Staff

Live music makes me feel emotional, alive and thankful.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I joined Music in Hospitals & Care musicians in the adult acute mental health wards at Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow. It was incredibly powerful seeing live music visibly relax the patients and transform the space for the staff who were there.

Live music makes me feel alive, connected and inspired.

My favourite live music experience would have to be stumbling across a surprise acoustic set from The Guillemots at the Southbank Centre. Their songs often move me but the setting and seeing them live moved me to tears. It was a magical experience and a testament to the power of music.

Live music makes me feel creative, hopeful and complete.

Working with the legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in New York blew my mind. Some of the finest musicians, composers and arrangers on the planet with incredible levels of artistry. This coupled with a remarkable ability to communicate with audiences, communities and society in ways that I could never have imagined!

Live music makes me feel moved, motivated and whole.

Visiting the Neonatal Unit in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital with a Music in Hospitals & Care musician sticks in my mind. I spent some time on the ward before the music began so I was able to experience the immediate change in atmosphere and the looks on people faces as the music reached them. It was magical!

Live music makes me feel thankful, content and amazed.

My favourite live music experience is when I saw Lucy Dacus live in The Old Fruit Market in Glasgow. Her songs are very emotional and her band were outstanding. Even though the venue was on the bigger side it was perfect for such an intimate gig.

Live music makes me feel comforted, grounded and carefree.

I saw Florence and the Machine at Edinburgh Summer Sessions right in my peak obsession with them, so it really transcended any other experience I’ve had so far! I was playing their new album every day right at the time of the concert. So to capture that feeling live in such an electric atmosphere outdoors on a summer’s evening, with Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop, was a memory I’ll never forget.

Live music makes me feel mindful, zestful and harmonious.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when the samba drumming band I play in performed at Ashton Memorial in Lancaster last Christmas, for loved ones lost.  The community came together and we lit candles for each person.  It was both a poignant and celebratory occasion, which everyone took comfort from.

Live music makes me feel inspired, connected and joyful.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I went to the Busted reunion concert. In primary school I was a huge fan of them but they split up before I was able to see them live, so I jumped at this chance – it was just as amazing as I’d imagined!

Live music makes me feel alive, energised and connected.

I think the live music experience that had the biggest ‘wow’ factor and impact for me was singing John Rutter’s ‘Gloria’ with a full mixed youth choir and orchestra at the Great Hall, Aberystwyth. Awesome music, surrounded by sound, with the bass section thundering away behind me. Pure joy!

Live music makes me feel reflective, emotional and free.

My favourite live music experience would have to be a live stream I organised with Music in Hospitals & Care musicians Laura-Jayne Hunter and Hattie Whitehead. They shared their own arrangements of classic songs with amazing harmonies and lots of health and care settings engaged by sending lovely messages and song requests in.

Live music makes me feel inspired, empowered and alive.

My favourite live music experience was when I performed with my sister in Brighton with the Migrant English Project. I loved selecting a sensitive and nostalgic repertoire of Arabic songs which had an immense, visible impact on refugees and asylum seekers who are unable to access live music.

Live music makes me feel immersed, free and inspired.

My favourite live music experience was seeing The Who at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, I was overcome with emotion. From the opening chords played very loudly by Pete Townshend, I knew that I wanted to be involved in music for the rest of my life.

Live music makes me feel connected, emotional and immersed.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I saw The Buzzcocks in a small independent venue in Oxford. It is one of the first times I remember going to see live music – I was near the front and completely taken in by the whole experience.

Live music makes me feel joyful, peaceful and centred.

My favourite live music experience would have to be seeing Amy Winehouse at Pizza Express on Dean St before she was famous.  She absolutely captivated the audience with her performance and unique personality. Everyone in that venue knew we were witnessing something incredibly special. I even got to talk to her in the loo after!

Live music makes me feel energised, connected and inspired.

My favourite live music moment was seeing my favourite trad folk band Talisk win over the crowd at the predominantly electronic Boomtown festival. Friends who’d never heard traditional music before were visibly moved by its beauty and energy. Talisk’s performance created a magical unifying experience.

Live music makes me feel animated, euphoric and present.

My favourite live music experience would have to be Music in Hospitals & Care musicians A4 Brass Quartet at Lancasterian School in Manchester. It was amazing to see how the group of multi-sensory impaired children interacted with the instruments and used new signals they had learnt to request changes in the tempo or volume.

Live music makes me feel moved, connected and spellbound.

My favourite live music experience would have to be seeing Bob Dylan in a small province in China. He was the first ‘left wing’ artist to perform after Björk shouted ‘free Tibet’ and it was an incredible performance. I called my mum straight after to run through his set list.

Live music makes me feel included, relaxed and inspired.

My favourite live music experience would have to be when I watched Music in Hospitals & Care harpist Margaret Watson playing in an Intensive Care Unit. It was not an environment I had ever been to before and was very clinical and overwhelming, even just as a visitor. The music gave a sense of calm and normality.

Live music makes me feel euphoric, uninhibited and seen.

My favourite live music experience was when I was eight and I went to see a musical about the life of Dusty Springfield. I remember feeling the lump swell in my throat when the performer started singing the song ‘Goin’ Back’ and looking around to see several other tear-stained faces in the audience. It was then that I realised the power of live music.

Live music makes me feel, emotional, inspired and alive.

I couldn’t possibly pick one favourite live music experience, but the ones that stick in my mind are where I’ve been moved to tears (mostly happy tears) or when I’ve enjoyed that music with the ones I love and being able to share that with them. Watching Ed Sheeran from only a few metres away was pretty special!

Live music makes me feel happy, energised and engaged.

My favourite live music experience – there are too many! Barns Courtney in Glasgow in 2019 was incredible. The last live music I saw was a Christmas carol concert, the singing was just magical. A couple of gigs I had tickets for have been rescheduled for this year and I can’t wait!

Live music makes me feel soulful, happy and nostalgic.

Being involved with live music has been such a long blur of memories across my life, it’s so hard to choose one favourite. But maybe two… I saw a huge steel band play when I was 7 and became mesmerised. And not so long ago I watched Bob Dylan sing What’ll I Do by Irving Berlin, live at his piano – it was truly wonderful!

Live music makes me feel alive, connected and energised.

It’s really hard to choose, but maybe a performance at the Royal Albert Hall by the ‘new fado’ singer, Mariza in the early 2000’s, for the combination of virtuosity, spectacle, humour, warmth and pathos – singing a capella and mingling with the crowd for one segment – in one of the most iconic arenas in the UK.

Live music makes me feel energised, alive and peaceful.

I once won tickets to a Children in Need Live concert at the Royal Albert Hall. There were many big names including Paul McCartney. It was the first live music experience my son had been to and the best thing was seeing his joy and amazement that we were actually there in person.

Live music makes me feel connected, happy and emotional.

It’s really hard to pick my favourite live music experience – every single one is unique. I love watching the impact of live music on people, how they react to hearing their favourite song, how the smiles all of a sudden grow, how the mood changes and observing the emotions live music can unlock.

Live music makes me feel euphoric, connected and impassioned.

My favourite live music experience has to be each week singing in my choir. Many are new to singing and the collective achievement when the harmonies align brings so much joy to everyone, there’s a palpable energy in the room and a great sense of connection.