The Leisure Society, performers of one of my favorite indie lullabies,”Inchworm,” is simply an adorable and madly talented band. I just love them to bits. So it is with great excitement that I have pre-ordered their long awaited second release, “Into the Murky Water” (10/31/11). You can order your own MP3 download or CD at Full Time Hobby.

Here’s a preview with the video for “This Phantom Life” on YouTube:

Congrats, TLS! it seems like forever since “The Sleeper” crept into my iTunes.

It’s hard to believe that a year ago today, I was running around like a crazy person finalizing plans for my trip to London for the Indie Lullabies Pyjama Party. Equally unbelievable and grand are all the wonders that sprung from this event. I have met such great people who continue to amaze me with their generosity and creativity. These relationships multiplied into even more connections. As a child who was shy and slow to make friends, I never could have imagined myself ever having friendships that span this entire planet. Goodness does tend to spread, like a snow cone fallen on hot pavement.

Sometimes celebration can be a challenge. Sometimes the occasion may be shadowed by dark grey clouds or nightfall. Our dreams remind us that even with our eyes closed, we can see in the dark. We can find a reason to celebrate. Invent one if we want or need to. With a little thought or a lot of creativity, a reason for gratitude can always be found.

This month of May I celebrate 1 year since I first shared “Sing Me to Sleep” with ears beyond my own, and the positive impact that seemingly simple event has had and continues to manifest in my life.

Stars
These folks have been at it since the beginning of June and won’t stop til November. If you missed them the first time around in your town, check their tour schedule to see when they’ll be back for an encore.

Peter Broderick
See him perform vocals and violin with the amazing danish music collective, Efterklang.

Julie Peel
Jules is playing select dates in England and France. See her newly re-amped site for details.

Dala
Amanda and Sheila have a score of festival and solo shows lined up now through April 2011. Wow.

More show postings to come. Thank you for supporting our artists—and the arts—in your neighborhood.

Wow, what a weekend! We traveled to New York City for our second CD release party this past Sunday, June 13, and friends of ALR, The Valerie Fund and Indie Lullabies took lots of photos and video before, during and after the special event. There’s quite a lot to compile, but here are a few highlights to hold you over:

From the crowd

Julie Peel

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Jenny Owen Youngs

Tanya and three little birds

More coming very, very soon! If you were there and have photos or video to share here, please pass it on.

Photos taken by Kate.

Daylight Pyjama Party at Union Chapel, May 15, 2010

The sun smiled through powder puff clouds that morning in London, despite forecasts of grey and gloom. The stained glass windows of the Union Chapel captured the sun’s rays and tinted them pink, gold and blue before casting them to the floor. When I walked into the scene my gasp reverberated in soft echoes of acoustic perfection. Nothing could have prepared me for this.

As each performer arrived at the church, each head tilted upward toward the light. Musicians from The Real Tuesday Weld and The Leisure Society, who had each played here before, spoke with a reverent hush as they set up their equipment for soundcheck. “I’ve never seen it during the day,” they commented. “It looks quite different.” “Quite lovely.” “It’s something, isn’t it?”

The Daylight Music series at the chapel is a relatively new feature, running since 2009 care of Arctic Circle founder, Ben Eshmade. When Rich Thane of ILL FIT and The Line of Best Fit approached Ben with the our idea of a CD release party for “Sing Me to Sleep,” the Daylight Pyjama Party was born.

People filed into queue outside while we organized the merch table. In lieu of tickets, Rich took donations totaling £428.00 for the NSPCC. Young parents with toddlers and  infants, teens, adults and even seniors shuffled into the chapel at 11:00am, then lined up again immediately for coffee, tea and sausage rolls. Ben nodded at the colorful collection of baby strollers crowding the food and merch area. “I’ve never seen quite this many prams here before.”

The Real Tuesday Weld opened after everyone settled in their pews, starting with original material. Singer Stephen Coates’ use of random flea-market-style props during their performance added a theatrical note of whimsy to their “antique beat” set. Their lullaby,  the quirky “Little Boxes,” was one of the more playful numbers in a performance that concluded with a quaint adaptation of “Singing in the Rain.” Stephen exited the stage holding an open umbrella and catching imaginary raindrops while the band played their final notes.

The Leisure Society followed after a brief break for more coffee, tea and biscuits. The group opened with “Inchworm,” their adaptation of the song first performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film, Hans Christian Anderson. This song has been one of my favorite adaptations on “Sing Me to Sleep” from the very start—it starts sleepy, breaks into a horn and ukele pillow fight in the middle, then falls like a tuckered-out child’s final head nod into dreamland. This got the kids in the first few pews dancing, and even inspired a mini groupie to toddle up the stage stairs and join the band for a split second smile. The twice-Ivor-award-nominated ensemble performed beautifully for the remainder of their set, and won over a score of new fans, including TRTW’s Stephen Coates.

The end of the show came quickly and all the children in the chapel came looking for their free sheep and cow buttons while we sold every last CD, consoling sad faces who wished they hadn’t hesitated earlier. Grateful parents and music fans beamed with grins, offering adjectives such as “lovely,” “wonderful,” “beautiful,” and “a great idea.” It was for some parents just the first stop in a fully-planned afternoon outing of art and music with their kiddos. For me, the very thought of that was the most peaceful lullaby of all.

Photos:

We’re working on an extensive account of our very successful Daylight Pyjama Party celebrating Sing Me to Sleep’s release. In the meantime, here is a lovely videio of The Leisure Society performing “Inchworm.”

If you were at the party, please let us know! It was a pleasure seeing all of you there.