From: Martin Snodin [martin_dot_snowdin_at_btopenworld_dot_com]
Sent: 03 February 2007 15:18
Subject: Acoustic Sussex newsletter - 3 February 2007

Newsletter         3rd February 2007

 

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

OVER £10,000 RAISED FOR CANCER CHARITIES

The ‘signed guitar’ auction closed on 28 January, raising £560 towards our fund-raising for 3 cancer charities (Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, St Catherine's Hospice in Sussex and St Raphael's Hospice in Surrey). The final signature on the guitar was provided by Beth Nielsen Chapman at her concert at Chequer Mead, during which Beth also hosted a 'meet and greet' reception (picture below). We would like to thank Beth for her support which, with other fund raising, is expected to raise a total sum of more than £10,000 (final figures will be published on the website in due course).

 


Beth Nielsen Chapman
on stage at Chequer Mead

 

 

Beth signing the
guitar on stage

Click on these links (or visit the website) for more information on upcoming shows.

Ø       Saturday 3rdh February – Alana Levadonski – Turners Hill House Concert  (TODAY!)

Ø       Friday 9th February - Keith James – Songs of Nick Drake  at Chequer Mead, East Grinstead

Ø       Monday 26th February – Anais Mitchell (+ support) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø       Monday 12th March – Thea Gilmore (+ support) at Chequer Mead, East Grinstead

Ø       Monday 30 March – Richard Durrant (+ support) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

 

For more information  including sound samples, click on the artists' website links below or visit our Myspace website

Saturday
3 February
ALANA LEVADOSKI
House Concert in Turners Hill

 


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Dubbed "The 'It' Girl of Canadian Roots Music", singer songwriter Alana Levandoski is part of an emerging generation of new artists reflecting the range of influences in Canadian music. There are just a handful of tickets still available for this intimate house concert in Turners Hill  (the day after she appeared at London’s Borderline as part of the new ‘Bob Harris Presents’ Americana CD).

Anyone interested should go the Turners Hill House Concert website or email: info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk.

 


Alana Levandoski

Friday
9 February
KEITH JAMES
The Songs of Nick Drake
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
£10 (£9 conc)     8pm
Box Office 01342 302000

 


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Although Keith James is still, in some respects, a well kept secret, he has recently seen a gradual emergence as one of the country's most valuable singer/songwriters, and concert performers. During January, February and March 2007, Keith performs his eighth UK tour entitled The Songs of Nick Drake, in which almost the entire concert is dedicated to the work of the most loved of all English singer/songwriters. Previous tours across the country, totalling over 250 concerts, have seen audiences filling arts centres and theatres to hear this music again after an absence from the live music scene of well over 30 years.

Nick Drake himself, was, during his prolific period, somewhat of a mystery. He only lived to record 3 albums, "Five Leaves Left", "Bryter Later" and "Pink Moon", all of which were regarded at the time as being flimsy and without the substance that was called for to engage popular audiences. It has only been in the last 10 years that many thousands of listeners have come to appreciate their beauty. Nick Drake has now, thankfully, become the most revered of all figures to take their place in the world of contemporary acoustic music. It is with this in mind that these concerts are presented.

A fresh and powerful approach to these wonderful songs
Patrick Humphries – Nick Drake biographer

 


Nick Drake


Keith James

Monday
26 February
ANAIS MITCHELL
at
The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
£10adv (£12 door)    8pm

Buy tickets online or:
Tel. 01342 302000
or email

 

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Anais Mitchell began writing songs at 17.  At 18 she moved from Vermont to Boston, and started playing for whoever would listen. After a year of that, Anais enrolled in a liberal arts school back in Vermont, where she studied political science and languages, ran a folk radio show, and wrote and performed a good deal. She spent a half-year in Austin, waitressing on 6th street and playing as much as she could. She also recorded her debut album during that spring ('The Song They Sang When Rome Fell').  In 2003, The Kerrville Folk Festival honoured her work with the prestigious New Folk Award .

After spending time in Cuba, a semester in the Middle East and some unexpected touring with a rock project called "Circus Guy's Rock & Roll Revue" Anaïs released her acclaimed album, 'Hymns for the Exiled'.

Anaïs is passionate about the music of her native land, from old-school country to dustbowl labour ballads to rebel rock. However, the time she's spent in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East has lent a worldly depth to her writing, which she presents to her audience with a graceful presence of spirit.

With a new CD, The Brightness, released on February 13th, a nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year in the 2007 US Folk Alliance awards (to be announced on February 21st) and with a live appearance on Bob Harris’s Radio 2 show scheduled for March 3rd, this should be the year that this intriguing singer songwriter gets the attention she so richly deserves.

Support for this show is Toronto-based David Celia, described as "roots-rock with hints of folk wrapped up in a pop package” -  and getting excellent reviews whenever he plays in the UK.

 


Anais Mitchell


The Brightness CD

 

Monday
12 March
THEA GILMORE
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
£14 (£12 conc)     8pm
Box Office 01342 302000

 


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Described recently by Mojo magazine as "the most coherent, literate and charged singer-songwriter of her generation", new mum Thea Gilmore has blazed a unique and highly independent trail  since releasing her debut album in 1998 aged 18. Prolific and diverse, her seven albums run the gamut from hushed, intimate acoustic settings to full throttle rock, always unified by her spine tingling vocals and inspirational lyrics.

In August 2005 released "Harpo's Ghost" to unanimous rave reviews. The album includes her collaborations with Mike Scott of the Waterboys and moved the Daily Telegraph to confirm her as "one of the boldest and most poetic lyricists working in British music...".

Thea Gilmore is a stunningly affecting live performer: her own woman and defiantly, unshakeably the real deal.

STOP PRESS – Hear Thea Gilmore live on the Radio 2  Bob Harris show on Saturday 10th March (just after midnight).

“One of the boldest and most poetic lyricists
 currently working in British music ." The Telegraph

Support for this show is Erin McKeown, asinger songwriter described as having "the wit of Randy Newman, the innovative stylings of Bjork, and the intricate arrangements of Elvis Costello". Erin has packed a ton of music into her young career. With 5 studio albums, 2 EPs, and numerous soundtracks and compilations to her credit, the 28-year-old multi-instrumentalist hasn't stopped for a breather in the last 10 years. Along the way she has averaged 200 shows a year and garnered the praise of fans and critics alike. Her new release. Sing You Sinners, has received rave reviews (4 stars in Sunday Times).

 


Thea Gilmore

 


Erin McKeown

Monday
26 March
RICHARD DURRANT
at
The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
£10adv (£12 door)    8pm

Buy tickets online or:
Tel. 01342 302000
or email

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Richard Durrant is a classically trained artist active in many walks of musical life. Respected equally in the world of classical, folk and rock music, he is in demand as recitalist, session player and composer.

Best known for his lively and entertaining guitar concerts Durrant has won devoted fans throughout Europe - his sheer virtuosity and uncategorisable repertoire earning him a unique place in the world of the guitar.

Alongside his concert work Durrant is a busy recording artist and broadcaster. He is also a successful composer of television and concert music.

Richard played lead guitar with Sky during their last national tour and still performs a two man show with the legendary Mr Herbie Flowers, playing a mixture of original material, classical and jazz.

Support: tbc

 


Richard Durrant

 

For your future diaries..

Future dates in the 2007 Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    26 March 2007, Richard Durrant  (see website)

Ø    30 April 2007, Charlie Dore  (see website)

Ø    14 May 2007, Corinne West (see website)

Ø    4 June 2007, Vin Garbutt  (see website)

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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