@teyates

Singer-Songwriter • Multi-Instrumentalist • Artist • Animator |Manchester-born | Wigan-raised | Bristol-based 🌹Socialist • 🌱Vegan • #ActuallyAutistic | he/him

 Bristol, England
teyates.com
Joined July 2010
  • Tweets3.7K
  • Following2K
  • Followers619
992Media
Some snaps taken during sound check by @coffeewithjoe at @watfordpalace on Sunday ahead of our performance at @EnrichFestival. What a beautiful venue - and such a wonderful event too! Thanks to @HertsInclusive for having us along - and thanks to Joe and Kai Carter for joining me
T.E. Yates tuning mandolin on stage during sound check at Watford Palace Theatre

ALT T.E. Yates tuning mandolin on stage during sound check at Watford Palace Theatre

View of seats and galleries from stage at Watford Palace Theatre

ALT View of seats and galleries from stage at Watford Palace Theatre

T.E. Yates tuning mandolin on stage during sound check at Watford Palace Theatre

ALT T.E. Yates tuning mandolin on stage during sound check at Watford Palace Theatre

View of stage at Watford Palace Theatre from audience seating area

ALT View of stage at Watford Palace Theatre from audience seating area

2
104
Before anyone sets sail in Sealegs, there’s quite a lot of assembling, unpacking & arranging to do. 🌊 The sea is built from separate hand-painted sections, so it can travel and be assembled into one larger surface in different spaces. 1/3
The modular blue wave-patterned Sealegs sea assembled across a large table, with three empty dark brown island bases positioned near the centre.

ALT The modular blue wave-patterned Sealegs sea assembled across a large table, with three empty dark brown island bases positioned near the centre.

Tom Yates unpacking a clear storage box beside the Sealegs tabletop, with an iPad, audio equipment, handmade volcanoes and other framework objects spread across the table.

ALT Tom Yates unpacking a clear storage box beside the Sealegs tabletop, with an iPad, audio equipment, handmade volcanoes and other framework objects spread across the table.

Tom Yates positioning objects beside the Sealegs sea during setup, with an iPad, lighthouse components, small volcanoes and a large smoking volcano around him.

ALT Tom Yates positioning objects beside the Sealegs sea during setup, with an iPad, lighthouse components, small volcanoes and a large smoking volcano around him.

1
36
The islands, volcanoes, lighthouse, ice and other pieces are separate too, so they can be introduced or repositioned as the journey develops. The first full test at @centrespace1 reinforced that having lots available doesn’t mean it all needs to be on the table at once. 2/3
Close-up of two small handmade volcanic islands on dark brown bases beside the much larger papier-mâché volcano, showing the different scales and materials used in Sealegs.

ALT Close-up of two small handmade volcanic islands on dark brown bases beside the much larger papier-mâché volcano, showing the different scales and materials used in Sealegs.

Tom Yates holding and arranging one of the handmade Sealegs objects during setup, with a storage box, small volcanoes, an iPad and the large smoking volcano around the table.

ALT Tom Yates holding and arranging one of the handmade Sealegs objects during setup, with a storage box, small volcanoes, an iPad and the large smoking volcano around the table.

1
14
Part of the next iteration is deciding what needs to be visible from the start, what can appear later, how much space people need to move their vessels, and how easily the whole framework can travel. Photos: @tomstubbs_uk / @biggerhousefilm. #Sealegs #DYCP 3/3
26
A bit more from the first full Sealegs test at @centrespace1 — looking at how participants move from making their own vessel into the journey itself. ⛵🌊 The journey starts with making: folding & personalising a boat, giving it an identity & creating a self-portrait. 1/3
Tom Yates reaching across the blue Sealegs tabletop during the test, surrounded by participant-made boats, a striped lighthouse, ice blocks and handmade volcanic islands.

ALT Tom Yates reaching across the blue Sealegs tabletop during the test, surrounded by participant-made boats, a striped lighthouse, ice blocks and handmade volcanic islands.

A participant’s hand folding a white paper boat on a table beside Michael Smith / The DarkFox’s purple-and-green anchor-framed self-portrait.

ALT A participant’s hand folding a white paper boat on a table beside Michael Smith / The DarkFox’s purple-and-green anchor-framed self-portrait.

