Last weekend I was tucked away in the beauty of the English countryside, near Cambridge, to debut Hai Media Group's all-female production of The Wind in the Willows at the Secret Garden Party.

Our show, a re-make of the childhood favourite by Kenneth Grahame, was my own interpretation of how the elements of the story might play out in a quirky festival environment. I played Toad of Toad Hall, joined by a cast of talented women portraying Badger, Ratty, Mole and Weasel.

Without my co-horts I couldn't have pulled off such an entertaining production and I'm grateful that the following women joined me in the adventure, including sticking around to enjoy the delights of the four-day festival:

Lucy Lowe as Ratty

Lucy is a recent graduate of performing arts and her training was demonstrated in playing the role of Ratty. Her boyfriend Matt Price, a comedian, also joined us in hosting the evening as MC. Thanks Lucy!

Ali Rawlings as Weasel

Ali (aka Punk Rock Dolly) has been a key strength in the music industry for nearly two decades now, working first for a number of record labels and then in radio as a show producer for Kiss FM. In the last few years her focus has been in Artist Management, with a focus in the European country rock genre. She kindly accepted my casting for her as lead Weasel, helping us round-out the primary cast with strong female personalities and performers. This was the first time Ali performed on stage, and she took on the role with enthusiasm and a lot of courage, transforming herself into a terrific and funny Weasel in our creative production. Thanks Ali!

Cheyne Pride as Mole Cheyne played the role of Mole and an adorable Mole she made! 

Cheyne is a gifted singer and songwriter by trade who sings with both National Debt and her band The Wildcat Tamers. Cheyne's also a professional Cheerleading coach, who trains children of all ages in the fine art of Cheer. Her dance troupe Cheer-A-Go-Go performs at music and club nights throughout London and Europe. Thanks Cheyne!

Mary Epworth as Badger

Mary is a singer and songwriter who played the role of Badger, giving this character wise words of wisdom. Mary is the lead artist in her Jubliee Band, and you can watch her perform in this beautiful music video that was produced earlier this year:

Thanks Mary!

Dancer Amanda Mae Steele provided the grand finale dance at the Toad Hall celebration. We also had a few supporting rabbits and weasels to join us in the performance (Will Twynham, Andy and Sadie Spector) and following the show we invited the audience to join us at a banquet table and feast on delicious food at our make-believe Toad Hall. Thanks Weasels and Rabbits!

 

Make Your Own Props: It's Amazing What Can Be Done With Cardboard and Poster Paint

Toad in his motorcar

Lisa Devaney as Toad

As Toad, I had a blast making people laugh as I ran around in a little motorcar that John & I constructed of cardboard, along with a small Jail and a small boat.

Feedback has been terrific from the event organizers and it was a terrific learning experience. Much gratitude goes to Kate Risker aka Miss Risk and Simon Harris, from the Hand of Glory record label, for inviting me to create this performance.

The Wind in the Willows Cast and Crew

Here's ten things I loved about the Secret Garden Party:

1) Brands were nowhere to be seen, and if they were there, any were in attendance, they were virtually invisible to the human eye. The brand-less festival let a few hundred artists emerge for attention, and allowed the mass of quirky creative ideas shine through. Instead of tribute banners to lager, you’d find Action Camps inviting guests to make their own superhero costume, listen to an experimental musician or watch a performance.

3) Skanking to the brassy funky soulful beats of The Fontanas, and having a fireside chat with lead singer Gavin Skeggs and finding out that he is also in a band called The Tarantinos , inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s films.

4) Getting a huge kick out of the performance antics and musical skills of Rat Fink who delivered big sound and big fun.

5) Watching the pyro-technical extravaganza of the Pirate Ship getting blown-up, a very Burning Man-esque moment.

6) Hanging out in the tree house of the Where The Wild Things Are venue.

7) Making a cape at the Superhero Action Camp, making a carnival hat at another Action Camp and listening to Green political talks at the Green Action Camp.

8) Not spending endless amounts of time waiting in queues for food, drink and loos.

9) Bumping into many friends, something that is less likely to happen at Glastonbury, where everyone gets lost in the crowd.

10) Unwinding in the Lost Horizons sauna.

