Three In A Bar

It’s episode 23 and we are back in South London chatting to the go to guy for soloists, conductors and errant orchestral players who can’t find the toilets in any given venue....it’s senior artist manager at Askonas Holt, Ed Pascall.

This is the second outing Seb and Verity have made to meet Ed after a failed attempt in a Wetherspoons in December 2019. Delighted that he’d humour them again, conversation includes an insight into the kind of super fans classical musicians attract - think handcrafted insects and insanely polite heckling.

There is a long and involved discussion on Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, as well as the potential for Panini sticker albums for orchestras and conductors - niche or what?!

Ed talks about the current outlook for his clients during covid times and what the 2021-22 season could bring....it’s not all doom and gloom.

Find out in what context Ed would take anthrax for the team - that’s true dedication to your work!

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Show Notes

Twitter: @AskonasHolt

Instagram: @askonasholt

Askonas Holt Website

Southbank Sinfonia Website

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It’s a momentous week at Three In a Bar......not only is this the first episode recorded where all parties are in the same space since February but it is also our first musical dynasty. Violinist Laura Melhuish, horn player Ric Ashton and their daughter, Millie Ashton (wunderkind violinist) invite Seb and Verity into their fabulous home for a chat, great snacks and much hilarity.

The scene is set in the Ashton/Melhuish garden with Ric and Laura's other two daughters and assorted friends coming and going - a joyous contrast to the usual zoom set up. They discuss online final recital ordeals - Millie having just completed her undergraduate and how with twenty plus years attendance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama between them perhaps a blue plaque is in order?

Conversation ranges from negotiating family life as freelance musicians to eating like Tudors during lockdown. They debate whether snakebite and black is legal and hear about Ric’s days partying on the beach in the South of France with Elton John. Seb and Verity quiz Laura on the illustrious list of artists and films she’s played for over the years....including a slightly cringe worthy exchange with Posh Spice on a Spice Girls tour.

They broach the subject of fashion choices, with some strong looks being uncovered.....Think Laura Ashley dresses and in Seb’s case, a studded choker. The mind boggles.

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Show Notes

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

The Purcell School

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C’est un invité magnifique! This week Seb and Verity are joined by violinist and broadcaster, Rachel Rowntree.

Be honest, who hasn’t thought to themselves maybe now’s the time to up sticks and start again somewhere glamorous and exciting abroad? Well, rather than giving in after numerous failed attempts at Duolingo and booking a holiday, Rachel actually made the move to Paris ten years ago and has carved out a hugely successful career there. Impressive eh?

Seb and Verity caught up with Rachel in the midst of a house move from Paris to Lille where her family will now be based. Surrounded by a wall of boxes, she talks about her work with Les Sieclés, an orchestra set up by François-Xavier Roth, and the familial feeling of being in the ensemble since it’s earliest days. They also discuss presenting education projects in French to hormonal teenagers, the perks of being a freelancer in France and some dubious colloquialisms she’s picked up along the way.

Rachel discusses her work as a broadcaster, introducing concerts for the French channel Mezzo TV. This is a job she clearly loves....despite the hidden challenges presented by the occasional need for Chinese name pronunciation!

Seb and Verity jump at the chance for yet another new campaign that ultimately won’t last beyond a couple of posts on Instagram....will they ever lean?

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Show Notes

Les Sieclés

Rachel’s journalism portfolio

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This week Seb and Verity depart from usual service to reflect on the first twenty episodes of Three In A Bar in a loosely structured waffle - see intro and outro sections of all twenty episodes so far.

Along with their own favourite moments, they hear from a number of the listeners about their own personal highlights.

It won’t surprise you that Seb and Verity deviate from the course throughout, discussing hard hitting topics such as S Club 7, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and some musing on what Andrew Lloyd Webber might be up to currently.

Normal service will be resumed next week but in the meantime, take a trip down memory lane and remind yourselves of some of the hugely interesting and entertaining guests Seb and Verity have persuaded to talk to them over the last six months.

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As Three In A Bar hits it’s twenties now seemed like a good time to try out a spot of blind dating. Introduced to us by the fabulous Michelle Taylor-Cohen (see episode 8), this week’s guest is composer, arranger and lyricist Shane Cullinan.

Shane chats about his ensemble Tonic Fold and some of their early gigs, including the first Nottingham Pride - entitled Pink Lace, a show following a naked man covered in ultraviolet baby teats and a vomiting flautist. Since then the gigs have got rather more glamorous and have led to collaborations with the likes of David McAlmont, Rachel Tucker and Kathy Burke.

They discuss Shane’s critically acclaimed oratorio, The Pieta, a beautiful piece set in Manchester and depicting a mother’s devastation at the loss of her son to street crime. Shane talks about some of the techniques he employed in the process of writing and scoring this as well as writing the libretto.

Seb and Verity ask Shane about working with Kathy Burke again, writing the music for her West End production of Lady Windermere’s Fan. Included in the score are fan breakbeats and funk bassoon...words you never thought you’d hear together.

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Show notes

Twitter: @musofunk

Instagram: @shanecullinanmusic

Facebook: Shane Cullinan Music

Shane’s Website

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It’s episode 19 and who better to complement a hot summer’s day than the perennially radiant, Laura Bangay.

