A poet, a cellist, and a couple of DJs walk into a library…

The month is June, the city is London, and the sky is, typically, overcast - right on brand. In the library of Bush Theatre there’s a buzz going on;  La Mansarda’s own little livewire, Ligia, is providing a good jolt of electricity, and the circuit is completed by her co-conspirateur Marta, founder of Bike Ducts Cycling Club (BDCC), and DJ and techy, Francesco. 
Chairs are being configured, speakers positioned, turntables set up.

Tonight’s the night The Big Smoke gets for the second time its serving of the secret La Mansarda recipe, with a little help from friends over at BDCC - and oh what a night it promises to be.

A steady stream of people trickle through the door and the audience is a reflection of both the diverse lineup of performers and the spirit of the organisations involved in hosting tonight’s event. It feels like a celebration with old friends from all sorts of backgrounds and all sorts of places. The library is the perfect setting, cozy and somehow familiar, yet unexpected.

Things kick off with a welcome from Ligia and Marta, a reminder of the two charities the event is supporting  - Emergency (an Italian NGO) and AMMF (the UK’s cholangiocarcinom charity) - and, a promise of the famous tiramisu that concludes every La Mansarda event. 

The stage is cleared to make way for the first performer - the Dublin guest for the evening - inimitable poet The Vagabond Queen. She takes to the stage in what I can only describe as ankle breakers, looking as poised as ever. I know what to expect, but the power not only in her words but also in her delivery is a 1-2 Gut punch for the uninitiated. There’s a conviction in the Irish poets that I have rarely seen matched anywhere else, and amongst the heavyweights The Vagabond Queen more than holds her own. Her words echo at times like a rally cry, at moments like a prayer, and the microphone serves no purpose for most of her set. 
I join her on my cello for one piece, simultaneously lending a backdrop to her tapestry of words, and embodying the spirit of La Mansarda and BDCC -connection, and bringing people together  - in this instance two performers who live an ocean apart.
Next up is yours truly, Satin Beige, and my trusty sidekick, Kije, my cello. I purr into the microphone as I make the cello sing with me  - and for those who haven’t seen me before, I’m pretty sure it’s not what they were expecting from the girl who walked in with a cello. The set is sassy, sultry, and ‘red wine sexy’ as one of my friends in the audience puts it. I make sure to include a song in my set to honour the theme of the night which is“ Unveiled Awareness”. It’s well received, as is Ligia’s favourite song which I, of course, had to finish on -“Kahlua” (she assures me she’ll be masterminding a Kahlua flavoured Tiramisu sometime soon- you heard it here first guys!)

There’s a short interlude, giving people time to head to the bar to refill their drinks, or in my case, to head outside and catch up with The Vagabond Queen and her crew and laugh at their London experience so far, which includes much discussion about the unsettling common occurrence across the capital of horrifically pulled pints of Guinness (Come on London, we’re better than this!).

Back in the library things are heating up! The chairs are pushed aside, the lights turned down low. When we head back in, we’ve transitioned from gig to party, soundtracked by the Italian contingent for this evening: DJs Francesco Paradisi and PaulParis. The duo has taken to the decks with their genre-blending mix of old classics paired with experimental electronica. The crowd is up on their feet dancing, led by our hostesses with mostess - Ligia and Marta! The mood is joyous and celebratory, and the room feels full of a special kind of love and magic.
The evening concludes with a helping of that promised tiramisu for all those in attendance, and I hear the telltale words of a desert well made - “Is there any more left?” (I’m fairly sure there was not!). 

There are still people clustered outside the venue once everything is wrapped up and packed down, talking and laughing and holding onto the embers of the evening, the good vibes of a Friday night well spent warming the cool night air. 

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About the Author:

Satin Beige is an R&B cellist and singer songwriter. Her cello-infused, lyrically soulful R'n'B has drawn comparisons to a "lovechild of Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys", captivating audiences across the UK.
She has performed for Sir Paul McCartney,  appeared in the critically acclaimed production of An Octoroon at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin (2022), has featured on tracks spun on Rinse FM, BBC 6 Music and 1Xtra, and continues to captivate audiences across the UK appearing at venues such as Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium, and Pizza Express Live, Holborn, with her cello, Kije.