Close-up of a participant-made paper boat named HMS Surprise on the blue wave-patterned Sealegs sea, with a yellow-and-green sail marked 53.

ALT Close-up of a participant-made paper boat named HMS Surprise on the blue wave-patterned Sealegs sea, with a yellow-and-green sail marked 53.

Tom Yates gesturing while facilitating the Sealegs test around the populated tabletop, with a lighthouse, paper boats, ice and volcanic islands between the participants.

ALT Tom Yates gesturing while facilitating the Sealegs test around the populated tabletop, with a lighthouse, paper boats, ice and volcanic islands between the participants.

1
17
Those things enter the shared tabletop world. The boat isn’t made and put aside — it becomes the participant’s vessel as they navigate the sea. That connection creates different ways into the questions: literal, imaginative, through the story, or somewhere between. 2/3
1
11
The first test made me want to strengthen that transition further: giving the making enough time and space, and making the moment of actually setting off feel integral to Sealegs rather than simply an introduction. Photos: @tomstubbs_uk / @biggerhousefilm. #Sealegs #DYCP 3/3
26
A closer look at some of the handmade objects that make up the world of Sealegs. 🌊 I began with simple origami, then branched out into papier-mâché and more elaborate structures while keeping the same stylised, handmade visual language. 1/3
Handmade dark grey card anchor lying across the hand-painted blue wave-patterned Sealegs tabletop, with a paper boat in the background.

ALT Handmade dark grey card anchor lying across the hand-painted blue wave-patterned Sealegs tabletop, with a paper boat in the background.

Handmade circular compass with a movable pointer on the blue wave-patterned Sealegs tabletop, in front of the dark base of a volcanic island.

ALT Handmade circular compass with a movable pointer on the blue wave-patterned Sealegs tabletop, in front of the dark base of a volcanic island.

Three handmade volcanic islands on the Sealegs tabletop, including a large papier-mâché volcano with red lava and a tall plume of dark smoke, alongside two smaller origami volcanoes.

ALT Three handmade volcanic islands on the Sealegs tabletop, including a large papier-mâché volcano with red lava and a tall plume of dark smoke, alongside two smaller origami volcanoes.

A large handmade blue-green wave, erupting volcano and dark storm cloud with gem-like raindrops and a yellow lightning bolt on the Sealegs tabletop, with Michael Smith and Gregory Thorn visible behind the objects during the test.

ALT A large handmade blue-green wave, erupting volcano and dark storm cloud with gem-like raindrops and a yellow lightning bolt on the Sealegs tabletop, with Michael Smith and Gregory Thorn visible behind the objects during the test.

1
26
The anchor and compass help us set off; later come waves, storms, eruptions and sea monsters. They shape what happens on the table, but also create different ways into the questions and conversations. 2/3
Close-up of a handmade dark storm cloud supported by two pillars studded with blue and teal gem-like raindrops, with a large orange-to-yellow lightning bolt hanging between them and a volcano visible behind.

ALT Close-up of a handmade dark storm cloud supported by two pillars studded with blue and teal gem-like raindrops, with a large orange-to-yellow lightning bolt hanging between them and a volcano visible behind.

A handmade storm cloud, blue-green wave and erupting volcano arranged across the Sealegs tabletop, with Tom Yates standing to the left in a retro hooped T-shirt and Michael Smith seated to the right in a black Zip Comic T-shirt.

ALT A handmade storm cloud, blue-green wave and erupting volcano arranged across the Sealegs tabletop, with Tom Yates standing to the left in a retro hooped T-shirt and Michael Smith seated to the right in a black Zip Comic T-shirt.

Gregory Thorn leaning over the Sealegs tabletop towards a handmade orange kraken with tentacles spreading across the sea, one eye visible from this angle, with a green sea serpent and paper boats nearby.

ALT Gregory Thorn leaning over the Sealegs tabletop towards a handmade orange kraken with tentacles spreading across the sea, one eye visible from this angle, with a green sea serpent and paper boats nearby.

