HEATHER WASTIE
poet, singer/songwriter, composer, recorder player, pianist & animateur

and SOUNDBEAM
- music made from thin air, with a little help from ultrasound technology.

Heather's next appearance

See www.myspace.com/heatherwastie

Six Kinds of Friendship

A musical and visual piece using Soundbeam technology in which adults with a learning disability explore friendship through sound and movement. Six Kinds of Friendship was composed during a period of workshops in the 6 towns of Sandwell over a period of 6 weeks and was first performed in Tipton in February 2008. It was performed again in July 2008 as part of the opening celebrations at The Public, West Bromwich, and in September 2008 for Birmingham ArtsFest (see company photo).

Because we care
we love to share,
meet together,
greet each other,
remembering the past,
and celebrate friendships that last.

Project funded by

Six Kinds of Friendship commissioned by

Coneygre Arts Centre, Tipton, February 2008
"A superb piece of work."
John Garrett, Executive Director, Adult & Community Services, Sandwell MBC

Opening celebrations of The Public, West Bromwich, July 2008
"I loved Six Kinds of Friendship. Witty and profound in places, always enjoyable."
Clare Smith, arts practitioner, senior manager and advisor

CBSO Centre, Birmingham, ArtsFest September 2008
"Congratulations on your performance .... what a great achievement .... Fantastic!"
Maggie Banks, Sounds Creative

Songs from the Invisible

Witty lyrical song, poetry and instrumental improvisations, an extraordinary cornucopia of a performance, touching a vast range of different themes and threads. Heather’s work is touching and thought provoking, and she is joined in performance by some of the people who have inspired her.

"What a triumph! I really appreciated the privilege of experiencing ‘Songs from the Invisible’. I found the music with Alchemy, 'Oyster Catchers’ and ‘Mario Net’ particularly moving."
Clare Smith, Sound It Out Community Music

"Armed with the wonderful Soundbeam and Heather’s immense talents, we can stand as equals in any performance anywhere."
Keith Youngson, Fox Hollies Special School

"Heather's blend of music, poetry, performance and collaborations is wonderful to experience. She brings so many different themes and threads into her work it really is difficult to put it into any category except to say that it touches you in very meaningful ways. Her July Showcase performance at the CBSO Centre was a thrilling tour of musical forms and included impressive work using Soundbeam with partner performers who clearly gained a lot from the experience. Heather's own work is a joy to listen to and the Alchemy group make you realise that there is a much wider world of sounds than we are familiar with.. Don't miss any opportunity you get to see any of this work." Tony Stanley - Creative Director - Trilby Multimedia

A delicious evening.
Tim Swingler, Soundbeam Project

"Just to say how much we enjoyed your concert last night. I thought the Soundbeam concept was amazing … Liked the songs too especially the ones with witty lyrics."
Nigel Wood, Saxtet Publications

“ … a splendidly varied and rewarding evening …the dance pieces were perhaps the best choreographed ones I’ve seen involving people with learning difficulties … moving and effective … the dancers obviously got a lot of pleasure from doing them.
… [the] songs and poems were a great pleasure - such an interesting and wide range of moods and emotions - and sung with great conviction in an appropriately varied number of different vocal styles. … an accomplished and persuasive performer, composer and poet.”
Edward Williams, The Soundbeam Project

“I enjoyed the show very much … your dramatic solo piece illustrating the potential of Soundbeam … The first [piece] was genuinely moving, and Chairman of the Bored contained some really impressively coordinated and very funny choreographic moments. … I also enjoyed Oyster Catchers a lot, where the movements … perfectly reflected the music themes and SFX you used.
… Emma and Peter’s delicate playing combined with your voice makes a lovely blend.”
Rob Strawson, The Music Pool, Hereford

To book a performance
by Heather Wastie see Contact page