Archaeological Songwriting

Fermynwoods Contemporary Art has been working with The Complementary Education Academy for ten years, bringing arts programming to students who have been excluded from mainstream education. Or, rather, we bring the students to the arts, using our site at Sudborough Green Lodge, deep in Fermyn Woods, for workshops.

For our first day back from Easter holidays, we were joined by musician (and former archaeologist) Stevie Jones. Unwittingly, the students had instigated an eerily relevant conversation in the car to the cottages in the morning. A non-sequitur from a student about cannibalism in animals and humans led to the pathology and transmission of diseases, and then on to preserved mammoth remains in the tundra and what the woods surrounding the cottages would be like if dinosaurs were hanging out near the track we drive. Little did they know that we'd be spending the rest of the day weaving stories about the past and present colliding...

Stevie began with an overview of his archaeological career, which has greatly influenced his songwriting. Stevie showed photographs of dig sites and answered a scattershot of questions about what his weirdest, scariest, worst, and best experiences were as part of an archaeological team. Despite the rain, we then ventured out so the students could share their favourite places around Fermynwoods with Stevie. From a big climbing tree in the middle of a field, Stevie pointed out the ridges and furrows of Medieval farming (highlighted by beautiful spring flowers). Walking on, we discovered giant mushrooms which resembled loaves of bread, the scene of a recent Red Kite meal of pigeon, and some jaw bones and skull fragments the students had discovered earlier in the month. All of this tied in with Stevie's archaeological experience of taking small bits of information and forming the possible story around them.

Back at the cottage, the students began writing lyrics, drawn from the day's adventures and discussions. With lyrics and fragments ready, Stevie produced guitars and several percussion instruments. One of the students took up the bass guitar, and the others began making noise and beating out rhythms on percussion, which Stevie then followed on guitar. From there they rehearsed their songs about Fermynwoods, and the layers of history in its land.

Once the songs were done, Stevie led a discussion with the students about the logistics of their upcoming Fermynwoodstock festival. They talked about marketing and design (coming soon in future workshops) as well as VIPs for the guest list. Stevie, and some of the braver students, will perform their songs at Fermynwoodstock at the end of the school year.

To learn more about our Alternative Provision programming: http://fermynwoods.org/alternative-provision/