Glastonbury in the City 2022 showed fund managers and financial journalists keen to get back playing music together.
Musicians from across the industry played ‘for one night only’. They were supported by our fabulous band of ukulele players.
Uke Crazy, 17 ukulele players most of whom had never held a uke two weeks previously, played songs ranging from Teenage Kicks by the Undertones to Common People by Pulp – all hits from bands that have played at the real Glastonbury. Intensive learning really does work!
Funk Conduct Authority
Our scratch band, the FCA (Funk Conduct Authority), were experienced musicians who clearly loved playing together. They performed nine songs. These included Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl and Sloop John B by the Beach Boys. They finished their set with Twist and Shout and Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, along with the massed ukuleles and a kazoo choir that involved the whole audience!
The musical part of the evening was topped and tailed by folk singer Pete Cross from Marlborough and solos from Simoney Kyriakou (FT Adviser) accompanied by Zuoyi Zhou of Artemis Investment Management.
Other industry professionals involved in the FCA band were John Schaffer (Citywire), Iona Bain (Young Money) and Bulletin PR’s Martin Stott. Uke Crazy included players from the following organisations: Artemis Investment Management, CIFC, the AIC, TrustNet, Shares Magazine, Interactive Investor, the FT, FT Adviser, Morningstar and Mandate Wire.
Special thanks go to Bulletin’s clients and generous sponsors for the evening Thank you Artemis Investment Management, Marlborough and Weatherbys Private Bank.
Glastonbury in the City origins
Martin Stott, CEO of Bulletin PR, said: “We did our first Glastonbury in the City in 2011. I got the inspiration after a former colleague, Ian Beestin – a brilliant drummer – played at the real Glastonbury. He supported the amazing blues singer, Jacqui Wicks. I thought it would be great to see if there were any musical journalists and fund managers around and if we could get them together to play. The response was great.
“Jacqui and Ian performed at that first event, along with a scratch band of journalists and fund managers. In subsequent years we’ve tried to get more people involved. At our second Glastonbury in the City we had steel drumming lessons and then performed. They were so loud the audience couldn’t stand in the same room to listen. Next, we bought 20 ukuleles, taught people how to play them and created a band in just two weeks.
“We did the same this time around – with Jacqui Wicks back, teaching and performing. On top of that we added a kazoo choir. We’ve had some amazing performers over the years. The musical talent in both industries never ceases to surprise and delight me. But we’ve also never taken ourselves too seriously. Of course, it’s not Glastonbury. But it’s a huge amount of fun and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the joy of everyone blowing their kazoos to Sweet Caroline. I’ve still not stopped grinning!
