The Thrush and The Snail (The Adventures of) – A Community Song in Four Acts.
The Thrush and the Snail (A Spring Day) Play Music Link
This musically themed fundraiser aims to support Now Hear This Music C.I.C. by funding venue rentals, additional music teachers, and, subject to the raising of sufficient funds, the establishment of an All-Inclusive Fully Accessible Music School venue.
How and where it all began:
In 1981 after purchasing a nylon strung guitar for a few quid and transporting it home as a passenger on the rear of a friends Triumph Bonneville T140D, Little Smudge began to learn the guitar. The first chords many guitar learners start with are C, F, and G.
- While at home from work due to illness and inspired by the story of "The Good Samaritan", Little Smudge composed a short song using those three chords. The song, titled "The Thrush and The Snail," explores themes of friendship, joy, and assisting others, with an underlying hint of atonement.
The song is dedicated to the songwriters late mother who was a seamstress, she is represented in the lyrics by the words “a needle and thread...", “...and a thick slice of bread” refers to the toast she would serve up when one was poorly.
Little Smudge always dreamt of using "The Thrush and the Snail" song to support others and imbue it with special significance. However, it was only in recent years that he realised if he wanted to do something meaningful with it, he needed to get a wriggle on.
His initial idea was to record the song at the recording studio in Portishead Youth & Community Centre and donate any proceeds from fundraising activities related to the song to a major national charity.
By chance, or perhaps fate, Little Smudge attended a Community Matters Council Meeting to address a concern about road safety. It was his first time attending such a meeting. At this meeting, Laura Porter, the founder of Now Hear This Music C.I.C., was present along with many musicians and supporters from her classes. She had applied for a grant and was there to present her case to the councillors. Her address was highly motivating and led Little Smudge to consider using the song to support a local community project like Laura’s instead.
A few weeks later, when he approached Laura, she expressed great enthusiasm for the song. She believed it would be an excellent addition for participants in her classes and workshops to learn, play, and enjoy an original composition. Any funds raised to support her service provision would be considered an additional benefit.
It wasn’t long before Little Smudge had further inspiration to write alternative lyrics to the music and soon had three additional songs based around the same composition - one of which is set on Christmas Day. (see below for more details)
Little Smudge invited Laura and others involved in Now Hear This Music C.I.C. to record additional instruments tracks, so accordion, flute, clarinet, saxophone, glockenspiel, guitar and percussion were added to the arrangement.
The songs arrangements were worked on by Little Smudge and by Portishead Youth and Community Centre studio Recording Engineer Nick Richards. The songs are scheduled for release on music platforms during 2025, the debut single, The Thrush and the Snail (A Spring Day) will be released on May 2nd, 2025, and the last one being released for the Christmas holiday season (see release dates below).
Little Smudge encourages people to stream the song(s) on their preferred music platform and make a monetary donation in kind to this fundraiser. Streaming music generates significant revenue only after millions of streams, so donations from supporters are essential in reaching the fundraising objectives as set out below.
Check out Little Smudge's delightful kid friendly music video that he created for the song, available on his YouTube channel from May 2nd 2025. YouTube Video link. Note: The video is set as "Made for Kids" for privacy and safety.
What is a C.I.C.? – A Community Interest Company is a limited company which operates to provide a benefit to the community they serve. The purpose of a C.I.C. is primarily one of community benefit rather than private profit.
Now Hear This Music C.I.C. is located in Portishead, North Somerset, England. Founded by Laura Porter, a creative health practitioner and inclusion specialist with a professional background in music performance, teaching, and ethnomusicological research.
The positive impacts of music participation on wellbeing, mental health, and other social outcomes are well documented. However, many barriers exist for those who would benefit the most from making music. Laura’s goal through Now Hear This Music C.I.C. is to overcome these barriers through her fully inclusive workshops and the programs she offers to the community.
