(Photo Copyright: Amy Wragg 2024 - At Wolsey Scratch Night)
In years past I would traditionally pause all regular gigs for August as I would often be away working at a whole bunch of festivals across the UK, producing stages, art liaison-ing, performing, decorating and generally running away to live in the fields & woods.
Summer 2024 has been a joyful mix of plotting & planning & learning, with the odd festival thrown in for good measure, and loads of performing. The balance shifted this year, and I have been taking the stage more often. Its been an utter joy to makeart with my husband Ric Hardacre, who is an exceptionally talented electronic musician & producer in his own right. Fjorten is the name of his ambient music project, combining analogue tech like cassette players, with his own ‘found sounds’ (e.g. the dawn chorus in the woods).
I’ve been reading furiously, writing and thinking (a lot) about feminism and gender equality, so my most recent poems explore this subject: ‘The Question’ was inspired by the Man Vs Bear viral moment, and ‘Too Much’ was provoked by how the same characteristics can provoke different responses depending on gender.
Fjorten & myself collaborated on a 15 minute performance, featuring these two poems, and his partially improvised electronic soundscapes. The first time was at the legendary Klinker Club, an incredibly supportive event that consciously embraces artists taking risks & pushing boundaries. Its always refreshing not to be the weirdest person in the room, and I say that with joy & love! This is why our new collaboration was debuted at this event, in the equally brilliant & quirky Cuppa Cafe (Felixstowe). Sarah has created a magnificently cosy corner of the unusual in her gorgeous cafe, do visit it when you get the chance.
We were then delighted to be invited to the New Wolsey, to perform the piece at their Scratch Night (upstairs in the pretty cafe bar lounge). I had seen this event kicking around Ipswich, but had never managed to attend in the past, so it was rather special that my first experience was being on the bill. The event consisted of 4 new short performances (under 15mins) by East Anglian artists, a comedian, theatre makers, music, and myself & Fjorten. The audience were also invited to submit feedback, so that was a unique experience! (Lots of great comments too, which was heart-warming).
The next collaboration between Fjorten & Amy Wragg will be at the Woodbridge Ambient Music Festival on Saturday 21st September, so please check out their website and come along if you can. This is an independent (unfunded) event that is beautifully curated by Jan Pulsford, and tickets are affordable too. We will be doing something completely new together, (along with the existing piece) This will be led by Ric’s interest in recording the various sounds of water, and even we’re not sure what it will be yet! Stay tuned…