Raven’s Stephen Joseph Theatre concert on 11th May is their official 20th anniversary retrospective. They are also notably the first band that Yorkshire Coast Gigs have interviewed twice – our first time being some 11 years ago. So, what has changed for them in that time, almost half their band lifespan ago now?
First, it might help to remind ourselves a little about the group. This six-strong group essentially started with Sarah Dew and Karen Chalmers, who had both been in other bands and wanted to sing with other women. They brought in a few others and in 2005 Raven – with Jaye Lewis, Nia Davidson, Pat Edmond and Sally Lidgley alongside the aforementioned – was in full flight.
All members provide vocals, but over the years each member has played a range of hand percussion and instruments and in some case acquired new skills over their tenure. Karen plays keyboard, piano accordion, recorder; Sarah the keyboard, penny whistle, bass guitar; Nia provides ukulele and recorder; Pat performs on guitar, bass, recorder; Sally adds drums and Jaye plays on tenor recorder, flute and accordion. During any performance they will reform and reassemble throughout, varying the arrangement and keeping things moving!
Some of their major projects in this time have included 3 distinct collaborations with Animated Objects, Scarborough-based creators of large-scale theatrical and arts events. These projects were The Song of Leviathan, Orpheus the Mariner and The Odyssey. Being commissioned by Animated Objects to write various songs, Karen and Sarah, as the songwriters, found that their individual styles suited different pieces, and as is the case for much of the group’s own work, wrote their songs separately before bringing them to the group.
They have had some terrifically busy periods over the years, topping over twenty concerts in one year; they practise every week, something they even managed to maintain throughout lockdown – some memorable practises in the rain, in their gardens! It is this that leads to the question as to whether the group feels, especially after twenty years, that it is as much a part of the social and emotional health of its members as it is about the pleasure of performing. Both Karen and Sarah lead community choirs outside of Raven, and agree that singing definitely boosts wellbeing.
So what can ardent fans and followers expect from the SJT gig? They don’t want to give away the setlist, but the concert will be a journey through Raven’s twenty years! The audience will hear the first songs that Karen and Sarah ever wrote for the group, right through to brand new songs of 2025.
It is fair to say that they do perform occasional covers, and indeed some of their set list comprises of arrangements, based on traditional folk songs and occasionally medieval works – though this is perhaps one of the main changes in their output. As a rule, the medieval songs are generally no longer part of a set – but for the retrospective, for the long term fans, there will be some reprisals of old favourites, such as Salva Nos by the Mediaeval Baebes, a song in Latin with lots of percussion.
The set will no doubt highlight how their style has evolved over the years, as well as showing how their songs can sometimes start as one genre then morph into something else, such as when a calming refrain can become something up-tempo – Sarah cites In the Blink of an Eye as an example of this. With seven albums-worth of material to choose from, or somewhere near eighty songs in the mix, they note that it was very hard to refine down the set list and took several meetings, physically weeding out lists of songs across a kitchen table!
Sarah and Karen bring their individual songs to the band, usually with all the parts scored and ready to sing. Over weeks, the songs will be tweaked through rehearsals. Sarah tends to love ‘crunchy chords and challenging sounds’, sometimes incorporating spoken word; while Karen tends towards more ethereal sounds, subjects and harmonies. They may not write together but their differing styles complement each other and it is a collaboration that has clearly worked well for them all, for this past twenty years.
They have also totted up that they have played over 180 gigs over the years – that’s not including the Animated Objects events and seven years playing at Grassington Fringe; and regular Christmas concerts, once homed at Woodend but now a regular SJT feature. In fact, one of the things they love is having a ‘seasonal’ répertoire – and whilst the 20th Anniversary celebration will feature a mix from across all types of concert, it is fair to say that they like to fit their songs to the season, venue or event – so don’t expect any two gigs to be the same! With the SJT event being sold out, their next outing is soon after, as part of Big Ideas by the Sea Festival – and they are clear that this will be a very different set again to the SJT concert. So whether you missed out on the anniversary gig, or do have tickets – you can attempt to get along to St Mary’s Church on Saturday 24th May for another fantastic concert with Raven.
Beyond twentieth birthday celebrations, what do the Ravens see for the future? There will be an outdoor concert in South Cliff Gardens, and they intend to keep writing, recording, doing lovely gigs, trying to get some radio play. They hope that they are able to inspire people to get out and join a choir – for so many positive effects it can have – acknowledging themselves that in twenty years, their own lives have changed, life stages have changed, their friendship and support has inspired each other – and if that’s one part of a recipe for twenty years of consistent popularity and performance, then it sounds magical.
Images taken during rehearsals in the Stephen Joseph Theatre’s McCarthy Auditorium.
Links:
Sarah Dew runs two ‘small, gorgeous, joyous’ choirs: Global Voices (the SJT Community Engagement Choir) meeting at St Saviour’s Church and The Garden Choir, meeting at Beeforth’s Hive. Find out more about this and some of Sarah’s other projects at www.sarahdewmusicsoundword.com
Karen Chalmers runs Village Voices Choir, and creates Songs for Schools – find her on YouTube as K C MUSIC Songs and Stories https://www.youtube.com/@kcmusic503 and Karen Chalmers Music https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHZy-CYUcnKNUesKAKdNbxw
As it stands, the Stephen Joseph Theatre concert is sold out, but for more information or to look up future events, visit www.sjt.uk.com
Big Ideas by the Sea Festival takes place from 16th to 30th May; Raven perfrom at St Mary’s Church on Saturday 24th May at 7.30pm. For the full programme, tickets and more information, visit Big Ideas by the Sea.
