Black Country singer-songwriter Dan Whitehouse has written a protest song in response to the shocking recent events at The Crooked House pub. The 18th Century building, much loved and famed for its sloping floors and walls, was burnt down and bulldozed less than two days after the fire, the suspicious circumstances prompting anger from residents and former customers.
Dan has many warm memories of regular family outings to the quirky building. He was heartbroken when he heard the news; but heartbreak soon changed to outrage “at the greed and the lack of respect for the laws that are there to protect our heritage and our historical buildings.” Dan is involved in many local projects all about preserving heritage, history and community through song and story.*
When he heard the news, Dan stayed up all night writing as song in protest, and has now released The Crooked House on YouTube.
“As a songwriter, this is the least I can do. Through The Crooked House I’m expressing feelings that are shared with so many I have spoken to. We can’t turn the clock back but we shouldn’t just lie down and accept what has happened, and perhaps our protest can raise awareness and help avoid such things happening in the future.
“I sing with a collective voice,” Dan adds.
*Related community / heritage projects
- Voices From The Cones 2022 – a song cycle about the community and history of glass making in Stourbridge https://danwhitehouse.bandcamp.com/album/voices-from-the-cones
- Dudley Days 2021 – a community songwriting project – Creative Black Country
- The Brierley Hill Song Book – current Historic England/Culture Brierley Hill funded community songwriting project with a free live performance of songs in St Michael’s Church on Weds 13th September https://www.dan-whitehouse.com/2023/08/18/the-brierley-hill-song-book/
Dan’s live gigs: https://www.dan-whitehouse.com/live/
- Katie Spencer | “Live performance is a big part of what I love” - September 18, 2023
- RAMM announces new commissions by two Devon-based artists - September 12, 2023
- Profound and eloquent, haunting and dramatic | The Ciderhouse Rebellion - September 4, 2023
