Better Days Charity Fundraiser

Welcome to the Better Days Charity Fundraiser! Join us at The Grove for a day of exciting live music to help support the local charity Better Days, who are a user-led charity of adults with learning disabilities. Better Days have been working on a variety of music projects, and have prepared a performance as part of the day. All proceeds from this event, including ticket sales and raffles on the day will go directly towards the purchasing of musical instruments for the charity members to take home and benefit from for the long-term. For this event, The Jolly Drummers of Better Days will be supported by the following local performers and groups: Ceitidh Mac, Ladies of Midnight Blue, Mark Barfoot, Watersmeet and the Blue Rinse House Band. More information on these performers can be found at bottom of page, below the afternoon schedule and stage times:

Afternoon Schedule and Stage Times:

1-1:15 - Introductions, Raffle and Announcements

Mark Barfoot - 1:15-1:40

Watersmeet - 2-2:25

Ceitidh Mac - 2:45-3:15

The Jolly Drummers of Better Days - 3:30-4

Blue Rinse House Band - 4:15-4:35

Ladies of Midnight Blue - 5-5:45

5:45-6 - Raffle Announcement.

Performer Information:

Ceitidh Mac -

Ceitidh Mac blends the warming tones of the cello and soaring vocals to create a transformative sound that puts a progressive twist on the alt.folk genre.

http://www.ceitidhmac.com/

Ladies of Midnight Blue -

Ladies of Midnight Blue are an Afro-Latin percussion & brass duet comprised of Hannabiell Sanders and Yilis del Carmen Suriel. They create a powerful and upbeat fusion of rhythms, weaving combinations melodic percussion, brass, vocal chants, and mbira.

https://www.hannabiell.com/ladies-of-midnight-blue.html

Watersmeet -

North East based duo combining guitars, harmonium, fiddle and harmonies to play slow burning, heartfelt songs with lofty melodies

https://linktr.ee/watersmeet_

Mark Barfoot -

Mark has a background in teaching and performance for over 20 years primarily as a percussionist with communities and professional ensembles. For this performance, he will bring several handpans - sound sculptures with a beautiful tone used in many genres of music.

https://sacredsoundscic.co.uk/artist-statement-mark-barfoot/

Blue Rinse House Band -

A unique arrangement of exciting local performers who will be playing together for the very first time in this performance, taking part in a unique, one-off, improvised set, we will have John Pope on Bass, Rebecca Jennings on Tenor Saxophone, Francesca Knowles on Drums, Dan Dixon on Drums. That is correct - two drummers, bass guitar, and saxophone! Prepare to go on an adventure!

The Jolly Drummers of Better Days -

For the past few months, Better Days have been working with Dan Dixon on their drumming skills, working both as a group performing together, but also one-to-one drum lessons on drum kits. Here, they will demonstrate their skills for a community performance. They have also been working with Ceitidh Mac, and Ian Gibb on a variety of other music-making activities, and some of this may be presented to audiences on the day.

https://better-days.org.uk/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Grove, 1 Saint Michael's Road, Byker, United Kingdom