COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
THE COVENTRY Music Museum, as part of its ‘This Town’ exhibition, is delighted to welcome one of the stars of the show along for a Sounding Off Special in Freya Parks.
Freya played Fiona in the show, whose character worked at the Minerva Discs record shop before becoming the bass player in the fictional band in the BBC TV show.
Freya was born in London. Her first professional role was Etty Darwin in Jon Amiel’s Creation (2009). Her subsequent film roles included Helen Burns in Cary Fukunaga’s Jane Eyre (2011), Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables (2012) and Tasha Robson, the lead role, in Bliss! (2016). She played Hester in The School for Good and Evil (2022).
She first came to my attention playing the sardonic Amy in the BBC2 comedy series Here We Go that starred Paul Jessop, Katherine Parkinson and Alison Steadman. However, for most of us Ska fans it will be her role of Fiona that will be of the most interest.
This very special Sounding Off takes place tomorrow (Saturday, August 17) from midday to 1pm at the Coventry Music Museum. Normal museum entry charges apply.
I wonder can she answer that question we all want to know: ‘Will there be a second series of This Town?’ You can be sure as the MC I will be asking it!
Skeet – Simple Reality
Back in 1981, the super-inventive Cov band Skeet were in their seminal phase. Bass player Nigel Meffen takes up the story of how this band are even more relevant in 2024 as they were back then…
Emerging from a scene of first-generation punks, Skeet was instigated by Gary and Nigel Meffen fusing. After a cassette of their debut performance found its way to Kay Booth, who worked at Inferno Records, the unsuspecting front woman took the liberty of adding her own vocals.
Instantly embraced as a permanent member, Booth’s shy delivery hovered over the brothers’ scratchy guitar and agitated bass.
Playing as few as ten shows, their unnerving minimalism was recorded in a suburban home studio, borrowing a reel-to-reel from Toby Lyons (The Colourfield) and a mixer from Jerry Dammers (The Specials).
Record labels gestured interest until one day they were no more – no arguments, no official split, just a silent parting of the ways.
Unheard and unloved in a drawer for nearly four decades, ‘Brief Call’ finally resurfaced via the Coventry Music Museum compendium Alternative Sounds Volume 1, followed by a micro pressing (250 copies) of the full suite on Chris Long’s Almost Unknown imprint in 2023.
Simple Reality now offers a definitive snapshot of these must-hear neurotic post-punks. Mastered by Skeet fanatic Australian producer, engineer and musician Mikey Young, newly-discovered instrumental multi-tracks are restored alongside a live recording of their final stand.
Performed on top of an articulated lorry trailer in the beer garden of the Red House pub on Stoney Stanton Road, the release-worthy desk tape adds three new tracks and a more energised swing at the apathetic techno-pop ‘Left On the Shelf’.
Skeet’s Simple Reality is released on the Australian record label Efficient Space and is available on Bandcamp and online, as well as from Just Dropped In Records, in Fargo Village, Coventry.
Nigel will be attending an album-listening event at Just Dropped In Records in Fargo Village, Coventry between 2pm and 4pm tomorrow (Saturday, August 17).