Musical director/keyboard whiz/accordion hater Laura chats to Seb and Verity having had an extended period of Covid-19 lockdown isolation. They find out what she’s been doing to combat boredom, including a new found passion for kickboxing.

Laura talks about her extensive work as a children’s MD, including a joyous five year stint on Matilda and most recently on the brand new musical The Boy In The Dress. There is a nod to her childhood self, who’s mind would have been blown at the prospect of working with Robbie Williams!

They discuss Laura’s roll as an MD - a position in which women are still very much in the minority and suggest ways to rectify this imbalance.

Laura also talks about nightmares caused by misfiring clicks, her turbulent relationship with the accordion and the potential for being bankrolled by her successful protégés....the latter may have or may not have been an idea perpetrated by Seb and Verity.

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Show Notes

Twitter: @laurabangay

Instagram @laurabangay

Laura’s web page

”Bread and Roses” from Pride, Musical direction-Laura Bangay

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Warning, this episode contains unprecedented levels of Sid James style cackling emanating from Verity...brace yourselves.

It’s episode 18 and look who’s dropped in to welcome them to the age of maturity....it’s none other than Hoosiers front man, Irwin Sparkes. Irwin also wears a magnificent new metaphorical hat for his solo alter ego White Tail Falls, releasing his album Age of Entitlement back in May to critical acclaim.

Irwin chats about making his first album - the process starting back in 2016, writing for other artists, the highs and lows of being in a commercially successful band and navigating panel shows....made harder when a famous comedian nicks your gags (he’s not bitter).

They talk about his stint at the Edinburgh Festival, existential crisis brought on by live streaming and Irwin impressively scatters some high class self referencing throughout the podcast. He tries to draw Seb and Verity into a clangfest but neither will break the unspoken code.

There is the usual hard hitting journalism we’ve become accustomed to on Three In A Bar with discussions about how Eastenders and Coronation Street are negotiating the Corona Virus crisis and which is better, brass or strings?

At the end of the podcast, Irwin gives a beautiful performance of Fake News and Body Weight from his new album.

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Show notes

Instagram: @irwinsparkes

Twitter: @IrwinofSparkes

White Tail Falls’ Website

Hoosiers Website

Irwin’s appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks

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We interrupt our regular broadcasts for a round the table chat with violinist and yoga guru Cat Parker. Think of this as interval drinks or a post concert catch up if you will.....

Recorded back in January in a bustling kitchen in East Dulwich, Cat talks to Seb and Verity about a whole host of things including her experiences living in Paris and what led her there, future plans to potentially set up a yoga retreat In a rural French Idyll and bribing local mayors.

Cat talks about training as a yoga teacher and encountering various interesting and sometimes bonkers takes on it around the world. She does a great job of selling the benefits of Yoga to even the perennially unbendy Verity and Seb discusses having revelations whilst doing hip rotations in Mayo Park.

They catch up in mid July via zoom as Cat is in the process of house selling. She talks about uncovering old photos, videos and potential spy equipment....Cat also looks forward to moving on and finding a country pad that is part Jilly Cooper part The Archers. They discuss unearthing old repertoire through lockdown and attempting to relearn with varying success.

At the very start of the interview there is a brief cameo from fellow violinist wunderkind, Millie Ashton who drops by to make a fish finger sandwich.

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Show notes

Instagram: @catparkerviolin

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It’s episode 16 and it sure is a sweet one as today’s guest is trombone behemoth and recently appointed head of brass at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Amos Miller.

Amos chats to Seb and Verity about online final recitals and his huge respect and excitement for the next generation of brass players passing through the conservatoire. He also tells them about his former lives as a psychology student (very useful) and a violinist (not so much).

Amos talks about his internationally acclaimed quintet, Onyx Brass and their exciting upcoming projects, one of which involves previous Three In A Bar guest, Charlotte Harding. He also chats about Royal Ballet Sinfonia - with whom Amos is principal - and his renewed love for Swan Lake.

They discuss Amos’ fantastic photography, which he somehow manages to fit into his packed schedule! Listen on to discover why it’s suggested Amos should form a band with an artist, a hiphop Dj and an Amish farmer....

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Show Notes

Twitter: @Amos_Miller

Instagram: @amosjdmiller

Amos’ Biography

Onyx Brass

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Royal Ballet Sinfonia

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This week Seb and Verity are joined by freelance cellist, Rachael Lander.

Rachael discusses her battles with alcohol addiction and anxiety, which led to an extended break from playing and consequently entering recovery - all whilst in her early twenties.

Since then, Rachael has returned to playing and has an extremely successful career working extensively in the West End, orchestral freelancing and as a session player. She credits her time in Raven string quartet for her return to music, finding a love for performing again... although a certain egg throwing incident brought these endeavours to an abrupt end.

Rachael is a patron of Music Support charity (see link below). She is a truly inspirational person and her openness about issues that for years have been taboo throughout the music industry make a refreshing change.

Regardless of whether you have suffered with addiction and anxiety, Rachael’s experiences and coping strategies are beneficial listening for all.

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Show Notes

Instagram: @rachaellander84

Rachael’s website

Music Support Charity

Musician’s Union Support, Health and Well-being pages

Rachael’s Guardian article

Alcoholics Anonymous

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