The slightest mention of the number 13 is, more often than not, accompanied by the words ‘bad and luck’.
Superstition, however, has no place in this article, for the number 13 in this case refers to the latest (13th) edition of the Simon’s Pub Music Festival, which has become an eagerly-anticipated annual event that combines exciting live music while supporting a good cause.
Like previous editions, this year’s festival, which kicks off this Friday at 8 p.m. and runs through to Sunday, will be raising funds to support Inspire, a leading NGO that helps children and adults with learning and physical disabilities in five centres located around Malta.
Staged and manned by a team of dedicated volunteers, the Simon’s Pub Music Festival will this year feature performances from no fewer than 22 bands and artists from the local scene and the participation of lauded Scottish singer songwriter Lee Patterson.
The list of confirmed Maltese bands scheduled to perform is as follows: 12th Ode, Airport Impressions, Boys Next Door, Cable 35, Colourblind, Dusk, Eve Ransom, Explicit, Fiona, Glass House, Jail Jam, Julian Casha, Mikaela, Nadia, Noogie’s Crew, Norm Rejection, NV, Purple Haze, Red Electrick, Texanna, Three Over Pair and The Myth, while Lee Patterson will be performing on all three nights.
Patterson’s music has had almost every genre in the book thrown at it in a bid to describe his remarkable sound. The terms acoustic, folk, blues, rock and gospel have all figured in some review or other, and perhaps rightfully so, as there are indeed traces of all these and more in the vibrant yet touching songs Patterson weaves in his own unique way via an array of instruments.
While he keeps a relatively low profile, Patterson did reach a wider audience and attract music critics’ attention some years ago when he became the first white artist to receive a British Gospel Award for his song Working on a Building.
To date, he has released four albums, the latest of which is 2009’s Stella Maris, and despite the considerable attention he has been getting, Patterson has adamantly stuck to his guns and done things his own way, namely refusing to sign with a major label and building up his following through rigorous touring schedules.
Here’s what Patterson had to say ahead of his upcoming gigs starting this Friday.
What’s your earliest musical memory and what inspired you to become a musician?
My earliest musical memory is of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. It sounded like all the other nursery songs that filled my life as a child. My inspiration in becoming a musician was a guy at school who had more success with girlfriends than I did and the only difference I could see was that he played a bit of guitar. The girls came and went but the music stayed around.
Your songs reflect a variety of elements at play. How would you describe your music and what moves you to embrace so many different genres?
I love to sing first of all and what (genre) it happens to be comes after that. If one of my songs seems to work best in a folk tradition then that is what I’ll use.
Style of music is a choice dictated by the song and its subject. I love music that makes me weep as much as I love music that makes me want to move around – I won’t say dance as I’m not really a comfortable dancer, which is probably another reason why I became a musician.
One critic described your live performances as “dynamic and entrancing” and “behaving as if exorcising demons using only voice and guitar”. I know we’ll be seeing you perform soon enough, but what’s your take on this rather ‘graphic’ description?
I’d say it’s fairly accurate, given the right atmosphere among the audience and the right amount of alcohol in my bloodstream. I don’t feel dynamic; mostly I get lost in the music and then suddenly find myself drenched in sweat and wonder how it happened.
You’ve chosen to remain an independent artist rather than signing with a label. What was behind this decision, what are the pros/cons of doing it all on your own, and have you ever thought of reconsidering your decision to go it alone?
I would love the ‘big’ money of the mainstream but I’ve learned over the years that it is mostly a myth. The money from a label goes mostly to promotion and it all has to be paid back one way or another. I’m too old to be in a boy-band and I enjoy the freedom of working according to my own agenda rather than someone else’s.
Like everything in life you only really get out what you put in and my main concerns are my family, my home and our good health, all petty modest ambitions that don’t really fit the glamourous ideas of the mainstream.
Besides singing and playing guitar, you also play a selection of traditional instruments. Do you have a tendency to pick up traditional instruments on your travels and other than guitar, what’s your favourite instrument?
My favourite instruments are my voice and hands and feet; I love their energy. Next up would be a very loud guitar. I also love to hit things, so general percussion would come next.
Most instruments can pull an emotional response from me that is unique to them, so when I hear a song arrive in my head, the choice of instruments to serve it comes next.
This will be your first time performing in Malta. Is there any message you’d like to pass on ahead of your performances at this charity festival?
Come and say hello, have a great time and be good to yourself and to everyone else around you.
www.lpmusic.org.uk