Concert for Creative Response: Peter Knight's Gigspanner
with support from Amy Hollinrake and Ben Smith
8 March 2025, The Spire Church, Farnham
It was absolutely glorious that so many people came to support live music, new talent, and Creative Response, an amazing charity in Farnham, on Saturday 8 March.
Nights like this one, with brilliant musicians Peter Knight, Sacha Trochet and Roger Flack of Gigspanner, and Amy Hollinrake and Ben Smith, are why we got so hooked on organising live music events on a not-for-profit basis over two years ago.
The Spire Church, a place that oozes community spirit, was the ideal venue for our second Concert for Creative Response. It is a lofty, yet welcoming space for Amy’s exquisite vocals to soar, lifted by the shimmering accompaniment of Ben Smith on keys. We were instantly captivated!
The spell that these two musicians cast occasionally gave way to humour. Ben’s route from the grand piano, stage left, to his electronic keyboards stage right, was through a corridor that took him behind the church organ at the back of the nave. Every time he reappeared on stage, the audience greeted him with a cheer.
What can we say about Peter Knight that hasn't been said much more eloquently by such luminaries as Sir Terry Pratchett? There was a quiet assurance as Peter, Roger and Sacha strolled on stage. They simply began to play and words became superfluous.
We love the Gigspanner Trio for their expansive musical influences that combine to pump fresh life into folk - a genre that seems to suffer disproportionately from negative preconceptions. It’s always a thrill to hear from people who don’t usually go to folk gigs as they emerge shiny-eyed and with wide smiles, somewhat astonished at how much they enjoyed it!
A lovely note to end a stunning night of music was recounted by Peter’s wife, Deborah Knight: “As Peter was trying to have a sneaky, quiet moment after the gig, a lady found him to tell him, clasping his hands, how her life had been changed that night. That's probably as good as it gets.”
This is really as good as it gets!!
Photographs by Natalia Sharomova and Jo Hughes
Thank you!
Heart-felt thanks to our wonderful audience for your great enthusiasm and generosity, helping us to raise £550 for Creative Response. Seeing so many smiles and hearing so many compliments at the end of the gig made it all worthwhile.
We have not met a musician as generous as Peter has been. We would like to thank him, Roger and Sacha, Harry O’Sullivan on sound, and Deborah Knight for making it possible for us to put on this charity concert and showcase new talent Amy Hollinrake and Ben Smith.
Huge thanks to all our volunteers:
Alice and Lisa who came for the gig and ended up rolling their sleeves up to run Front of House and the bar. John for helping, unasked, with the tidying up after the gig.
The Creative Response community for their invaluable help and support. Miranda, for running the art stall selling artworks donated by Creative Response staff and participants.
Fiona and Taras for helping behind the bar.
Natalia Sharomova for her wonderful photographs.
My mother Laurie for her delicious brownies, carrot cake and unconditional love.
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