Playing Live
Back in 1998 & 1999, I fulfilled a lifetime dream of playing live. I performed three small lunchtime concerts at the Richard Attenborough Centre in Leicester. Here is the program from my first concert, notes from my songbook and the opening song. There are also other songs from my second and third concert in 1999.
Story of the First Concert
I thought you might like to see some video footage of me playing live at my first concert.
To set the scene…
It’s October 1998. I’d waited so many years to be well enough to play live and this is my first concert. It was actually the first time I’d sung at a concert since I was at school – more than 15 years before!
I was also completely on my own. I’d never sung with a microphone before and I wondered how my voice and stamina would hold up. Added to that, it was a lunchtime concert so people would be milling around just a few feet in front of me. I was worried this would be off-putting for me.
It was very scary!
But everything was fine. More than fine. It was magical. All those years of practicing had paid off. I wasn’t put off by the people. My voice held out. Listeners loved it. And I achieved a long-held and cherished dream – to play my music live!
Some people to look out for…
There’s Mum on the right, near the pillar. My brother Richard – who is moving around on the left in a green shirt – is on sound. And you might spot musician and composer Philip Herbert – who auditioned me to play at The Richard Attenborough Centre – speaking to my brother and checking everything is ok.
To open the concert, I chose the upbeat track Anyone But Me to banish the nerves and get my guitar arm going. This song is actually Track 2 on Breathe – my debut album.
Click below to watch the video. You’ll see this is analogue footage and there is not a digital pixel in sight. I hope you enjoy going back in time with technology!
Live in 1998 - First Concert Opening Track
I know my speaking is a little hard to hear. Here’s what I said!
“I believe the microphone is on. Hello everybody. For people that don’t know me, my name is Ruth. I’m going to sing you a few songs that you’ll know and some that you won’t know because they’re my own songs. And I think I’ll start with one of those, it’s called Anyone But Me.”
Here are more live videos from 1988 & 1999
To find out the stories behind the videos, here are the links for Take Me Dancing and In The Light Of Faith The final video is Breathe, live in 1999 - one of my all-time favourites.
Please remember, this is old footage and there is not a digital pixel in sight!