Links and the stories behind them
A Selection of links that showcase the work of Jenny Soep:
http://www.jennysoep.blogspot.com
- detailing mission to draw contemporary original music scene particularly in Scotland.
http://living.scotsman.com/12903/Where-art-and-poetry-collide.3902529.jp - for the very first proper review I've found of my work.
www.pcps.ik.org/p_Jenny_Soep.ikml - for a page detailing one of the day drawing workshops I did as part of the Big Draw last October/November 2007. This particular school - Port Charlotte on Islay, was one of the most inspiring little schools I came across out of the 14 that I visited. Very contemporary, great atmosphere, creative and very connected to the modern world! They have video conferencing!
www.projectorfest.blogspot.com - details the most fascinating and inspiring residency I had at the Projector Animation Festival. Whether you're an illustrator, writer, actor, story teller, or just mad about animations, comics, film, experimental film + animation, or even just a wee bit mad, you should seek out the next festival - usually end of January in Dundee.
http://www.projectorfest.com/ - details the festival, and you get an overview with closeups of the pictures I drew if you click 'here' from the phrase 'Here for a choice few images' at the top of the page
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/standrews/stanza/vis_after.htm
- recent work from Residency at StAnza Poetry Festival March 2007.
http://www.authorialillustration.co.uk/jsproftext.htm
- Profile and ink illustrations from Masters programme
http://www.carrbridge-arts.co.uk/notes.htm
- for Carrbridge Live 2007 festival lineup and slideshow
http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/usercentre/artwork.asp
- Drawings of the User Group, an Internet Club for Elder people, Dundee University
Photographers
Scotland based:
Andy Wilson – Mr Hudson and The Library, The Parsonage, Deseo, Café Cossachok
http://www.openiris.ukphotographers.com/mrHudson/index.htm
James Cadden – Uncle John and Whitelock Gig 23/12/2006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadd/archives/date-posted/2006/12/23/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadd/ for his online portfolio.
London based:
Greg Neate – Came across Greg through his beautiful photos of Arab Strap.
http://www.neatephotos.com/
http://www.myspace.com/neatephotos
Musicians - Featured
http://www.arabstrap.co.uk
http://www.malcolmmiddleton.co.uk
http://www.aidanmoffat.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/foxfacemusic
http://www.myspace.com/unclejohnandwhitelock
Live Music
Bonny Prince Billy and Harem Scarem, April 2007
This was such a special night. Not having heard either of them before apart from Eilidh Shaw in a ceilidh band, and ‘Bonny’ as Will Oldham fleetingly from my housemate’s collection, I was spellbound for the evening. Haunting, fragile and powerful, this was a really beautiful experience with the multi-talented members of H.S. combining brilliantly with Will Oldham. Inge Thomson’s voice, lyrics and musical abilities were quite stunning coupled with the voice and character of ‘Bonny’. Harem Scarem as far as I know are a collection of musicians from and based in Scotland who all have their own bands, but get together as H.S. to collectively collaborate on inspiring new music that utilises traditional and classic instruments. They were thankfully assisted by an award from the Scottish Arts Council for this brilliant project.
www.bonnieprincebilly.com/
www.myspace.com/ingethomson
The Parsonage: The Valentine Massacre February 10th 2007
Supported beforehand by the haunting vocal talents of Michael ‘Anguish’ from Foxface, this was a really enjoyable, darkly humouristic slant on Valentines Day celebrations. Fifty plus participants took to the floor (couldn’t have fitted anywhere else) in Mono’s, Glasgow on this dark night, and commenced to entertain assisted by conductor Janis formerly of ‘Suckle’. The Parsonage are a non-profit assembly of people passionate about singing and being creative with classics such as Great Balls of Fire and Love Will Tear Us Apart.
