From: Martin Snodin [martin_dot_snodin_at_homecall_dot_co_dot_uk]
Sent: 03 March 2008 23:50
Subject: Acoustic Sussex Newsletter 3 March 2008

Newsletter              3 March 2008

 

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

General news

·          Acoustic Sussex is delighted to be supporting this year’s Crawley Folk Festival – mark your diaries for 27-29 June for headliners Seth Lakeman, Tim Van Eyken, Karine Polwart, Lucie Diamond, Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting, Kerfuffle and many more. For more information, visit the Hawth website or the new Crawley Festival MySpace site.

·          If festivals are your thing, Maverick is hosting its first ever festival for “Alt Country, Americana and the New Tradition” at Woodbridge, Suffolk on 29-31 August. Headline act is Sam Baker (full band) – Sam was one of the real highlights of the Acoustic Sussex 2007 programme. Festival website

·          On top of winning another BBC Folk Award this year (for best duo with Barry Coope), John Tams has been nominated for an Olivier Award (the theatre equivalent of the Oscars) for his recent work on War Horse at the National Theatre. The results will be announced at London’s Grosvenor Hotel on 9th March. John Tams & Barry Coope are at East Grinstead’s Chequer Mead theatre on 3 November (tickets are already on sale – Box Office 01342 302000)

·          Sad news that Jingles Music in East Grinstead – one of the outlets for tickets for Acoustic Sussex events – is closing shortly. In future, tickets will be available to buy over the counter at Hobgoblin Music in Crawley, in additional to the usual on-line or telephone booking options.

 

 

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

Ø     Monday 10 March Tom McConville, Claire Mann & Aaron Jones (w/Iain Richardson) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Monday 31 March Brooks Williams (w/Marsha Swanson) at The Ravenswood

Ø     Monday 21 April Corinne West (w/David Celia) at The Ravenswood

Ø     Thursday 15 May Tannahill Weavers (w/Celtish) at Chequer Mead

Ø     Monday 2 June Amy Wadge (w/Andy Walker) at The Ravenswood

Ø     Wednesday 18 June Eleanor McEvoy (w/Caroline Lavelle) at Chequer Mead

Click here for other 2008 dates


Now playing on our MySpace jukebox -Tom McConville, Claire Mann & Aaron Jones and Brooks Williams

Monday
10 March

TOM McCONVILLE with Claire Mann & Aaron Jones
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support: Iain Richardson

£10 (£12  door)     8pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or
buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

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Tom McConville, often known as The Newcastle Fiddle Player, is one of the leading fiddle players of our time. A virtuoso musician and fantastic singer, his rich and warm voice makes his interpretation of traditional and contemporary songs greatly admired by singers throughout the world.

In great demand as a performer, session musician and teacher, playing the fiddle is his lifelong passion and he has achieved every player’s dream of creating his own unique, instantly recognisable sound.

His live performances combine a rollercoaster of musical delights from fast, rhythmic dance tunes - through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing - all presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style.

Tom met All-Ireland Champion Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ Aaron Jones (bazouki, guitar, vocals) between the thriving traditional music scenes in Newcastle and Edinburgh.  Over several years as friends and musical acquaintances, they have developed a unique and exciting musical relationship, performing a mixture of traditional and original Scottish, Irish and English music and song, enthralling audiences wherever they perform.

“My biggest influence” Seth Lakeman

"When my schoolmates had boy bands on their Walkmans, I was listening to Tom McConville" Kate Rusby

"Tom is a brilliant fiddler and great singer; a wonderful ambassador of the James Hill musical tradition "  Aly Bain

"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer, he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music." Dave Swarbrick

 


Tom McConville


Claire Mann and Aaron Jones

Monday
31 March

BROOKS WILLIAMS
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk
with
MARSHA SWANSON

£10 (£12  door)     8pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or
buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

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With bluesy finger-picking, soaring bottleneck slide and swinging flat-picking, Brooks Williams’ music is rooted in the blues and is as fresh and original as any music you are likely to hear. His unique combination of traditional and original music inspired Dirty Linen magazine to call him one of "America's musical treasures”.

Likened to James Taylor, Robert Johnson, Bruce Coburn, Bert Jansch and hailed as “an acoustic guitar god”, he’s back in the UK with a new set of songs and a new album (featuring Dave Mattacks), The Time I Spend With You, the title track of which was written whilst on tour here last year.

“One of the most fluid acoustic/electric guitarists on the planet”  fRoots

“Like a more upbeat Bruce Cockburn – from an artist who only gets better with every release.  …One of America’s most inspirational singer, songwriter, guitar-slingers of recent years”. Mojo

“How soulful a solo guitarist can be when he has talent, taste and astonishing technique”.  Blues Review

 “A consummate artist, Williams ranks among America’s musical treasures”
 
Dirty Linen

“Intelligent, soulful song-writing and dazzling guitar work.”
Acoustic Guitar

Joining Brooks for this show is Marsha Swanson, recently voted Best Folk Artist and Album at the Glasswerk New Music Awards.

 


Brooks Williams


Marsha Swanson

Monday
21 April
CORINNE WEST
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk
with
DAVID CELIA

£10 (£12  door)     8pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or
buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

 

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Dubbed the “Princess of progressive folk” Corinne West’s music lives smack-dab at that intersection of folk, bluegrass, and country styles that is called ‘Americana’. From the open meadows of California’s sierra mountains, her music has a cool, layered, driven sound and has been referred to as "utterly spell-binding", "radiant" and "extraordinarily beautiful". Corinne can grab one’s attention by almost whispering a hushed introduction to a ballad, but she’s also perfectly capable of raising the roof.

