Itunes Festival London - 29th July 08

[Dave]

Hi Jon and Ron,

I think what you said is true, Jon - it is mainly the "big sellers" that ITV seem to be showing, and in pop music terms Hayley wouldn't be considered "big" enough (though I think it's a short-sighted policy). Last year's biggest classical crossover sellers in the UK were Katherine, Andrea Bocelli and Paul Potts, at no. 20, 24 & 26 respectively in the "artist" best selling lists and Hayley sold about one fifth of them.

However, Hayley does put on a very nice show! I've just returned from the iTunes festival and I'm going to leave the details to those who got there early and those who took notes - like Roger who's just posted! But I'll mention a few odd things.

The concert was set up with tables taking up all of the main floor and the HWI early birds got some of the prime ones near the stage. I was a latecomer (as always i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif ) and Martin D arrived at the same time because he'd had to work (unlike me!) but we managed to talk our way onto the "tables" floor and then set about finding any spare seats, not very hopefully. But lucky us, George and Denise had grabbed a table for 4 so Martin and I got a great view too (thanks George & Denise!). There was an overflow into the high balconies, which were not full but there were plenty of people up there.

Playing the first half of the concert was Ahn Trio, three Korean sisters on violin and piano - who played what I'd describe as modern or avant-garde classical or film music - as Roger said not to everyone's taste but certainly an "interesting" experience and they are definitely a very talented trio. I enjoyed most of all the 2 pieces that Michael Nyman was involved in.

After the interval, Hayley (who was the main act, announced as being recorded for iTunes) came on to sing Pokarekare Ana and 5 oops 6 (thanks Roger!) other songs, followed by a break to allow her excellent backing quartet Raven to show their skills. This was the first time I have seen or heard them and i have to say, I was very impressed. It was equally impressive how well Simon Lole played on piano and even more impressive how he managed to conduct Raven too, whenever he had a hand or two off the piano keyboard!

Hayley returned to sing the final 6 songs and although there were clearly not going to be any encores, we certainly had our money's worth! Well, we would have had our money's worth... if the tickets hadn't been free! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Shortly after Roger and a few others had to depart, Hayley peeked her head out of the stage door to say she'd be out soon and indeed, so she was. Complete with a bottle of champagne and four glasses - for a moment, those of us who were still there thought it was our lucky day! But no such luck - the champers was we think for Raven quartet, who by this time were also waiting nearby for Hayley.

Well after a few minutes chat with Hayley, some photos and signing too, we thought we'd better let the girls get on with whatever they intended to do next (Raven were politely straining at the leash by then!) so we left them to it as we wended our way back to the tube station, homeward bound.

All in all a very enjoyable evening and it will be interesting to find out which of the tracks Hayley and her team select for the iTunes download bundle (Hayley said they will choose "tomorrow" (Wednesday). It will be even more interesting for me to discover for the first time just how useless my phone is at taking concert photos. They confiscated my camera while the show was on... but at least the massive doorman who did the dirty deed was nice about it, he handled it very well I thought.

Cheers, Dave

[Stephany]

Hello Roger and Dave,

Thank you very much for your early reports. It sounds like you had a great time. Sorry to hear that you couldn't stay for the after-concert meeting, Roger!
Awww but I'm soooo jealous that you got to see Michael Nyman

Stephany x

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

There was a special moment some four hours before the show for Grant and me. We arrived very early at the venue and met Kathryn from Bedlam Management outside. She told us there were problems with the soundcheck because some of the microphones weren't working, so I suggested that if Hayley wanted a little break and a breath of fresh air...

About fifteen minutes later out stepped a beaming Hayley and we chatted for several minutes until a car arrived with replacement mikes.

Roger has already posted Hayley's set list, so I'll add Raven's:

The Ritual Fire Dance
Gabriel's Oboe
Bartok's Romanian Dances.

I was very impressed with Raven, so I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the autumn.

