Corey Mwamba

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29th Jan 10

It's a pity that the gig was so intimate: perhaps having more people in the venue would cover the PRS fee? But all the same, the people who were there formed a great audience and fed us enough energy to play a lovely gig.

My state of mind had settled since finding somewhere to live, so I felt able to concentrate on listening to the others, who had lots of great musical things to say. The trumpeter Alex Bonney was there again, and once more showed off his gorgeous tone and lyricism. So a good night!

But tonight, after Cotmanhay, it's Derby.

30th Jan 10

It's a pity that the gig was so intimate: perhaps having more people in the venue would cover the PRS fee? But all the same, the people who were there formed a great audience and fed us enough energy to play a lovely gig.

My state of mind had settled since finding somewhere to live, so I felt able to concentrate on listening to the others, who had lots of great musical things to say. The trumpeter Alex Bonney was there again, and once more showed off his gorgeous tone and lyricism. So a good night!

But tonight, after Cotmanhay, it's Derby.

30th Jan 10

In short: a fantastic night.

There were heaps of people for this one; once again a fair few people I didn't know, which is always good. I think we needed to play to a healthy audience after the Vortex; and Derby delivered. In that situation it makes it much easier to give back musically, and I think we did: we had a ball!

So, thank you very much indeed.

Reading next!

25th Sep 10

In short: a fantastic night.

There were heaps of people for this one; once again a fair few people I didn't know, which is always good. I think we needed to play to a healthy audience after the Vortex; and Derby delivered. In that situation it makes it much easier to give back musically, and I think we did: we had a ball!

So, thank you very much indeed.

Reading next!

25th Sep 10

Today will also be a day of being outside. Derby Feste is still on, and I've promised to take a look and see its various delights.

22nd Dec 10

Until just about now, Derby has missed ALL the snow. But it has arrived now. Just a short message to wish all visitors a restful holiday full of peace and joy. See you in the New Year!

8th Jan 11

Morning! Today's a day of organising house things... another Epiphany, another potential move across the city.

The nice thing about living in Derby is its thoroughly residential nature; it gives the opportunity to hear the sounds of people just living and doing from day to day. It's not exactly the "mean streets" here either, so listening to the city is never an unpleasant experience. You just hear people living. I am very lucky in that regard.

8th Jan 11

Today will also be a day of being outside. Derby Feste is still on, and I've promised to take a look and see its various delights.

19th Jan 11

Derby. I salute you. We had a great crowd of people out for the first Heralds gig... provoked loads of discussion in the band: I have heaps more writing to do! Feeling determined and energised by the process. Thanks for coming down if you did!

5th Feb 11

A few days ago, I wrote a comment about libraries [it was on a personal page]. Today, if you didn't know, is Save Our Libraries Day. It's rare that I cross-comment: but I'm going to reproduce what I wrote. If there is any protest against the cuts to libraries and you feel even remotely concerned that the government is trying to develop a nation of uneducated people please speak out. Anyway, here's what I wrote:

The clamp-down on thinking: here we are. No one is safe. Even in Egypt where there are huge riots, they protected the library. But here we create silent book tombs with civilisation as a corpse.

We are being taken back to the 19th Century, when very few could borrow a book for free.

Subscription libraries are great resources - but in towns, cities and communities where there is no such thing then the public lending library is a living breathing entity and should be sacrosanct.

My sextet would not exist without the library, since that's where the first research into stories began. Many of the things I've done have started in that space. And when I worked there, I tried my damnedest to make it a place to go. Because having a library MEANS something.

And even though the building in Derby is not necessarily threatened, I know that some more staff have gone.

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 asserts the universal right to literature and information as a national institution, through legislation.

We're not mucking about here - we made it law because we thought it was important. Universally important. And now it is being chipped away. Some people will say it's about lefties whining. But the fact that the act represents us as a nation should have any patriot out of his or her seat and slapping on the war-paint as well.

This government is quite simply stabbing the country in the throat.

