Three In A Bar

This week’s guests are true folk royalty....It’s Rachel Unthank and Adrian McNally from The Unthanks.

In their first attempt at a four way zoom conversation, Seb and Verity chat to Adrian and Rachel as - along with their band mates - they embark on writing and recording a new album and Adrian is starting to compose the score for the new series of Worzel Gummidge.

They discuss working with BBC Concert Orchestra for the 2018 Folk Prom and The Brighouse and Rastrick band - Rachel was back on stage 4 weeks after giving birth......hardcore!

Adrian talks about his palm-sweatingly stressful debut as the band’s pianist at a day’s notice supporting Ben Folds on his US tour. He also explains about the difficulties of juggling roles as performer, manager, composer and producer......a task that is made greater as the band are entirely self managed and keep everything in-house.

Rachel and Adrian reminisce about learning their first album had been named Folk Album of the Year by Mojo in a car outside Co-op in Corbidge! They also cover clog dancing, deadlines, inspirations and their brilliant singing weekends - We totally want to go.....even just to sample Adrian’s acclaimed sprout pasta dish.

You can find out more about The Unthanks, including tour dates, album releases and videos at their website http://www.the-unthanks.com/

Follow The Unthanks on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/TheUnthanks/ and Facebook https://m.facebook.com/TheUnthanks/

Listen to The Unthanks on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1luY92PbdGWRyBRY1ZR7o1?si=-V4ArnaORLWUEGsl9ktHpA

The Unthanks performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Folk Proms https://youtu.be/_FHF11A6E44

A direct link to the singing weekends the band run http://www.the-unthanks.com/singing-weekends/

As mentioned in this week’s podcast, here is a link to the crowdfunding page for Ellie Spicer, helping raise funds for her vital treatment https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/elliespicer

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You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpod

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EMAIL US!

Anything you’d like to share with us? Any guests you’d love to hear or anything you’d like us to do better? Drop us a line at [email protected]

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MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

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In this week’s episode, Seb and Verity are let loose in South London to meet Trumpeter, Composer and Arranger, Sam Ewens.

Sam has recently released his album Stuck in The Overthink - under the name Night Auras - mixing an acoustic brass sound with electronica. This album is a reflection on the last year with tracks including ‘Digital Dystopia’, ‘Waves of Hyperbole’ and ‘Letting Go’ giving an indicator of the themes he covers.

They chat about the making of this album, experimenting with looping and the fear of pressing wrong buttons. They discuss his online collaborations and his feelings about writing to tight deadlines for T.V.

Sam also talks about a personal low point when purchasing a valve trombone during lockdown, french horn issues and how his 18 month old son’s bedroom doubles as his studio in the most ingenious of ways.

Sam recollects a painful ‘Von Trapp’ moment at a wedding......a memory he’d buried for many years. They also discuss how it came to pass that he found himself rapping a takeaway menu with comedian Ross Noble in a tiny box room in his flat.

Warning: The full extent of Seb’s Creme Egg addiction is publicly uncovered during the episode!

You can find out more about Sam on his website: https://www.samewens.com/

Follow Sam on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/samewens/

and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

You can listen to and purchase his new album Stuck in The Overthink, as well as lots of other NIGHT AURAS releases here:

https://nightauras.bandcamp.com/

Musical excerpt from "The BFG" (1989). Composed by Keith Hopwood and Malcolm Rowe.

Listen to the full soundtrack here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2jFzoLRU6sKuMWuKHfBREx?si=7JL_nJDsTriYb54prd22kA

Watch in the film in full on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ86qPEsmK8&t=2324s

REFERENCED IN THIS CHAT

Sea Shanties on TikTok: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/sea-shanty-tiktok-nathanevanss

Jon Hopkins live at Glastonbury 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD4sLbNK-rw

Field Music on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5P1tdwsQdI6z9MXXfmYRDS?si=INctp7TDQJKE087T5ktluQ

Watch in full on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ86qPEsmK8&t=2324s

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You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpod

https://www.instagram.com/threeinabarpod/

We are on Twitter @threeinabarpod https://www.twitter.com/threeinabarpod

EMAIL US!

Anything you’d like to share with us? Any guests you’d love to hear or anything you’d like us to do better? Drop us a line at [email protected]

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember when we told you we’d found the world’s most niche super hero - episode 27’s viola playing doctor Arun Menon? Well, we think we’ve matched him. This week’s guest is bassoonist and elite para-canoeist, Llinos Owen.

