Composers

**FREE FOR MEMBERS OR SIGN UP WHEN YOU ARRIVE** Hello music enthusiast, We're excited to invite you to our Songwriting Class held right here in the heart of musical Camden every Saturday at 2 p.m! Whether you're a budding songwriter or just looking to explore your creative side, this class is designed **for people under 30s and all skill levels.** Come be a part of our community!!! No matter your background or experience, all are welcome. Let's turn your musical ideas into real songs! If you want to know more information, text or call Thomas: 07310801741

BOOK YOUR TICKET 👉🏼 [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/comedy-for-singles-tickets-1984710307958) Calling all single people! Tired of swiping left? Ghosted one too many times? Wondering if your soulmate is just bad at texting? We’ve got the perfect solution… LAUGHTER! Join us **Saturday 14 March** for a night of laughter, connection, and plenty of banter for single people who are ready to laugh their way to romance! Featuring a lineup of hilarious comedians who know all about the ups and downs of dating, this event combines sharp wit, relatable humour, and a great atmosphere to break the ice. If you're looking for your next love interest and a memorable night out, this is the perfect place to enjoy a good laugh and meet new people who share your sense of humour. Expect great stand-up, ridiculous dating horror stories, and maybe—just maybe—some eye contact with a cute stranger across the room. 👀💘 So join us for the funniest night out for all the fabulous, unattached, and ready-to-mingle folks! 🚀 📍 **The South Kensington Comedy Club (upstairs in the function room of the Hoop and Toy pub)** ⏰ **Doors open at 8.30 pm - Show starts at 9pm ️** 🎟️ **Tickets at the door upon availability** Bring your single friends or come solo—either way, we promise you won’t leave feeling alone!

**\*You will need to purchase a ticket in order to attend this event - click** [HERE](https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/songs-of-transcendence-histories-of-becoming) **to book or see below\*** Join us at Milton Hall Concert Hall in the Barbican as the LGBTQ+ Fourth Choir celebrates notable trans figures, past and present, with a programme of historical and contemporary a cappella music, showcasing a number of works by trans composers & others. The Fourth Choir is London's LGBTQ + chamber choir for advanced singers. They focus on performing great choral works from early music to contemporary choral masterpieces. The choir was formed in September 2013, and their aim from the outset has been to represent the LGBT + community on London's world-class classical music scene. You can check out their website here:- [https://www.thefourthchoir.com](https://www.thefourthchoir.com) **PROGRAMME** * Clemens non papa *Ego Flos Campi* * Bussewitz-Quarm *Nigra sum* * Ravel *Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis* * Janequin *Le Chant De Oiseaux* * Tara Mack *The Risk of Birth* * eden ahbez (arr. Adenroth) *Nature Boy* INTERVAL * Mari Isabel Valverde *Darest O Soul* * James Oppenheim (arr. Rebecca Dale) *Bread and Roses* * Jake Runestad *Let Our Love Be Heard* * Jamie Moffat *The Hour and The Clime* * Courage Barda *Give orange me* * Pax Ressler *Hope is a Thing with Feathers* * Joanna Forbes L’Estrange *How Do You Keep the Music Playing* * Mia Makaroff *Butterfly* The Fourth Choir Jamie Powe - Conductor **TICKETS** Tickets for this concert can be booked here:- [https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/songs-of-transcendence-histories-of-becoming](https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/songs-of-transcendence-histories-of-becoming) Tickets cost £15-£28 with good availability at the time of writing. I'm sat in the Circle, seat A13 if anyone wants to sit nearby. **SOCIAL** After the concert we'll look at heading off for a drink or two (venue TBC).

So the eighteenth [Musical Comedy Awards](https://www.musicalcomedyawards.com) competition has begun! The top 44 musical comedy acts have been selected from online entries and are battling it out in the heats and semi-finals at The Phoenix through to the Grand Final at The Bloomsbury Theatre on Friday April 10th. Come along for amazing Saturday afternoons of musical comedy entertainment and vote for your favourite acts to progress through to the next round! Semi-final 1 will be headlined by Mitch Benn! Mitch is not only one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit, but is widely acknowledged as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country. On TV, Mitch appeared regularly on BBC1's "The One Show" as the writer and arranger of "The Complaints Choir". Mitch contributed occasional songs to Channel 4's "Bremner Bird And Fortune". He has also appeared on "The Last Word" for More4, "Gas" for Channel 4, "Live at Jongleurs", "The Warehouse" and "Today With Des & Mel" for ITV, "The Comedy Store" for Channel 5, "The World Stands Up" for Paramount and "Raymaan Is Laat" for Dutch TV. * 'Held the audience totally captivated' \*\*\*\*\* (ThreeWeeks). * 'Anyone who likes music, hates Simon Cowell and likes learning new things will love it' \*\*\*\* (Chortle). Join us at this one show for £10/ticket, or at all 6 of them with a massive discount of £37.50 by purchasing a £22.50 Phoenix Pass, at [https://www.wegottickets.com/musicalcomedyawards](https://www.wegottickets.com/musicalcomedyawards)! The 12 acts competing in this first semi-final will be: * Dru Cripps * Danny Garg * Aalex Mandel-Dallal * Tom Veck * Katie Hand * John and Christian * Jonny Bennett * Will and Noah * Abi Sharp * Becky Goodman * Jonathan Rippon * Eoghan Collins Now in its 18th year, the WeGotTickets Musical Comedy Awards is an annual competition to support, promote, expose and celebrate the best emerging musical comedians in the UK. If you are a fan of musical comedy acts such as Tim Minchin, Flight Of The Conchords and Flo & Joan, you'll love this show! Our official patron since 2025 is Bill Bailey MBE. Over the years, the MCAs have provided a launch pad to now established and emerging stars of the genre such as Frisky and Mannish (2009 Finalists), Abandoman (2010 winners), Rachel Parris (Runner Up 2012 and star of The Mash Report), Mae Martin, Jazz Emu, Katie Norris and many more. The MCAs have created a thriving independent platform to celebrate the artform that is musical comedy. Other acts that have featured as headliners in our shows include David O'Doherty, Bo Burnham, Rubberbandits, Mitch Benn, Jay Foreman, Pippa Evans, Tom Basden, Isy Suttie, Ginger & Black, Earl Okin, Flo & Joan, Wilson Dixon, Jo Neary, Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer, Sarah-Louise Young, Adams & Rae and many more. [RSVP on the Facebook event](https://www.facebook.com/events/889811717072409/)

**eCommerce & marketing course in London. Build your online store free. By Getshop Today, Tide Bank & Temu. In-person expert training.** This isn't just a course. It's a launchpad and Opportunity. Learn how to build and market an online business, and if you decide to move forward, we'll set everything up for you - at no cost. **Who's Teaching This?** The people behind this course actually built the tools you'll use: * **Getshop Today** \- a UK\-based eCommerce platform that builds your independent online store * **Brand Backie** \- an AI marketing tool that helps you promote your products We're not just instructors. We built the technology. **In official partnership with:** * **Tide Bank** \- providing smart banking solutions tailored for new eCommerce businesses\. * **Temu** \- unlocking complimentary Temu shop access for 12–18 months to accelerate your launch\. **Two Afternoons. Real Results.** **Day 1 \- Saturday\, 4\-7 PM \| Intro Training** Learn the foundations: how online stores work, dropshipping vs. selling your own products, multi-platform selling, and how to market effectively. Includes live demos. At the end, you choose whether to take up the **Opportunity**. **Day 2 \- Sunday\, 4\-7 PM \| Implementation Masterclass** For those who join the **Opportunity** only. We go deeper - advanced setup, marketing strategy, and a step-by-step launch plan. We start building your store live. *** **The Opportunity** By the end of Day 1, you’ll decide whether to take the leap. If you’re in, we’ll help you open a Tide business account right then and there - equipping you with the legal and financial foundation to launch and run your store immediately. This unlocks 2 Options for you: **Option 1 - Sell Your Own Products** We build your independent store, set up your Temu seller account, and train you to manage and market everything using Brand Backie. ✅ 12 months free independent online store ✅ 18 months free Temu shop ✅ Full marketing training **Option 2 - Dropshipping** We build your store and integrate it with eBay and TikTok Shop, then train you to market and scale across platforms. ✅ 12 months free independent online store ✅ 12 months free Temu shop (no dropshipping here) ✅ eBay & TikTok Shop integration ✅ Full marketing training *** **What You Get** Proprietary UK-built technology, 12–18 months of tools for free, multi-platform setup, and direct access to the founders. A real business, built from day one - not theory. **Bring your laptop. Basic computer skills needed. Arrive on time** \- sessions are step\-by\-step and build on each other\. **Spaces are limited. Register now!**