Among the music performances I enjoyed was seeing Grace Jones headline the festival, at the only festival gig she is doing this year. She’s 60 now, and still a powerhouse of music and towering good looks.

Many thanks to Jim Hanner for his fantastic photos from the show and the festival:

Thanks Jim!

Jim Hanner at The Secret Garden Party

 

Still grooving on the Secret Garden Party,

-Lisa

 

 

Hai Media Group Logo by Dan Boultwood

Who’s Lisa Devaney?

I head the Hai Media Group, a multimedia communications company based in London, offering client’s traditional public relations, combined with new technology marketing strategies. I also perform, creating original Cabaret-style comedy skits for festivals, theatre and parties. Find out more about me, and the talented entrepreneurs I collaborate with, by visiting: www.haimediagroup.com

Would, Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind in the Willows be delighted or disgusted to know that his fairy tale classic for children has had a makeover?

His four main anthropomorphised animal characters Toad, Badger, Ratty and Mole will be played by a cast of entertaining women who are hell bent on making their own version of the tale rock.

My company the Hai Media Group  has produced and cast a new cabaret show that takes inspiration from the lazy river days of life along the river in the very English countryside adventure story. I’m playing Toad of Toad Hall and will present this magical story, that evokes the best of pastoral English settings for summer, to quote the book:

"Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." –The Wind in the Willows

Who’s Who in the Cast?

• Toad played by me, Lisa Devaney
  

  Matt Lucas as Toad
  

  Toad of Toad Hall
• Badger played by Mary Epworth, lead singer with her Jubliee Band, on the Hand of Glory record label
• Mole played by Cheyne Pride, a country rock singer
• Ratty played by Lucy Lowe
  
• Weasel, played by Ali Rawlings, aka Punk Rock Dolly
• Sexy Rabbit, played by Amanda Mae Steele
  

We are merrily on our way to The Secret Garden Party, bringing a cast of colourful, loveable, characters who will treat guests to a scrumptious feast of sight and sound at none other than that magical childhood place Toad Hall. Greeting weary travellers who come from far and wide across this great green land of Britain, and beyond, will be our joyful celebration, of dancing, and a spectacular banquet table, in a place to revel.

We’ll debut our all-female revue of The Wind in the Willows at The Secret Garden Party, arts and and music festival this week where Grace Jones is the headline act.                         Grace Jones:

Our show is among a talented line-up of music acts that will be part of the ‘Come and Play’ area of the festival – a collection of tents that invite guests to play with arcade games, or interact with the performances happening around them.

"The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated. By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spell-bound by exciting stories; and when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea." –The Wind in the Willows

Spread before our guest's eyes will be a dining table, gigantic banquet table, as only would suit Toad of Toad Hall to entertain, along with his friends, all evoking the magical memories of childhood favourite tale The Wind in the Willows. White table cloth, OTT décor and upon this marvellous display, unexpected delights – of poetry reading, dancing and comedy skits, played out spontaneously, between sets of live music.

If you are planning to attend The Secret Garden Party, please plan to see our performance – scheduled for 8 PM, this Thursday, July 24^th, at the ‘Come and Play’ area. We’ll plan to keep in character and costume for the night, so stop by after setting up your campsite and dive deep into this festival’s creative spirit, and come play with us.

"Animals arrived, liked the look of the place, took up their quarters, settled down, spread, and flourished. They didn't bother themselves about the past--they never do; they're too busy." –The Wind in the Willows

Here’s the night’s line-up:

 

19:00 hrs - 19:30 hrs           DJ Bomber
19:30 hrs - 20:25 hrs           The Ratfinks
20:30 hrs - 20:50 hrs           Hai Media Group Presents: The Wind in the Willows
20:50 hrs - 21:45 hrs           Kid Id
22:00 hrs - 23:00 hrs          The Fontanas  
23:00 hrs - 00:00 hrs           DJ Bomber/ I Heart What?
00:00 hrs - 01:00 hrs           Chin Supressor
01:00 hrs - 02:00 hrs           Symmetrik

‘Come and Play’ is an exciting new festival venue, which has been put together by the team

responsible for bringing Eco-Arcadia to events throughout the UK for the last 5 years. Join in the welcoming feast of the festival, or just sit back, relax and unwind after your travels, to watch the silly, festive antics unfold, enjoy the music, and dine! Dine! Dine! Upon festival delights.

