Original bands, original music from Lincoln & Beyond

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Feature #004 - Jean Dench - Metheringham Music Factory

Jean Dench - Metheringham Music Factory

Jean Dench runs Metheringham Music Factory, a set of rehearsal rooms that she has set up herself, converted from stables in the heart of rural Lincolnshire. It's a relatively new project that Jean hopes will go from strength to strength. Here she talks about her inspiration and aspirations...

'Ok. I was recently interviewed on local BBC radio and thought what is so exciting about me!!!! But every which way I turn, it seems to be to music. My father particularly (and my mum at church) played piano and with his brothers and friends had a dance band way, way back - always practising piano.

From foetus onwards therefore I was surrounded by music - saxophone, double bass, pianoaccordian, drums. All through my childhood, duets were being rehearsed for festivals, singers were being accompanied, Beethoven sonatas etc. rang in my ears.

As a teenager in the sixties I had the luxury of going to dances when discos had not been thought of. I danced the night away to live bands - the strings being stretched, the saliva on the singer's lips, the sweat on their brows, the sticks being raised above the drums and cymbals. And we did dance 'cos that's what girls did!

Then onto concerts and additionally the regular visits by the Halle to the Cathedral in Lincoln - WOW!! cello solos - How that touches the depths of your soul in generally a sort of melancholic way but not unacceptable. If I listen to something like Mozart's Flute and Harp, I enjoy the intake of breath the flautist takes at the end of phrasing and such.

I could ask my father to play anything for me like turning on a record player - Chopin etc. etc. Don't I go on!!!

I became involved with a guy about ten years ago who wanted to fulfil a dream of having a studio and rehearsal rooms. I wanted to help him with that dream, but he was just a dreamer and he drained my spirit and I had to send him away.

This was four years ago and with a heavy heart I turned back to music and began to heal. I met up with friends on my way back to happiness and in particular a band called The Saved.

They needed gigs and I spent three years with them travelling around to gigs.

Simultaneously, I started work on converting some stables into a rehearsal room and applied for planning permission to do this and more - which I now have. I re-mortgaged my house and also cleared some land on the site and set up a five van campsite.

I built a soundproofed room and have had to slow down through funds running out, until I start to make a decent living. The rehearsal rooms are busy enough but obviously its early days so I am publicising the place.

Its like paradise here, surrounded by open countryside. There is a calmness about the place - barn owls and little owls nest in my field. I see the full sunsets - not sure about sunrises, I don't like to get up too early! Very inspirational.

So the bands come along - I love 'em. I offer support - give them a bit of help in getting gigs etc. If they ask, I sit in and comment on their tunes - suggest harmonies where I think the vocals need thickening up etc. I am getting gigs now for a new sleaze band, Knock Out Kaine - again it's the beginning of a new phase in my business.

I`ve tried getting a studio in down here - but that didn't work, so I have contacts with mobile set-ups and that works. I could talk for England but won't, cos there's work to be done. But thanks for being interested. You know I went to the Mill at Mansfield recently and this is typical of me, the band I supported (Nightvision) played so well that at the end of the first song, I just had to scream with delight.

I am 57 going on 17. Still live to the max. Don't drink or smoke or do drugs but get a huge kick out of life.

And most of all I have three beautiful daughters, who are my friends in all this and one gorgeous almost edible grandson who is six months old now. I hope he will catch the music thing from me. And then I shall really be happy'

PS.Just joined up with Del Hardie to promote bands etc. etc. and source ROCK HAVEN with some sh*t hot rock bands.

email: jeanius@musicandleisure.fsnet.co.uk

Web: www.metheringhammusicfactory.co.uk

MySpace: www.myspace.com/jeanius_music

Metheringham Music Factory

A place where everyone wins

Originally published on thisisull.com Used with consent from Jean Dench (author)

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