Interviews....

Meet On The Ledge's, Marion Morgan....

September 2003

Covfolk: Many thanks for agreeing to take part in this interview for the Covfolk Website! First question has got to be – How was Cropredy? Was it everything you thought it would be!?

Marion: Cropredy was amazing. Lovely people, gorgeous weather, awesome stage and sound system, carpeted portaloos backstage. It was a fabulous weekend. I hope it doesn’t grow too much and keeps that closeness. We were just so thrilled to be there.

CF: This must rank as one of your most memorable gigs ever. Have you got any others that stand out – Good or bad?

M: Every gig has a mixture of good and bad bits. The trick is not to show it! I always enjoy New Year’s Eve gigs as everyone is up for a party. Every gig gives you a memory – naff, but true. Playing with Peter Knight at the Black Horse festival was great. And I think the best we’ve ever played was at the Bridgehouse Theatre. I used to be a class teacher of 9-11 year olds and seeing some of my pupils in the audience at one gig with banners they’d made saying things like ‘Meet on the Ledge rock better than Queen’ and ‘Meet on the Ledge Rule’ was fantastic! Some people we’ve worked with on the technical side are particularly memorable – Bernie the sound man from Icklesham springs to mind! Also, though it’s not a gig, the recording of Decoration Day was wonderful. That first week was heaven. If I could re-live that week forever I’d be a happy woman. The other festival that springs to mind is Broadstairs – can’t remember exactly why! I do remember an epic mixing desk and being lent a magnificent Bridge violin for the day. At the sound check I played a bit of the Lark Ascending and everyone in the tent stopped talking and listened. Thanks to everyone at Bridge, especially Paul, for their support. Needless to say, I still use one of their instruments. Can’t imagine using any other now.

CF: Do you come from a folk music background?

M: No – although my Liverpudlian roots dictate that I like a good sing song. My Grandad was also an ace on the spoons and the tupenny pieces. All my family sing/dance/act and it’s a nightmare at parties and karaoke nights cos we all fight over the microphone! I’m a Fleetwood by birth, so there must be something in the genes (although if you ask Paul about my percussion skills he’d refute that!)

CF: When and how did you first realise you wanted to play music?

M: When I was offered a school violin at the age of 10. It was free and netball wasn’t – there. Profound or what. It was the most momentous decision. I have got so much out of music in my life, and hopefully given a lot of pleasure too. I can’t imagine not playing and singing. I have to thank the boys for taking the leap and having a girl in the band!

CF: You’ve played on the same stage as Fairport. Do you ever pinch yourselves and think back to watching them at Cropredy when you were just an audience?

M: I’ve only seen them twice but standing on the masking tape marking Swarb’s chair position and Ric’s fiddle amp was quite a strange feeling on the stage. We all kept looking at each other and grinning. We have a little moment in the band, when things are going well, when we say to each other that it’s not really happening and we’ve all been wiped out in an accident on the way to the gig and we’ve been good enough to go to band heaven. It was my first time at Cropredy, so the build up for me has not been as intense as for the others. I know it meant a lot to all of them, particularly Ron and Al, and I just felt privileged to be there with them to share that moment. They so deserved it.

CF: Playing various folk festivals you must’ve had a chance to meet a few heroes or musicians you admire. Any particular meetings that stand out for you?

M: Not knowing who Peter Knight was and asking him if he played any instruments. Oh dear! Chris While and Chris Leslie at Cropredy. Lovely people and great musicians. And I knew who they were. Singing Ain't Misbehaving with Steve Gibbons backstage at the last night party. Fantastic. There are so many really fantastic people in folk music, not up themselves - easy to chat to. The feeling that the music comes first is so apparent. I read a great interview with Ric from FC. His ideas about why we all do this and why we work so hard are wonderful. Of course it’s got a selfish element, we all like performing and the buzz from the pleasure of a crowd is something else, but it’s all about the music. The comments about the significance of various songs by our supporters can be really moving as well.

CF: Have you got a favourite song you enjoy playing live?

M: Several – The Song Will Remain, because of playing it with Peter Knight at the Black Horse festival a couple of years ago. The River and the Well is my favourite song to sing and we’ll be doing it for only the second time at Symphony Hall. Can’t wait for the middle section – it just whooshes! Lots of others, too many to mention. A good clue is to look at our faces and see when we’re grinning!

CF: You recently released a live video. Have you any plans to release a live album too?

M: Oooo – you’ll have to ask us all when we’re in the same room together.

CF: You, Allen and Ron have been doing a few shows together at smaller, ‘cosier’ venues. Do you prefer playing at more intimate venues or the larger theatres?

M: I like the big gigs to be honest, but the small ones are lovely when you see lots of familiar faces and everyone knows the words to Mary Stanford or Harbour Lights. The small gigs let us explore some of the more subtle moments. We do miss the wonderful rhythm section on these nights though – affectionately known as the Dangerous Chemical Brothers.

CF: Speaking of which, you will be playing the Symphony Hall in Birmingham in September. Have you got any surprises planned – Any new additions to the set list for this special gig?

M: There’ll be something old and something new. The idea is to kind of chart the progression and growth of the band. It should be a lovely evening filled with memories and a few twists.

CF: Few short questions:

Your current favourite TV show?

M: Got to be Sex and the City. Pure unadulterated sleaze! I like the Simpsons because my daughter and boyfriend and I can all watch it together and Han will wonder what we’re laughing at one moment and be in a bulk (scouse expression!) herself the next.

CF: What albums are you currently listening to?

M: Blue Tapestry. Tony (my boyfriend) has recently introduced me to the delights of the more acoustic numbers by Led Zeppelin.

CF: When you’re not touring and playing at the Symphony Hall, what do you like doing in your spare time?

M: Teaching adults with special needs, teaching violin for Warwickshire County Music Service, spending time with my lovely daughter and Tony, drawing, reading trashy crime/historical novels, lounging in the bath, and I’ve just discovered the joys of surfing! And embroidery. . . .

CF: Thank you for taking the time out to answer these questions Marion!:-)

Meet On The Ledge play the Birmingham Symphony Hall on September 25th 2003

Visit the Official Meet On The Ledge Website at http://www.motl.co.uk

Live photograph of Marion thanks to Karen and www.motl.co.uk . Live photo of Marion, Allen and Ron is owned by www.covfolk.co.uk

© Copyright Covfolk 2003