I’ve heard they will be coming out with their own compositions soon. Definitely worth going to see, and be part of if you can – they may have stopped allowing people in due to their great size!
www.myspace.com/parsonagechoir
Versaccoustic, the Goat, Glasgow, December 6th
This was an entertaining night, hampered only by extreme Rain, and the fact I was late and missed Pop Up and The Yellow Bentines before hand, who were apparently the most lively performance of the night. James Yorkston I need to listen to again. Some beautiful sounds and lyrics, which translated into the drawings, but like I said. I’ve yet to make an opinion on his work as a whole. His song that he collaborated with Bill Duncan of Dundee ‘A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure’ from that most splendid project ‘Ballads of the Book’ is definitely worth an attentive listen.
Dunstaffnage Music Festival 2006 and
‘Oban, It Ain’t That Far’, Nice N Sleazys, Glasgow, 14th December 2006
How to Swim, Record Playerz, The Yellow Bentines and Johnny and the Debutantes
Great night in preparation for the Dunstaffnage Music Festival this July 2007 which is most definitely worth a visit in a gorgeous part of Scotland, this festival which has matured, grown and added new bigger and brighter musicians as well as supporting local up and coming talent, also features opportunities to play your own favourite tunes in the Stick it On tent if you email your set of 7 to info@dunstaffnagemusicfestival.co.uk
http://www.dunstaffnagemusicfestival.co.uk/
www.muth.co.uk
Fox Face supporting Uncle John and Whitelock, August 2006
One of, if not THE gig of the year - a full day skate event to raise money for Oban's skatepark was ended magnificently by that voodoo style rock belter of a band, Uncle John and Whitelock, supported by the otherworldly tenderness of Foxface and raw madness of The Wallopers. An amazing time had by all in a tardis like village hall in FURTHER than the back of beyond, Easdale island, complete with blazing moonlit night and meteor showers on a slate beach - home of the World Stone Skimming championships no less!
www.myspace.com/foxfacemusic
www.myspace.com/unclejohnandwhitelock
Mr Hudson and the Library, Nice N Sleazy’s Feb 2007
supported by Remi Nicole.
An excellent couple of bands/musicians – Remi’s sweet, funny and empathetic observations on life with great London vocals and attitude. Mr Hudson and the Library were great fun and very entertaining. Very easy to listen and boogy to. Very professional outfit who are getting bigger, brighter, more creative and consistently producing good music. They are part of an initiative to get gigs into alternative venues focusing on libraries.
http://www.myspace.com/getitloudinlibraries
www.mrhudsonandthelibrary.co.uk
www.myspace.com/mrhudson
www.myspace.com/reminicole1
02 Wireless Festival, Leeds, Saturday 24th June 2006
Excellent day spent here. Highlights were the gorgeous liquid-like dancers and music of Goldfrapp, the craziness, costumes and contagious sounds from Gnarls Barkley, the attitude and humour of rap artist Sway, the cheek and sex appeal of artist Pharrell Williams whose hand I got to shake, plus the final lightshow and sounds of the considerably practiced characters of Massive Attack. I apparently missed myself however with DJ Shadow at the other stage/tent which my sister went to see, but there would have been the distinct possibility I would have danced rather than drawn.
www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
Joseph Arthur, King Tuts, Autumn 2005
A fascinating musician/artist who creates some beautiful music and artwork on stage. Had a bit of an attitude problem which somewhat tainted my view on his greatness. I still like what he does though.
http://www.josepharthur.com
Jazz – Makoto Ozone Trio, The Lot, Edinburgh
Got some great pictures from this gig, some of my favourite. The music and musicians were very adept and passionate at what they did. Very enjoyable. I had of course gone to see them because of Clarence Penn the drummer who unfortunately was on maternity leave, though Rodney Greene was a capable replacement.
www.makotoozone.com
http://living.scotsman.com/music.cfm?id=988452006
Jazz – The Sellars Brothers, The Rep Theatre, Dundee, 2000.