6th Feb 11

It's with regret that I've had to cancel the gig for the amazing Juliet Kelly - but with luck I'll be able to bring her to Derby another time!

I've changed the mapping service for the gigs from Yahoo to Google, as Google has better international address support. I'll be working on the code over the next few days so that the pages load faster too. There's a fair bit of redundant code to hack through - so there may be a few gremlins. Apologies in advance for any malfunctions.

Music-wise, I got mentioned in JazzUK twice in two months! First for the gig I did with Arun in Cambridge, and then Heralds got a mention in this month's, and the "blue lollipop rage" photo reared its head. Even though they're small, it's still nice to appear in the scene's most respected mag!

11th Feb 11

A day of packing today. Lots of boxes. Heaps of miscellaneous... things.

But I also get to see some photos from the Heralds gig in Derby, so I'm looking forward to that: and itching to get the recording from Newcastle... I suspect that will be on its way soon!

3rd Jun 11

We've had a switch of musician for Derby as well: DAVE - yes Dave Kane - is doing it tonight!

24th Jun 11

Bah. No Glastonbury for me today: mix-up of times. Ah well. Still, sunny day in Derby and a chance to "mend my nets" and do some learning. I'm finally recovered from the music feast that was Newcastle too. Chillaxin', like no one says.

25th Jun 11

Until just about now, Derby has missed ALL the snow. But it has arrived now. Just a short message to wish all visitors a restful holiday full of peace and joy. See you in the New Year!

5th Dec 11

I'm doing some background tinkering - yes, I'm bored of the site style again. So another change is due. You know things are bad when the most relaxing thing you can do is CSS.

I'm still driving towards an album for the trio, and trying to enthuse people to meet on Thursday about the arts in Derby. So if it all goes a bit quiet, I apologise! But rest assured, I'm busy...

17th Dec 11

I'm growing up into a promoter next year! If you live in the East Midlands, please come along and support local and national artists heading to Derby!

5th Jan 12

The recording with Gavin, Ed Jones, Dave Walsh and Steve Plews was lovely! Really looking forward to hearing that. The weather was [and still is] ridiculous, but if you're in Derby please head out to hear the wizard @[Robert Mitchell] on Friday... I'm also playing on a couple of songs!

25th Jan 12

That gig in Derby is up now - and it's on February 10TH. Follow the link through!

10th Feb 12

Morning! Today's a day of organising house things... another Epiphany, another potential move across the city.

The nice thing about living in Derby is its thoroughly residential nature; it gives the opportunity to hear the sounds of people just living and doing from day to day. It's not exactly the "mean streets" here either, so listening to the city is never an unpleasant experience. You just hear people living. I am very lucky in that regard.

10th Feb 12

In Derby tonight at Deda! Come hear me play a Roy Ayers tune for the first time in my life, with George Grignon's excellent SoulDeep band. Finally recovered from the lovely soufulness of @[Nat Birchall]'s gig, and concentrating on writing out parts for @[the trio] album... March is looming!!

14th May 12

On my way to Leeds on Saturday, I popped into the International Print Exhibition in the Arboretum, England's oldest public park.

The International Print Exhibition has been running for three years now, bringing great art from around the world right into Derby. It's run by Green Door Printmaking which is based in Normanton, the area where I was born and bred.

Green Door doesn't receive the plaudits or subsidy that are given to other arts organisations in the city, but they're doing international work, and have been doing it for just as long. Not they're under threat with rising costs - I'm hoping the city doesn't forget about them... but I am not so sure.

Anyway, I was looking at the work while I was waiting for an appropriate time to head to the train station; and they asked me to play for a bit while I was there - so I did, with great pleasure.

If you get chance pop to the Arboretum, see the exhibition; and learn about an arts group that brings the world to Derby. The exhibition ends on 31st May.

31st May 12

musify work moves apace, but I have to remember I have a gig today as well!! Hope to see Derby people down...