The only question is – are you a Rabbit or a Weasel? Pick one or the other, and join us! Whiskers and bunny ears will be supplied, or bring your own to be a participant in our version of The Wind in the Willows.

"It's never the wrong time to call on Toad. Early or late he's always the same fellow. Always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go!" -The Wind in the Willows

Many thanks to Kate Risker, aka the fabulous Miss Risk, who invited Hai Media Group to produce and perform this new twist of the old tale of The Wind in the Willows.

                                                                                                                          A proud & stupid Toad am I,

                                                                                                                                                                  -Lisa

Who’s Lisa Devaney?

I head the Hai Media Group, a multimedia communications company based in London, offering client’s traditional public relations, combined with new technology marketing strategies. I also perform, creating original Cabaret-style comedy skits for festivals, theatre and parties. Find out more about me, and the talented entrepreneurs I collaborate with, by visiting: www.haimediagroup.com

 

 

 

My comedy cabaret show the House of Hee Haw! will be back on stage this coming Friday, July 4th, to celebrate:

 

**Download your flyer here and bring it along to claim your

This party is going to be country fried finger-liking good fun.
*And I bet a £1 that everyone will be hee hawing it up all night. No party poopers welcome, this is dance all night, sing all night wild and wacky fun.

***Please note, the artists request that you please leave your hat at the door, following pretend cowboy, cowgirl and hillbilly fun times at the party -- so we can use the hats the next time!

Featuring...

♥♥♥ Cheer-A-Go-Go! ♥♥♥

(Hillbilly Comedy Cabaret)

♫♫♪♫♪   HellzaPoppin’ ♫♫♪♫♪

(Rockin’ Stray Cat-Style Trio)

London debut of:

♫♫♪♫♪ The WildCat Tamers ♫♫♪♫♪
(Country,Soul,Rock’n’Roll)

♫♫♪♫♪ DJ Jon the Boatman ♫♫♪♫♪

& Surprise Special Guests

Barbecue & Grill. Very Reasonable Bar Prices

Friday 4th July 2008. Doors 8 ‘til late. £6/£5 concs. 

Inn On the Green, 3-5 Thorpe Close,  Portobello Green, London W10 5XL.

1 minute walk from Ladbroke Grove Tube Tel: 0208 962 5757  www.iotg.co.uk

www.myspace.com/littlebitcountryuk

Well last Friday night my performance art group helped a great bunch of folks kick-off a new club night here in London called Little Bit Country Little Bit Rock n Roll, an evening presented by artist and musician Cheyne Pride, who, if you remember the 80s, had a hit dance track called Call Me Mr. Telephone.

As part of my hillbilly comedy cabaret art, I wrote new material to present an evening performance featuring my Hee Haw! House.

The audience laughed out loud over the show, featuring a cast of characters who went at it SMACK-down style in cabaret wrestling! I loved the mash-up style of the evening that mixed country rock lovers with British punk rock lovers and a lot of other pop cultural influences inbetween. We teamed up with Cheer-A-Go-Go to energize the audience for the evening, and get them ready for the fantastic headliner band JC & The Disciples, formed by a couple of legends from the original London punk rock scene.

Check out a few of my favourite photos from the night, here:

Folks liked it so much that we've been invited back for more, and are now invovled with helping the organizers get ready for a big bash here in London celebrating the Fourth of July! If you are in London, please mark your calendar and I hope ya'll can come on out and join us at Inn On the Green in Ladbroke Grove on Friday, July 4th!

Ya’ll will have another chance to check out my Hee Haw! House comedy cabaret act, this coming Friday night, as we are performing as part of a new club night A Little Bit Country and a Little Bit Rock N Roll. The night promises to be an Americana-style celebration offering up country western, blues and good old fashioned rock-n-roll music, along with dancing and performance and DJs, and great big grins at the Inn On The Green .

