Newsletter 8.0 - Launch + Return
Next Event (Season 3.0 - 2.0) - February 28th Voyage of the Beagle by John Biddulph + Ashia Vaughan
Hello,
It feels like a long time since I last wrote to you, back in those early winter days of 2024. As life tends to do, it has brought me personal ups and downs, but there have been plenty of positives along the way with updates I hope will make you smile. Like me, I hope you're looking forward to what’s ahead for Season 3.0.
For those who are new here, these newsletters arrive ahead of each event. They explore the things that matter most to me and form the foundation of SY.Gigs’ evolution: nature, mental health, and music. This remains the guiding trinity, the reason this not-for-profit concept came to life after the pandemic.
I hope something in this publication peaks your curiosity and encourages you to "dip your toe in the sunshine" of an SY.gigs event in 2025.
If you’ve already been and enjoyed the experience, please share it. SY.Gigs thrives on a community that values and supports it.
Matters Unknown - Event 1.0 Pic - Jonny Mo (mophotuk)
A Black Dog
Mr Terence
We had been without a pawed companion for a few years, until Terence (Terry/Tez/El Tel) arrived, rescued from Grinshill Dogs Home. Serendipity played its part in bringing this little chap to us via the alert of a dear friend. A stray black nose from the big city of Birmingham, he was sadly destined to be euthanised. Now, he’s settling in well, though his reactive tendencies and nervousness are still apparent, and we continue to discover little quirks in his loving personality each week. I like that! Adopting a rescue dog is deeply rewarding, and I’m grateful for the sense of routine and purpose he has brought me, something my mental well-being thrives on. A ‘black dog’ helping my own metaphorical ‘black dog’ is somewhat ironic and poignant.
Terry has already accompanied me on some beautiful early-morning nature experiences. I’ve loved listening to the ‘blue hour’ birdsong, especially the robins, wrens and a few thrushes along the banks of the River Severn. Cormorants and Mergansers have been camped on the river, indulging in a feeding frenzy, to the frustration of few fishermen. Both are exceptional divers, but the Cormorant remains my favourite. Their inky, oil-wash plumage and habit of spreading their wings on high perches, like statues, always make for a dramatic sight. The Goosanders, with their handsome mullet-like plumage, have also been highly engaged and sociable, offering plenty of early-morning diving entertainment near to Kingsland Bridge.
Recently, I’ve taken to occasionally recording my morning rambles. Here is a simple catchment sample from Castlefields Park.
It’s a relief to have finally broken through into February and to glimpse the first signs of spring on the horizon. The crocuses arrived first, quickly followed by brilliant snowdrops, and now the sunshine dash of golden daffodils. If only there was the complimentary weather!
The allotment remains mostly dormant, though fruiting buds are already pushing against last year’s growth. The cold, damp weather lingers, and my last visit to lift potatoes left me shocked by the lingering chill in the soil. There are jobs, compost bins to fix and a bed of old strawberries to remove but the weather really isn’t encouraging me.
Finally, some sad news about my dear mother, Anneliese. Those who know her understand her legendary status. At nearly 92, she has been a constant presence in my thoughts and musings. Just a few weeks ago, she suffered a fall, leading to a hospital admission and the difficult decision to transition her into care. I’m incredibly proud of her, she lived independently for so many years, but now is the time for her to rest and rebuild. Sometimes, we have to break ourselves down to come back stronger. Knowing Anneliese, she will adapt, embrace change, and continue to inspire. she is already grabbing hearts at the care Home.
Anneliese
The algorithm vortex
Kingsland Bridge, Shrewsbury
Like many of us, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with the grip big tech has on our social streams and the countless hours lost to endless scrolling, algorithm tweaks, and engagement chasing.
We all have choices in this space, and it’s been interesting to watch some artists take bold steps to abandon social platforms entirely in their pursuit of authenticity, independence and wellbeing. I admire this, especially as I try to establish a brand that isn’t overly reliant on platforms I have little respect for. But it’s a dilemma we all face. Staying true to yourself takes guts and determination, but is it bad business?
If I could, I’d consider removing myself from the vortex of the algorithm. But in reality, that’s a high-risk move while SY.Gigs is still evolving. Even as a not-for-profit, it has to break even, and any business model requires careful risk assessment.
You may have seen the advert we developed for this season’s marketing strategy, this has had a significant impact on reducing ticket sales stress. It’s a balancing act, and for better or worse, social platforms remain a key influence on our lives. We have to accept these positives. Huge thanks to friends and partners Glou Glou, Opus Media Productions, and especially Krishan (a gig attendee who runs Launch and Return) for helping bring this to life. Krishan is another example of a volunteer offering their skills to strengthen the SY.GIGS community, something I deeply appreciate.
Like many, I’d love to transition towards a newsletter and subscription-based model in the future, but for that to be sustainable, the audience has to be large enough. For now, abandoning socials completely would be foolhardy, but it’s important to keep reflecting, questioning, and staying authentic.
