The
Trikeshed
Mike Knee
Home
Time and Date Sundial
Church resources
Cycling
Astronomy
Clock Maths fun
Music Music
About this site

Contact: mike@trikeshed.com

Music

 Treble clef

Buy my CD!

Here is my first ever demo CD, recorded with Lorna Silvester at the Petersfield studio of Chris Poulter.
Four songs to enjoy:
  1. Shanghai
  2. Autumn Leaves
  3. Waiting for an Angel
  4. Count your Footprints
You can buy this CD here using PayPal for just £3 plus £1.50 postage and packing.  Sorry, delivery to UK only at the moment.
Waiting for an Angel

Buy Jonathan Thompson's CD

I was very fortunate to be able to take part in this venture, playing bass guitar for Jonathan in this wonderful album, "Songs of Rapture".  You can buy his CD here using PayPal for £12 plus £1.50 postage and packing.  Sorry, delivery to UK only at the moment.
Songs of Rapture

In music I am very much a "Jack-of-many-trades but master of none".

My musicianship is shaped by church choirs, chamber choirs, learning trumpet and trombone at school, teaching myself acoustic guitar and bass guitar and playing in one or two rock and folk bands and church music groups.  I have had two short stretches of piano tuition in adult life but I am not very good at it.

I have written various songs over the years and have also branched out into more "classical" composition by writing a cantata "The Beatitudes" to words written by my friend Lesley Leon, based on the famous "Blessed are..." sayings of Jesus.  I have a particular love of sacred choral music, especially the very old and the very new, and had a wonderful year conducting the choir of the Anglican Chaplaincy in Strasbourg in 1993-4.  I have led a children's choir at my church and run a workshop on how to sing Anglican psalm chant.  I have sung tenor in Petersfield Chamber Choir over most of its ten years to date.

On the guitar side I suppose my style has to be called "contemporary folk" or "thoughtful acoustic".  I very much like Oysterband, and Show of Hands (Steve Knightley and Phil Beer).  I have been part of a (now dormant) four-piece folk band "Highly Strung".  I write songs and I have even been seen performing in public... often with Lorna who plays flute and sings, both beautifully.  Our duo is called "Hat & CoatTails"

Latest venture is taking part in a new a cappella choir called The Free Radicals (the name was my idea) run by Steve Sargent.

My own MySpace account is myspace.com/mikeknee  TOP TIP:  Don't  do what I did, which is to open a regular MySpace account and then try to convert it to a music one.  It takes several weeks and lots of frustration!

Here is a simple blog of my musical activities.   Items played for the first time are underlined.
Saturday 3 October 2009 - Havant Literary Festival
With Lorna, now "officially" naming ourselves "Hat & CoatTails"

"Word on the Street" in the URC Café in Havant - sharing the "stage" with the wonderful poet Stella Mandella
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Butterfly / Cave of Many Colours
  • On the Border
  • Shanghai
  • Merrily Kiss / Let Sophie Out
  • National Park
  • Imber
  • Breton tunes
  • Ballade pour Anne
  • Earth’s Shadow Rising
  • Give me your Hand x2
  • High Germany , trad arr. Steve Knightley and Kate Rusby
A good busy atmosphere but with a listening audience too!