Yes, smiles will be a plenty among this crowd, a gathering being organized by the talented

country western, and rock ‘n roll, singer Cheyne Pride. She’s brought together talent for the first of her new regular club nights with an Americana theme that will leave Londoners feeling warm and fuzzy about the good ‘ol stars and stripes and the fantastic music, art and cultural talent that has brewed from the USA.

Headlining the night is the band National Debt, a country blues rock band based in London, founded by Ronnie Smith  and Michael Messer, with backing vocals by Cheyne Pride, sound engineer Chris Clarke, and Ed Genis contributing on guitar. The band’s debut album ‘From the Horse’s Mouth’ was released last spring, earning attention from music press in the UK, including airplay on BBC Radio 2, when Mark Lamarr took a liking to the band's tune ‘Oozlin’ Daddy Blues’.

This band will get you slapping your thighs, lifting your cowboy hats in tribute and tapping your feet along with the beat. Added bonus of the night is JC & the Disciples  and dancing cheerleaders from Cheer-A-Go-Go, along with my very own Hee Haw! Whore House comedy. As The Madam of the Hee Haw! Whore House, I’ll be presenting new comedy material SMACK-down style with cabaret wrestling!

Well I hope ya’ll can come on down this Friday, and if you can’t make it this week, do mark your calendar for July 4^th to enjoy an American-style celebration of the national holiday, right in the heart of Londontown at Inn On The Green.

Here are the details for Friday:

Cheyne Pride Presents:

 

 

 

He's graduating!

Calling all human animals!

This weekend you'll get your chance to put these unappreciated skills to use while enjoying a wild night out in Dalston at The Human Zoo where your hidden talents will be welcome. *Find more details about this event here.

Go on, ask yourself:

What's Your Inner Beast?

Whether you are a monkey, an amphibious sort or a brightly feathered bird-like creature, Axel Rose would welcome you to this jungle, where cabaret acts, bands and DJs will be offering a mashup of rock, reggae and electro-fueled beats, to feed London’s savage beasts. The zoo-inspired fancy dress theme invites you to dig out you’re best fuzzy, fluffy, furry and furious wardrobe selections, and promises everything in-between on offer among the cast of colourful guests. Every zoo needs a keeper and there’s bound to be a lion tamer about to keep the wild crowd under control.

The Human Zoo may be one night of mayhem that sees The Naked Ape author Desmond Morris’s concept of urban

human animals fulfilled. This is what might happen when the cage of the city lets loose humanity’s apes, lions, tigers and bears to roam the streets of the East End for the night.

You could say that this crowd’s festival-style parties are back by popular demand, based on the adoration and following the organizers developed from their Nativity Hoedown in December. They are truly  growing their own stylish alternative to the usual boring clubbing night, and carving out a new little creative corner in Dalston, and we are all gratefully appreciative to the Passing Cloud Art Centre for the venue's ongoing support of these event organizing efforts.

• Join The Human Zoo Facebook Group
  

  Grrrrooooowwwl

• Connect with these animals through MySpace at myspace.com/handofglory7

• Email Miss Risk directly via her own blog on Vox.com here

It’s sure to be a roar of a good time!

And psssst…here’s a tip to bust ahead of the queue: show up in the best damn zoo-inspired outfit you can invent and you’re in the door!

 PS: Yes, I was part of the early stage planning on this, as the organizers have kindly annointed me as a resident artist with this new party scene, following the rocking hillbilly good time we all had at the Nativity Hoedown. Alas, some travel organizing has floundered my attendance at The Human Zoo, and unfortunately messed up my plans to debut a new lion tametress cabaret performance act I had in works for the night. I’m headed off this lovely British island this weekend for a trip I’m looking forward to, but will be growling it up in spirit with all my mates who are willingly putting themselves behind cage bars this weekend. Nonetheless, never mind worrying about whether I am going to be there (((who the ffff cares about that really unless you happen to be some sort of strange Lisa Devaney stalker))) the place will be packed with young, fun, beautiful creative people and plenty of great bands, DJs, and live performances from a circus-style cabaret group…and other surprises. Keep in mind:

You can only expect the unexpected at The Human Zoo.