6th Jun 12

Had a fantastic couple of gigs with Nick Malcolm's quartet: first up in Derby and then down to Bristol where I was depping for Alex Hawkins. Finally got to play with Get The Blessing's Jake McMurchie who I first met at the BBC Jazz Awards! This is a great review of the gig.

11th Jun 12

The meeting's tomorrow. Here's the blurb:

Experts with significant experience of the cultural sector and organisational development have been appointed to consult with and support arts and culture organisations in Derby to explore a number of key aims such as:

  • Articulating a vision for future sustainability for the arts sector in Derby
  • Explore future models of working together in the city and identify the potential opportunities
  • Ensure a quality arts offer for the people of Derby

I would like to invite you to a meeting with Graham Devlin to take part in the consultation process for the Cultural Vision for Derby; the purpose of the meeting is for attendees to be consulted on their thoughts for the future vision of Derby.

Now, I am definitely going to this. I'm pretty certain I know who else has been invited. But if you were not and have a stake in the arts in Derby, please let me know what you think. I haven't been on top of e-mails, so sorry for the short notice.

11th Jun 12

This morning: looking at the musify editor again - and if you're a musician and haven't seen it, please give it a go! - and doing some more work on the Derby Jazz commission, which if you were on my mailing list, you'd know a bit about!

I'm also doing some more back-end work on the site so I can share quicker and more efficiently to Facebook and Twitter [and thus not have to visit them as often]. Strangely, doing the hook-up to Facebook has been simple: there's still a lot I don't know about JSON object parsing for Twitter...

16th Sep 12

Derby City Council\'s Arts Team [of possibly one person?] has launched a survey about arts development - it\'d be great to show a wide response to this so I\'m sharing in case anyone sees it here. Please help spread it!

16th Sep 12

Derby. I salute you. We had a great crowd of people out for the first Heralds gig... provoked loads of discussion in the band: I have heaps more writing to do! Feeling determined and energised by the process. Thanks for coming down if you did!

9th Jan 13

Although I updated the score for it last week, I didn\'t talk about Bereft specifically. But today marks the anniversary of the death of the person for whom it was written.

Here are all the recorded versions: the download also includes the score, in concert and transposed versions.

oemb::http://coreymwamba.bandcamp.com/album/bereft-versions

In 2002 Bernadette Coles was killed while crossing the road after work, by someone who was driving while using a mobile phone. Because we\'d had a bit of a disagreement a few days before, I didn\'t find out until a few days later. At the time I was distraught: Bernie and I used to hang out all the time and chat on MSN [remember doing that?], and were just really good friends. She had a great effect on people and her friends and I know there are a bunch of us that still miss her - we keep in touch.

At the time I had no real way of expressing how I felt, so I wrote three songs. One of them has never been played; the other used to be played by my old quartet and once with Josh when he used to live in Derby; but Bereft was first played on 23rd February 2002, with Walt and Tracey Hague [previously Sutcliffe].

I then stopped playing it, as I found I could not play it. I felt almost detached from the meaning of the song, and thus practised it - playing the melody on the piano or singing it in quiet moments, and reading.

I re-visited it in 2007, first in January with @[Robert Mitchell] for our first ever duo gig; then in March that year for Argentum, with words written by Deborah Jordan. I don\'t remember telling anyone what the song was about: I thought it better to have people interpret it as they wished. The only thing I asked at the time was that people understood what the word \"bereft\" meant.

I hesitated playing it again, after the Argentum gig. At the time I felt I perhaps moved on. But then in 2011 I played it with Robert for the Adventures In Sound gig in November; and I felt more at home with the piece, more able to find the voice I needed to use for the song; and hearing it reminds me of Bernie but in a more positive way than previously. It is a love song, but not of the romantic nature; and it does not have to be sung.

I hope you enjoy listening/playing it as much as I do now.