Fellow musician Buddy Craig describes her sound as a cross between Alison Krauss with Union Station and Natalie Merchant. Indeed her writing runs a golden thread through the likes of country, bluegrass, western, Americana and folk, but the resulting style is hers alone and her rhythm guitar playing rings with a song-writer’s solidity. Corinne is forging her own contribution to Americana music, fusing the voice of an original singer-songwriter with the historic tradition of keeping stories alive through song. She delivers a soulful body of music that strikes the listener to the core. Corinne is the ‘real deal’.

"...She writes great songs, plays with top flight musicians, sports a killer voice... There is not a bad song on the CD. With this much talent and drive, I imagaine Corinne West will be an important artist on the music scene for some time."  Americana Roots.com

“I love Corinne's music and truly believe in her as an artist. She has spirit, integrity and talent. I am a massive fan." Bob Harris, BBC Radio2

“Corinne West is a brilliant songwriter with a powerfully eloquent singing voice." Maverick

Special support for this show is David Celia.

 


Corinne West

STOP PRESS – Tune in to Bob Harris show on Saturday 5 April to hear Corinne being interviewed and playing live in the studio.


David Celia

Thursday
15 May
TANNAHILL WEAVERS
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

www.chequermead.org.uk
Support:
Celtish
£13 (£11 conc)     8pm
Box office 01342 302000

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

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One of Scotland's premier traditional bands, The Tannahill Weavers' diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. The band have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that.

"The Tannies are the best that Scotland can aspire to (and believe me, that is THE BEST)." The Living Tradition.

“World class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very heart of the tradition itself."  Mojo Magazine

Support: Acoustic folk-fusionsts, Celtish, with Gwyneth Keen

“Acoustic core and trad playing that’s crisp and sweet and a vocalist that has a voice that is worth the asking price alone”  froots

 


Tannahill Weavers

Gwyneth Keen

Monday
2 June
AMY WADGE
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support:
Andy Walker

£10 (£12  door)     8pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or
buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

 

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Making a very welcome third appearance in the Acoustic Sussex programme, Amy Wadge is a fine singer/songwriter and inspirational live performer, with a vocal range that can be as intimate as a whisper or as powerful as gritty gospel shout.

She first came to national attention in 2002 when she won Best Female Solo Artist at the BBC Welsh Music Awards, ahead of Charlotte Church.  She went on to win same award the following year (beating Cerys Matthews).  Her honest, unsentimental emotionally articulate songs have often been compared to Sheryl Crow.

She has appeared at many festivals including Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival. In 2003, she was personally invited by the Welsh Prime Minister Rhodri Morgan to perform for the 'Wales Rocks Sydney' showcase in Australia during the Rugby World Cup. She has opened for the legendary Jeff Beck and played support to Van Morrison, Damien Rice, Brian Kennedy and Eric Bibb, among others

Amy is about to release her next album, "Bump!" It was recorded at Room With A View studios in Dorset, at the end of her "Bump on the Road Tour", when she was nearly eight months pregnant! Amy has four previous releases; The Famous Hour, (2002), Woj, (2004), No Sudden Moves, (2006) and Tougher than Love, (2007), by an all female, three part vocal harmony group called Hummingbird, in which Amy was involved and which toured extensively during 2006-7

Support for this show is from Brighton-based Andy Walker, who last year supported Sandi Thom in the Acoustic Sussex programme and has recently been performing with Kiki Dee

 

Amy Wadge

Andy Walker

Wednesday
18 June
ELEANOR McEVOY
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

www.chequermead.org.uk
Special guest:
Caroline Lavelle
£13 (£11 conc)     8pm
Box office 01342 302000

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin Records, Crawley

 

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Eleanor McEvoy is one of the leading singer songwriters of her generation, known throughout the world for her stunning live performances.  A multi-instrumentalist, Eleanor first shot to prominence when her song ‘A Woman’s Heart’ became the theme and title track to the biggest selling ever Irish album ‘A Woman’s Heart’.  The album stayed in the Top 10 for over a year and still remains in the Irish charts to this day.

Eleanor's new album, 'Love Must Be Tough', is planned for released in late May. The album represents a completely new departure, featuring a band of Ireland's finest session players and songs from a wide range of writers.

“Immaculately tuneful, lyrically potent tales of love and life”  MOJO

“Bags of class… McEvoy earns plenty of respect for her multi-instrumental skills ..  her writing gets better & better”  Daily Telegraph

“First class songs sung by a genuinely soulful singer. Spare, clean arrangements and respectful covers. I think that about ticks all the boxes” Maverick

Support is provided by highly-regarded singer-songwriter and cellist Caroline Lavelle.

 

 

 
Eleanor McEvoy


Caroline Lavelle

Don’t forget that as well as our own shows, the Acoustic Sussex website has a Regional Gig Guide and links to venues and clubs in the South East that offer folk, roots and acoustic music – and our MySpace site contains over 500 links to a variety of other MySpace ‘friends’ sites, including musicians, venues, magazines and lots more.

 


Regional Gig Guide

For your future diaries...

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Other 2008 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    21 July - Eve Selis Band + support (tbc)

Ø    3 October – Eliza Gilyson

Ø    3 November – John Tams & Barry Coope

 

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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