Chapter 19
Willow smiled at Malcolm’s statement.
“I told you that there were others who can take our place. Now, tomorrow, there will be at least twenty others. What’s the chance of putting on some food, even something light, between the end of the recording and the time that the choir get here.”
“It will be simple. I could do pie and chips, sausage and chips, egg and chips or chips on their own. With some bread and marge, you could always make chip butties.”
“That sounds good. If there’s any extra cost, let me know. I’m feeling really good about the recordings tomorrow. Offer them the food for free, I’m good for it.”
“I realise that, now. I just heard you telling that Rick how many albums you’ve sold at a tenner each. That’s serious money.”
“It’s serious enough for Maisie and Gina moving into a modern house on Birmingham Road in a couple of weeks. I’m looking for commercial property. It’s been brilliant, but who knows how long it will last.”
“After seeing those two sets of yours, I expect that it could be years.”
Willow laughed.
“I don’t know if I can last the pace. Anyway, I’m off now, see you in the morning.”
She walked out of the club, seeing that the boys must have been picked up. She walked home, thinking about the day. She had to grin when she thought about what her mother would say about Racheal’s admission. She wasn’t home long before Wendy arrived. Together, they worked to make dinner, with Wendy having to sit down when she was told about Racheal’s night of passion. When Ashley got home, they had dinner and Willow had to tell them about the three bands and waxed lyrical amount the new equipment.
She needed to go to bed early and was asleep quickly.
On Wednesday morning, she was up early and ready to go, even before her parents left for work. She was at the club at nine-thirty and had to wait five minutes for Malcolm to turn up. He opened up, and she went through and turned on the lights in the back room. She was up on the stage, switching on the equipment, when Bruce walked in.
“I see that I didn’t beat you as I thought I would. You must be excited about today.”
“I am, Bruce. I just hope it all goes to plan. Can you help by tidying a few tables that we used yesterday, we normally have casuals in after the weekend, but will have to make-do now.”
He collected up the empty glasses and bottles, putting them on the bar, while she made sure that all was ready. Xavier and the others came in with the equipment. He pulled two DVDs out of his pocket.
“A little something, just for you. It’s the two sessions that the band did, just the vision that Dave took with the sound. It will be interesting to see if you do better. Everything from yesterday was as good as it could be. I’ve transferred all of the raw material to a remote drive, including the memory cards, so we’re clear to start fresh.”
She left him to set up, as the magazine reporter had walked in. Willow went over to greet her, and the others that were with her.
“Hello, Willow. You’ve met my photographer, he doesn’t have his usual camera, as requested. This lady is the editor of our main office, and the other lady is a reporter from our adult magazine. I believe that the choir that you’re training will be in later. Will it be all right if we stay for that?”
“Not a problem. Malcolm is putting on some basic food today. We don’t usually serve food on weekdays, but he has pies, sausages, eggs and enough chips to feed the five thousand. Find yourselves somewhere to sit, Malcolm can get you drinks and crisps.”
The bands started turning up and the noise in the room rose. The TV crew came in and Willow welcomed them, telling them to find seats near the back. Mister Bamborough arrived with the Head and Miss Russell. Willow acted like a hostess, told them about the food situation and to sit at the back. She went up on the stage as Zara came in with her mother, followed by Tom and a teenage girl. She looked around and saw that everyone was here and stood in front of the stage.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Stoneleigh Club. This morning, I ask you to remain silent while we record our three bands. Each one will be playing a set of around a dozen songs, and our tech crew of Dave and Frank on cameras, and Xavier on the recording desk, will make sure that the sets are good to create audio CDs and video DVDs afterwards. Those in the media will be able to receive a DVD each, but please talk to me before using any video or stills from the raw material. The results will form the basis of new albums, so consider that you have an advance screening and should hold back until the albums are up on the websites. Each band will let you know where to look. The first band are all fourth formers at the Blue Coat School. They will do one song for a sound check and then we’ll record. A clapper board is used to synchronise the audio and visuals, so no talking until the set is finished. Welcome our first band, G-Force and Zara.”
Geoff and the others gave her a smile as they went on stage, made the changes that they wanted, and looked towards Xavier, who nodded. They played a Fleetwood Mac number that Willow had heard them play in the school rehearsal room. When Xavier nodded to Frank, the clapper came down and they started with Zara singing, then alternated between her on vocals and the others with their other new material. At the end of fourteen songs, they relaxed, and the spectators gave them some applause. Willow went up to stand next to Zara.
“I’m sure that the media will have some questions. We do have time for you to ask whatever has come into your heads.”
She arbitrated as the magazine, the TV, and Bruce asked questions. When that had run out of steam, the band left the stage. Willow went back to the microphone.