31st Jan 13

Got to see the Orrery DVD yesterday. It looks amazing! It was also the first time I\'d heard the the first half, and was really pleased with it. Not sure when it\'ll be ready, but if you sign up as a Friend of Derby Jazz, they\'ll send you a copy for free: you\'ll also be helping them keep going!

20th May 13

So - you know how I decide I have too much money and occasionally programme things? I'm doing that again, but this time with some help.

Last year I was approached by Derby Jazz and asked if I'd like to select some gigs, and arrange them into a series to run alongside their usual programme. Second Line is the result; a reference to the drumming style as well as the parallel nature of the series. They're quite spread out; but I think they represent some really exciting new music!

The first gig in the series is Lucian Ban and Mat Maneri. Lucian and Mat have been to Derby before - I know this because I brought them here last time, and they've asked me to join them again which is a fantastic honour. Their new album received a four-star review in the Guardian and the upcoming concert is a Guardian gig of the week, which is great. I really hope you can make it down - 7pm on a Wednesday means most people can make it back home at a late but not unreasonable hour, but with luck still allows time to eat some dinner beforehand. Hope the series inspires you to come out and hear some great music!

17th Sep 13

Was going to shout at EE, but instead decided to practise "Sicily" by Chick Corea for the gig in Derby next month:

oemb::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSObQ4qWY0

21st Sep 13

So - Derby Telegraph reports a story about claims that a school is forcing teachers to wear head scarves, and make girls sit at the back.

Yes, this is very bad if the claims are true: but then the Derby Telegraph decides to push the article from the slant of "Muslim school using public money", knowing that some elements out there will go a bit... well... Griffin. Bloom [allegedly]. Here, have a look at the comments.

Anyway, at least four times on Twitter they push the reaction to the story. In the reactions, there is no mention of the wider issue of free schools and how they spend money; just the usual ranting about people "taking over the country" from people who will never know any better.

Are we supposed to believe that the paper didn't see that coming? When a paper starts promoting the reaction rather than the story itself, I think we should be worried about the quality of the paper. If there's any case of wrong-doing at the school, then of course it should be reported. But it's not because they're Muslim: and the Derby Telegraph is wrong to push the story in a way that can only incite xenophobia.

4th Nov 13

And then I head to Derby with Chris Biscoe and Roger Turner[!!!] http://2ndline.coreymwamba.co.uk/biscoe-turner-mwamba

9th Nov 13

It'll be my last Derby gig for a while, I think.

9th Nov 13

It certainly means the trio won't play in Derby this year, which is a pity.

9th Nov 13

The question for me really is: when will the trio get to Derby for a gig?

9th Nov 13

I use 2ndline and One Note Sunday to bring new music to Derby, but have an internal policy of not programming myself.

9th Nov 13

But if I didn't put on my gigs with my groups, I would play in Derby hardly at all: perhaps twice a year.

18th Nov 13

Derby: don't forget Chris Biscoe & Roger Turner are heading our way... http://2ndline.coreymwamba.co.uk/biscoe-turner-mwamba

23rd Nov 13

Full dance card for the next few days: London, Derby, Newcastle, Glasgow and Bath http://www.coreymwamba.co.uk/gigs/

25th Nov 13

Derby. :-)

26th Nov 13

Tomorrow: Chris Biscoe and Roger Turner hit Derby, and I get to work with them! http://2ndline.coreymwamba.co.uk/biscoe-turner-mwamba

23rd Jan 14

Thoroughly frustrating loss of umbrella at Derby station.

6th Apr 14

So Derby: will @[One Note Sunday] see you for some baritone sax/electric guitar fun with @[Cath Roberts] and @[Anton Hunter]? I hope so!

9th May 14

Today is all about the essay: but soon it'll all be about Derby, @[Dave Kane] and @[Joshua Blackmore]...

13th May 14

This Sunday! @[the trio] hits Derby. Hope to see you there!

18th May 14

Today! @[the trio]. Derby! See you soon...

19th May 14

SO MUCH FUN with @[the trio] yesterday. Thanks to @[Derby Jazz] for putting us on, and everyone who came along or spread the word!

