Summer Organ Festival - Wayne Marshall

Tonight, headed with CT to a concert by Wayne Marshall in the Summer Organ Festival in Southwark Cathedral.

The weather app said no rain. So, of course, it rained on me as I walked there - happily, only a few drops, and I was pre-warned when a few more drops fell on me as I popped out for shopping, this afternoon. So I knew to dress appropriately - damn windy, too. I fancied food beforehand in The Old Thameside Inn - figured they wouldn't be busy on a Monday, so I didn't need to book, and I was right. Ah, so many happy memories from here.. and I love this part of town too, all its winding old streets and alleys.

I had plenty of choice, both in the table service area, and the general bar - after all, I arrived early, around 5pm. I picked the general bar - it's faster to order with the app; you don't have to wait for someone to wander by before you can order, and you can pay at the same time. Decided on the "beef rib and brisket" pie, with red wine sauce - sounded nice. And wow, was it delicious.. came with a massive pie crust (don't worry, they haven't filled all the way up to the crust) and a bone sticking out, would you believe! Inside, when I dug my way in, the meat was piping hot, and so rich - and the crust was nice enough to eat as well, lovely and light. I was well sorted when the time came for the short walk to the cathedral, which I'd passed on the way.

At the door, an usher was explaining to a tourist that, sorry, the cathedral was only open for the concert, so he couldn't visit. When he asked for a toilet, she obviously wasn't going to let him inside - I suggested he go to the pub I'd just been to, which both she and I thought was an excellent idea - it must have been the closest. Hope he found it! Meantime, I made my way in, showed my ticket, got a drink - wouldn't you know it, they had Isla Negra! with a choice of Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay for the white, and only £5 for a generous glass. I managed two, before the concert started. And visited their toilets, which were quite well-kept.

They appear to have quite a striking modern art installation:


The concert was actually broadcast on a screen, pointed right at the performer while he played - but first, he gave a half-hour interview:



The 90-minute program had no interval, and included two improvised pieces - the latter of which was based on selections he made from a basket of suggestions: one of which was "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles". To be fair, you could recognise the melody in the finished piece - which was the only music I recognised tonight. However, it sounded lovely in such a beautiful setting, and I was very happy I came. Not sure whether the cathedral cat, a lovely, fat tuxedo cat that reminded me of mine, agreed - only to be seen between pieces, he stalked haughtily about and didn't look interested in anything. As you do.


The festival runs for four consecutive Mondays, with different performers - tonight was the first.

On the way home, taking the short way under London Bridge, I came across a cool pavement installation that actually plays "London Bridge is Falling Down". Well, hopefully not..

Tomorrow, I've pencilled in yet another film - Drommer (Dreams), part of an Oslo-based trilogy. In this one, a girl develops, and writes about, her intense crush on her French teacher - her mother and grandmother, finding the writings, are shocked, but also really impressed with the quality, and decide she should publish them.. again showing in The Garden Cinema, and I'll have to skive off slightly early again to make it.

On Wednesday, my one Meetup of the week - Up in the Cheap Seats are doing a couple of different things, and I chose the musical Sing Street, which sounds fun. Based on a film I saw some years back, it's set in Dublin in the 80s, and focuses on schoolkids trying to start up a band. Playing in the Lyric Hammersmith.

On Thursday - yes, film again.. heading to Young Hearts, that night only in the Curzon Bloomsbury. And being in the office again that day, I can walk to it.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend to check the house is still standing and the aforementioned cat still remembers how to purr. Flying there with Aer Lingus because Ryanair was so ridiculously expensive.. back with Ryanair though.

And back in London next Monday, again I'm headed to the Summer Organ Festival with CT - this time, the performer is Simon Horgan.

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