La Violette Società 36
It started on 4 March 2016 when Helen Caddick and Cantia Quorum's classical piano and horn quartet performed Bright Planet, followed by the solo loop pedal frenzy Mersey-delta bluesman Edgar Jones followed by the ever-mercurial Michael Head delicately leading the latest incarnation of the Red Elastic Band/orchestra through the hits and more.
What struck me the most was the diversity of the lineup, which sparked deep appreciation from the audience. Did we just see a typical rock audience captivated and silenced by a classical quartet they hadn't expected? Could the performers have appeared in any order without affecting the outstanding quality of the event? Did all these performances really take place on the same stage on the same evening? Were all the artists exhilarated by their involvement in what transpired? And were they all adequately rewarded for their contributions? To me, it was the perfect event.
This thought brought me back to a conversation I had years earlier with Nathan McGough. He and Arthur McDonald, a situationist, impulsively set up Plato's Ballroom. This Wednesday night urban cabaret featured bands, conceptual artists, films, and more, all held at the faded Mr Pickwicks off London Road in Liverpool. The venue was free to hire on a quiet night, provided you could fill it. Each event featured unique artwork, highlighting the importance of the artwork itself.
I suggested to PJ Smith that we should try something different instead of the usual format where a small band is followed by a bigger one and then a big band, each attracting a larger audience, spending more time on stage, and taking a bigger share of the earnings. This predictable and uninspired approach to events with no imagination or promotional effort.
Let's turn the concept upside down: no headliners, no fixed format, equal time for all, and profits shared equally. Engage the audience and take them on a brief journey.
PJ said "Yeah, that could work" as he does. And he made it work.
Within a fortnight, we had hired staff, booked the venue, designed the artwork, quietly sold out, and hosted our first event. La Violette Società was born, named after a semi-fictional all-female terrorist faction. Since then, we've staged thirty-five more events. They occur every other month on that dreadful Tuesday night just before payday. Each one has been unique and brilliant, and now, every event is a sell-out.
Last night's event featured a wonderful poet, a slutty comedian (her words, not mine), a band of charming Parisians, an assertive rock trio from Halifax, and PJ Smith himself staging a screenplay read-through with two actors. And then there was a young fella who got up for two minutes to share his creativity with an audience for the first time. No fuss, pure talent. It reminded me of our origins and how proud I am that we've remained faithful to our original idea, which continues to just resonate with everyone in the room.