29th May 14

New music from me, @[Dave Kane] and @[Joshua Blackmore]! Crunchy recording from Derby.

29th Jul 14

Reading the Family Arts Standards for #TheFamilyAlbum. Thanks for the tip-off Bob at @[Derby Live]!

2nd Aug 14

Would appear that a large portion of Scotland is coming to Derby as I am leaving!

9th Aug 14

Did you know that I programme occasional improv gigs for @[Derby Jazz]? Check out #2ndline!

18th Aug 14

@[Derby City Council] is asking citizens to help balance its budget. Like the idea: but where are the councillor allowances?

25th Aug 14

New additions to the @[Derby Jazz] #2ndline! Take a look...

11th Oct 14

Evan Parker's in Derby tomorrow! Sadly I can't be there, but this will be great!

16th Nov 14

Today: masters among us in #Derby! @[Alexander Hawkins] and Sir Moholo

18th Nov 14

And if you're in Derby, don't forget there's a gig on tonight!

5th Mar 15

Derby Theatre on Sunday, 2p.m.: Mark Sanders SOLO for 2ndline!

9th Mar 15

Very much looking forward to playing in Derby in May: my first time at The Guildhall Theatre!

8th May 15

New Ramble: Thank you Derby!

11th May 15

Photos of the Derby gig!

3rd Jun 15

@[LUME] in Derby!

12th Jun 15

Not long until @[Cath Roberts] and @[Dee Byrne] bring @[LUME] to Derby!

6th Aug 15

Looking forward to the gig with @[Walt Shaw] in Derby...

15th Aug 15

DERBY today!

23rd Aug 15

2ndline/@[Derby Jazz] gigs now up!

17th Sep 15

Looking forward to seeing @[Olie Brice] and @[Mark Sanders] in Derby in October...

16th Dec 15

#2ndline gigs now on @[Derby Jazz] website... with @[Ripsaw Catfish] in January!

11th Jan 16

Sunday: @[Derby Jazz] presents @[Ripsaw Catfish]!

29th Feb 16

The gig yesterday was storming! Make sure you catch Bad Ash on their tour... and always nice to play in Derby!

29th Feb 16

A few days ago, I wrote a comment about libraries [it was on a personal page]. Today, if you didn't know, is Save Our Libraries Day. It's rare that I cross-comment: but I'm going to reproduce what I wrote. If there is any protest against the cuts to libraries and you feel even remotely concerned that the government is trying to develop a nation of uneducated people please speak out. Anyway, here's what I wrote:

The clamp-down on thinking: here we are. No one is safe. Even in Egypt where there are huge riots, they protected the library. But here we create silent book tombs with civilisation as a corpse.

We are being taken back to the 19th Century, when very few could borrow a book for free.

Subscription libraries are great resources - but in towns, cities and communities where there is no such thing then the public lending library is a living breathing entity and should be sacrosanct.

My sextet would not exist without the library, since that's where the first research into stories began. Many of the things I've done have started in that space. And when I worked there, I tried my damnedest to make it a place to go. Because having a library MEANS something.

And even though the building in Derby is not necessarily threatened, I know that some more staff have gone.

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 asserts the universal right to literature and information as a national institution, through legislation.

We're not mucking about here - we made it law because we thought it was important. Universally important. And now it is being chipped away. Some people will say it's about lefties whining. But the fact that the act represents us as a nation should have any patriot out of his or her seat and slapping on the war-paint as well.

This government is quite simply stabbing the country in the throat.

8th Aug 16

Derby - this Friday with @[Gawain Hewitt]!

2nd Sep 16

And the new @[Derby Jazz] season starts today! Glad to feature our local scene for the first gig.

29th Sep 16

A brief break from PhD-ness: some admin for @[Derby Jazz] followed by @[Out Front!] tonight!

1st Oct 16

It's with regret that I've had to cancel the gig for the amazing Juliet Kelly - but with luck I'll be able to bring her to Derby another time!