One from the archive here, Tony Sellers on Saxophone playing at the Rep. One of my favourite pictures from the start of my intrigue into drawing musicians while they performed live, but reflecting my own personal growing interest in jazz music.
www.jazzdundee.co.uk
www.jazz-in-scotland.co.uk/Sellars%20Brothers.htm
Unique Events
StAnza, Scotland’s Poetry Festival, March
A brilliant four–five day international event celebrating the best of everything poetic, from contemporary dance choreography to politically charged poems, comedy, songs, visual art, and poetry installations on the Reaper, a 100+ year old Herring Drifter fishing boat, last of it’s kind. A truly cross-arts event, with something to inspire the poetry in all of us, taking place every March in St Andrews, a literary capital for Scotland.
I felt very privileged to have experienced and drawn such a diverse, thought provoking and entertaining group of characters and settings. Highlights - having a sip of Mark Strand’s (watered down) whisky, chuckling with Alistair Reid over his arson to his own infamous poem, Scotland, creasing with laughter at John Hegley and Dean Parkin’s performances – flipping hard to laugh and draw at the same time, but all adds to the picture (unfortunately missed Matt Harvey’s performance, but he did a nice drawing for me in his book of poems I bought – incidentally illustrated by David Hughes, one of my favourite illustrators and a hilarious chap too!). Singing sea shanties aboard the Reaper and eating Cullen Skink, roasted chicken and a ‘Pirie Moulie Skaar’ with the resident poet/artists was
also very memorable.
A selection of my pictures are available to see on their website
- http://www.stanzapoetry.org:80/vis_after.htm for my drawings and
http://www.stanzapoetry.org for updates on the festival.
The Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championships, Carrbridge, nr Aviemore, October
Contrary to what you might think, this was a day of non-stop entertainment, from the belly dancers and clowns that wound their way through the Farmers Market and craft tents, the Great Porridge Fun run to the parade through town heralded by The Badenoch & Strathspey Pipe Band and toasted with drams of Caledonian Cream, the Feis Spe Ceilidh Band to the ‘Ready, Steady, Cook!’ type panic of the 3 half hour heats before the finals in traditional and speciality porridge ‘cook offs’.
This really is a unique and very enjoyable day out for anyone interested in good wholesome creative and tasty entertainment in Scotland.
http://www.goldenspurtle.com
The annual Carrbridge Live Festival, September
A five-day festival covering all sorts of performance, music and arts. Highlights for me of this particular festival was the variety and talent of the traditional musicians like Charlie McKerron, Tim Edey and Mark Clement, Gaelic singing and step dance, an array of local up and coming talent on the Musicworx stage, jazz on the Sunday afternoon and the spectacular and fantastical carnival parade on the Saturday night with lanterns, stilt walkers, fire breathers, fire spinners, giant weird and wonderful brightly coloured paper creatures, dragons and fish, all accompanied by brass and deep drum beats of the Samba musicians involved.
http://www.carrbridge-arts.co.uk/live.htm
The Lochgilphead Lantern Festival, Argyll, beginning November
These pictures were drawn November 4th 2006. It was an amazing night and I got 3 drawings from it that I was definitely pleased with. There were 2 Samba bands playing, one was SheBoom, an all woman band based in Glasgow, and the other one which was made up of boys from the Bridge Project, a brilliant and creative initiative from Stoke on Trent to help young asylum seekers from places like Iraq, Kosovo and Sudan. There were also dancing Ice Skaters, a Pipe Band, Wind Chimes, a sleigh with the Ice Queen from Narnia and Edmond in his sleeping gown, led by a troupe of real life Reindeer, and of course not forgetting the actual Lanterns. Obviously a lot of love and attention paid to these transient light sculptures that would not have lasted much longer than this memorable night. After the procession had toured through the streets of Lochgilphead and the appreciate crowds of onlookers, the whole thing culminated in a spectacular fireworks display reflected in the inky black waters of the estuary.
Definitely worth a visit – look out for next year’s – it should be on the Saturday closest to Bonfire night.
