It's OTMMM - The OneTrackMinds Mad Marathon!
What were we thinking? Seriously though - WHAT WERE WE THINKING???
Hello friends! It’s show week! Again! Yes, not a fortnight has passed since our last shows at Wilton’s, but here we are, prepping for a record-breaking three shows in two days. What were we thinking?
Will there be time for us to sleep between the shows? It’s unlikely.
Will there be time for us to have a shower at least? Perhaps.
Will there be fifteen new stories about life-changing songs, by some of the most fantastic and charismatic storytellers around? You’re goddam right there will be!
As you know, we’d normally pepper the newsletter with some cultural recommendations for movies and books and records we’ve enjoyed, and fill up the rest of the space with news about the exciting achievements of our growing list of OneTrackMinds alumni… however, given the sheer avalanche of talent barrelling its way towards Wilton’s Music Hall this Friday and Saturday, we thought we’d focus instead on our lineup of fabulous speakers.
So, without further ado…
We kick things off with award-winning composer Matthew Herbert. A pivotal British artist since the ‘90s, his extensive body of work spans film scores, avant-garde composition, and iconic dance tracks. Known for transforming everyday sounds into music, Herbert's creative ethos revolves around converting any sound into music that resonates with relatable concepts. Despite his extensive engagement with orchestration, it's his electronic music that garners global acclaim, ranging from micro-house to collaborations with artists like Björk.
Then prepare to blast off with an actual, proper, real-life astronaut Meganne Christian. A member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group and Reserve Astronaut at the UK Space Agency, she served as a materials scientist at CNR in Bologna, Italy, working on graphene-based nanocomposites. She also worked as an atmospheric physicist at Concordia Station in Antarctica, contributing to the EU's Graphene Flagship. Meganne became the UK Space Agency's Reserve Astronaut and Exploration Commercialisation Lead. She’s already told her OTM story at WOMAD festival, and it was so good we wanted to bring her to you all in London.
Then we have another polymath, Anna Bogutskaya. A London-based author, film critic, and creative producer, known for co-founding feminist horror collective The Final Girls and programming for film festivals like Edinburgh International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. Formerly with the British Film Institute, she curated diverse seasons and initiated the Woman With A Movie Camera Summit. Her writing appears in BBC Culture, The Guardian, NME, and more. Fluent in English, Spanish, Russian, and French, I was recognized in 2019 as a Screen International Future Leader in Curation. Her first book, Unlikeable Female Characters is out now.
Staying in the world of Film, our fourth guest on Friday will be director Alicia MacDonald. Renowned for pioneering natural performance comedy, Alicia clinched Silver at the British Arrows 2022, Gold at the Cannes Lions YDA's and NDA's, and earned Best New Director at Kinsale Sharks. Her TV credits include The Outlaws (BBC), Pure (Netflix), Flack (Amazon Prime), and Sisters (AMC, 2023). With an infectious energy and humor Alicia is currently developing her first feature film.
And finally, we’re delighted to be hosting the actor Tom Edden is no stranger to the silver screen, making notable appearances in Cinderella (2015), Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) and Mr. Turner (2014). If you saw the original run of One Man Two Guvnors in London, you’ll surely remember his show-stealing turn as the accident prone waiter. A delightful fellow, and a wonderful storyteller, we can’t wait to hear his story about the song that changed his life.
Saturday 3rd February - Matinee
Our first ever Matinee show kicks off with the vivacious joys of prize-winning Scottish poet and author, Michael Pedersen. His most recent collection of poems, The Cat Prince & Other Poems, won Best Poetry Book at the 2023 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, and had its title poem shortlisted for the Forward Prizes for Poetry. His prose debut, Boy Friends, was a Sunday Times Critics Choice and shortlisted for Best Non-Fiction at the Saltire Scottish National Book Awards. Alongside this, he has won a Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship and the John Mather's Trust Rising Star of Literature Award.
Then, actor Natalie Gumede who, you’ll have surely seen on Corrie, Strictly Come Dancing, or Emmerdale, and so will know that you’re being treated to an incredibly talented and engaging human being.
Kristian and I saw the author Yasmin Alibhai Brown debate the relevance of the monarchy when we took the show to Wilderness Festival last summer. If you were there, you would understand why we’re so excited to include her in Saturday’s line-up.
Our first Hidden Tracks slot of the weekend will be filled by the fabulous Nina Gotua, a graduate of our most recent batch of workshops, and we’re delighted to welcome back the fabulous James Rowland - show-stopper at our last show on January 20th - whose stepping in at the last minute to replace a late dropout.
Saturday 3rd February - 7:30pm (assuming we’re still alive…)
Award winning singer-songwriter Jack Garratt is the heart, the brains and the voice behind Phase as well as Love, Death and Dancing. He certainly knows a thing or two about powerful songs. And he’ll be sharing a story about a proper banger with you all on Saturday night.
If you’ve laughed during Have I Got News For You, Newzoids and Nevermind the Buzzcocks,chances are it’s partly thanks to fabulously-bearded writer and comedian John-Luke Roberts. He writes on the hit international podcast International Waters, and is the creator and writer of BBC Radio’s Spats. His sitcom Bull aired on UKTV Gold and starred Robert Lindsay and Maureen Lipman.
Our Hidden Tracks graduate on Saturday evening will be spiritual life-coach Jade Bovingdon. She was inspired to share her incredible story with us after seeing Denise Gough do the same last year. Fair warning - come armed with plenty of tissues.
Comedy producer Vivienne Egan will be your fourth guest – and has an absolutely terrific story about love, heartbreak and revenge, that you won’t want to miss…
And then, to wrap things up, we’re delighted to be welcoming back our old friend, Steve Chapman (aka Stevexoh). He’s stepping in to save us from another late dropout, but as a two-time veteran of the show, we know he’s going to be fantastic.
That’s it from us – please come along on Friday or Saturday; or Friday AND Saturday! It’s a mini-OneTrackMinds Festival, and you won’t want to miss any of it. Tickets are available here - and you can still get a lovely big discount by using the code OTMCast at checkout.
We’ll be back on Monday with a full report! Until then,
AS x
It’s the most stunning, raw, rollercoaster of emotions. Thank you