Keith Gregson here. For the last 14 years I have worked as a freelance writer, historian and musician (www.keithgregson.com) specialising in operating as a facilitator with young people in schools, museums and libraries mainly, but not exclusively, in the city of Sunderland. I have also (although at 68 an ‘old gadgie’) been welcomed into the inner sanctum of the city’s independent sing/songwriters and music groups – most of whose members are in their 20s and 30s. Both experiences have been rejuvenating and revitalising.
In the case of school age youngsters, their boundless energy and enthusiasm for creativity has helped me to write songs relating to the city’s mining heritage and links both to the Northern Saints and to the painter L S Lowry. Although a long-term member of the Performing Rights Society, I have not registered any of these songs as, in truth, they are not really mine. In some cases the whole idea and in others a phrase, a line or even a single word have been the making of the song – and these have been provided by the youngsters themselves. The songs are truly theirs and I am pleased to see that many of them are still sung in the schools and/or have been recorded.
When it comes to the older ‘young’ musicians (by which I mean younger than me!) the experience has also been humbling. I was brought up with the Beatles, Kinks and Hollies and part of me always wanted to be a pop star. Despite running folk clubs and working semi-professionally as a musician in the 1970s this was not to be. Move to today and in the city you will find a core of extremely talented musicians and song/music writers capable of ‘pop success’ but wise enough to value more of a control over their own creativity and destiny. In some cases this has come after the door to ‘pop success’ became open to them. They are to be admired for this. In addition the entire group is mutually supportive which, if I have read it correctly, is in contrast to the dog eat dog rat race (author’s note – great English, Keith!) associated with the higher echelons of the popular music world. Such support and care is a stimulus to creativity rather than a barrier. More recently this care and support has widened out to enclose young and budding songwriters based in PopRecs and this too is proving highly motivating and successful.
And finally – a confession. When I first heard of Sunderland’s bid for City of Culture I thought it was something to do with a plea to the outside world to come and help us ‘be cultural’. I am pleased to say that I have now been put right. Having read all the relevant material I now see that the aim is to make an already cultural city the centre for national celebration. In which case – I rest ‘my case’. As people younger than myself would say ( but my old English teacher would murder me if I did) it is a ‘no-brainer.
– Keith Gregson, Writer, Musician and Historian – author of ‘A Children’s History of Sunderland’