Seb and Verity catch up with Llinos in-between training sessions for the international trials which she will be competing in this April. She chats to them about juggling her intensive sporting schedule with her sub principal/contra bassoon doubling job with Royal Ballet Sinfonia plus a busy freelance career and examining work for the ABRSM.......how on earth does she find time to breathe?

Llinos talks about the horrendous car accident that resulted in a shattered pelvis, leaving her completely immobile for 10 weeks and consequently having to relearn how to walk. She discusses coming to terms with her injures, her determination to recover and how a desire to be active again led to a new found passion for kayaking.

They discuss sickness and tears in training, reed making (or not), the joy of Prokofiev Ballet scores, examiner training and the ‘grade 1 of doom’! Seb relives his not-too-distant grade 6 piano exam experience and Verity owns up to some shameful outings as an accompanist, shudder.

You can follow Llinos on Twitter @llinoselinowen

https://www.twitter.com/llinoselinowen/

REFERENCED IN OUR CHAT:

Birmingham Royal Ballet https://www.brb.org.uk/

Paracanoe Talent Programme https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/olympic-paralympic/paracanoe-intro/british-canoeing-talent-programme

‘Ombra Mai Fù’ by Handel https://open.spotify.com/track/6WK6PgqSgVfeMZNiYUajdc?si=MzU8ErE_QMy_6t_IEGHhKg

THREE IN A BAR ON THE SOCIALS

You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpod

https://www.instagram.com/threeinabarpod/

We are on Twitter @threeinabarpod https://www.twitter.com/threeinabarpod

EMAIL US!

Anything you’d like to share with us? Any guests you’d love to hear or anything you’d like us to do better? Drop us a line at [email protected]

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Seb and Verity get some much needed advice and inspiration from arts entrepreneur and marketing consultant, David Taylor. David’s work has seen him consulting many of the UK’s top orchestras and performers but never has he had such a difficult task as trying to sort out this pair.....

David chats about setting up Yorkshire Young Sinfonia and leading it to huge success, reaching an audience of 7.5 million in just 4 years and featuring in the BBC documentary ‘Birth Of An Orchestra’. They discuss how orchestras have embraced the digital age and how they are finding ways to survive Covid.

Seb and Verity try to get their heads around branding and optimal use of social media - mediums such as Clubhouse are thrown around...you know Clubhouse? Them neither.

David talks about his early days as a cocktail waiter/bingo caller/cello teacher, working in Jerusalem, Philharmonia Gin (it’s a thing!) and being on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. There’s a first mention on the podcast for Paul Pogba and a delightful rendition of ‘Oh Little Town of Bethlehem’. Just another standard Three In A Bar outing!

Learn more about David Taylor at https://www.david-taylor.org

You can follow David on Twitter (@davidtaylor_uk) Instagram (@davidtaylor_uk) and Facebook (davidtaylormusicuk)

REFERENCED IN OUR CHAT:

‘Birth of an Orchestra’ Radio 4 documentary https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b069rv9w

Forbes 30 under 30 list 2018 https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30-Europe/2018/#

Wine Library TV https://tv.winelibrary.com/about/

Esther Abrami https://www.estherabrami.com/

New World Symphony Orchestra https://www.nws.edu/about/

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra https://bsolive.com/

Peter McKinnon’s YouTube channel https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC3DkFux8Iv-aYnTRWzwaiBA

The Defiant Ones https://www.netflix.com/watch/80214552?source=35

THREE IN A BAR ON THE SOCIALS

You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpod

https://www.instagram.com/threeinabarpod/

We are on Twitter @threeinabarpod https://www.twitter.com/threeinabarpod

EMAIL US!

Anything you’d like to share with us? Any guests you’d love to hear or anything you’d like us to do better? Drop us a line at [email protected]

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back in the room, and not just any room but the boardroom at Rich Mix in East London to meet this week’s guest - Artistic Director of the Irene Taylor Trust, Sara Lee.

Seb and Verity chat to Sara about her fantastic and inspiring work with ITT, creating music inside prisons and out in the community working with ex-prisoners, vulnerable young people and teenage parents. Sara talks about the online 25th anniversary concert (see link below) which they managed to record with under 24 hrs to spare before the country went into full lockdown.....challenge Anneka eat yer heart out!

