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Newsletter 21st June 2006 |
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We’ve
received some great news in the last few days, with two successful arts grant
applications. The first was from the local Gatwick Community Trust – an
award for much needed equipment. The second is a general funding grant
from the PRS Foundation, the UK’s largest independent funder purely for
new music of any genre. For lovers of good music, this is good news for
you too, as it gives us the confidence to continue to promote what we hope
you agree is a rich and varied programme of events. For example, already
confirmed for the programme since our last newsletter, you can look
forward to: Ø
6 July -
Brooks Williams, a stunning guitarist from
the US, provides the support for US singer Eve Selis
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2 September
- Shirley Collins presents the fascinating
story of her year-long journey through the musical heartland of the
Southern States of America in 1959 in her 'America Over the Water' show at
Chequer Mead Theatre. Ø
25
September, the much in demand classical
guitarist Richard Durrant
performs at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne. Don’t
forget that this Friday (23rd) sees the unmissable Guy Davis at Chequer Mead, East
Grinstead, who will be joined for the gig by Mark Murphy and Roth
Patterson – their first visit to the UK. If you tune into BBC Radio Kent
thisThursday (22nd) at around 7.15pm, you may catch Guy being
interviewed on the Charlie Crocker programme. See below for more on Guy Davis. Tickets are now on sale for
the amazing Eve Selis and
her 5 piece band (described by Radio 2’s Bob Harris as “one of the best
shows I've ever seen in the U.K"), on 6 July. You can also hear Eve being
interviewed and playing live on BBC Radio Kent the previous evening. More on Eve Selis. Tickets are also on sale for
Pete Atkin (musical partner
of Australian Clive James), who plays a rare gig for us on July 24, in a
double-header with the lovely singer, Liz Simcock. More on Pete
Atkin. To reserve or buy tickets, use the telephone or email details below or you can buy over the counter at Jingles Music Store in East Grinstead (01342 325215). Don’t forget you can usually hear samples of the artists coming up on our MySpace website (click on the link on the right). |
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For
more information and samples, click on the artists' website links below or
visit our Myspace
website | |
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Friday 23
June |
Described as having "a voice
like Howlin' Wolf dipped in honey", Guy Davis is one of the finest Delta
Blues musicians touring today. He’s also a great storyteller (“I'm so full of stories I need a
laxative”), an actor, a playwright, composer and director.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to reviving the traditions
of acoustic blues and bringing them to as many ears as possible through
the material of the great blues masters, African American stories, and his
own original songs, stories and performance
pieces. Son
of the legendary African-American actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Guy
received the W.C. Handy Keeping the
Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation for his
off-Broadway portrayal of Blues legend Robert Johnson. He grew up hearing
accounts of life in the rural South from his parents and especially his
grandparents, and they made their way into his own stories and songs. He
taught himself the guitar (never having the patience to take formal
lessons) and learned by listening to and watching other
musicians. Guy is accompanied tonight (appearing for the first time in the UK) by two of the musician's who have regularly appeared on his recordings: Mark Murphy (bass) and Roth Patterson (electric guitar) – aka ‘the High Flying Rockets’! "Over
the last half a dozen years or so the albums of Guy Davis have been a
constant source of inspiration and wonderment. Lining up alongside other
modern bluesmen such as Eric Bibb and Keb Mo, Davis is the complete
performer." |
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Thursday 6
July |
From
the west coast of America, Eve Selis has been impressing audiences
worlwide with her powerful and distinctive vocals. Winner of the 2005 San
Diego Best Americana award,
the California-based singer mixes country with R&B, blues and folk.
Her band includes some of Southern California's finest musicians,
including former Johnny Cash sideman ‘Cactus’ Jim Soldi, and longtime
collaborator Marc ‘Twang’ Intravaia. Eve
has been compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Joan Osbourne but
has more than proved herself as an artist in her own right - she is one of
the top female artists on music download site MP3.com and has had ten
number one songs in various charts. Her most recent CD 'Do You Know Me'
was co-written with some of Nashville’s top
writers. On
stage Eve delivers a stunning performance with equal parts innocence and
authority, always soulful, strong and sexy. Her voice is variously
described as passionate, melodic, raspy and sweet, with a phenomenal
range. She has opened for Crosby, Stills & Nash who dedicated
"Darkstar" to her after a mesmerising set. Eve is
not only a writer and performer but is also committed to helping less
fortunate people and supports various charities including one for battered
women and abused children. This is a special warm-up night before she heads for Newark to headline the next evening at the Americana Festival. "A gifted writer and electrifying singer who stands head and shoulders above many of her big name contemporaries" Maverick magazine "One
of the best shows I've ever seen in the U.K.". Bob
Harris, BBC Support for the evening is provided by the excellent Brooks Williams, whose music is hard to categorise. His website describes his style as “a fearlessly evolving mélange of intricate blues-soaked chords, Latin rhythms, and soulful riffs.” So now you know. |
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Monday 24
July |
Pete
Atkin is the 'near-legendary'
British singer and songwriter who in the early 1970s made six albums of
songs demonstrating a rare combination of melodic invention and evocation
with lyrics of love and regret, told with ironic humour and acute
observation. Pete wrote the music, and Australian humorist, writer and TV
critic, Clive James, wrote
the words. The songs earned Pete the respect of some of Britain's best rock and jazz session musicians. He was joined in the studio and on tour by a number of them, notably Chris Spedding, Herbie Flowers, Alan Parker, Barry Morgan, Kenny Clare and Ray Cooper, and though remaining virtually unknown to the popular record-buying public he built up a huge following on the UK college circuit. In recent years, Pete and Clive have again combined their songwriting talents, producing new albums every bit as good as those from the early days. This is very rare opportunity to catch Pete Atkin solo, with just guitar and piano. Liz Simcock is a great songwriter and gorgeous singer with a relaxed and endearing stage presence. Sharing the bill, her very ‘English’ songs will be the perfect complement to Pete's eclectic material. |
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For
your future diaries..
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Shirley Collins 'America Over the Water' (2 September Chequer Mead - tbc); Johnny Dickenson (11 September, The Ravenswood); Richard Durrant (25 September, The Ravenswood); Pierre Bensusan (6 November, The Ravenswood - support: Matthew Ord); Bob Fox & Billy Mitchell (16 Oct, The Ravenswood); Tommy Emmanuel (28 November, Chequer Mead); John Tams & Barry Coope (11 December, Chequer Mead) More information on all up-and-coming artists can be found on our website: www.acousticsussex.org.uk. You can also find us on MySpace (with samples from some of the artists appearing) at: www.myspace.com/acoustic_sussex. If you know anyone who you think may enjoy our events, please forward this email to them. |
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