The climax of the Birmingham Artsfest, 2005, was to be an extravaganza called 'The Big Voice'
"Up to 1000 singers will descend on the city, proceeding by candlelight along the streets and canals into the heart of the city centre, ending in Centenary Square, when all the 1000 voices will be singing in harmony.

The procession will be split into four groups, with each group following a different route into the city centre, passing through Broad Street, Corporation Street, the Bullring and the Mailbox, until they finally come together in Centenary Square."

Whilst the choir was running around Birmingham City Center, singing some silly hymn, there was a performance in Centenary Square - the idea was for the choir to return and join in with the different types of bands who were playing the hymn.

We were one of those bands. Along with a jazz band, an orchestra, and all sorts of competent musicians - each group would play the hymn three times, and the final time another group would join in, and then take over.

So far, it sounds great, right? A fantastic end to a wonderful Arts Festival.

Unfortunately, we hadn't bothered to learn the song, so we greeted thousands of people in Birmingham City Center with a deafening wall of Sonic Youth style noise. I was jumping around scraping a lighter up the fretboard whilst slapping wildly at the strings.

They still paid us.
( Leningrad, Thu 29 Jun 2006, 14:24, closed)