 

Wishing I could be there,

but I do hope you give your inner beast

a good night out this Saturday

and have yourself a growl of a good time, 

-Lisa

Who’s Lisa Devaney?

I head the Hai Media Group, a multimedia communications company based in London, offering client’s traditional public relations, combined with new technology marketing strategies. I also perform, creating original Cabaret-style comedy skits for festivals, theatre and parties. Find out more about me, and the talented entrepreneurs I collaborate with, by visiting: www.haimediagroup.com

Performing two sold-out shows over the weekend at The Jazz Club in Soho, London got

the welcome return of one the city’s own sisters, the jazz singer Tessa Souter. Seducing audiences with a fully packed repertoire of classics and original material, this daughter of an English mother and Trinidadian father, offered up a glimpse of her soul and passionate style that combines Flamenco and world music.

Lingering on lyrics and notes, she transforms familiar songs into new experiences, like dipping them in chocolate fondue. Of her set, my favourite was her rendition of classic rock favourite White Room by Cream, because she brought attention to all the beautiful poetic verse and stunning imagery contained in the song, making us pause, be in the songwriter's moment, and wonder about being “in the white room with black curtains near the station.”

Her interpretation of other compilation choices offered a night of rich musical story-telling,

with highlights that included The Island by Alan Bergman, Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles and her signature number Listen Love, which is also the title of her CD. With her voice as her brush, Tessa painted the audience vivid pictures and dropped countless images of beauty, love and sometimes sadness into our minds. Her expressive body movements match the impressive notes she carries and her show hails back to the bygone era depicted in Casablanca when the film’s stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman begs the pianist to "Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake." Tessa will give you that feeling of being somewhere that is dripping with glamour, gorgeous décor and plenty of dry martinis on the offer. Joined by her drummer Winston Clifford for one number was a highlight of the evening, with him backing her up with beautiful vocals.

Only A Lifetime Of Good Times And Bad Can Let You Sing With This Kind of Depth

Getting her start ten years ago, she’s an artist that has quickly earned praise, accomplishing success that some have to plod along for a lifetime before achieving. Now making her base in New York City’s Harlem, clearly the jazz influences that ooze out of the cracks in the pavement in her adopted home have made their mark on this artist’s vision. Having seen Tessa first perform in New York City about five years ago, I thought she was very experienced, someone who had been delivering mouth-watering lyrics from the earliest days of urban jazz. As it turns out, I was lucky to catch one of her first performance ventures when she was just beginning her new journey to become a professional jazz singer. Tessa hit a turning point, following a long career as a writer, and a busy time raising her son, and decided to focus on her strongest dream that had nicked in her head for many years – to sing. It is rare when any of us have the chance to realize that we are, in fact, actually doing what we dream about all the time, as a fulltime pursuit. Along the way, she’s earned the attention of major music critics, receiving positive reviews and the respect of jazz legends, some who have helped wean her talent:

"Extraordinary authenticity. Musical sophistication. A must-see for lovers of world class jazz vocalizing." -Los Angeles Times

 "Talented English jazz singer who runs her set through various kinds of territory."-New York Times

 "British-Caribbean jazz vocalist Tessa Souter brings new life to time-honoured standards, while also mining a creative spark from the unlikeliest quarters.'"-TimeOut New York

Soul jazz singer Jon Lucien said of her CD Listen Love. "Magnificent! I couldn't stop playing it over and over. She blew me away!"

Tessa Souter Performs at The Jazz Club, Soho, London, 15th February 2008

Observing Tessa’s personal journey has been fascinating to watch, and very inspirational to anyone who is trying to accomplish anything creative that doesn’t follow an obvious path. Tessa shares her own personal inspirational journey in her book Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better, available for purchase here. Still a correspondent journalist for prestigious titles, Tessa’s by-line appears in top media outlets from time to time, with her occasionally serving as The Guardian’s Brit-Eye-View to New York City, with her penning articles in between gigs on her increasingly busy touring schedule.

