Jen finds connection and belonging in the Maracatu Band

Five years ago, Jen was doing a lot of campaigning. She was on a march when she heard a Samba band. She was amazed at how the music and the beat kept up the morale of the people on the streets. The music had such power and energy. She’d never played a musical instrument or banged a drum before but she knew this was what she wanted to do. She got in touch with Jack Drum and joined Runaway Samba. She then saw that Jack Drum were running a Maracatu workshop for another of their bands – Baque de Ogum - so she went along to see what that was like.

“It blew my mind. It was absolutely amazing. I was hooked from the first session.”

It wasn’t just the hypnotic beat that hooked Jen in, it was the cultural and spiritual elements as well.

“You can feel it when you play, makes your hair stand up on end. Everyone feels it at the same moment. You look around and you can see it in everyone, it’s that connection with each other.”

Life affirming experiences and growing confidence

“I’ve had some of the best experiences ever with that group. We went to Fire in the Mountain festival in Wales and did an amazing performance. The people really got involved, they were all dancing, there were giant puppets, fires and flares, it was a real spectacle. The feeling we have in the band extended out to a couple of hundred people. It was one of the best moments of my life.”

Playing with the group has given her so much confidence, partly down to how the band’s leader Sam works with the group, gently pushing them out of their comfort zone.

“I'd say to anyone just come along, there are people of all ages and abilities, and if I can do it anyone can.”

More music, more bands, more musical therapy

This has also given her the confidence to get up on stage and perform on a couple of tracks with her husband’s punk band. Throughout this time she has had some struggles with mental health but having this connection with the music and the people in the band has really supported her. 

“It’s keeps me going, whether you have mental or physical issues it shouldn't hold you back, once you’re lost in the music you forget about your problems.”

Although Baque de Ogum is her first love she still plays with Runaway Samba and that’s going from strength to strength. They’ve started introducing brass and other instruments. Last year they played at Durham Miners’ Gala combining their samba Rhythms with old mining songs.

“It was incredible. It was very moving to be part of something like that.”

And this year they’re working on combining Samba with 70’s Boogie tracks.  They’re bringing in vocals, bass, guitars and brass. She’s very excited about taking this out to festivals and other events that are coming up.