1
10
The first test at @centrespace1 clarified something useful: the objects work best when they leave room for participants. The next iteration is less about making more, and more about how and when the existing pieces are used. Photos: @tomstubbs_uk / @biggerhousefilm. 3/3
4
Some of the things participants made before we set sail in the first full Sealegs test at @centrespace1. Everyone made and personalised a boat, plus an anchor-framed self-portrait. Those pieces then became part of the tabletop world. 1/3
Participant-made self-portrait and decorated paper boat from the first Sealegs group test, photographed beside the blue patterned tabletop sea.

ALT Participant-made self-portrait and decorated paper boat from the first Sealegs group test, photographed beside the blue patterned tabletop sea.

Close-up of a participant-made self-portrait drawn inside an anchor design, with the name Alexander Parker written across the banner.

ALT Close-up of a participant-made self-portrait drawn inside an anchor design, with the name Alexander Parker written across the banner.

A hand holding up Gregory Thorn’s participant-made self-portrait, drawn inside an anchor-shaped template during the Sealegs test.

ALT A hand holding up Gregory Thorn’s participant-made self-portrait, drawn inside an anchor-shaped template during the Sealegs test.

Participant-made self-portrait featuring a purple fox character on a green background inside an anchor design, labelled “The DarkFox, ESQ”.

ALT Participant-made self-portrait featuring a purple fox character on a green background inside an anchor design, labelled “The DarkFox, ESQ”.

1
18
The link between each participant and their own vessel was already part of Sealegs. During the test @tomstubbs_uk of @biggerhousefilm suggested making “captain” explicit when introducing questions — a useful way to show there isn’t one right way to answer them. 2/3
Participant-made boat called “The Purple Fiend”, decorated in bright purple and green with large patterned sails, sitting on the blue Sealegs tabletop sea.

ALT Participant-made boat called “The Purple Fiend”, decorated in bright purple and green with large patterned sails, sitting on the blue Sealegs tabletop sea.

A collection of participant-made paper boats and vessels on the Sealegs tabletop sea, including a black pirate ship with skull-and-crossbones sails and a bright green folded sail.

ALT A collection of participant-made paper boats and vessels on the Sealegs tabletop sea, including a black pirate ship with skull-and-crossbones sails and a bright green folded sail.

Gregory Thorn sitting behind his small decorated paper boat during the Sealegs group test, with the blue patterned tabletop sea filling the foreground.

ALT Gregory Thorn sitting behind his small decorated paper boat during the Sealegs group test, with the blue patterned tabletop sea filling the foreground.

1
15
That’s something I’m taking forward: keep making central, and make it clear people can respond as themselves, through the story, or somewhere between. Work: Alexander Parker, Gregory Thorn + Michael Smith / The DarkFox. Photos: @tomstubbs_uk, Alex + Greg. #Sealegs 3/3
13
First proper look at Sealegs — my @ace_national DYCP project exploring conversation, connection and neurodivergent experience through a handmade tabletop sea, participant-made boats and visual metaphors. First full group test recently at @centrespace1, Bristol. 🧵 1/3
Tom Yates arranging the Sealegs tabletop installation at Centrespace Gallery, with handmade volcanoes, a lighthouse, paper boats and a blue patterned sea.

ALT Tom Yates arranging the Sealegs tabletop installation at Centrespace Gallery, with handmade volcanoes, a lighthouse, paper boats and a blue patterned sea.

Wide view of the Sealegs tabletop installation at Centrespace Gallery, with a lighthouse, icebergs, volcanoes, a large wave, storm cloud, sea serpent and Pirate Cove arranged across a blue patterned sea.

ALT Wide view of the Sealegs tabletop installation at Centrespace Gallery, with a lighthouse, icebergs, volcanoes, a large wave, storm cloud, sea serpent and Pirate Cove arranged across a blue patterned sea.

Gregory Thorn pointing towards a handmade orange Kraken during the Sealegs project test, with a sea serpent and blue patterned tabletop in the foreground.

ALT Gregory Thorn pointing towards a handmade orange Kraken during the Sealegs project test, with a sea serpent and blue patterned tabletop in the foreground.

Handmade green sea serpent on the Sealegs tabletop, alongside participant-made boats, volcanoes and Gregory Thorn’s illustrated self-portrait.

