Our final week of sessions of 2024 was a busy one. Here’s a round-up of our seven sessions in five days!
MONDAY PART 1
Monday morning found Dom Pipkin and Louise Balkwill at John Kennedy Lodge in the Mildmay area of Islington. Thanks to the support of ArtExplora, The Spitz have brought live music to the residents of Housing21’s Extra Care housing communities throughout 2024.
A mix of Christmas hits and more traditional carols (as well as a mince pie and a glass of wine!) was the perfect way to round off the project with residents in fine voice and high spirits
MONDAY PART 2
Meanwhile, Pete Wareham and Ross Hannon were at Bridgeside Lodge Care Home, visiting residents in their rooms and playing for small groups in lounges and communal spaces. This new musical partnership of saxophonist Pete and singer / guitarist Ross is bearing fruit, with both learning from each other and each bringing his own musical background and experience to the duo.
TUESDAY
We were back in Mildmay Park on Tuesday. This care facility is split in to two sites and Art Explora kindly funded an extra session so that each site could enjoy a full two hours of live music in the week leading up to Christmas. Music came from multi-instrumentalist Mike Piggot and singer / guitarist Laurence Corns
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday was our final visit of 2024 to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Marcus Bonfanti visited children on Safari, Squirrel and Pelican Wards. As well as usual requests of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Disney songs, we also had rousing renditions of Jingle Bells and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. We were even joined by Santa and one of his elves!
THURSDAY PART 1
Marcus was back out on Thursday for a trip to Northwick Park Hospital. As well as providing entertainment and a break in the monotony of being stuck in hospital, these visits are also an opportunity to encourage patients to move and be active. In the video below, you’ll hear the nurse saying “clap your hands”.
THURSDAY PART 2
On the tube and back into Central London for our annual Winter Solstice celebrations at Bridgeside Lodge. Music from Alice Zawadzki (violin & vocals) Ben Hazleton (bass), Nathaniel Keen (guitar & vocals) and Pete Lee (piano) provided the perfect soundtrack for a Christmassy buffet, with staff and visitors getting involved in the celebrations.
After the feast we donned hats, scarves and coats and moved into the garden for music by firelight. You can see many more photos from the session here
FRIDAY
Our final session of the week took Marcus Bonfanti and Izo Fitzroy to Elgin Close in Shepherd’s Bush in West London. This is another of Housing21’s extra care communities and part of our project with ArtExplora in 2024.
The residents and service users here are from all walks of life but always come together for a high-energy sing-along when we visit. This was another sessions of Christmassy favourites including a request for East 17’s “Stay Another Day”.
After this monster week of live music we also visited Bridgeside Lodge on December 23rd, 30th and 31st in an effort to minimise the absence of live music there.
We’ve been reflecting on a fantastic year for The Spitz in which we continued sessions at many venues across London as well as adding new ones and forming new relationships.
Those who take a close interest in what we’re up to will remember our fund-raising appeals in the Spring of 2024, as charity funding dropped all across the sector. If you’re able to support us, either with a one-off donation or a regular standing order you can do so here or by getting in touch at info@spitz.org.uk
