Brighton Friend forms music fundraiser

Live music grows from 'Clap for our Carers' appeals

A Quaker composer and patron of The Leaveners has started a fundraising music group after performing on her doorstep throughout the ‘Clap for our Carers’ appeals. The money raised via a Just Giving donations page will go towards helping musicians who are struggling due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sally Beamish, from Brighton Meeting, started performing with her husband, playwright and actor Peter Thomson, and professional guitarist Arthur Dick during the lockdown as her neighbours clapped for the NHS and carers every Thursday evening at 8pm. The trio are now continuing their doorstep performances to raise money for the Help Musicians UK’s Coronavirus Fund.

Sally Beamish, who plays the viola for the group, told the Friend: ‘The first thing we played was “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” by Irving Berlin. Everyone said: “Are you going to play next week?” so we did, and it just carried on. During the claps, we invited Arthur to come over. It was difficult because he had to socially distance at the bottom of the steps, and he is now in our bubble.’

The group’s repertoire includes ‘a bit of Bach’, as well as songs by Cream, The Beatles, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Elvis and Fats Waller. She added: ‘It’s made me even more aware of the importance of playing live. It’s just not the same as performing online. It is so important to connect and it’s so lovely to be playing to friends and neighbours. Being a performer is all about communicating and playing with each other. It’s very difficult, not being able to make music with other people, but also for communities who come together to sing or perform, and can’t see how they are going to get back on stage and do what they do best.’

Sally Beamish is also composing a piece for Quaker Concern for the Abolition of Torture with text by Peter Thomson.

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