ALT Handmade green sea serpent on the Sealegs tabletop, alongside participant-made boats, volcanoes and Gregory Thorn’s illustrated self-portrait.

1
2
99
The test gave me loads to take into the next iteration: clearer questions, more time and different ways to respond, and a better balance between the imaginative story-world and the conversations it opens up. More from Sealegs soon! 2/3
Close-up of a personalised paper boat named HMS Surprise on the hand-drawn blue Sealegs sea, with participants blurred in the background.

ALT Close-up of a personalised paper boat named HMS Surprise on the hand-drawn blue Sealegs sea, with participants blurred in the background.

Michael Smith gesturing with both hands during the Sealegs test, with a lighthouse and handmade volcanoes in the foreground.

ALT Michael Smith gesturing with both hands during the Sealegs test, with a lighthouse and handmade volcanoes in the foreground.

1
9
Thanks to Tom Stubbs, Alexander Parker, Gregory Thorn & Michael Smith / The DarkFox for taking part; Stephen Clarke / @biggerhousefilm & @soundcube / Flow Observatorium for mentoring; and @centrespace1 for the space. Photos: @tomstubbs_uk + Alexander Parker. 3/3
1
1
26
Three days at @wr_audio with @biffroxby — guitar and mandolin parts down for two albums' worth of material. Came in thinking album and EP, left with something bigger. Biff left me a note. He's right 😄 More soon. 🎶 #newmusic #folkmusic #indiefolk
Two musicians smiling together at the end of three days of recording sessions in a studio live room in Salford, Manchester.

ALT Two musicians smiling together at the end of three days of recording sessions in a studio live room in Salford, Manchester.

A handwritten note on a music whiteboard reading "Hi Tom! You're doing great!" propped against a Fylde mandolin on a studio floor, surrounded by cables, lyric sheets and recording equipment.

ALT A handwritten note on a music whiteboard reading "Hi Tom! You're doing great!" propped against a Fylde mandolin on a studio floor, surrounded by cables, lyric sheets and recording equipment.

A musician wearing headphones, a corduroy flat cap and a tan velvet jacket giving a thumbs up with a smile, with an acoustic guitar visible and a wooden studio wall behind him.

ALT A musician wearing headphones, a corduroy flat cap and a tan velvet jacket giving a thumbs up with a smile, with an acoustic guitar visible and a wooden studio wall behind him.

1
2
25
A quick phone pan of the live room at @wr_audio just after we wrapped. Three days, guitar, mandolin, a ukulele, a trad round — enough for two albums. More coming tomorrow... 👀 Audio is the intro to new song "Words" (WIP). #folkmusic #newrecord #recordingstudio
1
31
Ukulele came out for a short trad round during the sessions — "White Sand and Grey Sand". Fingerpicked uke and open G guitar, mostly about the vocal harmonies. Made by Wunderkammer Musical Instrument Co. Thanks @wr_audio and @biffroxby 🎶 #ukulele #folkmusic #tradmusic
A handmade mahogany ukulele on a studio floor surrounded by recording cables, microphone stands, and printed lyric sheets.

ALT A handmade mahogany ukulele on a studio floor surrounded by recording cables, microphone stands, and printed lyric sheets.

1
72
Dialling in "River Revived" at @wr_audio with @biffroxby 🎛️ #folkmusic #recordingstudio
37
Producer's orders 📋 Three days at @wr_audio with @biffroxby — six guitar tunings, mandolin, a trad round. Ended up with enough for two albums. 17 tracks total. #folkmusic #recordingstudio
A handwritten "RELAX!" sign in large letters on a lined music whiteboard, propped on a studio floor next to a mandolin, printed lyric sheets, and recording cables.

ALT A handwritten "RELAX!" sign in large letters on a lined music whiteboard, propped on a studio floor next to a mandolin, printed lyric sheets, and recording cables.

A music producer in profile at a large mixing desk in a recording studio control room, with dual monitors showing a DAW, studio monitors, and a CCTV feed of the live room on a screen above.

ALT A music producer in profile at a large mixing desk in a recording studio control room, with dual monitors showing a DAW, studio monitors, and a CCTV feed of the live room on a screen above.

1
41
Load more