Some (possible) news: A mad thing I might do
It kinda depends on you though.
Hello Dear Reader
I know. Something must be afoot because I’ve never been known for the timely and reliable cadence of my newsletters. But I stand at the precipice of a decision; the edge of the abyss between triumph and disaster; the threshold of ‘YES! LET’S DO THIS!’ and ‘iwantmymum’.
In short, I need to make a decision about something and I don’t know what to do.
Some of you may know that although I might flit across your consciousness as an ageless sylph of songs and laffs, I am in fact quite old now. Next year I shall be even older, fifty in fact. I was always planning to mark this auspicious day but was thinking of something along the lines of a spa holiday in the Cotswolds or a trip to my favourite garden centre but my husband thinks this is dead dull. Ever the optimist, he thinks I should play a BIG London show. So does my agent, and so does an intrepid promoter.
It would not be just any show though. It would be a show to go with the following: the vinyl and bonus CD re-issue of Fires which will be coming out through Chrysalis Records in the spring of 2024, which is big news in itself and something I canvassed you all about last year I think. (See. I DO listen to you.) As such, the show would be me with a full band and strings playing Fires in its entirety (in album running order if you really like a life full of no surprises) and other (almost) hits of mine which you can help choose if you feel like it.
I am still undecided. Not about the vinyl and CD, that’s definitely happening - but a show in a very big venue that isn’t an arena but isn’t downstairs at the Barfly either. That being said, I am only doing four more shows this year (three more in London and the Edge Festival in Wales) and there will be no Christmas Extravaganza. I don’t think I’ll be touring for a few years, at least not until I finish a new record and I haven’t even begun to think about a new one of those, I’m still coming down from Uncle Elton being so lovely about the last one.
I worry about everything. Right now I’m worrying about where butterflies go when it’s raining, what happened to the bat that is in my house somewhere and if Rylan will ever find love again. I’m also worried that we’ll book this big venue for a Saturday night in April 2024 and nobody will turn up, or some of you will turn up but not many and it will be like a replay of that gig at Fibbers in York in 2001 when there were more of us on stage than in the audience. I just want everyone to have a nice time, be happy and nobody lose their shirt.
But there’s also a little part of me (my husband yelling in the background) that says if we’re all gonna die, I made this album years ago that means a lot to quite a few people and it would be sad and very lame of me to chicken out of celebrating how we all came to know one another.
So. I’ve made a little poll. Help me decide, Dear Reader. I would really appreciate it.
With love
Nerina x
Oh. My Word.
It blows my mind how much this album means to you still. If we do this - and I really wasn't sure if there was appetite for this, you have proved me wrong - we are looking at a venue with the following:
- it will be seated because Nana here is also totally over standing at gigs
- it will also be numbered seating I think
- it will be an accessible venue and we will endeavour to make sure that those who need it have the right seats/wheelchair spots etc
- it will be somewhere proper. I'm not sure I'll ever get to do this kind of thing again so I plan on doing it somewhere I can wear one hell of a frock (or even many frocks) and we can do a section of the show where the lights go down and we have a disco ball and it's all theatrical and stuff. (I don't even know what I mean by this but hopefully I'll figure it out by the time I get on stage.)
- we will keep tickets prices as low as possible but please bear in mind that there will be a full band and string section. But don't worry, it won't be anything like the prices all these cheeky chancers charge these days. I just need to make sure that all the musicians, crew and staff etc get paid fairly.
- I love every part of the United Kingdom but sadly it is simply not financially or logistically viable for me to tour this show or do it in a city that isn't London because of travel and hotel costs. I know, I know - I really know, because I don't even live in London! Please forgive me, and really don't take it personally other parts of the UK.
I'm not being lazy but I'm going to cut'n'paste this across the socials because I've been trying valiantly to curtail my time on the old internet and if I start replying properly, you know me, I'll write a blooming essay. I will try and catch up with all messages over the next few weeks, but I have a liner notes deadline, a couple of songs I need to finish for something and my mum-in-law arrives tonight and I haven't hoovered the spare room yet.
I will try to heart every single one of your messages and comments so you know I have seen them. I don't want to get all emotional again but the last 24 hours of all your feedback have made a middle aged mum feel a bit more special than usual on the school run. Thank you one and all.
Now if I go and press the button on this, you lot better show up!
All my love
Nerina xx
I don't think I'm alone in saying that is was Fires that brought me to the Nerina party so I will absolutely be there with bells on. Well, maybe not *actual* bells...