A charity which uses live music to improve the lives of people who are learning disabled has secured a new residency at a popular live music venue in the town.
Electric Umbrella (EU) is a registered charity based in Watford, Hertfordshire which use music and song to bring joy to the lives of learning disabled people, and in doing so challenge perceptions.
The charity, which has secured a monthly slot to perform at The Horns pub in Watford, will have sessions on the second Tuesday of every month and will be hosted by professional musicians.
Everyone is invited to go along and join the sessions - doors open at 8.30pm and entry is free.
The Horns sessions will give members the opportunity to meet friends and family for social interaction and perform with professional musicians, sing along and play musical instruments.
The Hertfordshire based charity was set up five years ago by Mel Boda and Tom Billington.
Members regularly say they feel left behind by society and marginalised. Many of them have also experienced discrimination and say they could achieve far more than what’s expected of them, if given the right opportunities.
EU creative director and co-founder Tom Billington said: “It’s fantastic that The Horns is getting behind this project, it feels brilliant to be doing this after being online for the past 18 months.
“Being in person is a completely different experience because we can see if we’ve made the right song choice or if we’re going at the right pace and respond faster in a way that the digital world doesn’t allow.
“A huge part of what we do at Electric Umbrella is about being together, being united and singing with one voice which is much easier when we are all in the same place.
“These sessions are a great opportunity for people to be together again and show the world how amazing they are through the power of music.”
The next events at The Horns take place on Tuesday, October 19, November 16 and December 14 at 8pm.
For more information visit: electricumbrella.co.uk/LIVEGIGS
Electric Umbrella has also launched a campaign to collect a thousand unwanted musical instruments to be donated by Christmas.
The launch of '1,000 Instruments Challenge' will see instruments being re-purposed or repaired to be used by members of the EU and some will be sold to raise money for ongoing work.
Electric Umbrella would also be grateful if any schools, workplaces or other organisations could act as a collection point for donated instruments and become a ‘Donation Station’.
If interested email instruments@electricumbrella.co.uk
To donate a musical instrument visit: www.electricumbrella.co.uk/1000
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