Forum topic: Star springs a market surprise

Visitors to last weekend's Palmers Green Spring Market, which saw the recently created Devonshire Square filled with traders, shoppers and musicians, were treated to an unscheduled appearance and impromptu performance by singer, multi-instrumentalist and former PG resident Freya Riding when she dropped by at the market.

Freya is part of the line-up for next month's Coronation Concert, but on Saturday she was back to her north London roots. Borrowing another performer's guitar, she gave us live performances of some of her hit records.

Freya said playing gigs in north London was the "lifeblood" of her teens and twenties and she was "very happy to be back”.  Joined by her new husband, folk singer Ewan J Phillips, the couple charmed the audience, reminiscing about their first meeting, at Winchmore Hill bar On Broadway.

Shirley Rose, who coordinated the music programme for the market, commented, “It was fantastic that Freya came to shop at our community street market and we couldn’t believe it when she offered to perform a few of her songs. She is a great inspiration to our local musicians, and it is lovely that she hasn’t forgotten her Palmers Green roots.”

Freya shot to fame in 2017 with her ballad “Lost without you”.  Her new album Blood Orange will be out on 5th May.

Like last December's Winter Market, Saturday's event was organised by the Palmers Green Action Team. Set up in 2018 by five local women, the Action Team now has 70 volunteers committed to projects that improve the local area, including facilitating the opening of new businesses in the town centre. Its vision is a thriving Palmers Green high street at the heart of the community.

The Action Team already has a date set for a third market in Devonshire Square - Saturday 15th July - another opportunity for the community to come together and support up and coming local businesses.