Community songwriting

This is truly a folk musician of the 21st Century, who helps ordinary folk to sing their lives - and to be heard in all their beauty."

Phil Davenport, Director, Zweilbelfish CIC

I am a freelance artist and creative practitioner using songwriting as a way to connect with and empower people. I work with people on the margins of society, whose voices are often ignored - those experiencing homelessness, poverty, poor mental health or addiction. 

I want my work to amplify working class voices. I especially love to work with those who have never written a song before. Songs are great vehicles for exploring topics like history, place and identity. I approach sessions with a sense of joy, adventure and playfulness. I've written songs in museums, art galleries, day centres, care homes, schools, foodbanks and prisons.

Types of organisations I've worked with - directly or in partnership - include : 
Museums & Heritage 
The National Justice Museum, The People's History Museum, The Wordsworth Museum, Our Chartist Heritage
Galleries 
Bury Art Museum, Touchstones Rochdale
Arts Organisations 
Super Slow Way, Arts Derbyshire, Studio 3 Arts, Dash Arts, High Peak Community Arts
Homeless Support
Streetwise Opera, Invisible Cities, Back on Track, The Booth Centre
Criminal Justice 
TIPP (Theatre in Prison and Probation), Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons), Novus for Change 
Health, Housing and Social Care 
Carers UK, Age Exchange, Intergenerational Music Making, South Yorkshire Housing Association, Community Integrated Care

If you would like to commission me to work on a project please contact me

SONGWRITING PROJECTS

I just woke up from a dream (2025) 
Audio Residency 
Commission : Super Slow Way 

I worked at The Alternative School (TAS) in Burnley. 
The school is for children who are having difficulties in mainstream schools. I worked with primary and secondary children, many of whom have learning and behavioral challenges. I mostly worked one-on-one with music making and songwriting. The sound collage comprises songs and music made in collaboration with the pupils at TAS. 

21st Century Protest Songs (2024) 
Audio Residency 
Commission : Super Slow Way 

I worked with local communities to write and perform protest songs – almost all of them had never written a song before. People I worked with included users of a local foodbank and people experiencing homelessness. This audio residency was part of a wider project to transform a canal barge into a floating micro-radio studio on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Moments of Joy (2024) 
Artist on multi-disciplinary project
Producer : Cara McAleese & South Yorkshire Housing Association

Working with residents of an older persons Housing complex to write and record songs that explored memories of the seaside. The songs were soundtrack to a multi-disciplinary piece of work that involved ceramics and glass making.