It’s about time I started doing this properly

24th July 2010

I, Vivienne Frances Murrell do hereby vow that I shall post new information detailing the progression of life as Me, on this very website, once weekly. I promise to do my best to deliver this in a style which entertains and enlightens… Amen.

I recently had the honour of being asked to play the BBC Introducing show at Skegness Embassy Theatre as part of SO Festival. BBC Lincs have been all over it this last week, and you may have bothered to tune in / listen again to me chopsing on Wednesday afternoon from the comfort of the building site at tea break (I couldn’t make it in to the studio as requested).

So I arrived late. This is standard Murrell. Never so late it would be deemed catastrophic, but late all the same. This time it was the fault of a) The campsite I had chosen to book for next week being fully booked and therefore having to spend further minutes trawling t’interweb and making calls. And b) caravans doing 37mph on the A158.
I needn’t have worried because everything was pretty chilled when I got there and I don’t even think I was the last to arrive.

Even though soundchecks weren’t til 4ish and the show not until 7, we had to arrive by 1 due to the roads being closed on the seafront for the festival. So there was a lot of sitting around to be done, which I always relish, I do love a good sit. In the photo of the glam dressing room at The Embassy, you may note the things I had to keep me entertained. From left to right: Guitar, Bag containing a change of clothes and a Big Issue I bought 2weeks ago and still hadn’t read, but couldn’t put in the recycling til I’d got my money’s worth, Book, Flimsy plastic cup of hot brown liquid.
I did wander off after soundcheck to sample a traditional local delicacy known as Chips. (When in Rome…)

I took to the stage second, after The Limits (a lovely bunch from Peterborough) at 7:20 for my allotted 20-24 minute set. The Limits managed to get 6 songs in, but after just 3 of my own I was informed I had just 5 minutes remaining, so only managed a further one song. I don’t know why all my songs are so long.
We’d been told that over 1000 tickets had been booked, but I’d say the actual number was more like 5 or 6 hundred. An eclectic bunch, to say the least, but receptive and audibly appreciative. You can listen again HERE.
After my set, The Lounge Crusade, Elliott Morris and finally, Lost Souls took to the stage whilst I was interviewed by the lovely Oli from BBC Lincs. (It has come to my attention after hearing my speaking voice back a few times this week that I sound a) northern and b) like a man. I also speak very fast. Which is strange because I sing slowly. Maybe that’s why the songs are so long…) I also spent quite a while loitering with intent in the foyer, flogging CD’s. This direct approach produced a good result and yielded enough to not only cover my petrol for the day, but will also fund a tent pitch for 4 nights next week.
I am looking forward to my week of solace. There will be no Tweeting, no Facebooking, hopefully no mobile signal and no-one to talk to. Ahh, ME time. I hope to return to you with at least ONE new song. I’ll tell yer all about it.