Tessa comes to London at least twice a year to perform, and is on stage regularly in New York and San Francisco, so sign up for her mailing list at www.tessasouter.com to catch her next show. You can also find her on MySpace at www.myspace.com/tessasouter. In London, Tessa usually performs at The Jazz Club, a respected London venue that plays host to many jazz legends who keep this style of music alive for its millions of fans, having opened in the basement of the Pizza Express restaurant on Dean Street in 1976. Pizza Express’s venues showcase live music for hundreds of fans, with also performing at Pizza On The Park, near Hyde Park.

Here’s Tessa Souter’s full biography:

Born in London of Trinidadian and English parents, New York-based vocalist, composer, and lyricist Tessa Souter (soo-ter) infuses jazz with the soul and passion of flamenco, Indian and Middle Eastern music. There's no one doing what Tessa does," enthused Village Voice and New York Sun critic Will Friedwald. "One of the most imaginatively programmed vocal sets of recent memory." said the Los Angeles Times, in a rave review of her California debut at the Catalina Bar and Grill in 2002. And it's not just the critics who admire her. Taught to sing at the age of three by her mother, Tessa took up the guitar at 12. She was encouraged in her early teens to pursue a singing career, but took a detour - early motherhood, university and journalism. In 1992, she moved to San Francisco, where she wrote for the British press, including Vogue, Elle, The Guardian and The Times, and became one of the original six members of The Writer's Grotto, along with Po Bronson (who cites her in his best seller What Should I Do With My Life), Ethan Canin, Ethan Watters, Josh Kornbluth and David Munro. After moving to New York in 1996, she started sitting in at jazz jams, before winning a scholarship to study at New York's Manhattan School of Music in 1998. She left to study privately with jazz vocal legend Mark Murphy.

Since her professional debut in 1999 Tessa has performed with some of the world's jazz greats, including Mark Murphy, Joe La Barbera, Marvin Sewell, Larry Koonse, Latin Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria and jazz tuba legend Howard Johnson. WNPK Radio FM says: "It's hard to believe she only recently became a vocalist, because she sings with the authority and passion that usually comes from long experience." To quote Los Angeles-based guitarist Larry Koonse, "Tessa Souter has all the qualities I value most in a musician: great time, beautiful phrasing, gorgeous sound, a respect for silence, an emotional connection to the moment, and a wonderful ability to tell a story. She is the 'real thing' in every way."

Listening to Tessa Souter,

I head the Hai Media Group, a multimedia communications company based in London, offering client’s traditional public relations, combined with new technology marketing strategies. I also perform, creating original Cabaret-style comedy skits for festivals, theatre and parties. Find out more about me, and the talented entrepreneurs I collaborate with, by visiting: www.haimediagroup.com

 

 

There it was, dressed in shiny patent leather and resting peacefully on a display shelf in the middle of Shepherd's Bush Market in London, off of Goldhawk Road. I spotted a

Bathing Ape 'Bape Sta' in the window, and found out that the store showcasing the rare breed of Japanese trainers (American translation = sneakers) is one of only two places in London that sells the brand. Plenty of Bathing Ape lovers have been visiting Global Sports US to check out, and buy, the coveted kicks from Japan, most being hip-hop fans. The shop's owner Ismail Khan, recognizing his customer's taste for music and fashion, has set up turntables in the store for your listening pleasure and even brings in local DJs on the weekends. His store's collection includes trainers covered in Swarovski crystals, hard-to-find issues of Nike, Adidas, and urban street wear with a USA style focus.

The Bathing Ape clothing line, also known as 'BAPE', got its start in 1993 in Tokyo, by Tomoaki Nagao, a young fashion editor turned designer who is better known as Nigo. Nigo's direct influence for the line comes from the 1968 classic movie Planet of The Apes. With his heroes also being Run DMC and other East Coast USA hip-hop greats, he seems to have followed a Russell Simmons business model, having sold limited edition t-shirts to launch the brand, and got artists to wear his clothing while performing. All being similar tactics used to launch the Phat empire. Nigo's Bape Sta design captures a lot of the retro flair of old skool hip-hop attire and is highly valued among trainer afficinados.

Purposefully elusive, Nigo produces limited edition one-of-a-kind merchandise that has increased its street value because it is hard to find. The brand has also branched out to include hair salons, cafés and rumour has it a Bape hotel will be opening soon. A-listers maintain loyalty to the brand, knowing that their fans won't be able to easily rush out and copy their wardrobe because Bathing Apes original products are nearly extinct once they hit the shelves.

