After, a blinding and well received set on the main stage Linda Spence met Tom Middleton and fell in love with his quiet humility and humour.
Hello Tom lovely to meet you, thanks for chatting with me.
It’s a pleasure
How’s your Big Chill going?
It’s been incredible. I’m surprised I’m still standing because I haven’t slept yet. That’s actually only from my own doing, not sleeping for 24 hours.
24 hours? What have you been doing?
Err… driving rehearsing and getting ready for the session I just played. That’s what it’s all about really – preparation.
And what an overwhelming session it was, one of the best of the weekend so far.
Golly that’s quite a big statement.
It is but it’s what I’m hearing people say about your set. How was it for you?
Extraordinary because that was the debut performance and up until this point it’s just been music in my head. Music in my head ha ha and then translated onto a laptop like a virtual band and orchestra and now… well, it’s been unleashed on the world – magic. And people came to have a little listen which is good.
Fantastic – what are you thinking of the vibe here – you’re a bit of a veteran chiller aren’t you?
Ha ha ha – yes I’m a Zimmer frame chiller. Oh it’s lovely here – always nice. I think we’re always spoilt with the great weather. It’s good to get the clouds moving a bit during the session today. I’m really enjoying it
Are you sticking around?
Absolutely – well Ive got Cosmic Fury tonight with Fred Deakin. That’s gonna be really daft!
Why’s that?
Why don’t you come and find out?!
Who is your guitarist – some talented stroking going on there!
Ah, that’s Charlie Casey from Akasha. Well, he’s got skills. They’ve all got amazing skills – I don’t know any one of them, who doesn’t have serious skills. In fact I’m probably the least skilled of all of them in terms of musicianship. They’re all serious pros – I’m quite rubbish.
How many people are in your orchestra?
Err… well there are 13 strings err….
Do you actually know?
Well I think in the band we number 21.
So small venues are tricky?
Yes this is the problem. We’re trying to work out how to tour something like this but it’s quite an interesting challenge. I think if I have printed music scores of all the works, theoretically, I could go anywhere in the world, hook up with local orchestras and conduct, that’s the plan.
So you’re a conductor/arranger?
That’s it exactly.
Like Beethoven?
Ha Ha ha – hold on a minute. I’m just Tom Middleton!
Rugby Union: THE TOWN FLYER; SECOND TEST: SOUTH AFRICA v IRELAND Winger Howe gets his chance to be a Cape crusader as Irish aim for Springboks revenge.(Sport)
The Mirror (London, England) June 16, 2004 Byline: CIARAN CRONIN TYRONE HOWE is coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s only change as Ireland get another opportunity to create history in Saturday’s second test against South Africa.
The Ulster winger gets his chance because of injury to Gordon D’Arcy and the enforced re-shuffle sees Shane Horgan renew his Leinster partnership with Brian O’Driscoll while Geordan Murphy will switch from left to right wing To date Drogheda born Horgan has lined-out mostly on the wing in his 30 caps for Ireland. But the 25-year-old much prefers midfield to life out on the flanks and now Eddie O’Sullivan has finally given him his opportunity to impress.
”It’s a partnership that works in Heineken Cup for Leinster,” said O’Sullivan of the O’Driscoll/Horgan combination.
”Shane has played there before but he hasn’t played for Ireland in that position. It’s not exactly the same dynamic as with Gordon, or with Kevin Maggs.
“I think it’s something in between and we’re just looking to see how that works.
“It’s something different again. Kevin has been the number two inside-centre through the Six Nations and was first choice prior to that so it was a tough decision.
“But it’s just a different mix in the midfield and we’ll see how it goes.” Ireland trained yesterday for the first time since Saturday’s defeat, but it was a far from full-blooded session.
O’Sullivan admitted that he feels his players may need to take it easy over the next few days if he’s to get the most from them at the weekend. site driving test game
”It’s the end of the season and we have a lot of tired bodies,” he said.
“We’ve changed our schedule around a bit but I’m conscious that putting more work in this week isn’t going to get anything done.
“We’re all disappointed with last weekend’s performance and there’s no hiding that. The players are more annoyed with themselves than anything else.
“It’s the last game of the season and the only good thing about losing last Saturday is that we’ll have a chance to put it right this time around.
“Had we gone home last Sunday, we’d have been a very sorry bunch leaving. We all want to end on a high note and there’s still a chance to make a bit of history at the weekend.” He added: “If we don’t win on Saturday people will ask has the team gone backwards and I suppose my answer to date is I don’t know.
“Let’s wait and see what happens and we can have that discussion afterwards.” O’Sullivan went on record last week stating that he had targeted two top-level performances from his side on the tour, but with a smile on his face, the coach admitted that things have changed a little now. see here driving test game
”We can only re-set our goals now,” he said. ”All we can do now is make sure that we at least get one.
“I’m expecting we will. I think the lads feel that they didn’t perform and they’re pretty upset about that.
“It’s one thing losing a test game, but if you lose a test game and you don’t perform, that’s the most galling thing about it.
“I’m not taking anything away from the Springboks, they did certain things very well and we did certain things badly and that’s a bad mix for a test game.
“I still think there’s one more performance left in this team this year.” The Springboks also named their side for the second test yesterday, with Jake White making two changes.
Gwent Dragons star Percy Montgomery is selected at full-back for his goal kicking abilities ahead of Gaffie Du Toit, while Jaque Fourie comes in ahead of Henno Mentz on the wing.
IRELAND: G Dempsey; G Murphy, B O’Driscoll, S Horgan, T Howe; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes; M O’Kelly, P O’Connell; S Easterby, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: F Sheahan, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, A Quinlan, G Easterby, D Humphreys, K Maggs.
CAPTION(S):
TYRONE POWER: Howe will hope to make his presence felt on Saturday; PRESS-URE: Not if your name is Brian O’Driscoll
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