**Update: full for drums, bass, guitar, piano, 2 of 3 spots taken for lead instruments (sax, trumpet, violin, flute)** *Please only sign up if your instrument (or vocals) is not indicated above as full for this session.* full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat Mar 14)** * Fly me to the moon in C (warm up) (Scott Hamilton) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhIapeq7GBU * On Green Dolphin Street in Eb (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGVdAlxlp18 * Moanin' in Fm (Chad LB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQm1kE41os * Doxy in Bb (Davis, Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWreJOSbIQQ Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sun Mar 22)** * Sonnymoon for two in Bb (warm up) (Sonny Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCzV9PxGS30 (can attempt the solo breaks) * Lucky Southern in D (tricky - try slower than recording) (Airto) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1paQjjbP0 * Maiden Voyage in D (Herbie Hancock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWC5x9G45yo * Moonglow in G (Dizzy Gillespie) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaJqyezOo_s **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

Come and play Chamber Music at my house on Sunday March 15th; Time as suits between 2:15pm and 9:30pm Please include instruments and expected times in your response, and follow the following requested precautions when coming: Attendance requirements: Please do not come if you are unwell or if you know you were recently exposed to people with Covid or flu. Suggested standard is AB grade7 or NVQ level5 to professional, but in the end the ability to play with others is more important than instrumental technique I provide the following: Up to six playing spaces for groups of up to 12, 8, 6, 6, 6 and 3, respectively. One of the six-person playing-rooms has a carefully-chosen Steinway model B which will be available from about 5:45. Other rooms provide a Clavinova CLP575, a Clavinova 625, and an A415 harpsichord (all in different rooms). I have violins, violas, cello and a friend's 3/4 double bass available to play for multi-instrumentalists who do not wish to carry too much (please check before coming). I have a decent library of chamber music mostly for strings and for strings and piano; and in practice at least one wind player usually comes equipped with appropriate music (I will provide warning to winds should this ever not be the case). As this is my private home, details of the location will be emailed by early Sunday to those who have already signed up. Please confirm instruments, chosen timing and the attendance requirements You will see that available playing times are very long - and I can extend until 10:30pm if appropriate. The intention is to allow us to space out and to minimise infection risks - as well as to give multiple pianists access. Please bring a music stand (let me know if this is difficult or impractical, as I can provide a limited number). There will be beverages and biscuits. I have revised the anonymous contribution arrangement - it is now a rectangular tin on the high side in the kitchen. Please give if you can - we sometimes have insurance costs to cover as well as basic meetUp subscription; any surplus (wishful thinking so far) will be used to help extend the music library The list of signed-up players (by instrument and with timing) is now in the comments below; I will try to keep this reasonably up to date I have probably omitted things you need to know. Please ask. (Ditto apparent errors) Looking forward George

**Update: full for all instruments and vocals** *Please only sign up if your instrument (or vocals) is not indicated above as full for this session.* full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex downstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat Mar 14)** * Fly me to the moon in C (warm up) (Scott Hamilton) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhIapeq7GBU * On Green Dolphin Street in Eb (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGVdAlxlp18 * Moanin' in Fm (Chad LB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQm1kE41os * Doxy in Bb (Davis, Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWreJOSbIQQ Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sun Mar 22)** * Sonnymoon for two in Bb (warm up) (Sonny Rollins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCzV9PxGS30 (can attempt the solo breaks) * Lucky Southern in D (tricky - try slower than recording) (Airto) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1paQjjbP0 * Maiden Voyage in D (Herbie Hancock) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWC5x9G45yo * Moonglow in G (Dizzy Gillespie) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaJqyezOo_s **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

**We will be at The Mitre pub in central Greenwich.** This meetup is free and casual. We just sit around for a few hours and write together. Bring a laptop, or use a pen and paper or clay tablet and stylus if that's what works for you. The structure of the session is roughly: 2pm: chat 2:20–3:25: writing time 3:25: chat/coffee break 3:40–4:45 writing time 4:45: chat But our Saturdays are very casual, so feel free to drop in and out. **This is usually in the meeting room at the Mitre. If you arrive a bit later, you may need to ask the bar staff to show you through to the room.**

