Newsletter           23^rd August 2008

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

Now booking…

Now playing on our MySpace jukebox – Kirsty McGee, The Mercury Men, Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick – click here

Ø     Monday 8 September
Click here for more details below

Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin
Support: The Mercury Men

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Monday 22 September
Click here for more details below

Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick
Support: Lisa Knapp  
     SOLD OUT – CANCELLATIONS ONLY

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Friday 3 October
Click here for more details below

Eliza Gilkyson
With Robert McEntee

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Saturday 11 October
Click here for more details below

Richie Havens
A co-promotion with The Hawth, Crawley

The Hawth
Crawley

Ø     Monday 20 October
Click here for more details below

Bob Fox & Stu Luckley
Support: Cathy Burton

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Monday 3 November
Click here for artist’s website

John Tams & Barry Coope
Support: Michael Chapman

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Tuesday 9 December
Click here for artist’s website

Dougie MacLean
Support: Jane Taylor

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Monday
8 September
KIRSTY McGEE and MAT MARTIN
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support:
The Mercurymen

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

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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What they say…
Kirsty McGee describes herself as “a maker of delicate yet stubborn songs, an instinctive traveller, a human scrapbook”. Years spent as a hitchhiker and a period of homelessness have enriched her knowledge of people and places, all whilst keeping her moving. After spending a while building tree houses and bagging-out earth from tunnels at road protest camps Kirsty sold all her possessions and hitched to Cornwall where she lived in a beach hut and learnt to fingerpick.

Her affinity with a life of perpetual movement and a hand-to-mouth existence has made its mark on her songs in a manner reminiscent of Jack Kerouac and the ’beat’ generation, and has made her music difficult to classify. She has been variously described as producing ’folk noir’ and ’hobo-pop’, and she and Mat were described in Maverick magazine as ’Simon and Garfunkel -the Tim Burton version.’

Her studio albums have attracted collaborations with some of the most important names in the scene, such as producers John Wood (Honeysuckle, 2002), Boo Hewerdine (Frost, 2004), and Neill MacColl (Two Birds, 2006). Her albums are recorded live in the studio, her shows are simple and direct, and much of her work has been made using the instruments she has built herself. Her fourth album due out in September promises to encapsulate the hobo-pop style in a new collection of simple, edgy songs played on traditional American instruments.

“A wonderful voice”  Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2
“Perfect understatement ; not an extraneous word or not” Karine Polwart
“Absolutely superb, memorable... I love her songs, I love her way’”  Bob Harris

What we say…
Definitely a one-off, the self-effacing Kirsty makes beautiful music that is best heard live - highly recommended. Joined by new Sony signing, The Mercurymen, this is more of a double-header, making a great start to our Autumn programme.

The Mercury Men have recently been signed to Sony BMG Records after a rush from major labels to snap them up. Likened to artists such as Crowded House, the band has supported Sinead O'Connor and, most recently, Deacon Blue on their sell-out tour. It wasn't until Jinder, Gavin Wyatt and Simon Johnson first jammed together after a gig in 2006 that they realised their potential as a band. Friends for years, they continually bumped into each other on the gigging circuit, and decided to explore their potential as a harmony-based trio. Dubbed an 'acoustic supergroup', the trio were soon signed to international giants Sony for a four album deal.

Preview tracks from the new album can be heard on the band's MySpace site at www.myspace.com/themercurymen.

Kirsty McGee & Mat Martin

The Mercurymen

Monday
22 September
MARTIN CARTHY & DAVE SWARBRICK
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support: Lisa Knapp

THIS SHOW IS NOW SOLD OUT – cancellations only (send email to go on waiting list)

Tickets may be still be available at Hobgoblin in Crawley or Bullfrog Music in East Grinstead

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What they say…
Folk guitarist and singer Martin Carthy and virtuoso violin player Dave Swarbrick first became heroes of the British folk scene when they worked as an acoustic duo back in the 1960s, before Swarbrick went off to join the finest line-up of the hugely influential Fairport Convention.

There followed a period of ill health for Swarbrick, with a celebrated moment in 1999 when the Daily Telegraph ran a very premature obituary while Dave was ill in the hospital.

With his usual good humour, Dave retorted, “It’s not the first time I have died in Coventry.”  In fact, he recovered, rekindled the relationship with Martin Carthy and, in 2007, they went on to win Best Duo in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

When Martin Carthy broke onto the emerging folk scene in the early 1960s, he influenced many like minded musicians including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon (who recorded Scarborough Fair after hearing Martin’s version). After meeting Swarbrick, the pair went on to record albums that have become classics in the English folk genre. Over time, Carthy decided to ‘go electric’ too as he joined Steeleye Span - one of the most poplar bands in the English folk-rock category. Among other awards, he has twice won Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC awards.

"The super-duo are back together after 14 years.”  The Guardian

“For four decades, Martin Carthy's work has immeasurably enriched the British folk heritage. He is regarded as one of the finest singers and interpreters of traditional music of the British Isles, as well as a highly influential and much-imitated guitarist. Awarded the MBE for services to English folk music in 1998, his drive and enthusiasm are undiminished and he continues to be one of folk music's great innovators “  BBC website

“The intensity of Swarb's fiddling ensures that sparks fly, its very occasional wheeziness only adding to the essence of spontaneity and conveying the total conviction in his music-making”  NetRhythms

What we say…
Still making superb music, this promises to be one our ‘shows of the year’ – simply unmissable.

