Last night I went to see British Sea Power (again!)
Someone I work with had bought tickets for him and his friends to see them at Rugby Library, and some of his friends couldn't go, so he offered me and mine the two tickets! It's a bit of a trek from where I live, but it had to be a resounding YES... so after work yesterday I toodled over to Rugby in my magic bubble car (actually it was far more boring than that, using the A14 and M6) and enjoyed my first gig ever in a public library.
As many people will know, in the UK there are serious threats to the funding for public libraries, and there is an organisation called Get It Loud In Libraries, who have been around for a while, who organise and promote gigs in libraries. British Sea Power are one of the latest bands to join their roster, doing gigs last night at Rugby, and tonight at Westminster Library in London. With lyrics such as '
The show was fantastic, the people, as always, were great, and I bought even more merchandise! I couldn't resist the Heron Addict bag (I already have the t-shirt) and I also bought another mug.
The setlist was just about the same as the Cambridge gig, and once again the sound was fantastic - when they start a song there is so much power to it that you can barely believe they are creating all that sound on stage. It is breathtaking.
AND...Christopher Laird will be presenting the British Sea 'Power Hour' on RadioNowhere on Monday 14th March at 9pm UK Time - don't miss it!!
There is something quite magical about watching a band surrounded by precious books, in a setting that exemplifies for me what is so important about social justice. I don't use my public library as much as I should, but at particular times in my life I have relied on libraries a great deal - when I was unemployed, and periods when I was short of money, I used the library all the time. I am a probably a bit more comfortable (and complacent) these days with internet access at home and a bit more cash to buy books when I want them, but at other times in my life, access to (truly unaffordable) computers, books, CDs, DVDs, and newspapers has been a huge influence and very welcome resource. I have discovered so many new authors without having to spend any money at all - that sounds like a pretty good deal. We should truly treasure our libraries - I know I'll be visiting mine more often and re-living that excitement of seeing thousands of books that could all be mine (even if only for 4 weeks at a time!)