Purpose of the Fundraising:
To support the provision of funds for:
- Rental of venue spaces to ensure Now Hear This Music C.I.C. can continue to deliver and grow its provision of fully inclusive and accessible practical musical workshops and programs. Finding suitable venues is very challenging, many venues do not have the necessary requirements that will cater for large numbers of individuals that have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This is one of the barriers that has been referred to above.
- Additional music teachers / practitioners to help in the delivery of workshops and One to One specialist provision.
- The ultimate goal of this fundraising campaign is to establish an All-Inclusive Music School/Academy for Now Hear This Music C.I.C. This dedicated venue would allow Laura to fully deliver her programs. It would be equipped with the necessary facilities and resources to ensure accessibility and safety for all participants. Currently, finding suitable venues has been challenging for Now Hear This Music C.I.C. due to the special needs of many of the participants and the capacity limitations of available venues. Additionally, a dedicated venue would significantly benefit operations by eliminating the need to transport musical instruments and equipment between different venues. This would provide more time to develop and enhance the workshops and classes. Furthermore, it would open up more opportunities in the West if England for those with SEND to be able to attend a venue tailored for their needs in order to improve health and well being through practical and creative music workshops. To achieve this final goal would require a substantial investment, estimated to be in the large six-figure range. While ambitious, it is achievable with your support through donations to this fundraiser and through revenue generated by the songs.
Impact:
Participation in the workshops and making music provides enrichment and brings enjoyment. This can be seen by the multitude of smiles on the faces of those who attend. It also benefits the support workers, who are invited to join in whilst there with the person they are supporting. There are several examples of how Now Hear This Music C.I.C. achieves this on their website Now Hear this Music C.I.C. website link
Call to Action:
With donations, we can support people who may not have access to inclusive music-making opportunities. Now Hear This Music C.I.C. workshops offer participants a safe environment to express themselves musically in a friendly social setting.
Little Smudge has personally financed the production, recording, and release of The Thrush and the Snail (The Adventures of) songs and does not seek to recover these expenses; this is his ongoing contribution to the fundraiser.
Funds raised through donations, post-tax revenue from streaming "The Thrush and the Snail (The Adventures of)" songs, and post-tax profits from merchandise sales will be used to support the unique services provided by Now Hear This Music C.I.C.
Little Smudge is not associated with Now Hear This Music C.I.C.; however, he appreciates their unique contribution and aims to support them through his music.
And Finally:
Little Smudge expresses his sincere gratitude to all those who contribute to the fundraiser through donations, streaming, or sharing the songs, as each effort significantly aids in achieving the goals of the fundraiser.
As Laura Porter states on her Now Hear This Music website:
“Evidence confirms that making music together is a vital part of what it means to be human. Our brains are intrinsically, maybe uniquely, evolved to share a beat. The power of music is not just a lucky miracle: it is essential to how our species has come together to survive this far.”
Little Smudge hopes you enjoy listening to the songs and that they inspire you to engage in activities such as singing, clapping, or playing along. Additionally, may these songs encourage you to extend assistance to others and ultimately bring joy to yourself and those around you.
The Thrush and the Snail (A Spring Day) - Release date May 2nd, 2025
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Acts 2-4 are scheduled for release as follows:
- June 6th - The Thrush and the Snail (A Spring Day Reprise)
- July 4th- The Thrush and the Snail (A Day in the Park)
- November 7th: The Thrush and the Snail (On Christmas Day)
Credits
The Thrush and the Snail (Acts 1-4)
Written by Ian Smith
Performed by:
Little Smudge – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Laura Porter - Clarinet, Saxophone, Glockenspiel, Percussion
James Sherlock -Flute
Natalie Sherlock - Accordion
Colum Campbell – Acoustic Guitar
Sindy Lau - Percussion
Song Thrush - Himself
Recording and Mixing Engineer - Nick Richards
Recorded at Portishead Youth & Community Centre
Produced by Ian Smith
Song Thrush recorded at Redcliffe Bay NT,
Portishead, by Ian Smith on 4th June 2023.
Thank you
Ian Smith a.k.a. Little Smudge