The Opening of Kilchrenan Village Hall, Argyll, Dec 04th 2006
I was commissioned to draw at this local event, and be part of two things I feel very strongly about – public creativity and a sense of community. I personally feel that it is the lack of community spirit that is the basis for most of our current problems in society. You need to invest in your community to make it grow and in turn benefit and inspire yourself, as well as in jobs and most importantly in family life. It is our responsibility to make changes whether we live in urban or rural areas.
www.avich-kilchrenan.co.uk
Celtic Connections, Glasgow, January to beginning of February
‘The festival actively promotes (musical) artistic links and cultural exchange across countries, reinforced by Showcase Scotland which last year brought 160 international delegates looking to book Scottish bands for festivals abroad.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Connections
Didn’t manage to be resident artist this year, but it’s definitely a mission for next year.
Something to look forward to and be inspired by in the bleak month after Christmas and New Year.
Deseo Flamenco Group at Café Kossachok, Glasgow
This was a fantastic night - a passionate narrative told through Music, Costumes, Dance and Percussion. Café Kossachok is an authentic, colourful and lively Russian restaurant, art gallery and regular music venue that is very much a part of the Arts and Music scene in Scotland, let alone Glasgow. The co-owner Lev Atlas is an excellent violinist in his own right and if you’re very lucky, you’ll catch one of his performances.
Their new bigger premises will include space for their resident theatre group.
Check out http://www.cossachok.com for the latest updates on exhibitions and gigs.
Arainn Shuaineirt Book Festival, Strontian, Argyll – end of November.
A very entertaining couple of days spent in Strontian with the ceilidh on the Friday evening, music by Mary Ann Kennedy, the Vanden Family and others including a composition inspired by the children’s book character Katie Morag which was introduced by her creator Mairi Hedderwick, one of the entourage doing recitals, readings and workshops along with Ian Banks, Liz Lochhead, and Martin MacIntyre.
http://www.sunartcentre.org
eoghan.Carmichael@highland.gov.uk
Falmouth Oyster Dredger, Cornwall, Season: October - March
Marshall Vinnicombe comes from a large family of the best traditional Oyster and Mackerel fishers in Cornwall. I had the fortune of meeting him in November ‘05 at the infamous Star and Garter pub in Falmouth where a whole bunch of the Falmouth Marine Band were celebrating a couple of 50th birthdays and singing hours worth of Sea Shanties and other old songs – some of them quite un-p.c.!! After managing to get my Scottish penny’s worth of singing (Wild Mountain Thyme and Caledonia to be specific!) into their all male tartan crowd, and doing some quick drawings, I got chatting to Marshall on the local culture. I was very excited to find out he owned and fished from his own 100+ year old traditional wooden working sail boat, and seeing my enthusiasm he very kindly invited me to spend the day drawing on his boat – the second female to be aboard, the first being a woman who owned and raced her own in the Falmouth Working Boat Race (which is an exciting spectacle to be seen every mid-October).
Suffice to say it was a truly fascinating day influenced by a good dose of rain, wind and tides – nearly lost my paints when the boat took a sudden lurch at one point! Marshall also gave me some queenies, razor fish and slipper limpets to steam at home - super fresh fish quickly cooked and eaten – mmm! More pictures are available to be seen on request.
http://www.falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk for updates on events
http://www.england-in-particular.info/goods/g-case3-04.html for information on this age-old tradition
The Fire of Morgan Academy, Dundee, 2001
March 21st 2001 saw the catastrophic fire that destroyed most of Morgan Academy, a beautiful old school that was initially built as a hospital, the rebuilding of which took 3 years. What was so unusual was that a week before had seen the burning down of another school Logie secondary, or The Harris Annexe as it was later called. There is much more information regarding the history of the Morgan, but very little on the ‘Old Logie’ which was my favourite building in Dundee – bleak, oppressive, yet a lot more human and dignified. I felt this was a modern building that had been crippled by it’s geography and perhaps it’s materials as is so often the case with contemporary architecture that was not built to last in the same standards as those of the Morgan Academy ilk.
I have quite a few pictures of the day after and subsequent demolishing of the old Logie, plus four of the burning of the Morgan, which can be seen on request.
