Ms. Jones’ last visit to Southport was in autumn 2024.
Today, she offered music by composer Martin Ellerby, who was meant to be on-site to witness the reception of his work but experienced first-hand the efficacy of Northern Rail and couldn’t attend.
The repertoire comprised all five «Lindsey dances», «Epitaph XVIII», which was played on the clarsach, «Cinq hommages française», and concluded with the whimsical «Les bistros de Paris».
I appreciated the effort made by both composer and performer to supply the audience with informative print-outs that further enriched the experience: one had five pictures of the Lincolnshire places celebrated in the «Lindsey dances», and the other provided an explanation of the «Cinq hommages française». Both sheets were written by Mr. Ellerby and gave a peek into his seemingly light-hearted, affable personality.
I stared at the photos from each «Lindsey dance» as they were played, and while I’ve claimed before that I’m pretty helpless when it comes to envisaging the proposed imagery, this time I felt myself ascending unseen spiralling stone staircases.
Ms. Jones is a transparent presenter, a master musician, and has been cursed with a soul that desires archival records of her work. She doesn’t do performances; she carries out projects: she plans, documents, gives tribute, explores, remembers, evokes and updates. This is why a mere examination of performative skill — which is what usually occupies this space — has here become an illuminated advert of her vision. I look forward to her next performance/exhibit.
Original-date: 8th of July, 2026