Join us for an Ecstatic Dance & Cacao Ceremony! A Celebration of Dance Music that Opens the Heart! Awesome Dance Space & Sound System! ECSTATIC DANCE LONDON presents: MY ECSTATIC ODYSSEY - an evening of Euphoric & Uplifting Dance Music \*PLUS\* Cacao Ceremony & Fruit Social! Ecstatic Dance London - Pioneers of the Ecstatic Dance scene in the UK since 2009 are super thrilled to be offering their 17th 'My Ecstatic Odyssey' event on Sat, 14 March, 2026 - 7pm-9:45pm! "Devoted to all those lovers of electronic dance music!" **Tickets and more info:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984580088468?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984580088468?aff=oddtdtcreator) **📝Sign up for updates & discounts:** [https://ecstaticdancelondon.myflodesk.com/we-are-london](https://ecstaticdancelondon.myflodesk.com/we-are-london) You are warmly invited to join us for our freestyle, expressive dance & moving meditation sessions. This is a unique sober Saturday night dance in London! **WHAT IS "MY ECSTATIC ODYSSEY" ALL ABOUT?** My Ecstatic Odyssey is inspired by some of our summertime open-air Sunset ecstatic dances. There is something magical about a sunset or sunrise that takes us deep into "The Now". That mystical threshold between past and future, where the world starts to feel alive! We'll be channelling the spirit of Ibiza, Goa, and inspiring Sunset/Sunrises worldwide in this potent time of year. Come and dance to OPEN-UP, to release city stress, dance in more light and joy, and make new friends - all accompanied by a transformational euphoric & uplifting dance music set to connect us deeply with our dance, our hearts, and our creativity. We'll be including delicious ceremonial grade cacao and a beautiful cacao ceremony/guided meditation facilitated by Seth to connect us with our body, our heart, and positive intention. No prior experience of dance necessary. All welcome. **～ RETREATS & FESTIVALS 2026 ～** **💜 APRIL 8-12, 2026 - SPRING AWAKENING ECSTATIC DANCE RETREAT** (Gillingham, Dorset, UK) Only 2h direct train from London. Join for 4 days or weekend only. Ecstatic Dance • Yoga • Breathwork • Nature • Saunas • Cold Plunges • Community • Transformation • Sound Journeys • Cacao • Trance Dance Ritual • Singing and much more! A 4 day transformational experience with 50 to 70 beautiful humans, surrounded by spring blossoms, ancient oak trees and the magic of nature waking up. Awaken your body. Ignite your creativity. Come home to your Ecstatic Self. Super Earlybird £400 (Reserve now with £20 deposit on Eventbrite).12 vegetarian meals & camping included. Dorms and private room upgrades available from £10 per night. **RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW:** [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-awakening-deep-dive-ecstatic-dance-embodiment-wellness-retreat-tickets-1976731914368](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-awakening-deep-dive-ecstatic-dance-embodiment-wellness-retreat-tickets-1976731914368) **💜 JULY 22-28, 2026 ECSTATIC DANCE FESTIVAL®** (Gillingham, Dorset, UK) Only 2h direct train from London. Join for 4 days or weekend only. Conscious Dance, Music and Healthy Living Gathering with 130-170 people in a beuatiful Dorset Countryside. Tickets include12 vegetarian meals & camping included. Dorms and private room upgrades available from £10 per night. APPLICATIONS FOR DJ'S/ FACILIATORS/ CREW TO BE ANNOUNCED VERY SOON OR CONTACT US VIA EMAIL. **REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR SUPER EARLYBIRD TICKETS £360:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1979930666923?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1979930666923?aff=oddtdtcreator)

