Ian Franklin Sadler

Let the Adventure Begin

The adventure began for me in the late summer of 2005. I took my eldest daughter to see Maddy (Prior) & the Girls in Ilkley (or it might have been Otley). I had a minor interest in Steeleye Span andowned a couple of the early albums, and upon reading about the gig/style thought it would be suitable for my daughter, then aged 10. So, tickets were obtained and off wewent. The get-out clause for my daughter was that if she really didn't like it we'd come home at the interval (and at that time I wasn't sure there was one....). Thankfully mydaughter loved it, we stayed until the end and afterwards Maddy came out to chat and sign autographs. I bought my daughter a disc and Maddy duly signed it; she alsotalked to my daughter like a person, not as if she was talking to a little kid, and I remember that impressed me. We got home, and in the disc was a little leaflet orsomething like that, or maybe I'd picked something up at the gig. I really don't know. But somehow I discovered 'StonesBarn' . It mentioned Maddy/singing/ Abbie Lathe / Rose - not that it meantthat much to me then, but little did I know.
Photography or Singing?
Around that time I had also been getting into photography. I was on the verge of booking a 4 day photography course in London as I wanted to learn to develop my ownpictures, as well as understanding more about my camera. I'd even got as far as researching how I could put a darkroom in my garage. I don't really know why but I'd got itinto my head that the singing course would be full of people sticking their finger in their ear, singing through their noses while staring sideways into the upper corner of theroom (sorry Maddy and folkies ). I know, I know, I know - a bit stereotypical but I'm not really a "folkie", though overallI enjoy many different styles of music. Somehow my wife became involved with the decision making process. Cheques were written, envelopes addressed and, before Iknew it really, I was on my way to Stones Barn .The Barn
I can't remember what exactly I signed up for - "Singing from the Gut" I think from a Thursday lunchtime through to a Sunday lunchtime with a performance at thelegenary "Roadhead Hall". The format is fairly simple. Turn up, eat. Sing. Tea. Eat some more. Drink. Sing - as much or as little as you want. First night's meal is usually ata local hostelry such as Bailey Mill , The Crossings or The Drove . Day two is pretty much the same - turn up, sing, tea, sing, lunch, sing, tea,eat, sing.... Abbie, Maddy and, in this case Rose (Kemp), quickly put you at ease. If you fancy a stab at a solo thereis a lot of encouragement. My first effort was Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" with a nice chorus for allthe group to join in with.The Aftermath
All too soon it was over. I knew something was up on the Sunday morning. I felt great, but also a sense of melancholy. It was over, and soon I would return back to theworld of mobile phones, business, hustle and bustle. On the one hand I couldn't wait to get home to tell my wife all about it, but on the other emotions were welling that I didnot understand. Sunday morning was low key. You know the routine by now. Turn up.....OK OK OK. But after lunch photos were taken, a farewell song, and a fewhugs...we were on our way. For me, and not only me, the emotion bubbled over. I was a mess. "Job done" said Abbie. Something within me was changed forever, though Ididn't know it then. But to quote Supertramp, I took the "long way home" so that I could mull over my experience. I drive a lot with my day job, and I get a lot of thinking done driving

Now

Before I went to Stones Barn I owned a guitar. I had a song book with about a dozen songs in it (still got it) and only ever played one tune..... Sweet Jane by Lou Reed. I now have a songbook with over 100 songs in it, have written enoughmaterial for my first album and managed to record the princely total of one track! Somehow the experience at Stones flipped a switch within me, enabling me to find a part ofme that had been lost for a long time - or perhaps I never knew it was there. I imagine it like an old door in a garden, overgrown with creepers and vines, and a treasure troveof experience behind it, discovered by accident one day. I became more inwardly calm, a better husband to my wife and father to my daughter. I am not alone in feelingthis. For some, the Barn experience is a one off. For me, it changed my life.