“There are some of you that have heard of our next band. They had a runaway success with a video that went viral two months ago. Since then, they have been laying low and writing original material. Please welcome Rick Sacks and the Hikers.”
As she left the stage, she could see the magazine editor on her phone. She sat with her band and watched as the Hikers got themselves ready. Rick walked up to the microphone.
“Before we play anything, I would like to thank Willow Rose for allowing us this opportunity to play this morning. Willow supplied the overdub of the church organ for our first, and only, hit so far. The organ on the audio is across the road in the church, and it turned an ordinary song into a world-wide hit. We will give you an up-to-date version this morning, but everything else is new material. Thank you for listening.”
They played the second-best song from the original album as their sound check. Then they went through the process up to the clapper board, starting the set with the stage version of ‘Love and Marriage’, followed by a dozen new tracks. When they relaxed, there was applause as Willow went on stage for question time. This time there were a lot more questions, understandable with the amount of fame that the band had garnered in the two months.
When that had run its course, Willow announced that there would be a break, with a light lunch served from platters that Malcolm was putting out on the bar. As they ate, the two media outlets were organising further interviews with both bands. Willow walked over to the teacher’s table.
“Good to see you this morning, Headmistress.”
“It’s good to be here Willow. I must say that you certainly have some interesting friends. I have heard that viral song but had no idea that it was you that played the organ on it. Funny that the first time you played the organ was with the Gees.”
“I know. Life does throw up mysterious links, doesn’t it?”
Mister Bamborough motioned towards the table where the tech boys were sitting.
“I see that you have the school techs with you. What did they get?”
“It’s pretty much the same kit that the school has, but the latest version. Have a chat with him, after, it takes hours off the post processing.”
“I will, what are Summer Rose going to play? More Carpenters?”
“No, sir. It’s going to be two separate sessions. One is a complete album of new material that I’ve called ‘Journey into Womanhood’. The other is a cover of an American band called Kansas. It’s something that we worked on as Blue Two before the school concert but had to shelve to do the Moody Blues set.”
“Is it loud and proud?”
“In the original, yes. But we keep the sound down to being bearable in a room this size, using some technical aids that they didn’t have in the eighties. In the day, they got the same effect with a bank of two-hundred-watt amps at number ten. We do it with the four small amps on the stage. If you saw the interview with the opera ladies last week, you’re welcome to stay, as they’ll be coming in around six-thirty.”
She left them and went back to her table. Gina grinned.
“So, we have the three most important people from the school here to listen, a TV reporter and a magazine editor. What else can happen?”
“Look towards the door, friend. The man we wanted to surprise has just walked in.”
Peter came over to their table, found a chair and sat beside the girls.
“I came into the village to have a talk with you about your house purchase, Gina. I was told that you were here. What’s going on?”
“We’re here to make some recordings, Peter. You’ve missed the G-Force with some new material that will be well worth your involvement. You’ve only just missed Rick Sacks and the Hikers play a completely new range of songs which is also worth latching on to. Rick is over there, next to his fiancée, and Geoff is there with that blonde girl and her mother. If you ask nicely, I’m sure that they’ll let you have a copy of the audio and video that we’ve already captured. We’ve told them, repeatedly, that you’re the man to make them famous. Don’t let us down. This afternoon, we’ll be playing a new album of Summer Rose material, written by Willow, and after that, we will play something totally different, which we’re calling the ‘Other side of Summer Rose’.”
He looked around.
“There are two other bands here?”
“Yep, and my Mum is over there if you want to talk about the house. I know nothing, I’m just a little girl.”
“When are you going to be on stage?”
“About another fifteen minutes, when we’ve finished lunch.”
He stood and pulled out his phone, hitting a speed dial. Then moved away.
“What’s the betting that Marcus will be coming in while we’re playing.”
“We could just mingle a bit to slow us down. That will let everyone digest.”
The two of them got up and went over to talk to the magazine people, and then the TV people. Both sets wanted to know when they were playing next. Willow pointed Peter out.
“Unless our manager has something up his sleeve, our next performance is here, Saturday week, where we play honky-tonk piano for a lot of inebriated locals to sing bawdy songs. The next will be two weeks later, at the end of the month, when we’ll also be here, but playing for a dinner dance.”
The door opened and Marcus rushed in.
“Time to get moving, friend.”
They rounded up the rest of the band and went up on the stage. As the others were tuning the guitars, Willow and Gina stood together.
“That was an interesting take-down of Peter, back there, friend.”
“I know, Willow. He just got under my skin, wanting to know the ins and outs of what is my business.”
The rest were ready to play, so they did a Carpenters number as the sound check. Willow spoke into her microphone.
“Please be extra careful to stay silent while we play this set. It will, hopefully, be our next album. Ladies, if you look at the other women who were here yesterday, you will see that they have brought boxes of tissues today. Be warned.”
The clapper came down and they played the album through. Willow winked at Gina when she saw the Head with a tissue to her eyes. It wasn’t every day that you can make the headmistress cry without getting into trouble. The women on the magazine table weren’t far behind in the tissue stakes. Willow thought she saw the photographer use his phone to take a sneak picture of the editor.
When they finished, there was some applause. Willow announced that there would be a Q and A after, but now they would take a comfort break and come back in a few minutes. The band left the stage to get a drink and a pee, with some questions about the set being asked. They all said ‘Later’.
When they were back on stage, Willow made the announcement that the next set was different and was ‘The Other Side of Summer Rose.’
While they played, Willow could see the other band members grooving along, and the Head with a big smile. When they finished, on a high, there was a short break before everyone started talking at once. Willow saw Peter and Marcus in a deep discussion. She announce the Q and A, and they spent a half an hour taking questions and trying to answer them truthfully. At the end, the band left the stage to be approached individually for discussion.
Mister Bamborough went over to Xavier to see what this new equipment did that the school kit didn’t. Peter and Marcus came up to Willow.
“What is all this, Willow? We manage your careers.”
“That’s correct, Peter, but all you’ve done in the last six weeks is manage our money and post stuff. There hasn’t been a whiff of interest in what we wanted to do next. What we set up for today was to give us some material that we can offer to you, without having to go into another city to sit in a pokey studio without any feeling. We will have a digital download of both the audio and the video of both those sets, along with a file that has enough resolution to make a DVD. Our tech guys will post-produce and the finished product will be ours, and nothing to do with the school.”
“So, how come there are these other bands?”
“I did the overdub for Ricks viral hit, and I played with Geoff on the Purple DVD. They’re friends, and they are both bands that need a good manager and a good promoter. I suggested you two, and I know Rick is already thinking of signing, so don’t prove me wrong. I didn’t see any clause in my contract that forced us to stay with you.”
“Haven’t we looked after you? There is the little request that there’s no performances while school’s on.”
“Here I am, with another week and a half of holidays to go. There’s enough time to have put something on, even if it’s just a TV spot. The local station is all sitting on that table, coming along to see this. That reporter from the teen magazine is there with her editor. She turned up at my house thinking that Gina and I were giggling teenies in a ‘manufactured band’. You haven’t covered yourself in glory, you know.”
“I’m not used to be talked to like this by a thirteen-year-old.”
“Then do something, for goodness sake. I’m starting to lose my patience with you, and my patience has a long fuse. Did what we play this afternoon sound like a hit album?”
“Well, yes.”
“Then pull your finger out. It has been suggested that we play as a dance band and the school would be happy to go along with that. Book a function room with a stage and we’ll be there. Make it Easter Saturday and I’m your girl. Other Saturdays until June are pretty much taken up, mainly playing here. From the end of July, we’re on holiday. I was hoping that you had something in mind. A suggested itinerary would be nice. There are two bands in this room who could round out the bill. You don’t even have to look any further than your nose. I won’t say anything to the others about this conversation if I start seeing emails telling us of suggested plans. Right?”
Marcus laughed.
“She has you there, Pete. I’ve been asking about booking something, but you’ve been dragging your feet. Why?”
“It’s working with someone so young, that’s the problem. We’ll have everyone looking over our shoulders.”
“You’ve just been totally ambushed by that ‘young girl’ Pete. I can see her tearing a new anus in anyone who suggested that she’s being mistreated. Take her advice. Let’s get both these bands on the books and send them out to the world this summer. I can think of a dozen places where they’ll be welcomed.”
Peter put his hand out to Willow.
“Pax, Willow. I’ve been scared of upsetting the school and the do-gooders. I see the Head over there. I’ll start by talking to them. Marcus, can you round up the leaders of the other bands and see what they intend to do. I’ll catch up with you.”
Willow took his hand.
“I’ll introduce Marcus around, Peter. He’ll be safe with me.”
“I’m glad someone is.”
As Peter walked away, Marcus looked down at Willow and grinned.
“That was what he needed. Sometimes he has about as much imagination as this table. Introduce me to your gig buddies.”
She took him to Rick first, introduced them and told Rick that Marcus professed to be able to arrange shows but that the only thing he had arranged, so far, was a recording studio. Marcus laughed.
“I deserved that one. Peter isn’t the only one who needs to get his finger out.”
He gave Rick his card, and they agreed on a time and place for a meeting with the whole band to talk about how they wanted to move further. Then, Willow took him to speak to Geoff and Zara.
“Geoff is someone I’ve seen on the school video, but Zara, you are new to me. Can I see anything that you’ve done.”
“If you saw Geoff in the concert, I played cello with Willow in the first act. For what we did today, you’ll have to wait until we get the recording.”
