The Singing Kettle
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| The Singing Kettle | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kingskettle, Scotland |
| Genres | Folk music, Comedy music, Children's songs |
| Years active | 1982–2015 |
| Labels | Kettle Productions |
| Associated acts | Motormark, FANGS, Funbox |
| Website | http://www.singingkettle.com |
| Past members | Cilla Fisher Artie Trezise Gary Coupland Jane Fisher Kevin McLeod Hannah McConnell |
| Notable instruments | |
| Accordion, Keyboard, Trombone, Guitar | |
The Singing Kettle were a folk music group who were well known for performing traditional children's songs with a distinctly Scottish flair.
Contents
Career
Husband and wife Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise started touring as a folk singing duo in the mid-1970s.
The group name "The Singing Kettle" came about in 1982. Their first venture under this title was a children's album, featuring everything from traditional Scottish rhymes to songs learned on their folk tour of the USA. For certain tracks, real children were used, including their daughter Jane, creating the first set of "Kettle Kids".
The idea came of turning "The Singing Kettle" album into a show, as they were unimpressed by other, few, children's theatre shows at the time. The show toured to primary schools, with the idea of clues for songs found inside kettles, and for this they recruited their friend, musician Gary Coupland. The touring show eventually developed into a more plot-led piece of musical theatre and they began performing in large scale theatres across the country. Over the years the Singing Kettle have presented their own specially written shows including The Boogie Woogie Zoo, The Time Machine, Pirates, Wild West Show, Medieval Madness, World Tour, Funny Farm, and Homemade Band. Additionally some of their shows have raised awareness of important topics, notably road safety (Busy Road Show), good dental hygiene (Tooth Happy Songs) and pollution (one of the Adventures in Kettleland episodes).
They were joined for a time by Cilla and Artie's daughter, Jane, who left to be in the electro band Motormark, replaced by Kevin McLeod – the former company stage manager. In 2003 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings released The Singing Kettle: Singalong Songs from Scotland, the group's first recording to be widely distributed outside the United Kingdom.[1]
Alongside being performers, The Singing Kettle sang the theme song to a Scottish TV series for children, cartoon programme Meeow!, which ran from 2000–2002. Meeow! was latterly shown on wknd@stv in 2009.
Aside from their several albums of traditional children's music, The Singing Kettle has also released several DVDs and made five television series with BBC Scotland and two television series with Scottish Television. They also tour regularly throughout the United Kingdom, performing their highly successful stage show. They have performed command performances before both Prince Charles and Jordan's royal family. The three founding members of The Singing Kettle (Cilla, Artie, and Gary) have each been honored with the MBE. There is a Singing Kettle Shop in Kingskettle.
The group announced in October 2012 that they are auditioning for a new permanent member. Later that month they announced that Cilla and Artie were retiring from performing and will continue to work on writing and behind the scenes. Gary and Kevin will be joined by Anya Scott-Rodgers.
In September 2014, the group announced that they will be calling it a day in February 2015 after 32 years.[2] Kevin, Gary and Anya will continue to work together in a group called 'Funbox'.
Cast at Closure
Gary Coupland
Gary Coupland MBE (born 27 March 1964) is the musician for the group. He plays at social functions and weddings, and played for Prince Charles.
He joined "Cilla & Artie" for a Scottish tour thence starting The Singing Kettle.[3]
Gary has been providing entertainment and music for a host of occasions such as weddings, family parties, schools, corporate events, tea dances, ceilidhs, themed nights and cabaret throughout the central area of Scotland for the past twenty five years.
Being the band's accompanist, Gary is well known as The Singing Kettle's own Music Man [4] and he received an MBE in 1999. He is also the patron of Down Syndrome Scotland.
Kevin Macleod
Kevin Macleod (born 9 March 1969) worked as The Singing Kettle's stage manager for years before joinging the group.
Kevin first appeared in the 2001 Christmas tour 'Winter Wonderland' and can be heard on the cassette. This was a cross-over show, that also featured Jane prior to her departure. This was the only time there were 5 members in the show at once.
He later joined the group for their "Jungle Party Tour" in 2002 and has been in the group ever since. Kevin also plays the characters of Jock and Bonzo (and formerly Henry) during the shows.[5]
Anya Scott-Rodgers
Anya Scott-Rodgers (born c. 1987) is the latest recruit in The Singing Kettle. Upon the retirement of Cilla and Artie, as performers in the show, Anya was auditioned from hundreds of applicants from all over the world and became the new face of the Singing Kettle.
Creative Team at Closure
Cilla Fisher
(Songwriter/Producer/Director)
Cilla Fisher MBE (born 26 September 1952) made her musical debut on BBC Radio Scotland at the age of 9. She started performing with Artie in 1974. In the shows, Cilla played the character of Maw. She still occasionally sings solo in pubs and clubs for adults.
Her brother, Archie, and sister, Ray, both made a smash in the folk music industry when they were young.[6]
Artie Trezise
(Producer/Managing Director)
Artie Trezise MBE (born 3 April 1947) left his teaching job to tour in pubs and clubs in Scotland as a folk singer. He started performing with Cilla in 1974. In the shows, Artie played Willie and Jeremy.
In other work, he gives talks to American tourists and Danish school teachers about The Singing Kettle's work.[7]
Former Cast Members
Jane Fisher
Jane Fisher (born c. 1973) is daughter to Cilla and Artie. She had worked as a backing vocalist on some of The Singing Kettle's LP's and albums before joining the group as a front in 1994. She left the band after the "Winter Wonderland Tour" in 2002 to join Motormark and is now in FANGS.
Characters
Willie, Henry and Maw
Willie and Maw (played by Artie Trezise and Cilla Fisher) started during the 90's in "cutaway" scenes from the group on their stage and TV shows. Willie and Maw were highlights of The Singing Kettle's tours until the 2002 line-up change, when Willie's "long lost brother" Henry (played by Kevin Macleod) arrived and Maw was dropped from the shows. Willie and Henry haven't been seen since the "Christmas Pyjama Party Tour" in the 2009/10 Christmas season show.
Bonzo
Bonzo the Dog (played by Kevin Macleod) is the "pet" of the group who first appeared in "The Homemade Band Show" as an angry next door neighbour. After the success of The Homemade Band Show and the interest in the character of Bonzo, he returned for "The Jungle Party" and has been in all the tours since.
Bonzo has become a favourite with The Singing Kettle's fans. He was made into a toy and it was a bestseller in the groups merchandise. A collection of Bonzo's appearances on the tours, along with special recordings was released on DVD in 2005.
Jock and Jeremy
Jock and Jeremy (also played by Artie Trezise and Kevin Macleod) replaced Willie and Henry for the "Boogie Woogie Zoo" tour (and onwards) as two chefs.
TV series
The Television series was commissioned by BBC Scotland after visiting the group performing in Dunfermline in 1988.[8] When Liz Scott the director of the series showed Anna Home BBC Head of Children’s programmes she did not believe it would travel south of the border. She thought it was "too couthie and very Scottish".[9]
BBC produced five series of the Singing kettle, before transferring to Scottish Television.
- The Singing Kettle (for BBC 1989) Only featured the original Band members, Cilla, Gary and Artie
- The Singing Kettle 2 (for BBC 1990) Only featured the original Band members, Cilla, Gary and Artie
- The Singing Kettle 3 (for BBC 1991) Only featured the original Band members, Cilla, Gary and Artie
- The Singing Kettle Christmas Crackers (for BBC 1991) Only featured the original Band members, Cilla, Gary and Artie
- Adventures in Kettle Land with The Singing Kettle (for BBC 1993)
- The Singing Kettle News (for Scottish Television 1995-1998) (this featured Jane)
- The Singing Kettle Show (for Scottish Television 2000-2001) (totally different from the 1989-1993 series, this also featured Jane)
Highlights of all of the series were released on various videos. "Sing all about it" was a follow up to the Singing Kettle News, following the same plotline of the group as roving reporters. However this series was fresher and more updated with a new set etc. compared to the previous series.
Spout, handle, lid of metal
Spout, handle, lid of metal, What's inside the Singing Kettle? was created by Cilla Fisher just before the BBC come to visit the group performed in Dunfermline in 1988, as they believed they needed something for the BBC.[8] The rhyme has been used in every show for selected songs on the playlist, however there have been exceptions. One exception was in the 1991 Christmas Cracker Show for the BBC, where song clues were in giant crackers (with a kettle shaped card attached bearing clues to what is inside) and this sentence was chanted by Cilla and Artie over the Singing Kettle rhyme's backing music (where the children join in is denoted in bold): "Well, there's only one way for us to find out, so as loud as you can... everyone shout... crack the cracker!" However the original rhyme was used in part three of backstage commentary where Artie, Cilla and Gary were retrieving their Christmas presents from Father Christmas, which were placed inside a kettle. Another exception was in the mid-1990s Singing Kettle News show for Scottish Television where the rhyme was used at the end shortly before the closing credits in each episode, to retrieve the newspapers that had been put together that episode.
Discography
- 1979 - Cilla and Artie Topic
- 1982 - The Singing Kettle
- 1985 - The Singing Kettle 2
- 1987 - The Singing Kettle 3
- 1989 - The Singing Kettle 4
In 2009 Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk sung by Cilla from Cilla and Artie was included in Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as track six on the fourth CD.
Live shows
| Year | Title of Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Scotch Broth" (Various venues in Stirling, including Macrobert Arts Centre)[10][11] | |
| 1989 | "The Singing Kettle at Christmas" (Byre Theatre St Andrews) | |
| 1990 | "Down in the Jungle" | |
| "Crackers at Christmas" | ||
| 1991 | "Street Party" | |
| "Inspector Parrot and the Big Green Planet" | ||
| 1992 | "Wild West Show" | |
| 1993 | "The Boogie Woogie Zoo" | |
| "World Tour" | First Live Video in 1994. Loosely based on Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. World Tour logo is resembling the Universal Studios 1920s logo. |
|
| "Christmas Kettle Show" | Exclusive to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall | |
| "Christmas in Kettleland" | Exclusive to Glasgow SECC. | |
| 1994 | "Down in the Jungle" | |
| "Time Machine" | ||
| "Giant Christmas Present" | Exclusive to Glasgow SECC. | |
| 1995 | "Pirates!" | As Seen on Scottish Television. |
| "Christmas Party" | First appearance of Jane. Exclusive to Glasgow SECC. As Seen on Scottish Television. |
|
| 1996 | "Wild West Show" | |
| "Seaside Special" | ||
| "Christmas Wishes" | Exclusive to Glasgow SECC. | |
| 1997 | "Party Time" | |
| "Busy Road Show" | As Seen on Border Television. | |
| "Jingle Bells" | Exclusive to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. | |
| 1998 | "The Big Band Show" | |
| "World Tour" | Remake (1993 show) | |
| "Santa's Musical Workshop" | ||
| 1999 | "Funny Farm" | |
| "Millennium Christmas Party" | ||
| 2000 | "Homemade Band Show" | First appearance of Bonzo. |
| "Pirates at Christmas" | ||
| 2001 | "Pirates!" | Remake (1995 show) |
| "Silly Circus" | ||
| "Winter Wonderland" | Last appearance of Jane and Maw, and first appearance of Kevin [Both appear on Winter Wonderland Cassette] | |
| 2002 | "Jungle Party" | First filmed appearance of Kevin and Henry. |
| "Toytown" | Filmed at His Majesty's theatre Aberdeen | |
| 2003 | "Medieval Madness" | First show released on DVD. |
| "Merry Christmas Show" | Last Christmas show to be released on DVD or Video. | |
| 2004 | "Deep Sea Adventures" | |
| "Santa's Big Surprise" | ||
| 2005 | "Blast Off" | Last show to be released on Video. |
| "Christmas Magic" | ||
| 2006 | "Magic Shop" | |
| "Old MacDonald's Farm" | ||
| "Christmas Wonderland" | ||
| 2007 | "Wild West Show" | Remake (1992 and 1996 show) |
| "Party Time" | remake of the (1997 show) | |
| 2008 | "Pirate Island" | |
| "Christmas Toyshop" | ||
| 2009 | "Magical Toyshop" | |
| "Boogie Woogie Zoo" | First appearance of Jock and Jeremy. Remake (1993 show) |
|
| "Christmas Pyjama Party" | ||
| 2010 | "Pyjama Party" | Last appearance of Willie and Henry. |
| "Calamity Castle" | ||
| "Silly Songs" | ||
| "Pirate Party" | Exclusive to Shetland and Orkney. | |
| "Fun Factory" | ||
| 2011 | "The Funny Farm" | Remake from 1999 |
| "Farmyard Party" / "Pirate Party" | ||
| "Christmas Fancy Dress Party" | ||
| 2012 | "Fancy Dress Party" | |
| "Shake Rattle And Roll" | Final filming appearance of Cilla & Artie | |
| "Fairytale Christmas" / "Fairytale Castle" | Last appearance of Cilla and Artie. | |
| 2013 | "Rumble in the Jungle" | First appearance of Anya and Pom Pom |
| "Magic Wishing Well" | ||
| 2014 | "Fantastic Funfair" | Final singing kettle DVD filmed at Glasgow's SECC |
| "The Big Christmas Party" | Last Ever Tour | |
| 2015 | "The Big Party" | Last Ever Singing Kettle Show |
See also
References
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- ↑ 8.0 8.1 What's Inside the Singing Kettle? Radio Scotland http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hw3q5
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- ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19861126&id=B6VAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=paUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4176,6735775
- ↑ http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/84367/1/LuckyDip
