Hello my wonderful followers and welcome to my latest blog. 

“Jubilee celebrations + entertainment galore = Amazing experiences for everyone”

Whether you are pro-royalty or anti-royalty, you cannot ignore a good celebration at this time in the UK. And you most certainly could not have ignored the celebrations of the 70th Jubilee of the British Monarchy for 2022. If you did, then you missed an amazing bringing together of every community in the country and it was so needed after two years of lockdowns.

As a singer, all I can say is “OMG, did I get to sing this weekend? Yes. Yes, yes.” Granted I did not sing all my own penned songs. In fact, I sang a majority of cover songs that I felt would bring people out of themselves and dance along. But singing covers never really bothers me, and I can talk about that in another blog. But after 3 years, almost, of not being able to do a full weekend of music, I managed to do 5 events over 3 days and it was AWESOME!!. 

It was a joy. It was a "True June of joyful joy!" Try saying that quickly.

What makes me musically happy?...

There have been many things I have missed about performing. Not the set up or the set down. Haha. Surprised I bet! No, not the set list or the joy of remembering lyrics. I have possibly about 3000 songs of lyrics in my head, stored away, ready to be reused for another event.  It's a joy to remember lyrics like a puzzle. But no, no. That isn't what made me happy. 

The thing I loved the most and what makes me the most happiest is meeting people who have come to be entertained. And that is what I do. I get to witness people who have put together communities through food and entertainment and a joy of just spending time together as a community. And it is wonderful to see and be a part of and be made to feel a part of that community. And let me tell you, this weekend, I have felt a part of every single community that I have sung for. I got to entertain them. And what I love the most when I do this is when that community responds, whether that is an applause, they talk to me or sing along or dance along, whatever it is that communication from them with me means everything. 

At the Lowfield Inn, in Marton, Shropshire, the first venue I sang at over the weekend, I did a full acoustic set. I sat outside. And I sang songs in the sunshine. I laughed with people I'd never met before. I laughed with people who I'd known for years but had not seen for years. And I told a few bad jokes. (I'm not usually good at telling jokes) But I gave my all to those outside the weather was glorious. 

Was I nervous? First outdoor summer gig and over 12 months.? Yes,  Yes, I was. I decided I'd put into a poem my wonderful experience of the Jubilee 2022 as a singer, rather than trying to explain how amazing it made me feel.

Jubilee 2022 and Me

As a singer musician it's hard to explain,

For 3 years I've tried so hard not to complain.

I've not had the right to go out singing a tune,

Or help people join in with a song that is new.

Not even an old hymn or two!

I've waited and waited for my life to begin,

And at one point I genuinely nearly gave in.

But for me not to sing, it's like saying don’t you breathe,

For me not to entertain. my heart will stop beating

And so I know that I had to hold in my mind,

The day I would sing again for mankind.

Then a celebration designed by a monarch and engendered by all.

Brought celebrations that got everyone to the dance floor.

And I sang and I sang and every person joined in.

It's all okay now.

Let the party begin.

And just like that, 3 years of silence have gone.

And I can sing peacefully and be one with God.

That is genuinely how I feel. Like everything that was before has now gone, that I can finally start singing again, start writing my songs and getting them out there again, start singing covers again, start entertaining people again and just basically getting to have fun because that is what singing is all about. 

And so, yes, it is time to go back out and sing my heart out again. 

And I hope you'll come and find me somewhere in the UK. 

Many blessings to you all. 

Cathy Beech.