They discuss Sara’s first job as a music teacher in Wormwood Scrubs, including visits from shell-shocked ABRSM examiners, music lessons with no instruments and some extraordinarily talented inmates. Sara also chats about visiting the US and Norway, observing and forging relationships with prisons in both countries. They talk Arsenal football club, the importance of being able to laugh at yourself, finding common ground and how you turn the chaos of day 1 session 1 (think amps at the max, challenging keyboard effects and drums a-go-go) to a brilliant performance of the prisoners’ original songs on day 5.

Seb and Verity try to get Sara to dish the dirt on mutual friend and colleague, trumpeter Rob Willson......listen to the end to hear what she says!

Learn more about Sara and the Irene Taylor Trust at their website:

https://irenetaylortrust.com/

Take a look at the incredible ITT 25th anniversary concert here:

https://irenetaylortrust.com/25th-birthday-show/

Follow ITT on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for all their latest news.

ENTER OUR COMPETITION!

You could win Seb's two 7-inch singles of "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" by Arcade Fire, and a signed Three In A Bar Postcard!

All you have to do is email us a nice, (or horrible) email at [email protected] AND share the podcast on social media. You have until 12pm on Saturday 27th March! We will pick one person at random. It's really a very good track.

THREE IN A BAR ON THE SOCIALS

You can follow Three In a Bar on Instagram @threeinabarpod

https://www.instagram.com/threeinabarpod/

We are on Twitter @threeinabarpod https://www.twitter.com/threeinabarpod

EMAIL US!

Anything you’d like to share with us? Any guests you’d love to hear or anything you’d like us to do better? Drop us a line at [email protected]

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ok, ok......this is not the new guest we promised in this week’s episode BUT it is a whole extra bonus edition with internationally renowned countertenor and star of episode 43, Iestyn Davies. Total bonus right?!

As you will hear in Seb and Verity’s opening waffle, the past few weeks have been tricky to say the least. However, there are exciting episodes and events afoot which they share with you as well as an insight into the wonderful, wide ranging benefits of becoming a Three In A Bar Patreon (link below).

The main feature of this edition is the previously ‘Patreon only’ Iestyn Davies extras. Iestyn chats about the fateful end to his oboe playing days, they share less than impressive piano lesson stories and Seb tells Iestyn about first hearing the countertenor voice.

Seb and Verity are back next week with a new guest, that’s a promise! For the time being we hope you enjoy this extra slice of Iestyn Davies!

Excerpt at the end from "Eternal Source of Light Devine", performed by Iestyn Davis, Alison Balsom, Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert. Listen in full here: https://open.spotify.com/track/5GuVpZJpX4C0nQzF63qnsi?si=3xoOy3uVR1Cj3DMH9sr8xQ

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 44 is brought to you by the power of the unstable internet connection....

This week Seb and Verity chat to Canadian bass trombonist Dan West. Dan is a member of the highly acclaimed, virtuosic brass group Septura and one of Seb’s fellow Brasstards. He spent five years in the band for Phantom of the Opera, freelances with all the major UK orchestras and has played on a huge number of film sessions, including Dunkirk and Avengers: Endgame.

Despite a number of awkward silences where Seb and Verity have to decide if the internet has frozen or just landed an ill-timed joke, they have a fulsome and fun chat with Dan.

They discuss early musical beginnings in Calgary, marching bands and reacclimatising in Texas. There are shared reminiscences of joyous dinners in the West End on matinee days.....monkey fingers anyone?! 

Dan talks about returning to full time freelancing after a long run on Phantom, some of the epic film sessions he’s played on and the exciting prospect of getting back to playing to live audiences again. Bring it on! 

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Links

Septura Live Streamed Gig 1st March 2021 - https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/septura-202103011930

Wonderful Christmastime / Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Old Dirty Brasstards - https://open.spotify.com/album/1OnQhMijXJyxJMPtZ6VVvk?si=VLlXJLopTTq01RHJbujZXw

The Pollution - https://the-pollution.bandcamp.com

Dan on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/DanyeWest82/

Old Dirty Brasstards - https://www.olddirtybrasstards.co.uk

Septura - https://septura.org/

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This week Seb and Verity chat to multi award-winning, internationally renowned countertenor Iestyn Davies. It just so happens that Iestyn and Verity were at school together so this podcast acts as a catch up after 23 years, gulp.