One thing I’d encourage you all to consider is how we listen. Like most, I use a small subscription streaming platform to discover new music, but I’m also aware of how little artists earn from it. To counterbalance this, I invest directly wherever possible, through Bandcamp (other platforms are available!), ensuring artists see a fairer share of revenue. And, of course, attending gigs and buying merch remains one of the most rewarding ways to support musicians. I hope SY.Gigs will continue to facilitate these meaningful connections.
Gigs Before..
Event 1.0 - January 31st Matters Unknown
A sold-out start to the season and a beautiful evening of celestial blues wrapped in contemporary grooves. Jonathan, Matt, and Lyle delivered a performance that perfectly encapsulated the essence of these events, a journey through rhythm and melody that lifted the mood and left everyone in an uplifted place by the night’s end.
I’m also grateful for the thoughtful reviews of the gig.
Thanks to Charlie and Myshrewsbury for publishing. Also thanks to Ian Mann for his gig review.
Pic credits - Jonny Mo (mophotuk) More pictures up on the website.
For all past events there is now a catalogue of photographs going back to the Haiku Salut in 2018 on the website.
Let me know your favourite gigs?
Season 3.0 ‘Nothing is Ordinary’ launched
Tickets continue to sell well for on sale events. There are now only a few early bird tickets left for Event 4.0. All others are sold.
There are also 25 physical tickets (not early birds) available for each event. These offer savings on full-price tickets since they avoid Skiddle booking fees. You can purchase physical tickets from Glou Glou on Castle Street and Petit Glou Glou in the Market Hall.
Dates for ‘Nothing is ordinary - Season 3.0’:
Feb 28 - Voyage of the Beagle by John Biddulph + Ashia Vaughan
March 29 - An exploration of Harp + Piano - Marysia Osu & Hanakiv
June 7 - Movement in Sound - Tengger + Seaming To
July 12 - Confirmed
Aug 16th - Confirmed
Oct 17th - Confirmed
Thank you to the Hinrichsen Foundation for supporting Season 3 with a grant donation.
Gigs Next…
February 28th Event 2.0 - Season 3.0 Voyage of the Beagle by John Biddulph + Ashia Vaughan (60% sold)
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound designer John Biddulph will share his latest musical project, an exploration of sound that was inspired by Charles Darwin’s iconic text, ‘The Voyage of the Beagle’.
This performance will form part of the Darwin Festival and will offer an auditory journey alongside Darwin’s transformative voyage, blending atmospheric compositions with world music influences to bring the naturalist’s discoveries to life.
“I wanted to create a soundtrack that would allow listeners to experience Darwin’s awe and curiosity as he traversed the globe,” said John. “Each track is a musical interpretation of a chapter or extract of text in his journey—whether it’s the wildlife of South America, the vibrant Galápagos Islands, or the vast expanse of the open sea.”
March 29th Event 3.0 - Season 3.0 An exploration of Harp & Piano - Marysia Osu & Hanakiv
Piano Day, is an annual worldwide event founded by a group of like-minded people. It takes place on the 88th day of the year because of the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated. I have hosted Piano Days in previous years.
As part of International Piano Day 2025 SY.Gigs is proud to be hosting two exceptional female artists, Marysia Osu and Hanakiv (Johanna Kivimagi).
Marysia Osu is a Polish born, London based harpist and pianist, producer and composer known for her innovative blend of classical, ambient and jazz. Osu’s work reflects a deep connection to beauty, emotion and self-expression.
Hanakiv is a young composer and musician from Estonia (now based in London) who creates meditative piano-based ambient music with elements from classical and electronic music. ‘Goodbyes’ was her debut recording in 2023 on Matthew Halsall's label Gondwana. She draws on influences as diverse as Tim Hecker, Björk “Vespertine”, and Aphex Twin as well as her own cultural heritage.
Podcast
I recently participated in a podcast with my dear friend Stavros. If you’d like to hear it please follow the link.
And Breath
Thanks to my friend Brian Morrison (The Breathing Project) for sharing some mindful breathing sessions to relax and reset. Give them a try here. If you enjoy them please let Brian know via the socials.
3 music recommendations I’ve been listening to recently:
Anna B Savage - You and I are Earth. A beautiful and intoxicating low fi indie folk album of love and place! Unique vocals and heartfelt songwriting.
Lawne - Attic. Beautiful big funked up cinematic drum and bass dub grooves fed with some fine electronic keys, reminiscent of Australia’s finest Surprise Chef.
Floating World Pictures - Pastoral Galleon. Loud ambient soundscapes, painting hypnotic scenes which just leave you feeling so much better.
Please always send me feedback on recommendations of your own, gigs, music, blogs and contents here. I need to know if it is what you want to read!
Keep on Keeping on!
Cx
