Liz Di and Tony are three of the organisers of harmony open mic which opened its doors for the first time at Stubbings Wharf, Hebden Bridge on Sunday 7 June.

Actually they began the second half of the evening - with 'Stole'd and sold from Africa'. But the order of events was decided by a secret process of shuffling the forms which everyone filled out as they arrived. So we're echoing that secret process here on the web page.

These are a few pictures of the evening, which we hope will be the first of many. The next ones will be on Sunday September 13th and Sunday December 13th, at the Stubbings at 8:00. No, really we hate to plan ahead.

Thanks a lot to Joy Richard and Nina for the pictures.

Cat, on the left of the next group, was another organiser, and our compere for the evening. She did a grand job, and will be passing on the baton to another willing volunteer next time so she can sing more.

This group is the Slack Bottom Sisters. It's a place. It's on Google maps, go on, look it up.

They sang 'Nobody but the baby' from Oh brother where art thou? and wowed us all.

Most of our material was traditional and/or international. But Carolyn, pictured here on the right, wrote two pieces. In this Ceinwyn is supporting her on 'Beltane'. Gorgeous, haunting and beautiful. That was what it said on the feedback forms.

Yes, we had feedback forms, which over half the audience filled in. It was our first venture and we wanted to know what worked (most of it) and what didn't (we'll put it right next time, no we're not telling you what it was)

Liz and Di, the Best Blues Sisters, with bro' Bruce on guitar, sang 'Blues for Company'.

 

Corista who sang 'Mamunya' and 'This great sky' - which also got a special mention as brilliant in the audience feedback. Check out their website here.

Here they're pictured singing the Chartist song: Alan, Leo, David, special Chartist-specialist guest Gwyneth, Debs, Sakinah, Helena and Joan.

The Lucyfers' octet were specially convened by Di after her visit to the Orkneys. They sang 'Lullaby for Lucy' by Peter Maxwell Davies, a celebration of a much-hoped-for child after an island had been barren of children for a generation.

It's a lyrical and atmospheric piece, written only on the white notes but not in what you'd call C Major or indeed A minor. Lu-la. Lu-lay.

(Fourth and seventh left are co-organiser Ali, tenor, and Helena, soprano: the rest you know from other pictures)

Harmony at t'Mill are Richard (another co-organiser), Di, Katie and Joan - who in an evening without stars was generally agreed to be the star with her soaring and sometimes tender soprano.

They sang 'Creep along Moses', 'Hallowell' and that eerie Armenian song which is probably mis-spelt as 'Yarem Gorani'.

Di sings the blues again. Along with Joan Richard and Alan (bass and webbie) she belted out 'I've been in the storm so long'. Moving and dark.

 

 

Cat and Richard got the audience joining in with 'Bringing in the sheaves'.

And here are the Oak Street Quartet, who sang 'Goodnight sweetheart', 'Give me wings' and another Carolyn-penned number, the 'Calder Valley Voices song'.

It was called that because all these groups owe at least some of their inspiration to membership of Calder Valley Voices, the community choir based in Hebden Bridge. Come to the next small groups' gig on September 13th, or join the big choir. All welcome.

 

You're welcome to email us about harmony open mic.