"Hampshire Voices" at the White Hart in Havant
  • Shanghai
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Imber
  • National Park
  • Earth’s Shadow Rising
  • High Germany
Later in the evening I was asked to play some more:
  • Lie of the Land (the audience joined in - a first!)
  • Autumn Leaves
This was a good evening, a small but discerning audience!
Saturday 5 September 2009
With Lorna at an outdoor party at Rowlands Castle.  We played the 4 July set, more or less, with no rehearsal and about an hour's notice (that was my fault!).  Well, we got through it, and some people even liked it, but next time we should do some more rehearsing...
Friday 24 July 2009
With Lorna, as the featured guest at Havant Live, which takes place in the wonderfully intimate setting of Nineveh in Havant, nineveh.co.uk.  Comparable with Petersfield's Write Angle.
  • Two Wheels Good
  • Power of the Market
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Imber
  • Sudoku Junkie
  • Lie of the Land
  • National Park
  • Count your Footprints
  • Shanghai
  • Earth's Shadow Rising
All the songs seemed to go down well, as did most of the poets and another singer whose short set included a very Tom-Lehrer-esque song about nuclear power.  Sold some CDs.  Bit of a shame that the second set was hijacked by a political rant (the basis of which I agreed with, but that's not the point).  It was a hot night, my fingers started to stick to the strings and my voice went dry, but overall the evening was a great success.  Standing room only!

Lorna and I are going to call ourselves "Hat & Coat-tails"
Saturday 18 July 2009
With Lorna, at a private party in Petersfield.  A shorter version of the 4 July set.  Interesting to be asked in detail about the lyrics of Earth's Shadow Rising.
Saturday 4 July 2009
With Lorna, at an outdoor party in East Meon:
  • Merrily Kiss / Let Sophie Out
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • New Potato Polka and Altered by Accretion (what a name!) by Paul Gitlitz
  • Imber
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • Ballade pour Anne by Guy Bergeron
  • On the Border
  • Le Varie - V by Fabio Ighina
  • Earth's Shadow Rising
and two encores!!!
  • Two Wheels Good
  • Shanghai
Not bad seeing we were experimenting with some new classical-ish stuff.  Great atmosphere, lovely weather, glorious view, appreciative (drunk?) audience!
Friday 3 July 2009
The Free Radicals sung an under-rehearsed programme of summer music at Chalton Church, ranging from Weep No More Thou Sorry Boy by Thomas Tomkins, through Baisez Moi, Summertime, Blue Moon to Yesterday where I attempted a solo.  We got the audience singing Sumer is Icumen In and played recorder and drums to a wonderfully jingoistic piece about Agincourt called Deo Gracias Anglia.  I think we just about pulled it off.  The beer and sunset at the Red Lion were good too.
Tuesday 17 March 2009Mike Knee at Write Angle
I was the main guest artist (with Lorna) at Petersfield Write Angle Poetry Cabaret.  My first ever full set using my own material:
  • Two Wheels Good
  • Lie of the Land
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Earth's Shadow Rising
  • How was it for you?
  • Sudoku Junkie
  • Standing Tall
  • Shanghai
  • Imber
  • Count your Footprints
In the words of my closest and most honest critic "a rip-roaring success".  A lovely audience as usual - and I sold some CDs.

I think Lorna and I should call ourselves "Seriously Mellow".
February 2009
With Lorna, recorded a demo CD at Chris Poulter's Herne Studios

Just four songs:
  • Shanghai
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Count your Footprints
I have sent a copy to Greenbelt.  That would be such a break - to play in the Performance Cafe!
Tuesday 20 January 2009
At Petersfield Write Angle, I played
  • Sudoku Junkie
Wednesday 31 December 2008
With Lorna, at a New Year's party.  As upbeat a selection as we could manage (i.e. we left out Widecombe Fair!):
  • Merrily Kiss / Let Sophie out
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Shanghai
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • Give me your Hand
  • On the Border
  • Imber
  • Sunset over Foula
  • Farewell
An interesting experience...
Tuesday 21 October 2008
At Petersfield "Write Angle", I played a couple of my songs:
  • Autumn Leaves
  • The Power of the Market
Once again I had the "Jake Thackray" comment
20 September 2008
Again with Lorna at Rowlands Castle.  A very moving moment when our hostess led a surprise prayer for the miracle of a harvest brought home against all the odds after such a rotten summer.  Fireworks amongst the drying hay.  Good music and good conversation.  We played the 28 June set except that we replaced Cousin Jack with
  • Seven Days, by Steve Knightley - a new number (for us) with both of us singing
Thursday 3 July 2008
Highly Strung played at the wake of a good friend who died of cancer.
  • Merrily Kiss / Let Sophie out
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • The Holy Ground
  • Reluctant Fiddler
  • Breton tunes
  • Imber
  • Barlow Knife + Wind that Shakes the Barley + Morpeth Rant
  • We Built Fires
  • Farewell
Saturday 28 June 2008
With Lorna at an outdoor party near Rowlands Castle.
  • Merrily Kiss / Let Sophie out
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Shanghai
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • Imber
  • Sunset over Foula
  • On the Border
  • Widecombe Fair
  • Breton Set
  • Cousin Jack
All good fun, as ever!
Saturday 28 June 2008
Highly Strung played "unplugged" and outdoors at a baby-naming ceremony party near Petersfield.  My first outing with the cello.
Saturday 21 June 2008
Charity concert at the Studio@TPS, Petersfield, in aid of Cicely's Fund for educating AIDS orphans in Zambia.  A very well attended gig (91 tickets sold) organised by Jonathan Thompson.

