From: Martin Snodin [martin_dot_snowdin_at_btopenworld_dot_com]
Sent: 08 February 2007 00:26
Subject: Acoustic Sussex newsletter - 8 February 2007

Newsletter         8th February 2007

 

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

New dates added to the programme see below

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

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 (REMINDER – you can hear Thea Gilmore playing live on BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris programme this Saturday, 10th February, just after midnight)

Ø       Monday 26th March – Richard Durrant (+ support) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø       Monday 30th April – Charlie Dore (+ support) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø       Monday 14th May – Corinne West (+ support) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

 

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

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

 


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


David Celia

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

 

Monday
30 April
CHARLIE DORE
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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Charlie Dore is one of the UK’s most respected songwriters. Initially a highly original solo artist (her self-written single Pilot Of The Airwaves reached number 13 on the Billboard chart back in 1980), she went on to ply her gifts for inspired melodies, big harmonies  and clever, quietly subversive lyrics in the wider commercial marketplace, and with great success: Tina Turner, Celine Dion, George Harrison, Lisa Stansfield, UB40, Jimmy Nail, Sheena Easton and Hayley Westenra are just a handful of the diverse artists to have covered her songs.

Originally trained as an actress, Charlie has worked in TV, Theatre, Radio and Film, starring opposite Jonathan Pryce In the award-winning 'The Ploughman’s Lunch'

With her acclaimed album, Sleep All Day, Charlie hit a new vein of creativity, drawing freely on her acoustic folk/country roots. Written simply and organically with Julian Littman, the album drew unequivocal media praise and many new fans. Her most recent album, ‘Cuckoo Hill’ also received rave reviews; if you appreciate good songs, beautifully sung, it’s highly recommended.

“Imagine what might happen if you shut the McGarrigle Sisters in a room with Gillian Welch and made them listen to Lennon and McCartney all day” Alan Jackson
                                         
Support: Zauberei
(recent winners of the Acoustic heat  in Horsham’s Battle of the Bands)

 


Charlie Dore


Zauberei

Monday
14 May
CORINNE WEST
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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From the open meadows of California’s sierra mountains, Corinne West spins tales with a part velvet and part grit voice that is both achingly penetrating and highly addictive. Her music has a cool, layered, yet driven sound and has been referred to as "utterly spell-binding", "radiant", and "extraordinarily beautiful" by reviewers world-wide.

Her writing runs a golden thread through the likes of country, bluegrass, western, Americana and folk, resulting in a style that is hers alone.She is forging her own contribution to Americana music, which fuses the distinct voice of an original singer-songwriter with the driving steam of an American Roots train.

“It’s quite impossible to not give your full attention to Corinne West; her enchanting voice, music and exceptional lyrics simply will not allow it” Alan Cackett, Maverick
                                       Support: Piefinger

 


Corinne West

For your future diaries..

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Future dates in the 2007 Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    4 June 2007, Vin Garbutt  (see website)

Ø    22 June, Claire Martin (see website) NEW DATE (tbc)

Ø    7 July, Chris & Kellie While NEW DATE (tbc)

Ø    15 September – Ric Sanders Group NEW DATE (tbc)

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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