I've changed the mapping service for the gigs from Yahoo to Google, as Google has better international address support. I'll be working on the code over the next few days so that the pages load faster too. There's a fair bit of redundant code to hack through - so there may be a few gremlins. Apologies in advance for any malfunctions.

Music-wise, I got mentioned in JazzUK twice in two months! First for the gig I did with Arun in Cambridge, and then Heralds got a mention in this month's, and the "blue lollipop rage" photo reared its head. Even though they're small, it's still nice to appear in the scene's most respected mag!

1st Oct 16

October in Derby with @[Out Front!] and @[Derby Jazz]...

28th Oct 16

"New" addition to the gigs page: the other gigs I programme for @[Derby Jazz] and @[Out Front!].

28th Oct 16

Friendly link to find out what I've programmed in Derby...

5th Nov 16

Had a great time at @[Nat Birchall]'s gig last night for @[Derby Jazz]; and had a bit of play too!

11th Nov 16

Did you know that Derby has three gigs within the space of a week? #

21st Dec 16

I'd like to thank everyone who has attended, played at, or supported the @[Out Front!] and @[Derby Jazz] gigs this year. Derby has felt special with your presence!

12th Jan 17

Just in case you haven't seen the small harvest of gigs coming up in Derby...

3rd Feb 17

Lovely gig last night in Leicester! Some great playing from Mark Trounson's group; made my "job" very easy! Derby today (but it's sold out)...

23rd Feb 17

Nice number of gigs in Derby over the next week!

24th Feb 17

Playing in Derby tonight!

24th Mar 17

The small harvest continues! Jasper Høiby tomorrow for @[Derby Jazz]!

10th Apr 17

The small harvest continues @[Derby Jazz] and @[Out Front!] gigs this month...

25th Aug 17

If you haven't seen the new Derby Jazz listings yet, take a look!

5th Nov 17

In a few weeks!! @[yana] hits Derby. Grab tickets for The Party...

23rd Nov 17

Today!! The hot, blistering joy that is me, @[Dave Kane], and @[Joshua Blackmore] hit #Derby!! Book on-line (visit the link)

24th Nov 17

Derby. @[Will McGiven]'s set was excellent; the album sounded amazing through @[3 Square Audio]'s speakers; and @[yana] did the best gig we've ever done.

That's right: the best gig we've ever done.

Thanks to everyone who made it down and thus made the night incredible!!

16th Dec 17

If you're in Derby and would like to buy a @[yana] CD from me over the next few weeks, you can (I even take card payments)! Many thanks to everyone who has supported the album so far, and to @[Two Rivers Records]!

17th Jan 18

Thinking about @[Out Front!] work again! If you want to support our work, you can now donate to us via PayPal. Help us bring new adventurous music to Derby!

1st May 18

Almost there with the (infra)structures mapping... here's a peek at Derby Jazz. The area shows the venues they use (although the area it covers is clearly wider - so is this a sensible way of doing this?).

4th May 18

Today: DERBY. We ride!

@[Dave Kane] @[Joshua Blackmore]

13th Oct 18

Going through old photos -- forgot to post this to show the long arm of @[Jazz re:freshed] in Derby earlier this year!

19th Nov 18

Derby people who always say they never see me playing in Derby: I'm playing in Derby twice in December, in the same location.

27th Nov 18

Quick reminder of where I am over the next month: Newcastle, Glasgow, DERBY (twice), Birmingham, London. See you somewhere with my new trolley!

3rd Dec 18

Lovely gig with Mick Beck and Lori Freedman in Sheffield!! Derby tonight, with George Burt on guitar!

4th Dec 18

Fantastic (if quiet) gig in Derby last night!! Lori and I are in at Fizzle in Birmingham today -- would be great to see you there!

5th Dec 18

Lovely gig in Birmingham last night with Lori and Mark! In Derby tonight with the mighty Mick Beck!

