Highlights/Low Lights: 2011

This time of year there are so many people looking back on what has gone by whilst simultaneously planning the last few weeks of the year. There are so many reasons to rush about in a seasonal haze and and besides the obvious (unless your name is Scrooge) gift collecting, cupboard filling and endless parties it's important not to forget that there is are still lots of culture and music happening. And what better way to celebrate this than a chat with some creative people of various disciplines about their thoughts on this past year? I pestered a large number of people and got some great responses. You can see mine towards the end... 

Stealing Sheep:

Highs//We loved our European tour with our fave local band All We Are, it was a really good journey and great gigs, supporting Emmy the Great for her UK tour was mega too! Really enjoyed releasing our first Japanese album with Cocoheart and signing to Heavenly. Hearing our record on 12" was a particular highlight and childhood dream, all in all it's been a great year!

Lows//we were invited on to Jools Holland but couldn't do it because we had already confirmed a show in London however we really enjoyed the gig and hopefully we'll be invited again. 

Resolution//Always be friendly and don't be greedy!

Mashemon:

Highs//Getting Andy Fernihough into the band, doing some great gigs in Next To Nowhere and our final gig of the year in Mello Mello. Lots of songs written, some recorded and released into the wild. 2011 was great. 

Lows//Unfortunately they were numerous and wide ranging from the political to the personal. 2011 was shit.

Resolution//I'll be boring and say be kinder and take control of your life. Not sure quite what that entails so if I find out I'll tell you next year. 

Anna di Scala:

Highs//My biggest exhibition I've had in Liverpool; my paint works rocketed up in price; I got contacts and commisions - more so than I thought I would!

Lows//Being honest, I've been on a high all year. One thing has lead to anotherand I've never stopped being honest! I've been doing sketches in between to keep me going so theres been no downs - evyhthing has gone up!


Resolution//To love everyone! If everyone loved everybody it'd be a lot easier...

Kevin Paton:

Highs//High for me has been several fold. I always try to make sure life is progressing and that i take the time to appreciate it.Watching my two beautiful daughters blossoming into amazing young people is an on going blessing that makes life so fabulous.In work I have been doing regular sessions in Alderhey hospital. It's a story telling and music project developed by drama therapist Louise Hickey. In itself it's a great project but for me the results we've been getting with music as a healing tool has been mind blowing and very rewarding.

Lows//The lows I don't like to dwell on but it has been a tough year. As with many people the recession has bitten into my work so money is tight and finding paid gigs is definitely getting harder. I've spent large chunks of this year renovating the house we live in which is both incredibly rewarding to have created a great living and working space but also takes me to the limits of my stamina, skills and resolve. It also seems to be an endless task that may never end which is a depressing thought if I allow myself to go there.

The world has arrived at a crucial place where things could get a whole lot worse and it is a place of our own making. The planet has finite resources and cannot maintain our growing thirst for more. So many things we chase after we don't need and often doesn't bring us happiness when we have it. These hard times may be the catalyst we need to reassess what we hunger for and why, what brings us true contentment and what is expensive diversions that truth.

to try and believe in myself more. I've always struggled with self doubt. It's can be a strength when it makes me work harder to be the best I can be. More often it stops my dreams from being realised. So 2012 is the year I accept my greatness and invite the world to enjoy my achievements.

Kepi Ghoulie:

"Hello! It's Kepi writing with the highs and lows of 2011 for me! Well, I have adventures every day, so here are a few: I got to make a new record, one of the best of my career I think: "I Bleed Rock n Roll" on Asian Man records! And I got to play with one of my all time heroes David Johansen, and I got to play bass for Chixdiggit's 20th Anniversary tour across Canada, and I got to make TWO new records with Vic Ruggiero and and and.... :) A low point was getting my phone and wallet stolen, but even that had good parts: It was at a Frustrators/Phenomenauts show that rocked, and It forced me to get an I-phone... Oh yeah, my entire house got flooded while I was on the east coast, but again, I lost very little and was recording with Vic Ruggiero, so who cares?"

Resolution//Let's rock and have the best 2012 ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seba:

Highs//All manner of highs including seeing the show from Ani diFranco at The Lowry, being teased by Courtney Pine at The Capstone, co-organising Smiles For Japan at CUC, an invasion by Dismembered Empire, wondering around said venue endlessly during Threshold 2011, the sheer amount of good music that crossed my ears in the last quarter of the year, the excellent Killing 2 and much more besides!

Lows//Natural disasters across the world especially that of Japan, the loss of so many facets of Liverpool's creative scene including Art in Liverpool, CUC and Object of Dreams Magazine especially. Our gradual regression to Victorian times under Mr Cameron has especialy worried me but overall the lows have been few and the highs abundant.

Resolution//I could make many and break twice as much as that in a half day but some basic resolutions include eat healthily, never give up on what you desire and create often whatever it is that you create.