Newsletter          13^th October 2008

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

·          Upcoming 2008 shows

·          Advance Notice – Show of Hands – tickets now on sale

Friday 19^th June 2009 Chequer Mead Arts  Centre
Show of Hands
with Miranda Sykes

Tickets are on sale now for Show of Hands at East Grinstead on 19^th June next year.  Capable of selling out London’s Royal Albert Hall, tickets for the show (£16/£14 concessions) are expected to sell-out very quickly, so please contact the Box Office early if you want to secure seats – tel. 01342 302000.

“Knightley and Beer champion a counterculture – they have built a mighty word-of-mouth following that fills venues from Northern arts centres to the Albert Hall”  Colin Randall, Daily Telegraph

Upcoming 2008 shows:

Now playing on our ‘new style’ MySpace jukebox –  Richie Havens (4 tracks), Bob Fox & Stu Luckley, John Tams & Barry Coope – click here

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 more details below

John Tams & Barry Coope
Support: Michael Chapman

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Monday 17 November
Click here for more details below

Kreg Viesselman
Support: Sharon Lewis

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Tuesday 9 December
Click here for more details below

Dougie MacLean
Support: Jane Taylor

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

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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Click here for News Release (PDF)

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 the album 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

Monday
3 November
JOHN TAMS &
BARRY COOPE
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
Support:
Michael Chapman

£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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Click here for News Release and biography (PDF)

What they say…
Described by Mojo as “one of the ultimate British songwriters” John Tams has had a career spanning four decades in every medium. A member of the Albion Band and fondly-remembered Home Service, he is perhaps best known for his work at the National Theatre and as Rifleman Daniel Hagman in the Sharpe television series - a role he played for five years alongside Sean Bean.

Tams is a five times winner of the BBC folk awards. His warm, tender-hearted and distinctive vocals remain among the most expressive and soulful in English music. In 2006 Tams became musical director of the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Radio Ballads, an updating of Ewan MacColl's 1957 Radio Ballads series. In March 2008, he was nominated (with Chris Shutt and fellow composer Adrian Sutton) for an Olivier Award for his work on WarHorse at the National Theatre.

Tams has made over 50 albums as singer, musician or producer, including three solo albums to date, all of which met with critical acclaim. With his colleague of many years, the widely respected singer and keyboard player Barry Coope, the duo has proved a winning combination both live and on record.

Support for the show is provided by the exceptional guitarist and cult singer-songwriter, Michael Chapman.

"They confound expectations.  Rich, diverse, contemporary and utterly compelling. It simply does not get any better than this."  Colin Hall, What's On in London

”Go and see them. John Tams is a national Treasure.” - BBC Radio 2

"A beautifully composed CD - masculine yet tender, full of integrity -so beautifully expressing things that should be said and felt." Shirley Collins

"If you are looking for album of the year - this is it. Tams is in mighty form"  Colin Hall

What we say…
An artist of the greatest integrity with the most soulful voice you could ever want to hear. Tams creates music with joy and passion in equal measure.

2008 BBC Radio 2
Folk Duo of the Year

Link to BBC website

John Tams

Michael Chapman

Monday
17 November
KREG VIESSELMAN
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
Support: Sharon Lewis

£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…
'American songwriter' - that's Kreg's preferred description of himself. He's an artist who consciously sidesteps being labelled or categorised, but his career as restless troubadour and observer of life places him firmly in the classic US songwriter tradition that stretches back to the 1960s, and beyond.

Born in a small midwestern town, Viesselman lives far beyond his 30 or so years. Having worked as a sailor, farmhand, mountain guide and teacher, Viesselman’s varied experiences in life have given him an insight into the darkness, hope and humour of the everyday person, reflected with a rare poignancy through his music.

“One of the few albums which warrants the listener to hanging onto the artist's every single word...without exception I found every song totally engrossing...Viesselman is an incisive writer who uses dazzling imagery...there are so many highlights it almost seems unfair to spotlight just one.”  Maverick Magazine, Five Star Review

“Stunning.”  NetRhythms.co.uk

“In a word...revelatory.”  The Greenman Review

"Kreg's superb guitar playing and voice intertwine between each song.” AmericanaUK

“This guy is gooood! He’s writing some great stuff.” Taj Mahal

“Enchanting simplicity...I really believe him when he sings.” Acoustic Magazine

“My album of the year.” Robert Elms, BBC  Radio London

What we say…
A fine songwriter with a wonderful voice reminiscent of the likes of Ray Lamontagne or Richie Havens. One of our top albums of the last couple of years.

Kreg Viesselman

The Pull

Sharon Lewis

Tuesday
9 December
DOUGIE MacLEAN
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
Support:
Jane Taylor

£14.50 (£ 11 conc)    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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Click here for News Release and biography (PDF)

What they say…
Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland's most successful, respected and popular musicians. A pre-eminent singer-songwriter, fine guitarist and fiddle player, he is regarded as one of the country's greatest musical treasures.  Labelled a "Scottish James Taylor" by some and "world music with deep Scottish roots" by others" MacLean is renowned for the uniqueness of his haunting and emotion-filled songs, which have been covered by a host of artists. Caledonia, in particular, has become one of Scotland's most popular contemporary songs. His music has been used in Hollywood films such as Last of the Mohicans, TV Drama (eg. BBC's A Mug's Game) and he has been the subject of three BBC TV music-documentaries.

MacLean has performed several times before at East Grinstead's Chequer Mead - most recently in December 2006

"He has a knack for turning the experiences of his own life into something universally understood, as well as a gift for bestowing each with jut the right melody."  The Scotsman

"Strong yet subtle, hauntingly evocative yet contemporary in feel, this music demands listening to over and over again."

Time Out

"If Dougie MacLean has only written Caledonia, he would still have earned a place in Scottish musical culture."

 Dirty Linen

Support for the show is from Bristol-based singer Jane Taylor. Jane has performed before in the Acoustic Sussex programme and is returning tonight by popular demand.

What we say…
A rare visitor to England these days, Dougie always says yes to a date at East Grinstead’s Chequer Mead if his diary permits – and we love to see him. A guaranteed wonderful evening of great songs, movingly sung and beautifully played.

Dougie MacLean

Jane Taylor

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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2009 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    23 January – Ben Glover & The Earls – THIS SHOW IS POSTPONED – NEW DATE TO BE CONFIRMED FOR LATER IN THE YEAR

Ø    26 February – Martin Harley Band (tbc)

Ø    23 March – Mark Erelli

Ø    1 April – Eliza Carthy

Ø    23 April – Karine Polwart

Ø    21 May – Cara Dillon

Ø    19 June – Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes

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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