1st Feb 19

Spellbinding Leonardo da Vinci sketch collection in Derby Museum!

16th Mar 19

Next week in Derby:

13th May 19

I was able to get to the Pear Tree Library meeting yesterday. These are some notes from the meeting. As far as possible, they will be neutral in tone, and not too descriptive; this is mainly so that they are clear in terms of what was said at the meeting. I have added extra information as appropriate.

The meeting was organised by Sonya from the Mandela Community Centre

Last June, the library was closed for repairs. It has been closed since then. There was a proposal to pay for the repairs but it may have been rejected.

In November, the Council announced that the library was being relocated.

It seems that the Council Cabinet decided on the sale with no further consultation: it was not discussed at the wider council level, and no further consultation with the community, although there was a meeting (but no one could remember when) to tell the community is was happening.

There was no information about the single quote for the roof, or how any of repairs were costed.

Since the library has been closed since last June, and the new proposed library is still not open, this means that there has been no library provision in the Normanton area for almost a year.

This should be alarming to all Derby citizens. According to the Council's own Strategic Review (hence SR), it was the most-needed library section for its catchment area (SR section 6.20). This assessment was based on 1. the building's location in most socio-economically disadvantaged catchment (SR 6.9); 2. the fact that it was the third busiest library (SR 6.12); and 3. that Pear Tree covered a wider catchment area and was used by users outside the library catchment area (SR 6.15)

The challenges we face are:

  • what do we want the building to be? If we are to take the Council at its word (and -- less neutrally -- I do not think that we should) then there will already be "a library" in the Normanton catchment area by 2020. We talked about what the library was used for, and what else could bring in.
  • who should pay for it, and how? If it were decided to acquire Pear Tree as a community-run space, then the community would have to find funds to run it. There were suggestions about possible stakeholders in such a space, and opportunities for access funding for renovation/conservation.
  • how much should the council be involved? This was decided pretty quickly -- any organising group needed to be separate from party political discussions, as this was a community matter. There was a strong feeling in the room that this kind of negligence was an on-going pattern for the council with regards to Normanton/Pear Tree.

From the meeting, we formed an organising group. There are no councillors on that group as it was decided that any campaign should be separate from party political influence. I am not sure of the other names on the group but Sonya is chairing it and has the names.

Currently:

  • there is an application to nominate the library as an Asset of Community Value. If successful, this will delay the sale for six months, which will give us time to plan, raise funds, &c.
  • Sonya is putting together Freedom of Information requests pertaining to the quotes and decision-making processes.
  • We are doing some research into whether the building was a gift to the people of Derby -- this may put it into the same position as Bass Recreation Ground, which could not be sold as it did not belong to the council.
  • There is a petition on Change.org
  • There is also a Facebook Page
  • The organising group is going to try and have a meeting this week.

There is a viewing of the interior today at 12:30p.m. I requested a slot, but no one got back to me; I'll try to head down anyway.

5th Feb 20

Birmingham on Monday London on the Tuesday Salford on the Wednesday Birmingham on Thursday Derby Jazz on Friday Dead on the Saturday Buried on the Sunday Up again on Monday

7th Feb 20

I've resigned as the artistic director of Derby Jazz. Thanks to everyone I've worked with over the last three-and-a-bit years; I'm sorry it couldn't have been longer...

2nd Apr 21

As a needle phobia sufferer, I can say that the staff at Derby Arena were very compassionate. In and out!

6th Aug 22

Headed to Surface Gallery, Nottingham for some live #freeness: Derby's drum trio, Skin & Bone! What improvising gigs are you headed to today?

27th Aug 22

The survey below from @[Derby City Council] is asking for #Derby people to respond to the council's vision for the city centre. Since yesterday, the deadline has now been extended to 12th September.

31st Oct 22

TODAY! Extremely excited to have Paul Dunmall and Miles Levin play in duo formation at @[Deda] tonight #derby #freeness #NewMusic #MusicForSpirits