I am proud to announce that we having our jam at the Temple Of Art & Music in Elephant & Castle!! 20 Second Chain: A structured improvisation format where a musical “chain” unfolds organically, with each player responding to and building on what came before. Lineup (on stage together): - 2 guitarists - 1 bass - 1 drummer - 1–2 singers - 1 additional instrument (sax, trumpet, percussion, etc.) How It Works: 1. All musicians on stage are assigned a number, which determines the playing order. 2. Playing order, a key (and available chords) is written on a whiteboard opposite the stage. 3. Number 1 begins alone with a simple idea for 20 seconds — leave space for others to build. 4. Every 20 seconds, the next numbered musician joins one at a time, layering something that complements what’s already happening. 5. Once everyone has entered and the full band is playing, the group improvises for 5 minutes, developing the groove — complexity and solos can grow naturally. 6. No on-stage planning — listen and respond in real time. 7. After the timer ends, the group rotates and a new chain begins. The Temple Of Art and Music is a live music venue and bar in Elephant & Castle so I encourage anyone attending to bring friends as it will be great fun for them even if they are not playing. The venue has a PA system, drum kit, mics and guitar/bass amps. There is no guarantee that there will be cymbals or drum accessories with the drum kit at the venue. Drummers please being your own if you can. Like all our other jams it will be a chance to jam with other musicians playing the music that you love in a gentle environment with no judgement and no pressure. This jam also uniquely gives the opportunity to play in front of a crowd! Tickets are **£10 online** message us let us know what instrument you play and we will confirm if there is space and send you the Eventbrite link for the jam. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information about this jam and London Jam Sessions. At London Jam Sessions we have an active community on WhatsApp where we all discuss the upcoming jams and future events. Everyone in the community is encouraged to ask questions and bring forward new ideas. Dm me and I can add you to our Whatsapp group.

Salut à tous ! Le *Propos sur la nature* d’Alain, 272 pages, est un recueil d’essais brefs dans lesquels Alain observe la nature comme un lieu d’exercice de la pensée plutôt que comme un simple décor. À partir de phénomènes ordinaires — le vent, la pluie, les saisons, les paysages — il développe une philosophie du regard, attentive, lucide et volontairement débarrassée de lyrisme facile. Écrits dans une langue claire et précise, ces *Propos* invitent le lecteur à résister aux illusions, à se méfier des sentiments trop spontanés et à reconquérir sa liberté intérieure par l’observation et le jugement. La nature y devient un terrain d’apprentissage moral et intellectuel : elle n’enseigne rien par elle-même, mais oblige l’esprit à penser juste. Où l’acheter : [https://www.librairie-gallimard.com/livre/9782070302789-propos-sur-la-nature-alain/](https://www.librairie-gallimard.com/livre/9782070302789-propos-sur-la-nature-alain/) Bonne lecture ! Intéressé à la lecture en espagnol, en anglais ou à la littérature persane ? : [-](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros)[www.meetup.com/gaia-books](www.meetup.com/gaia-books) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 25 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

# **Band and caller TBA** Beginner lesson at 1:30, regular dancing begins at 2:00 pm NOTE THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF EVENING. Dance with us in the afternoon then you can still go out in the evening! **Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 1:30 - 2:00, followed by dancing 2:00 - 430. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

We connect you with up to 30 Men or Women tennis partners close to your PLAYING REGION and skill level. This program is less competitive, no champions crowned, no league standings just dedicated tennis partners who want to meet up with you on the courts. Players will meet up to play a tennis match or just to hit around. Just go through the [Join Page](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program) to enter this program. [https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program)

**Complex Trauma Support Group** Our group is intended for survivors of complex trauma. If you are here, it’s likely that so much of who you are and what you have experienced in this life is actually invisible to most people––to family, society, coworkers, and the people who are around you. We are a peer-led group of survivors creating opportunities for ourselves and others to share our experiences, share support, and build relationships in kind community together. Survivor experiences might include: child sexual abuse, incest, child trafficking, and other experiences of people living with traumatic dissociation and complex PTSD. **What to expect at your first meeting:** Currently, we are offering a bi-monthly in person group at 2:00pm on the first and third Sunday of the month. The only criterion for joining the group is that you are a survivor of trauma wishing to have more kindness in your own life and share kindness with others, and that you agree to practice to group’s relational agreements available for view here: https://www.kindgroups.com/agreements. Joining the group is free of charge. We ask that new people connect with us for 30 minutes on the phone or on zoom before coming to their first group, so that we can determine together that we are a good fit. Our meetings last approximately 90 minutes. Participants are never required to share. You’re also welcome to choose a pseudonym and you will never be asked for private information. You are welcome to leave at any time. The kindness that survivors can share when among others who have survived similar childhood experiences is something we rarely get to experience. Time spent with others who understand even a little bit more about us is a relief. Our hope is to help ourselves and others experience that we are not alone. We wish for our efforts to be a cause of kindness in our own lives and the lives of each other. You can read more about the groups at www.kindgroups.com.