GVI gigging its way around Luang Prabang

Turns out that GVI offers more than opportunities to teach novices, kids and community members on the project in Luang Prabang.  Budding singer/songwriter/guitarist Anna, and her sister Emma, set up a gig at the new Pilgrim’s Cafe.  To show our support all the volunteers and GVI staff, plus some of our Lao teaching partners came along to watch and listen a bit of live music.  It was such a great show, albeit not a fantastic venue!, but after convincing Anna to play a second set, somehow we opened the mic and had an impromptu performance by teacher, Siphai, who belted out Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Because of you’.

Oh, but that wasn’t the end of it!  Anna set up a second gig at the popular tourist bar/restaurant, Utopia, and performed to a packed crowd, again with Emma on back up vocals.  Students, teachers, volunteers and staff all came along to watch and a very fun night was enjoyed by all, despite being packed in with too few seats! 

As agreed, it then became open mic, and a visiting tourist had her moment in the limelight with ex-volunteer, Becky, providing guitar accompaniment!  Somehow, GVI staffer Sam was also convinced to join Anna in a Tracy Chapman duet with yet another visitor on guitar.

Anna has since had another Utopia gig, and also performed once again at Pilgrim’s, and this time Lao teacher, Xay, performed two songs along with Becky on guitar.  Maria was convinced to get up on stage and sang both English and French numbers to everyone's delight! 

 

So it seems GVI is a platform for budding artists as well as English teachers!       

GVI gigging its way around Luang Prabang