For 'Both Sides Now' Hayley was accompanied by guitarist Rael Jones who was the spitting image of Brains in Thunderbirds. He even moved like a puppet, although there were no strings attached! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

It was another fantastic evening with Hayley, so I must thank Grant for persuading me to go along.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks so much to Roger, Richard & Dave for your reports of what sounded to be a very good evening. I must say that I wasn't expecting Hayley to perform so many songs, for some reason, I was thinking that she would only perform 3

I was disappointed not to be with you, I was all set to go as you know but I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and in the end decided I wasn't up to going. (Grant, did you get my message ?) On the flip side, while sitting here at home yesterday feeling sorry for myself, I managed to book a ticket for next weeks performance at St james Piccadilly - so now I'm not feeling quite as bad

Looking forward to hearing more about last night and the odd photo if its was possible.

Best wishes
Mark.

[Dean McCarten]

Jul 30, 2008 1:22:38 GMT @roger said:

The complete songlist is as follows:

Pokarekare Ana
Ave Maria (Caccini)
Scarborough Fair
Prayer
Shenandoah
Both Sides Now
Danny Boy

In Trutina
Songbird
May It be
Santa Lucia
Lascio Ch'io Pianga
Hine e Hine

Can't wait for them to be available on iTunes, here hoping songbird is one of them (but I doubt it with songbird is not yet released)

[roger]

Jul 30, 2008 7:57:07 GMT Richard said:

For 'Both Sides Now' Hayley and Raven were joined by guitarist Rael Jones who was the spitting image of Brains in Thunderbirds. He even moved like a puppet, although there were no strings attached! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

How can he play a guitar with no strings attached?

Roger

[daemonbyte]

I thought it was a great night and, even if I didn't get home till nearly 3, it was worth the wait to finally meet her. I was unimpressed with the Ahn trio although they did have their moments but thought Raven were very good so I shall be watching out for them in the future.

I shall check out how well the photos I took came out when I get home but until then I shall have to continue to look awake in work

[grant]

Hello everyone and thank you for your reports and comments so far.

Having checked into my hotel, washed and changed, I took the tube, initially heading for Camden but, as it was quite early, I changed my mind and found myself at Mornington Crescent looking across at KOKO.

This is an interesting old theatre as the following two pics demonstrate.

As I walked down the side of the building towards the stage door, I spotted Kathryn but as she was on her phone I didn't like to disturb her. At first I couldn't see Richard but knew he would be around somewhere (Well, he always is isn't he!?)

Richard was lurking across the road behind a bus shelter and, once we'd exchanged pleasantries, we crossed back to 'chat up' Kathryn. Hayley is already inside and having trouble with her mike as Richard has already explained.

Never backward at coming forward, Richard asked Kathryn if Hayley might be able to pop out to say hello for a few minutes. In the hope that she would, we decided we would wait until 4.15pm and then walk up to the pub to meet up with everyone else as agreed.

We hadn't been waiting very long when the doors opened and there was Hayley. She seemed very happy and pleased to see us and we exchanged pleasantries and chatted for about five minutes.

Whilst we were chatting, a couple of guys arrived with what appeared to be replacement mikes so we said our goodbye's and left Hayley to continue her soundcheck.

Richard and I wandered up towards the Ice Wharf, meeting up with Roger on the way. Once there we were joined by Jim and Irene, George and Denise and new member Daemonbyte, AKA Rob.

Back at the venue by 6pm, it very soon began to look like a repeat of Shepherds Bush, with theatre staff putting up barriers to 'contain' the queue. Several more joined the gathering including Dave, Martin, Colin, Drew, Gordon and Graham.

We are allowed in at 7.30 and, as has already been mentioned, Jim, Dave and I were not allowed to take our 'professional' cameras in. I must have had a suspicion that something like that would happen as I had decided to take my old DSLR, not wanting to risk the 40D!

Another longish wait ensued. We have a reasonable view but the chairs are quite hard. Difficult to make out much of the interior as the lighting was very subdued, but it looked as though it might have been a very grand place at one time.

Roger has already said that we didn't really know what to expect, but I guess we must have thought that the Ahn Trio were Hayley's backing for the evening. Having subsequently seen Raven prior to the concert we were now surprised to see the stage set with places for only three musicians.