Special support for this show is provided by Lisa Knapp, whose album, The Blacksmith, was MOJO magazine’s 2007 Folk album of the year. Her fresh approach to traditional music is building her a strong reputation on the UK folk scene; her modern re-workings of folk songs, alongside her own writing, appeal to both traditionalists and newcomers to folk.

Martin Carthy

Dave Swarbrick

Swarb’s ‘premature’ obituary

Lisa Knapp

Friday 3 October
ELIZA GILKYSON
with Robert McEntee
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
£13 (£ 11 conc)    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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What they say…
Eliza Gilkyson is a politically minded, poetically gifted singer-songwriter from Texas, who has become one of the most respected musicians in roots, folk and Americana circles. In February 2003, she was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, she was recognized with 3 Austin Music Awards and 4 Folk Alliance Music Awards, one of which was for “Song of the Year” for her tune “Man of God.” 

Daughter of singer and songwriter Terry Gilkyson (who hit with 'Marianne' in 1957), Eliza Gilkyson is on her 6th UK tour and has seen her popularity rocket following performances and appearances on Bob Harris and Johnny Walker's BBC radio shows. She has toured and recorded with Slaid Cleaves, Bonnie Raitt, Mary Chapin Carpenter and her family are steeped in musical heritage. As a teenager, she recorded demos for her dad, who also had hits such 'The Bare Necessities' from the Disney classic Jungle Book and 'Memories Are Made of This', a big smash for Dean Martin. "He would use me in the studio because I had a mature voice at an early age and would work for free," laughs Eliza. Soon after, she was writing and recording her own material as well. In addition to her own albums, she has also been on several compilations, including the Bob Dylan tribute album, 'A Nod to Bob'. 

Eliza’s new album Beautiful World (her 7th) is her first studio album in 3 years. Smart, sensual lyrics combine with upbeat Americana, folk and pop sounds to create her most radio-friendly CD to date. 

“One of the most influential artists on the American folk music scene”
 Maverick

"Her songwriting has a Dylan-esque quality as her tunes burst with edgy lyrics and poetic imagination. With a knowing eye on the past, Eliza Gilkyson is making folk music for the 21st Century, and it's a delightful thing to hear"  Austin Chronicle

“Direct, down to earth and honest, her songs and her vocals are as naked as they come…pure magic.” Dirty Linen

What we say…
American at its very, very best – the nearest thing you’ll hear to a female Bob Dylan.  With Robert NcEntee as sideman, this show is a must-see.

Eliza Gilkyson

Robert McEntee

Saturday
11 October
RICHIE HAVENS
a special co-promotion with
The Hawth
Crawley
www.hawth.co.uk
£17.50     8pm
Box Office 01293 553636
or buy online via The Hawth website

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What they say…
Richie Havens is gifted with one of the most recognisable voices in popular music. His fiery, poignant, always soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless since he first emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 1960s. For three decades, Havens has used his music to convey messages of brotherhood and personal freedom. With over twenty albums released and a rigorous touring schedule, he continues to view his calling as a high one.

"Havens hasn't been doing this since the early 1960s without getting extraordinarily good at it… visually stunning, utterly transcendental..”
 The Guardian

What we say…
Don’t even think about not coming to this show!  We caught up with him in London last year when he signed our ‘charity guitar’ – and it was of the best shows we’d seen for many a year.

.

Richie Havens

Richie with signed charity guitar

Monday
20 October
BOB FOX &
STU LUCKLEY
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support: Cathy Burton

£12 (£14  door)     8pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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What they say…
One of Britain’s most celebrated folk duos of all time have re-formed for an anniversary tour. Bob Fox and Stu Luckley took the folk world by storm when they began playing together in the late 1970s. Their reputation was cemented in 1978 when they released Nowt So Good’ll Pass, their debut album. Melody Maker’s Colin Irwin wrote: "Great White Hopes of Folk are such a rarity you’ll forgive us for making an excessive fuss" and the magazine went on to award the LP its ’Folk Album Of The Year’ award. The acclaim was justified: milestone folk albums are few and far between but Nowt So Good’ll Pass remains up there with the very best and has proved enduringly popular. The success of Nowt So Good’ll Pass led to Bob and Stu touring intensively. As well as performing at every major folk club and folk festival in Britain, they played in continental Europe, Australia and New Zealand and also toured with Richard Thompson and Ralph McTell.

Bob Fox has twice been nominated as Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Bob and Stu will play the range of instruments featured in their original live set - including guitars, acoustic bass, dulcimer, and bouzouki - and the reunion concerts will feature all the songs from Nowt So Good’ll Pass as well as a wealth of other material from their days as a duo.

"Fox always was one of the scene's superior singers and his voice is as confident and ebullient as it ever was"  Colin Irwin Folk Roots

As soon as I heard Bob Fox sing I realised that he must have one of the best voices in England.  I have always regarded him as an artiste of great integrity and ability" Ralph McTell

What we say…
This show is a true rarity that we’re really looking forward to. And with support, too, from ex-Hummingbird Cathy Burton, who provides all the proof needed of her right to be known as one of the UK’s most engaging singer/songwriters.

Bob Fox & Stu Luckley

Bob and Stu have re-recorded both "Nowt So Good'll Pass" and their second LP "Wish We Never Had Parted" for a unique "collector's item" boxed set, for sale on the tour

Cathy Burton

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    3 November – John Tams & Barry Coope + support (Michael Chapman)

Ø    17 November – Kreg Viesselman + support (tbc)

Ø    9 December – Dougie MacLean + support (Jane Taylor)

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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