First on were Martin and Sarah, acoustic folk duo, with a lovely set of four folk songs: Caledonia, Tom Paxton's Last Thing on my Mind, The White Hare by Seth Lakeman, and Lancashire.

Then Highly Strung, playing the 14 June set, well appreciated despite some technical problems.

Jonathan's own set was a storm, very well received.  This was the first time we had performed as a complete band, with Jonathan on lead, acoustic and vocals, Dave Giles-Kaye on acoustic rhythm, Chris Banahan on keyboard, myself on bass and backing vocals and the amazing young talented Alessio Barelli on drums.
Saturday 14 June 2008
Charity concert at Petersfield United Reformed Church and new hall in aid of disabled orphans in Bolivia.

First outing of the "Sargent Singers" with Steve Sargent, myself and friends Fiona, Marie-Claire, Debbie, Lorna and John.
  • Ave Verum Corpus, by Mozart
  • There is no Rose, by Steve Sargent
  • Our Love is Here to Stay, by the Gershwins, arr. Steve Sargent
  • Linden Lea, by Vaughan Williams
  • A Gaelic Blessing, by John Rutter
  • Married to a Mermaid

After the interval, Highly Strung played a short "unplugged" set:
  • We Built Fires
  • Foxhunters + The Butterfly
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • Cousin Jack
A quirky but very enjoyable occasion, which raised over £400 for the charity
Saturday 2 February 2008
A new year and a party at Sheet Village Hall to beat the winter blues.

First up was Jonathan Thompson, accompanied by me on bass and Chris on keyboard.  Jonathan played two new solo numbers, plus four songs from his Songs of Rapture album:
  • Sing it with me
  • Whirlwind of Lovers
  • Pilgrims
  • Child in your Eyes
Then it was Highly Strung's turn with our brand new set, which explains the gap since September.
  • Foxhunters + The Butterfly
  • Westward (by While and Matthews)
  • Barlow Knife + Wind that Shakes the Barley + Morpeth Rant
  • Imber
  • Cave of Many Colours
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Let Sophie Out
  • The Holy Ground
  • Tom Bhetty's Waltz
  • We Built Fires
  • Give me your Hand
  • Cousin Jack
Sunday 16 November 2007
Open mic slot at the White Horse, Rogate.  A lovely country pub with plenty of atmosphere, very good for folk music.  The band previously seen at the Square Brewery were there.  I think I played

