passing as I'm on the way to my venue

No-one expects a music concert on The Toronto Fringe! Music IN shows, yes -  musicals themselves, of course - but not concerts of music. Hmm. Come on then, fellow musicians - there needs to be MORE OF US!! bring your shows and join in the fun. It is definitely fun to perform at Fringe festivals like The Toronto Fringe and The Adelaide Fringe and of course, The Edinburgh fringe, I can vouch for that. 

I'm very pleased with the review. The reviewer enjoyed my concert once he got over his surprise that such a thing existed (‘I admit that at first, I thought “classical guitar” would be a bit of an oxymoron, but the arrangements sounded fresh and soothing. Bach on guitar – who knew that could be done?’ he says, at one point). 

And all hail to the audiences who have come to hear me play -  I salute you. You have coped with the unexpected and given it a whirl and then stayed after to speak to me about what a nice time you've had. Thank you - you are all brilliant!

Why are music stands ultimately flimsy?

I thought this one would be different but it isn't. Mind you - it gets a lot of use and maybe if you unfold and refold them over and over again and load them with sheets of paper - oh wait - that is what they are supposed to be able to do. To be fair I've had it almost two years. But why do they go baggy?

The crucial bit is the side arm extensions (is there a technical name for these?) where they join the frame (?). As you can see I am reduced to trying to persuade it to stay in place with blutack.

The trouble is that blutack is a substance that goes soft when it's warm. It's really warm here in Toronto. It's blisteringly warm. My blutack is seriously compomised. I have done my best. I need something stronger. Does anyone have a suggestion? No? OK. I'll be off to a music shop then and treat myself to a new music stand..... (goes into Toronto but the shops are all shut because it is Canada Day...OK. I'll watch Belgium v USA in the World Cup.

I'm in Toronto now but all the same - Stop Press - Cheryl Grice is in concert, Winchester 18 July...

St Lawrence's Church is tucked away behind the Buttercross, on Winchester High Street (you pass by its massive doorway on your left as you head towards the Cathedral). It's easy to miss. Its modest exterior conceals a gem of a building and I know from experience that it has an artistically sophisticated congregation as well as a very good acoustic for classical guitar. Visit the Southampton Guitar Society's lively Facebook Page as well - for news of this and many other fantastic guitar concerts.

The Street off Danforth where we're staying

I'm giving you this shout-out to alert you from the sultry heat of Toronto. We're staying in a basement flat which is pleasantly cool (aircon), but outside it is steamy and tropical. I like it very much.

So have a lovely time at Cheryl's concert in Winchester, all of you, and meanwhile I'll hope that some other nice audiences over here will come to hear me (which I can't quite believe will happen!). Langford Street (where our basement is) is on Danforth and the area is called Greektown and I've just been out and bought olives and Macedonian feta specially recommended by the Greek lady in the shop - it's a lovely vibrant area with leafy shaded streets going off it either side.

Festival Fringe tickets now on sale for Toronto and Edinburgh - be an early bird and book now!

In July I'll be performing in Toronto - click the link to buy tickets...

Then it's August...and the Edinburgh Fringe where you can book tickets online here

I'm very busy getting ready for all this and trying to remain unflustered and focused (squash helps).
I've done a new recording and am currently sorting that out so it will be ready to sell at both the above...



My venue in Toronto is the Robert Gill Theatre which is part of the University of Toronto. The exact location is: 214 College St, University of Toronto - St. George Campus, Toronto, ON M5T, Canada.
A word of advice if you don't know where it is - it is the building up the steep steps, adjacent to the university bookshop. It's by the Beverley Street tram stop. Or seven minutes walk from the Queen's Park metro station.

Testing an acoustic...

Last weekend, visiting friends in Bristol I had the chance to try out how the guitar sounded in an astonishing space. Here is a short film and at one point you can even hear the birds outside, singing away... this would make a fantastic venue for concerts - see what you think

Ayers House State Dining Room

One of my concerts on the Adelaide Fringe was at Ayers House in a sweltering 35 degrees. Well I sweltered anyway. It was a pretty normal temperature for the audience. Ayers House is run by the National Trust of Australia and is kept in perfect original condition so no intrusive electrics like air conditioning need apply. Mind you it might have had such things at one time. It was used as living quarters for nurses for quite a long time - being opposite the hospital. Here is a flavour of its gorgeousness.

Geese and Gigs at the Adelaide Fringe

Reunited with my errant guitar I took the train into Adelaide from Marion, where I'm staying. It's only a few hundred yards to Kintore Avenue from the station and The Migration Museum gig was a great way to open my Adelaide Fringe experience as it sold out. The room had an excellent acoustic and even though occasionally you could hear the racing cars of the Clipsal roaring  in the distance it was not an intrusion. There is a review of the gig here which I'm very pleased with. It was a pleasure to perform there. The people who run it are really helpful and made sure that I had everything I needed so it was a good start.
The next day we hired a car and drove north to Auburn.




