Perter Saaremets
Perter Saaremets
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
Perter Saaremets
Perter Saaremets
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
Perter Saaremets
Perter Saaremets
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
Peter Saaremets is an experienced musician and performer who has worked with Skimstone Arts for the last 9 years. Before joining Skimstone Arts he was experienced as a performing musician for 16 years specialising in Jazz and performing at Jazz venues across the North East. With Skimstone Arts he has devised, improvised and performed in Doorbells (Barnsley CIVIC Theatre and Northern Stage Scratch Nights, Edinburgh Festival), Peace Process-ion (Sunderland Minster / Sanctuary Arts Space Gateshead) and Cold Coffee (Edinburgh Festival), Tea-side – a Travelling Tearoom (North East of England), Time for Tea (Part of Open Heritage Days in Newcastle), Angel Train, Dust and Sojourn (Washington Arts Centre) trained with Frantic Assembly and Spymonkey at Hull Truck Theatre.
He continues to be Lead Artist and supports young people facing life challenges to write, compose and perform their own songs in major public settings.
The Upstartz
The Upstartz
Skimstone Arts’ have been commissioned by St Anthonys’ Day Services on a 3 x year project.
From our weekly vocal warm up and song writing sessions at St Anthony's, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, we now have a band called The Upstartz. Friday morning session run as band practice sessions and from these The Upstartz recorded their original songs at Blank Studios in May 2024.
The Upstartz then launched their EP at UNITY Festival '24 Great North Museum: Hancock.
The EP launch included an amazing performance from the band where they had their audience up and dancing and even got an encore!
They are now working on their second EP exploring myths, legends and fairy tales that inspire social action today.
“Over the last few years as we have been embedding new ways of working, it has been inspiring to watch how people we support grow and flourish as part of the journey with Claire and Peter.
Being part of the band, being involved in writing and composing and performing has had a significant impact on their lives, which they can tell you themselves. It reaches far beyond the rehearsal studio into other aspects of people’s lives which has brought about positive change. For many this is the first time they have had the opportunity to create.“
"The Upstartz performed at the Unity Festival in October 2024, the first time performing away from St Anthony’s. We shared with Claire and Peter at the time that it had been the best Upstartz performance we had seen to date, all members of the band really rose to the occasion and yes, the turnout was fabulous. What Claire and Peter have created is amazing, for all those that had perhaps doubted the power of musical engagement and performance are now converts!! At the time we were worried that the band hadn’t rehearsed for a week, but we had nothing to worry about. The question at the time for the band was, when is our next gig!!! This is why the journey with Skimstone Arts is and continues to be important to us all at St Anthony’s. Thank you, Claire, and thank you Peter." Helen Woods Waters, CEO St Anthony of Padua Community Association
For Peter and Claire and also Rafael and Verity who lead and facilitate band practice, this partnership is very special to us for a number of reasons. ALL staff are supportive, helpful, engaging and motivating with us and The Upstartz band members. Dedicated time and space is valued for band practice each week. Helen and her team work with all of us to have and make happen a joint vision of creativity and visibility to ensure that those ageing are recognised for their skills, knowledge and ability to write and perform great songs!
Quotes from The Upstartz band members
“It’s about coming together and contributing, and we’ve all contributed to the songs.”
“We work together as a band, this creates inclusivity and it doesn’t matter about your age, ability or background, we’re all members of the one band. Even if it’s just one word we contribute.”
"I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
“I live on my own and feel lonely so it helps to be part of something. In this band I don’t feel so lonely.”
“I liked it when we performed in front of people, I was glad. I was proud of myself.”
Audience feedback
“It was the way you coordinated and helped them to produce what they did. To achieve that level of performance you held them together but you didn’t take away from what they did, that it was their production.”