  • Lie of the Land
  • Power of the Market
  • Waiting for an Angel
Saturday 22 September 2007
Highly Strung played the 21 April set (slightly re-ordered and no encore) at an outdoor party near Rowlands Castle.  Other bands were Van Jammer, Dreamweaver and Feckless.  Glorious weather on the last day of summer.  A great atmosphere, good food, and the music went very well despite one of us being propositioned during the intro to a song!
Sunday 15 July 2007
With Lorna Silvester on flute, two short slots supporting Sheetstock's headline band DreamWeaver at the Half Moon in Sheet , part of their 2007 Sheet Tour!
  • Breton tunes
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Imber (my latest song)
  • Widecombe Fair
  • Sunset over Foula
  • Shanghai
A small but really appreciative listening audience (you could hear a pin drop) and an really well set up sound system that made it a real pleasure to play.  DW were in the groove, too.  A great evening.
Saturday 14 July 2007
A rare chance for me to hear my all-time favourites Oysterband at the Bishop's Waltham festival.  Opening with a spectacular rainbow over the Bishop's Palace ruins, they played a wonderful set with that unique amazing sound.  Felt like a groupie at the end, popped in to chat to them and told them about stuff I have played, especially Heaven to Calcutta, which brought on some reminiscences about their Indian tour and the Ride album.  John Jones's voice is really something special, pure and melodic but with a real edge. 
Saturday 7 July 2007
Highly Strung's first festival!  We played an early half-hour set at Sheetstock, this year renamed MacSheetstock with a Scottish theme.
  • Foxhunters + The Butterfly
  • Cousin Jack
  • Reluctant Fiddler
  • Shanghai
  • Metal Man + King of the Fairies + Sleep Sound
  • Merrily Kiss + Let Sophie Out
  • Widecombe Fair
Well, we survived, despite a few technical hitches, mostly of our own making!  The best thing was that, after weeks of rain, the sun smiled on us and the whole festival.
Thursday 14 June 2007
Open mic with Andrew Lee at the Bear and Ragged Staff, Wrecclesham, aka the Outback .  We performed our 20 May set to an appreciative audience, and enjoyed the jam session at the end (never heard Talking Heads played quite like that!)  On Crazy Boy I tried DADGAD tuning for the first - but probably not the last - time.
Sunday 20 May 2007
Open mic with Andrew Lee at the Square Brewery, Petersfield.  Andrew on bouzouki and mandolin, me on guitar and bass, both singing.
  • Crazy Boy (Knightley)
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • The Keeper (Knightley)
  • Heaven to Calcutta (Oysterband)
A good atmosphere yet again.  An eclectic mix of other open mic slots.  Awesome guitar playing from Mike Fry with the house band.  Fast strumming but no plectrum.  And putting a capo across only some of the strings, playing behind or right across it sometimes.
Saturday 21 April 2007
Highly Strung, with special guest Jonathan Thompson, played "unplugged" at our own private party kindly hosted by Melanie and Tony.  Jackie played bongos and bodhran for us - a great addition to the lineup.
  • The Butterfly + Foxhunters
  • Merrily Kiss + Let Sophie Out
  • Cousin Jack
  • Reluctant Fiddler
  • Shanghai
  • Breton tunes
  • The Keeper
  • Metal Man + King of the Fairies + Sleep Sound
  • Gone to America
  • Widecombe Fair
  • Encore: Give me your Hand
Jonathan played his version of the Diggers song and his own Listen to your Soul and Sing it to Me.