Here's a film to show something of the magic of the place - just at the edge of the famous Clare Valley wine region. Cherie and Ivan, who run the HATS Courthouse Cultural Centre gave us a warm welcome and it was an inspiring venue to perform at. Once again, I was bowled over by the appreciation and enthusiasm of the audience.

Saved by John Reynolds MusicCity

Phasey - manager at a legendary  shop

We must have walked ten miles yesterday. We are getting to know Adelaide quite well now. I was desperate  to find a guitar as you can imagine. My first show is on Friday and who knows when our luggage will arrive?

So we visited Harrison's music shop which I found by googling 'classical guitar shop Adelaide'. A very kind man in there rang a friend first of all but had no luck. He then gave me two other possibilities and wrote down the details. The first of these was a couple of blocks north, go diagonally across the big square and head towards the blue building opposite. It was John Reynolds MusicCity.

We hurried along there and when I explained my predicament to Mr John Reynolds he turned to Phasey and said 'I think we can sort him out can't we?' and Phasey said that indeed they could. And they've lent me a guitar!! It's a Katoh and has a spruce top and it is such a welcome sight. Whilst I am still desperately anxious about my missing instrument this act of kindness to a fellow musician makes me feel much much better about everything. And best of all it means I can get on with rehearsing for my shows.

This shop is amazing and if you are a musician - doubly so. If you've never been they're at 175-185 Waymouth Street, Adelaide (or browse online).

Properly equipped and mightily relieved

First, we miss our flight to Adelaide...

On Saturday it was foggy in Dubai. On Sunday afternoon QF8016, operated by Emirates, took off from Gatwick and I was en route to Adelaide via a two hour stopover in Dubai. 'The weather is lovely and clear in Dubai,' the captain remarked, as off we flew. I was well and truly on my way to perform on the Adelaide Festival Fringe.

words fail me

However - when we arrived in Dubai we found that the connecting flight to Adleaide had already left WITHOUT US. A group of about 20 travellers besieged the transit desk to find out what they were going to do about it. We soon realised that the answer was 'not much.'

that is not my bag. That is a hello kitty bag

We whiled away the next three hours chatting and forming a good natured pressure group to make sure that the insouciant people manning the desk did not stop trying to find seats on other planes for us. As these insouciant people suggested nothing and shrugged and deplored the fact that there was only one flight per day to Adelaide (no we DON'T want to wait here 24 hours,' we said), one of our group suggested to them that they could re-route us via Perth or Brisbane. They very slowly began to do just that. By 4 in the morning we were all sorted out and given  food vouchers so that we could spend what remained of the night in the airport. Our flight to Perth left at 10.00 am the next day and the plane was half empty. It was nice to be able to stretch out across a whole row of seats and catch up on some sleep. Twelve hours later we landed in Perth, where it was 3.00 in the morning. We took off for Adelaide at 6.30 am and finally arrived at about Midday. And then we found that our luggage had not come with us!
I was in Adleaide to play the guitar at 5 venues for the Adelaide Fringe and I had not got my guitar. It's like one of those nightmares when you are about to go onstage to play the lead role in Hamlet and you suddenly realise you don't know any of the lines.

Adelaide, here I come...

Just checking the essentials now - packing is an art. I've got the adaptors and some shorts and my music... I've emailed copies of the music to myself so as to be able to print out an emergency sheet in case I lose a bit. I've assembled a billion socks. All odd - I only seem to have three actual pairs. Never mind. What else? I'm taking my squash kit. I've been in touch with South Adelaide Squash Centre, hoping to fix up a few games. It's in Edwardstown - Midera Avenue in case anyone is a member and fancies a game in the next couple of weeks. So look out for me.

Adelaide Fringe - 16 days and counting...

16 days until we fly to Adelaide. The weather here gets ever wetter and more dramatic and the sunshine there gets ever more attractive.

It's very busy on the publicity front with posters and flyers being distributed and one of my five venues has already sold over half its tickets for my show...

I've done some research about how strong my guitar case is. Should I get a titanium one or something? It is very difficult to think of my guitar in the hold all that way without worrying about lifting the lid at the end of the journey to behold a pile of splinters and strings.

I have decided my case will be fine. I have stood  on it and it didn't give or even wobble.

So if anyone from the Adelaide area is reading this, maybe I'll see you at one of my concerts? Do come! For all the details Read on...