Iestyn was due to be singing the lead in Giulio Cesare at the Met on the evening they recorded, a run which was obviously scuppered by Covid. He chats about his frustrations and despondency this lockdown but also glimmers of hope with exciting projects on the horizon.

Iestyn talks about his low-key professional debut at Zurich Opera conducted by Nicholas Harncourt and singing alongside Jonas Kaufman....no big deal right? They also discuss his stint in Farinelli and the King on Broadway, at the Globe theatre and in the West End, including tales of corpsing and Kris Akabusi.

At at the end of their conversation, Seb gets a short lesson from Iestyn on improving his falsetto.....it’s fairly harrowing and should possibly come with a health warning.

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This Show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Links

http://www.iestyndavies.com/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iestyn_davies/

Iestyn’s YouTube channel: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCV4ajzjU8aQwCdEdWUcP-gA

Iestyn Davies and Alison Balsom Eternal Source of Light Devine, by Handel https://open.spotify.com/track/4FUwHeCqZZCVPmXA1i9tvi?si=urBQl615TwmBOUD06wzc_A

If: Michael Nyman, Henry Purcell. By Michael Nyman, Iestyn Davies, Fretwork. https://open.spotify.com/album/64HLCY8YcaTaXb6jdNDSjf?si=Jx6UfYiKSVKMjUQF11CswA

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This week Seb and Verity chat to a true London Symphony Orchestra legend, cellist Jennie Brown. Jennie joined the LSO in 1982 and is currently the longest serving female player, having been one of only two women in the orchestra when she arrived. She started her career getting a job at the Royal Opera House whilst still in her fourth year at the Royal Academy....not bad eh?!

Jennie discusses working with John Williams on Return of the Jedi, Sir Colin Davis and the legendary trumpeter Maurice Murphy.....you may not recognise his name but you’ll definitely have heard him playing on any number of epic movie soundtracks.

They also chat about her very first opera at ROH with none other than Luciano Pavarotti, being the third generation in her family to be a member of the LSO and a sickening experience for Jennie when a top fixer called and she completely lost her voice.....pre mobile phones and diary services, eurgh.

Seb and Verity try to dig some dirty from the so-called "bad old days" in the LSO and - despite Jennie being extremely discreet - hear a few snippets of what that title alluded to.

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This Show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Links

London Symphony Orchestra: https://lso.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/londonsymphony/

Pavarotti - Tosca - E lucevan le stelle: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oLP1951ZxIE

Return of the Jedi Soundtrack - The LSO conducted by John Williams: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gt4PAxdMmq5DUV7tyuNxx?si=GD_IYOeyQfm0q5kvqiqX7A

Score: A Film Music Documentary - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4207112/

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This week on the X Fac......whoops, sorry wrong show. Let’s try again:

For episode 41 of Three In A Bar, Seb and Verity are joined by platinum album selling, 2010 X Factor champion Matt Cardle. Matt spent the early part of the ‘10s firmly in the public eye and achieved huge commercial success. He talks candidly about the ups and downs of this period in his life and about the joy of regaining control of his career, now able to create music he believes in.

Matt has some great stories from his X Factor days, including nerve wrenching audition experiences, dubious song choices, vomiting on a man lift on the live tour and the aroma notes of Rihanna. He also discusses a cringe-worthy experience at the Kerrang Awards, his frustration at the lack of support from Syco and Sony post-X Factor and how he’s moved on with his career.

Matt chats about performing on the West End stage, conquering self doubt and being an overly polite Pontius Pilate.

They discuss Matt’s new single, Purple Crayon, his forthcoming album and plans for the future, finding a label with his best interests at heart and enjoying music again. Plus he’s an all round top bloke!

SUPPORT THREE IN A BAR ON PATREON

This Show is purely funded by our patrons. Join our Members’ Club for a bonus podcast feed plus many more rewards.

Click here: https://www.patreon.com/threeinabar

MEZZO PIANO PATRONS

Leonie Hirst

Anita Philpott

Links

https://www.mattcardlemusic.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mattcardleofficial/

https://www.twitter.com/MattCardle

Matt’s new single Purple Crayon: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnG51TOrP60

Matt performing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on the X Factor: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wOnVbDtdg

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