This was a wonderful evening - adults and children listening intently in a relaxed atmosphere.  What a great way to make music!
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Open mic at the Royal Oak, Hollywater (between Bordon and Liphook).  A pleasant venue with a nice big stage, but sadly very few in the audience.  I played
  • The Power of the Market 
  • Avenue
  • Waiting for an Angel
rather better than usual I thought.  Then I played bass for Jonathan Thompson's five-song "feature set" including a great new song of his - "Listen to your Soul".
Sunday 15 April 2007
Another open mic slot at the Square Brewery, Petersfield.
  • The Power of the Market 
  • Two Wheels Good
  • Waiting for an Angel
I like this venue.  A perfect setting for the first song, as the "Square" of the pub is that of Petersfield Market.  Nice audience.  The house band's bass player was playing a Deane electronic double bass.  How cool is that - I want one!
Saturday 31 March 2007
Highly Strung played the 24 February set at a party in a barn near Rowlands Castle.  We played Cousin Jack as an encore.  DreamWeaver played after us.  The venue was very cold and the audience seemed a long way away, but technically the set went well.
Saturday 24 February 2007
Highly Strung played a private party at Petersfield Rugby Club.  A difficult venue for providing background music: the low ceiling means that  the normal conversations of partygoers become a deafening scream.  Still, the gig went well technically and the music was appreciated.
  • Foggy Mountain Top, also sung by the Poozies
  • Fast tunes:  Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife + The Bridal
  • Slow air:  The Reluctant Fiddler
  • Song: Shanghai
  • Fast tunes:  Metal Man + King of the Fairies + Sleep Sound
  • Song: The Keeper
  • Two fast Breton tunes
  • Song: Two Wheels Good
  • Slow airs:  Sunset over Foula + Give me your Hand
No encore!
Sunday 18 February 2007
I played the first Open Mic slot at the first official Open Mic night at the Square Brewery, Petersfield.
  • Sudoku Junkie
  • Waiting for an Angel
  • Lie of the Land
A baptism of fire, playing after the house band's excellent warm-up to an audience of discerning 18-30s.  Thanks to Andrew for moral support, to Kev for letting me play and to Wendy and others for appreciative comments!  Overall musical standards and atmosphere at this venue are great.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
An enjoyable open mic night at Grayshott Social Club with Vic's Buskers. Right at the end of an evening full of (mainly) good music, I played
  • On the Border
  • Waiting for an Angel (my latest song)
  • Lie of the Land
  • Avenue
 Good to have the lyrics appreciated!
Saturday 16 December 2006
Highly Strung's Christmas party in Petersfield.

First we were treated to a great set by Jonathan Thompson, singing his own songs and a few covers, ably accompanied for two numbers by his son Joseph on accordion.  Jonathan's songs about parenthood and "Our Town", as well as his encore "It's your life (?)" were particularly memorable, as was his lovely opening song "Rare Thing" by Steve Tilston .

Then on came Highly  Strung, playing to a very appreciative audience of friends.  Our set list was largely a repeat of  21 October; new numbers are underlined.
  • Fast tunes:  Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife + The Bridal
  • Song: Gaudete, by Steeleye Span (our first foray into Latin a cappella singing)
  • Slow air:  The Reluctant Fiddler
  • Song: Shanghai
  • Song: The Keeper
  • Song: Two Wheels Good
  • Fast tunes: Barlow Knife + two Breton tunes
  • Song: Pilgrim's Way
  • Slow airs:  Sunset over Foula + Give me your Hand
  • Encores (yes, two): All around my Hat, by Steeleye Span, and Cotton Mill Girls
And then we partied for the rest of the evening, dancing to Abba, Status Quo and the Scissor Sisters among others.  A good time was had by all!
Saturday 9 December 2006
Petersfield Chamber Choir (conductor Ann Pinhey) at St Peter's Church, Petersfield.  A concert called "Mainly Mozart" including his Missa Brevis, with music from other composers including Holst and Arvo Pärt.

Sunday 3 December 2006
Highly Strung played the first slot at an Acoustic Music Night organized by Stiff Promotions.  Our first gig for which people have had to buy tickets!

We played
  • Fast tunes:  Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife + The Bridal
  • Song: Pilgrim's Way
  • Song: Gone to America
  • Slow air:  The Reluctant Fiddler
  • Song: Widecombe Fair (Knightley)
The other acts were great.  There was Rio, a good-time beat combo that came as a relief after our more angst-ridden stuff.  Then Polly Wood, solo singer and guitarist, a very good first appearance.  After the interval, Amalthea, two gorgeous, talented women singing and playing their own songs on fiddle, guitar and mandolin.  Finally, Martin Newnham and Andy Parkin, two of the Goondocks, also gave us some great songs, but sorry chaps, you're not as good-looking as Amalthea even if your CDs are cheaper!