I love the Wonder Woman pair, and will be saving my pennies to buy these someday, as at Global Sports US the retail

price is £160. The other location in London for Bathing Ape is at the official store found at 4 Upper James Street, Soho London, W1F 9DG, a posh address. I'd suggest visiting Global Sports US first to check out Bathing Apes, and make an afternoon of discovering the Shepherd's Bush market, where, after shopping, you can stop for a middle eastern lunch at one of the many international food stalls. 

 

Saving up for a pair of Bape Stas,

 

-Lisa

 

Who’s Lisa Devaney?

I head the Hai Media Group, a multimedia communications company based

in London, offering client’s traditional public relations, combined with new technology marketing strategies. I also perform, creating original Cabaret-style comedy skits for festivals, theatre and parties. For a reference key to this blog, visit this post. Find out more about me, and the talented entrepreneurs I collaborate with, by visiting: www.haimediagroup.com

Celebrate the highs and lows of life through the beauty and passion of Micheline Van

Hautem, who’s voice will pierce straight through your soul and leave you shedding tears. With tribute songs to French balladiere Jacques Brel, the music of Micheline has packed concert halls throughout the world, and she’s booked sold-out shows at leading festivals including Scotland’s annual Edinbugh Fringe Festival and Austraila’s Fringe in Adalaide. Her A-list credits include receiving a rave review and query from Madonna, who saw Micheline’s performances in Europe. She’s also received numerous awards for her vocal abilities and had a song featured in the movie Tadpole, starring Sigourney Weaver. 

Now based in Amsterdam, Micheline is singing with a new beat of love and passion -- the sound of motherhood. With her partner Willem-Hein Couwenberg, she’s joyously raising her son Alexander Henri Thomas Couwenberg, who was born November 5^th, 2007. At home, the family is surrounded by the vibrant artistic community of Amsterdam, including their supportive friend, the author Xaviera Hollander who wrote The Happy Hooker. Willem runs a popular bed & breakfast booking service and can sort you out with the best rates for rooms in the city. Find his service at www.absoluteamsterdam.com.

Being a Mom is not stalling Micheline’s singing career, as she soon embarks on a packed 2008 tour schedule that

includes about 60 gigs across Europe. She’s also celebrating the release of her newest CD this weekend – Chocolat. Chocolat presents original lyrics and scores that Micheline has been creating for the last five years, and marks a turning point in her career that will be showcasing more of her original music to audiences and fans worldwide. Her live performances will include many of her beloved Jacques Brel tributes, mixed with the sounds of new material.

What about baby Alexander on tour? He is joining Mom on the road, along with Dad, and the help of two friends who are helping out as nanny and chef. Most of the touring will be on continental Europe this year, with one show being performed in New York City in June. Check www.michelinemusic.com for all performance listings.  

It is an impressive tour schedule for Micheline, who was already a musical superstar and will now be a musical superstar Mom. No wonder Madonna recognized her talent and drive all those years ago.

How do I know Micheline? I’ve been a fan since I first met her. This songstress, who is originally from Belgium, lived

humbly as my former neighbor in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, where we met and discovered that we both had kindered artistic souls. She kindly invited me onstage once in New York City, where I shared a bit of her spotlight, amusing the audience with some of my edgy spoken word. Micheline performed often in New York City, taking to the stage for live performances in many of the off-Broadway venues and a few top concert halls, while spending days working hard in her recording studio. At the time, she was a musical team with accordionist and pianist Frederik Caelen, an equally accomplished artist. As her accompanist, Fredrick added that flash-back Cabaret glamour to every performance they shared.

The two travelled the world bringing the classic sound of Jacques Brel to audiences, but have since parted ways to pursue new direction in their personal lives and artistic careers – with Fredrick teaching music in his native Antwerp. I’ll be visiting Micheline and Willem soon in Amsterdam, to meet Alexander, along with my partner John – we can’t wait to see them!

Are you in Europe? Catch one of Micheline’s performances this year, all gig listings can be found on her website at: www.michelinemusic.com

See Micheline perform here: