Calling all musicians . . .

Saturday 20th August is West Mersea Town Regatta Day and last year the first ever 'Regatta Song and Dance' event was held on the Coast Road car park, providing free, family-friendly, land-based entertainment between the end of the Watersports and the start of the prizegiving and subsequent firework display.

The brainchild of Regatta Commodore Chrissie Westgate, Song and Dance 2010 was a huge success, with Coast Inn Session musicians joining forces to create 'The Regatta Ceilidh Band' for the Ceilidh.

To further enhance what will already be a much upgraded 'experience' for the punters this year (more local crafts and nautically-themed stalls, more sideshows, more purveyors of food and drink, etc) we are looking for musicians, solo or in groups, who fancy taking the stage (and it will be a real stage this time) for an informal half-hour (or even 15 minute) acoustic slot.

Very light amplification will be OK, so long as the basic overall effect is acoustic (we have promised the Regatta Committee that the afternoon's entertainment will not clash or compete with the Watersports commentary - they were there first, we are the new kids, so must fit in around the existing arrangements).

The Song and Dance proper kicks off with the children's dancing display at 5 pm, followed by the Ceilidh at 5.30.  So we're looking for people to fill informal half-hour slots from midday onwards.

I have a timetable and a few slots are already booked but there are still plenty to spare (despite what you may have read in Mersea Life Magazine). So if you would like to have a go, or know anyone else locally who would, please drop me an email, or see me at the Session.

Any genre of singing and playing is welcome. Or dancing. Or juggling. Or magic. Or fire-eating. Or indeed any other kind of entertainment. It doesn't have to be nautically themed and you don't have to dress up as a pirate (unless you want to!) The only stipulation is that it must be strictly 'family friendly', so no post-watershed or otherwise 'inappropriate' lyrics please.

Regatta Song and Dance is a 100% community event, by the community for the community. No-one gets paid - it's all done for fun and love and in celebration of our island's unique ambiance. Do come and join in.

Look forward to being overwhelmed by volunteers very soon!

Juliet

PS - the Session email list is looking rather out of date. If you are a regular or occasional Session musician and didn't receive an email about this, please drop me a line with your contact details and I'll add you to the list.