Thanks to Iain Martin and especially Neil on the sound desk for his wonderfully patient sound checking and set-up for such a complicated line-up uncluding us rank amateurs.
Tuesday 21 November 2006
I played at a Vic's Buskers open mic evening at Grayshott Social Club.  A disappointing turnout, but that gave me an opportunity to do two slots, one less well prepared than the other!

I played my own songs:
  • Sudoku Junkie 
  • My Avenue
  • The Power of the Market 
  • Two Wheels Good
  • Autumn Leaves
A generous response from the "crowd", especially to the songs themselves and the guitar playing.  Reading between the lines, I need to work on my singing.  It's harder than I thought to make the transition from choral singing to solo in front of a mic!
Saturday 21 October 2006
Highly Strung supported DreamWeaver at Traders in Petersfield.  Our first gig without Phillip who has retired to Cyprus, so our lineup is now
  • Andrew on bouzouki, mandolin, whistle and vocals
  • Marion on violin and vocals
  • Lorna on flute and vocals
  • myself on guitar, bass and vocals
Set list:
  • Fast tunes:  Merrily Kiss the Quaker's Wife + The Bridal
  • Song: Pilgrim's Way, by Albion Band
  • Slow air:  The Reluctant Fiddler
  • Song: Shanghai, by Mike Knee
  • Fast tunes:  Metal Man + King of the Fairies + Sleep Sound (Andrew  & Marion)
  • Song: The Keeper, by Steve Knightley (in charts, covered by Seth Lakeman)
  • Song: Two Wheels Good
  • Fast tunes: Barlow Knife + two Breton tunes
  • Fast tunes:  The Wind that Shakes the Barley + The Fox Hunter
  • Song: Gone to America
  • Slow airs:  Sunset over Foula + Give me your Hand
  • Encore: Widecombe Fair
A great sound and a great audience, lots of praise especially for the songs.
Saturday 16 September 2006
Highly Strung played the 12 August set to 240 people at an outdoor party near Rowlands Castle.  The other bands for the evening were DreamWeaver and Feckless (who played at the Wickham Festival).  Very successful - relaxed playing, but went very well despite feedback and crane-flies!
Saturday 12 August 2006
Highly Strung's first-ever full-length set, at a private party hosted by - Highly Strung! - for about 60 people at Sheet Village Hall, near Petersfield.

Set list:
  • Cotton Mill Girls
  • Tunes: Constant Billy + Let Sophie Out
  • Conservation Peace by Phillip Jay
  • Tunes:  Give me your Hand + Black Joke 
  • Widecombe Fair by Steve Knightley
  • Gonna do what  I have to do
  • Tunes: Mrs Jamieson's Favourite + Plaisir d'Amour
  • Easy Easy (blues number sung by Phillip)
  • Tunes: The Wind that Shakes the Barley + The Fox Hunter
  • Gone to America, by Steeleye Span
  • Tune: Farewell
  • Encore: Cousin Jack
A great success. Watching the video is - well, a learning experience!  It was great to hear the audience clapping to the beat of Black Joke, followed by the deathly hush at the dark  lyrics and menacing instrumental build-up of Widecombe Fair.  Other highlights were Phillip's solo performance of Easy Easy, the fiddle and flute especially in Mrs Jamieson and Farewell, and Andrew's brilliant band introductions during an instrumental in Cousin Jack.
Tuesday 27 June 2006:
Highly Strung played an open mic slot at Traders Club, Petersfield, organized by Stiff Promotions:
  • Cotton mill girls
  • Tunes:  Give me your Hand + Black Joke
  • Gonna do what I have to do
Our hearts sank when Iain gave us the last slot of the evening, following the fiasco on 16 May.  But  in the end we had a wonderful audience, nobody leaving early, and Iain amusingly introduced us as the "headline act".  A great atmosphere, with plenty of clapping and stamping along to "Black joke".

