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Music & Circus ‘Round Here

Presented by Culture Weston as part of ‘Round Here – a new Historic England and Live Music Now project celebrating high street heritage and pride of place through unique music collaborations in the community.

This was a musical celebration with the premiere of a co-created, community song inspired by Weston-super-Mare high street and followed by a fusion of local and international music. We also offered have-a-go-at-circus workshops taking place with Circomedia throughout the event.

This was a free event, welcoming everyone.

Visitors to Weston-super-Mare’s town centre on Saturday 16 July were amongst the first to hear a brand new song inspired by the high street, named Weston-super-Mare (Dancing Above the Sea), and performed live by some of those who helped to compose the piece.

Co-created by professional musician Tara Baggott, local schoolchildren and residential care home residents, the public premiere of the piece took place at the head of the high street in an area known locally as Big Lamp Corner – where a new bandstand co-designed by internationally-acclaimed artist Morag Myerscough and the Weston community is due to be installed this Autumn.

Over two months, Tara Baggott, a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) music specialist, led weekly Live Music Now sessions in Weston with students from Baytree School and Herons’ Moor Academy and residents at Acer House Care Home to co-create a unique musical composition for the town. Tara was supported by young emerging musician William Crawford, who lives in Weston and attended Westhaven School and Weston College.

The music was premiered in a showcase performance for the public at 2pm on Saturday 16 July, with appearances by jazz swing duo Hopkins & Oliver and singer-songwriter Holly Carter. French brass band, Super Panela added an international flavour to the day, with their upbeat afro-colombian sounds guaranteed to be a hit on the high street. Plus we enjoyed an afternoon of family entertainment that raised shopping trips to new heights, with lots of circus antics from Circomedia to try our hands (or feet) at!

Here’s a wonderful short film by Nick Sutton that illustrates the day:

Weston-super-Mare is one of six High Street Heritage Action Zone communities across England selected for the ‘Round Here project, working with professional musicians and young, emerging talent and drawing upon local people’s thoughts, experiences and memories to create unique musical compositions for individual areas.

The new, musical pieces was showcased live as well as being produced into a series of music videos curated by a young digital creative to celebrate the secrets of the heritage in our high streets.

Fiona Matthews, creative director at Culture Weston, said: “You never know what you’re going to find on Weston’s vibrant high street – here young people from Baytree School and Herons’ Moor Academy joined forces with older residents from Acer House Care Home to share their new song about Weston that encapsulates the perspectives of young and old alike. Thanks to Historic England for enabling this unique contribution to the Heritage Action Zone activity, and to Live Music Now for their musical expertise.”

Lead image by Mark Gray @r011erb0y