Music, wellbeing and creativity, why it’s never too late to start 

We hear from Richard Keech about how music arrived in his life, when it was needed. After a difficult period that forced him to slow down and reassess, picking up an instrument became a way back. Now playing and writing regularly with his duo, R&R and soul band Circus in the Sky, based in Berwick, Richard talks openly about how music supports his wellbeing, and why creating bonds with musicians can be just as important as playing the music itself.

Despite growing up around music, I never really gravitated towards it as a younger man. I was a visual artist - painting, drawing and taking photographs. Playing music wasn’t for me. In 2017, mental health difficulties had taken me out of work and I was trying to figure out how to keep dark thoughts at bay. I was dealing with a loss and grief, and honestly, didn’t know where to turn. I bought a cheap ukulele from Amazon to occupy my mind, learned a handful of chords and began using those few chords along with some of my own words.
The first time I played in public, I included one of my own songs. It was called Disbelief, and was about losing the house I’d grown up in losing that sense of safety. I was still recovering, still processing everything, and I poured all of it into that song. Afterwards, people told me how much it had resonated with them; it was the first time I realised that my grief could be transformed into something beautiful. Since then, through the challenges that life throws at us, music has been a constant.

Writing, playing, meeting new people, collaborating - all of it has helped me see thing me see things differently and feel stronger.

Music is now part of my every day. Along with full-time work and family life, I juggle rehearsals with different bands.

Mondays are spent playing with Swefn, who are newer to the community. Wednesdays are with my friend Ruth Alder-Bateman, working on our duo R&R, laughing and talking nonsense between songs — which we then try and build into our act.

And whenever we can, I’m either writing new songs with my soul brother, Iain Petrie, or rehearsing with our band, Circus in the Sky, which is always a challenge with six busy people, but always worth it.

There’s something really special about creating, rehearsing and performing something together. I love the small moments: harmonies finally clicking, mistakes turning into new ideas, the deep talks after rehearsals.

Ruth and I hosting the Repas 7 Hogmanay celebrations as R&R, or headlining the Berwick Food and Beer Festival with Circus in the Sky and hearing people sing our own songs back to us, is something I’ll never forget.

Music has completely changed my headspace: practice calms me; writing helps me process things; performing gives me energy like few things can. It’s built my confidence and helped me find a life/work balance. Most importantly, it’s helped me connect with so many people from all walks of life. I was 35 when I bought a ukulele and learned my first three chords. Now I’m 43, playing live as often as I can, surrounded by a community that feels like home.

Celebrating the best in classical and contemporary music

Until recently, Berwick was one of the few local towns not to have a Music Society. This all changed with the launch of Berwick Music Society’s first concert season in 2024.

The Society’s second season has featured concerts from Berwick Brass, saxophonist Carl Raven, The Tim Kliphuis Jazz Trio, an opera masterclass with soprano Yvonne Barclay, art historian Maria Chester’s Baroque spoken word and live music showcase with The Gal Trio, and pianist and composer Ieva Dubova.

Berwick Music Society’s mission is to celebrate the best classical and contemporary music performed by professional soloists and ensembles. Its ambition is to showcase work by composers and performers in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders as much as possible, while also reaching out to the local community to encourage more involvement in music.

A small dedicated team works behind the scenes to make everything happen, backed by a growing number of patrons, the Community Foundation North East, and the team at their wonderful venue, Berwick Parish Church.

Plans for a third season are already well under way, so keep an eye on the website and social media for updates.

www.berwickmusic.org

Thinking about joining a classical choir ?