Saturday night in the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings has turned into a lively party with around 300 chattering punters. Tonight, they're about to record an unforgettable show that will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. This one-off event is a drama-documentary that takes the audience on a journey through the remarkable life and work of James Blades, one of the greatest percussionists of the 20th century.
Born in 1901, Blades was a child prodigy who had to learn how to play the drums the hard way - without formal training. His talent and dedication took him to the top of his profession, where he collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. Carl Palmer, Evelyn Glennie, Simon Rattle were all among those who benefited from Blades' expertise.
As a young apprentice at the foundry, Blades was rejected by the works band drummer for trying out drumming. But that didn't deter him. He became self-taught and continued to hone his craft until he made it big. His passion for teaching is also well-known - he gave numerous lectures and demonstrations throughout his life, inspiring countless young musicians.
Tonight's show is a recreation of one such lecture, where Blades takes the stage with an array of instruments and regales us with stories from his life and work. We're joined by actor James Anthony-Rose as the storyteller, while percussionist Sam Wilson provides the live music accompaniment.
The script is based on Jamie's long-term interest in Blades' life, which he developed into a full-fledged play. The result is a drama-doc that blends music demonstrations with musical illustration and accompaniment. And to make it even more engaging, we've invited the audience to join in - they'll be tapping their feet, clapping along, and even shouting out in rhythm.
Will this experiment work? Did James Blades become one of the greatest percussionists ever? Tune in to find out on BBC Radio 3 tonight, as we bring you 'James Blades: Pandemonium of the One-Man Band'.
Born in 1901, Blades was a child prodigy who had to learn how to play the drums the hard way - without formal training. His talent and dedication took him to the top of his profession, where he collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. Carl Palmer, Evelyn Glennie, Simon Rattle were all among those who benefited from Blades' expertise.
As a young apprentice at the foundry, Blades was rejected by the works band drummer for trying out drumming. But that didn't deter him. He became self-taught and continued to hone his craft until he made it big. His passion for teaching is also well-known - he gave numerous lectures and demonstrations throughout his life, inspiring countless young musicians.
Tonight's show is a recreation of one such lecture, where Blades takes the stage with an array of instruments and regales us with stories from his life and work. We're joined by actor James Anthony-Rose as the storyteller, while percussionist Sam Wilson provides the live music accompaniment.
The script is based on Jamie's long-term interest in Blades' life, which he developed into a full-fledged play. The result is a drama-doc that blends music demonstrations with musical illustration and accompaniment. And to make it even more engaging, we've invited the audience to join in - they'll be tapping their feet, clapping along, and even shouting out in rhythm.
Will this experiment work? Did James Blades become one of the greatest percussionists ever? Tune in to find out on BBC Radio 3 tonight, as we bring you 'James Blades: Pandemonium of the One-Man Band'.
it's awesome that they're bringing James Blades' story to life and making percussion a part of the show! 
i mean, can you imagine being in a room with Carl Palmer and Evelyn Glennie? 
that's like drumming royalty right there! 
i also love how they're involving the audience in the performance - tapping feet and shouting out in rhythm, yaaas let's get this party started! 
#JamesBlades #Percussionist #DrummingLegend
like, what's more inspiring than that? anywayz, i think this show is gonna be lit 
and i love how they're celebrating blades' legacy & passion for teaching 
hopefully, it'll inspire some young musicians out there to chase their dreams 
. I mean, who needs traditional concert venues when you can create an immersive experience like this? It's like the BBC is trying to shake things up and bring people together through music - kinda like how Obama used to talk about "Yes We Can" 
. But seriously, if it works out, it could be a game-changer for live events. And let's give props to Jamie for doing his research and bringing James Blades' story to life. It's all about preserving our cultural heritage and sharing it with the world - just like how Trump used to talk about "America First" 
, but in this case, it's more like "Music First".
. Like, just because it's on the radio doesn't mean people can't find out about it online beforehand... meanwhile they're gonna charge a pretty penny to listen to James Blades' stories and music 
. And what's with these interactive bits? I get it, want to engage the audience, but do we really need to be told to "tapping their feet, clapping along" like some sort of mindless drone 
. Can't they just let the music speak for itself?
.