Willow got up and went over to Xavier, who was showing a very interested teacher the glories of the new software.
“Excuse me, sir. Xavier, do you still have that file with Zara that you did for us yesterday?”
“Yes, it doesn’t take up enough room to delete.”
“Can you please bring your laptop over to where she’s sitting and show it to her and the older guy she’s talking to, sorry sir, this won’t take long.”
“Not a problem, Willow. I would like to see what this new program can put out.”
They went back to the other table.
“Marcus, I believe that you may have met Mister Bamborough before. This young man is Xavier, who does the sound and post-production for the school concerts. Yesterday, as a demonstration, he did a quick job on one of Zara’s songs to show us how easy the system is. You can see how good Zara is from that.”
Xavier found the file and played the song on full screen. When Marcus watched it, her singing reminded him of Adele, and the band behind her was a tight as any he had heard. When the clip finished, Geoff was the first to speak.
“If that was a quick demo job, I’m looking forward to seeing what a DVD is going to look like.”
Marcus nodded.
“Just on that clip alone, I’m prepared to have you on stage. If I can organise a hall, would you and Summer Rose be prepared to perform in the next few weeks. I’ll work with Willow to get a date that works for her. It will be in Coventry, and I’ll try to get Rick and his band on board. Three good local bands with tracks in the charts will be guaranteed to fill the seats. What do you think, Willow?”
“I’ll have a look at the calendar and email you with some clear days, Marcus. We would have to fit a Saturday date between the times we play here and can do a Sunday evening because either Gina or I am playing organ in the Cathedral until five, for another two months.”
Marcus gave both Zara and Geoff his card.
“Give me a call next week before you go back to school. I would like to have a meeting with the whole band to listen to what you want to do. Hopefully, I would have a copy of your set to look at by then.”
Willow left them to it and went over to where Tom and his daughter sat.
“Hello, Tom, and – Sally, I believe.”
Sally jumped up and hugged her.
“OMG! Willow Rose even knows my name! Thank you so much for the pendant. I only take it off to shower. I could have kicked myself for missing seeing you the other night, but what I saw today was literally awesome! That set you played had me crying in the beginning but was so positive in the end. When will I be able to buy it?”
“That depends on our manager, who is over there talking to two of the teachers at school. He will organise to put it on the website after he has made the first batch of CDs and DVDs. Could be a couple of weeks. Are you staying for the choir?”
Tom answered for them.
“We’re staying, if only to let Sally see what her father does for a living in the Cathedral. You’re on again this Sunday, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m in at the usual time on Saturday. I have to go into the city with my parents for us to all get something for two weddings. I’ll be standing next to Racheal when she marries Rick, and Jacob will be the Best Man.”
“Two weddings?”
“The Sunday after, I play the church organ for Cassie and Terry, over at the church, and then we’re playing here for the reception.”
“Anyone I should know?”
“They don’t live around here anymore. Cassie’s ancestors used to own the Stoneleigh Abbey, and Terry is a viscount. Bruce Miller will be writing about them in the Observer. Now, if you’re staying, Malcolm will be putting on simple meals, mainly chips with something else. We don’t cook on weekdays, usually, but there are others who want to hang around to speak to the choir, mainly the editor of a woman’s magazine, and Bruce Miller.’
“I’ll go and talk to Bruce. I’ll leave Sally in your hands.”
“OK. Sally, how about I introduce you to the others.”
She took Sally’s hand and took her around the room, introducing her to the rest of Summer Rose, as well as what members of the other two bands had remained. When they got to Geoff and Zara, Willow introduced them.
“Sally, if you saw the concert from the Cathedral on the TV on Christmas Eve, Zara was in the choir that night.”
“And you were standing beside me after you came down from the organ. That was a real experience.”
Sally put her hand to her mouth.
“I wasn’t at home, but round a friend’s house. Her parents had the show on, and it sucked us in. Are you telling me that you played that fantastic organ piece. Willow, and then joined the choir for the last part. It was so uplifting, we all cried. Not as much as I did today, though.”
Zara laughed.
“Willow made Miss Russell and the Headmistress cry today. Those two may never have cried in their lives before. I’ll carry the vision with me for a long time but will never bring it up. The Head can wield a lot of power. Have you heard anything about the May concert, Willow?”
“Just that the date is locked in. I expect that we’ll be told in the orchestra session.”
“Just so, my friend. We’re the workers, we’re always the last to know.”
“Well, Zara. Here’s a little snippet for you to think about, so that you’re not surprised when it’s mentioned. The Bishop has floated the idea of the school doing The Messiah at Christmas. I don’t know if the Head will agree, but, if she does, it’s going to be a hell of a lot of work in our first term.”
“Amen to that, Willow.”
Marianne Gregory © 2025