Look out for David Newey, who sang some great stuff earlier in the evening.
Saturday 17 June 2006
"Highly Strung" played at a party in Petersfield:
  • Cotton mill girls
  • Tunes: Constant Billy + Let Sophie out
  • Two Wheels Good (Mike & Andrew)
  • Tunes: Give me your Hand + Black Joke
  • Gonna do what I have to do
Well received!
Saturday 10 June 2006
Petersfield Chamber Choir sang an a cappella  concert at Holy Trinity Church, Privett:
  • Byrd's five-part mass
  • Hymn to St Cecilia by Benjamin Britten
  • Five negro spirituals from Michael Tippett's "Child of our time"
Tuesday 16 May 2006
Open mic slot with Andrew Lee at Traders Club.  With Mike on guitar and vocals, we performed
  • Heaven to Calcutta, by Oysterband (Andrew on mandolin)
  • Avenue, by Mike Knee (solo)
  • Two Wheels Good, by Mike Knee (Andrew on bouzouki)
These songs went down well and we won the "Best Bit" prize for the cycling humour in "Two wheels good".  BUT... we were last on, at 10:35, by which time most of the audience, including other performers, had gone home - jolly poor show, we thought.
Saturday 9 April 2006
Petersfield Chamber Choir performed Parts 2 and 3 of Handel's Messiah and Bach's "Lobet den Herrn" in St Peter's Church, Petersfield.

Then "Highly Strung" played at Melanie's birthday party in Petersfield.  We performed
  • Cotton mill girls, a song about the cotton industry in the USA
  • Tunes:  Give me your Hand, Black joke (Morris tune), the Morpeth Rant and Mrs Jamieson's Favourite
  • Gonna do what I have to do, by Oysterband
A successful gig, and very enjoyable, at least for us!
Sunday 19 March 2006
Photo credit: Vic CracknellOpen mic slot with Vic's Buskers at the Links, Liphook., Hampshire, UK
Songs:
    • Lies of the land, by Mike Knee
  • Josephine Baker, by Al Stewart
  • Another chance, by Mike Knee
My first pub gig, very scary but a friendly host and audience.  The first song went down well but, on reflection, the other two were a bit too quiet and poetic for the venue.  All part of the learning curve...
Tuesday 7 March 2006
I performed at Traders as part of a five-piece folk band "Highly Strung".  We are
  • Andrew on bouzouki, mandolin and vocals
  • Marion on violin
  • Lorna on flute
  • Philip on guitar, accordion and vocals
  • myself on guitar, bass and vocals
We performed
  • John White, a song about the last soldier to be flogged to death in the British army
  • Tunes: Let Sophie out (unknown origin) and the more well-known Plaisir d'amour
  • Cousin Jack, by Steve Knightley of Show of Hands
This was Highly Strung's first public performance, though its real debuts  (before the band had a name) were as Andrew, Marion, Philip and Lizzie at a birthday party on 15 January  2005, and before that with me at our New Year's Eve party on 31 December 2004.
Tuesday 13 December 2005
I played my first solo open mic slot with guitar at Traders.
Songs:
  • On the border, by Al Stewart
  • Lies of the land, by Mike Knee
  • Autumn leaves, by Mike Knee
I won the "Best Bit of the Open Mic Night" prize for the line in "Autumn Leaves":

Will an outdoor heater and some garden lights
Bring back for you those summer ni-ights (tune fragment from "Summer Nights"!)
Tuesday 22 November 2005
I made my public debut (at least in recent times) on bass with Jon Thompson (guitar and vocals) and Chris Bannahan (keyboard) at Traders Club Open Mic Night, Petersfield, Hampshire, UK .

The open mic nights are organized by Stiff Promotions

Page last updated 2009 October 16 by Mike Knee
1