“If you put a little effort into something the difference is tremendous.”

With the travel restrictions, I’ve been grounded in London and getting to know those local traders and artists keeping the city ticking over. In the last episode of the series, I caught up with friend and musician Stephanie Mair, aka Fifi La Mer. Her repertoire includes Parisian folk music to selected modern tunes, performing solo or in her band Oh La La!

I tracked down Fifi in her north London home and we discuss the neighbourhood of Bounds Green; Parisian music influences; the “surreal experience” of performing as a duet outside Zédel’s restaurant in the empty streets of West End London; what resilience feels like for Fifi; learning the accordion; and touring again.

Pour yourself a glass of wine and prepare to be taken to London, Paris and back…

PEOPLE AND PLACES MENTIONED

More about Fifi and Oh La La!, including CD purchases: https://www.ohlalamusic.co.uk/index.phpNational Rural Touring and Fifi’s journey into French music: https://www.ruraltouring.org/facebook-event/oh-la-la-fifi-la-mer-4Live And Local: Living Room Project: http://www.liveandlocal.org.uk/livingroom.htmBounds Green: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounds_GreenKenwood Ladies’ Pond, Hampstead Heath: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/where-to-go-at-hampstead-heath/kenwood-ladies-pondBrasserie Zédel: https://www.brasseriezedel.comWhat is Pétanque?: https://thisispetanque.com/what-is-petanque.html

ABOUT MARRIOTT'S SIDE TRIPSAn overview and further information on Stephen Marriott can be found at the show's website: https://www.marriottssidetrips.comMarriott shares images and videos from his travels, but rarely sunset shots, at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenrmarriottAuthor’s Website and Free book: https://stephenrmarriott.comIf you have any questions or comments, Marriott always loves to hear from his listeners. You can reach him at: [email protected]Listen & SubscribeApple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts

Music: Fifi La Mer, performing La Complainte de la Butte by Jean Renoir. The show’s theme music is by Hanna and Julius, thank you.

Thank you to Fifi for hosting the episode on 28/05/2021.