Out and about

Nimue Brown

Oct 4

(Nimue)

On Thursday night I'm performing at a local storytelling event with James and Keith. We're using a format Keith has led on before - The Hopeless Home Companion, based a bit on a radio programme called The Prairie Home Companion. It's the first time James has been on the team for one of these, and it should be a giggle. We're regulars at these events, having contributed stories for the open mic section, and stood in one time when the booked musician dropped out at the last minute.

Interestingly, I didn't pitch it as Ominous Folk, but this appears to be a well established 'brand' now that can go out doing things that aren't purely musical - this will be mostly spoken word and a couple of songs. It's also evidently a bigger brand than the original team. This is also a factor for the gigs we have coming up at the weekend where Ominous Folk will be myself, James, Keith and Jessica Law. We'll be performing as Jessica Law and the Outlaws as well, but it's very different material and music styles, and Jo who has organised the faery event is fine with that.

These might be the last gigs for Ominous Folk. It's certainly the last gig for this year, and much depends on what other people decide to do. I am dedicated to keeping an unaccompanied group singing project going, but it might make more sense to do that as The Jovial Crew - which we'll be out as at Christmas and which is also a mumming side. I've tried to keep Ominous Folk going, but for a number of reasons, Tom Brown has been problematic to work with this summer. I'm not prepared to keep doing things I find uncomfortable. Ominous Folk was very much my project from the beginning, so I have no qualms about either ending it or changing it depending on what looks most likely to work moving forwards.

On the Sunday of the faery event I'm putting my Druid hat on to do a talk about seasonal Paganism. There's free stuff in the day on the 7th and 8th. I've not been out much as a Pagan speaker in recent years but it is something I've done in the past and am getting back into. I'm very much open to suggestions if anyone wants me for anything.