So now we know that the Ahn sisters are performing first and they must have done about 45 minutes. Very competent musicians they were, all three sisters having trained at Juliard, but I have to concur that their style didn't sit well with the majority of HWI present. Like Dave, the only two pieces I found remotely tollerable were those with Michael Nyman on piano, that seemed to calm their frantic playing somewhat.

Interval next, and I have to say that for me the time was beginning to drag, probably because my chair was not going to get anymore comfortable anytime soon!

It was close to 9.40pm when Hayley was finally announced and my chair suddenly began to feel more comfortable or perhaps it was the fact that my bottom had finally given up and gone to sleep! Whatever, I soon forgot about my discomfort and settled back to enjoy Hayley's performance.

And what a stunning performance it was. Hayley really is on outstanding form at the moment. Although it was clear from some comments that we heard that some, at least, of the audience had never heard of her, they gave a very appreciate response to each number and I think Hayley was quite pleased as she introduced "May It Be" and asked "Are there any Kiwi's in the audience?" at which a big cheer went up from somewhere behind us. Some of them even from Canterbury.

I was also pleased that when Raven did their short set, one of them actually introduced each piece so we actually knew what it was they were playing.

I had hoped we might get an encore from Hayley but it was not to be so Jim, Dave and I went to reclaim our cameras and wander round to the stage door with everyone else. Actually, there weren't many that weren't with us. It's turning a bit chilly so I was hoping that Hayley wouldn't be too long ........

More photo's later

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Again a very enjoyable reading through the reports - many thanks to Roger, Dave, Richard and Grant.

Grant, I was sure that at least one of our members would catch a few visual memories. Many thanks for the photos.

Cheers, Karsten

[grant]

Hello again everyone!

We didn't have to wait very long. The double doors opened a few inches to reveal Hayley who promised "I'll be out in a few minutes" And she was, wearing her performance dress and carrying a bottle of champers and four glasses.

As I'd already had a chat with Hayley before the concert, I concentrated on getting a few pictures

This last one shows the new dress in a little more detail

I did actually ask Hayley something that I've been meaning to ask her for quite a while and that was "Do you know all 100 verses of Shenandoah?" Hayley responded with a "What do you think?" and then added "something for a rainy day!" We concluded that it would probably take well over an hour to sing were she ever able to remember all 100 verses. Somehow I don't think it will happen!

The rest of my pictures will follow after tea.

Best wishes
Grant

[jimg]

Hi Grant,

Great photos. I wish we could waited but the train would not.

Once again I loved Hayley's performance for me she never disappoints.

The odd thing about the camera rule is that whilst our cameras are not 'professional' we would have been less intrusive than the compacts because we would have used flash. Still rules are rules and they were enforced with tact.

[drew]

Camera Police, I see no camera police.

Oh, there he is, he is Hayleywowed!

Can you blame him.

Both Sides Now

[James]

Thanks to Hayley for another great concert and to my fellow HWI members for their company for the evening.

I was also impressed by the Raven Quartet and look forward to seeing more of them on the tour.

Great photos of Hayley both before and afterwards Grant. It's a shame that "professional" cameras were not allowed in but at least you have captured shots of Hayley in her new dress.

I was able to take my small camera in and did my best to get some pictures. Here is a full uncropped photo to show the dress as best I can (apologies for the bloke in the way):



Then I have cropped a few other pictures to show Hayley and I apologise for the graining:







Here's a rare one of Hayley with her eyes shut but it captures the dress best




A few pictures of the Ravens to follow later.

[grant]

Hello again everyone

Thanks for your pictures James. Here are a few more from me

For most of the ten minutes or so that I was snapping away, Hayley appeared oblivious to the fact that I was there. Then she shares a moment like this with one of her beautiful smiles.

Kinda puts the icing on the cake

That's all folks!

Best wishes
Grant

[drew]

It would appear that there was at least one pro camera allowed in the theatre.

www.flickr.com/photos/gregorynolan

Please respect the copyright.