Newsletter        22 December 2008

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

Thanks for your support in coming to our events in 2008 - hope to see you in 2009!

Acoustic Sussex hit the local press this week, in a feature highlighting its ”strongest-ever programme” lined-up for 2009 (Eliza Carthy, Cara Dillon and Show of Hands all received a mention!). Martin was quoted as saying: "I think people are looking for more down-to-earth, non-manufactured music and the acoustic scene seems to be very much back in vogue. "Twelve months ago, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss topped the album charts with what is essentially a country bluegrass album. This summer, traditional folk musician Seth Lakeman had a top 10 chart album; and acoustic band Fleet Foxes seem to be the favourite band of 2008 for many pundits. The scene is definitely changing."

"We believe the range of our new programme will have wide appeal. We're starting the year with two very special events. The first on 20 January showcases some top singer-songwriters from the UK and the US. Then on 9 February, we have a 'Celebration of the Guitar' event, headlined by the ever-popular Gordon Giltrap.  Acts later in the year are almost a 'who's who of folk music', so we think the programme will please many people."

(Pictured left – Jim Moray, Joe & Megan Henwood and Radio 2’s Mike Harding at the 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards)

“The winning act in the 2009 Young Folk Awards are Megan & Joe Henwood, a duo aged just 20 and 15. And the great news for local acoustic music fans is that the duo have agreed to join a showcase event we're staging on 20th January."

Upcoming shows   Click here for future shows (below)

Now playing on our MySpace jukebox: Anais Mitchell, Andy Whittle, Sadie Jemmett, Megan & Joe Henwood (live from the Folk Awards) - click here

Ø     Tuesday 20 January
Click here for more details below

SINGER SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
Anais Mitchell, Andy Whittle, Sadie Jemmett + BBC Young Folk Award winners, Megan & Joe Henwood

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Monday 9 February
Click here for more details below

“CELEBRATION OF THE GUITAR”
Gordon Giltrap, Alan Prosser, John Gomm, Duncan McKenzie

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Tuesday
20 January
SINGER SONGWITER SHOWCASE

ANAIS MITCHELL + Andy Whittle + Sadie Jemmett +
Megan & Joe Henwood
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
£12 (£14  door)    7.30pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

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

Click here for News Release (PDF file)

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Four exciting singer-songwriters - including the just-announced 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards winners, Megan & Joe Henwood - and one of the most exciting and US artists around, Anais Mitchell. All come together for a special showcase event dedicated to the craft of song-writing.

Recently signed to Grammy Award-winning Ani DiFranco's label, Anais Mitchell is a past winner of the US Kerville New Folk Award and is one of the most original singers and writers on the 'nu-folk' scene. She's spent in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, bringing a worldly depth to her writing, which she presents to her audience with a graceful presence of spirit.

"A songwriter of startling clarity and depth, equally skilled at turning a melody or lyrical phrase into what you didn’t know you needed until you heard it.” Acoustic Guitar magazine

Andy Whittle is a Midlands-based songsmith whose poetic lyrics with memorable melodies are inspired by great songwriters, but his style is quite unique, revealing a sensitivity beyond his years. Andy has played once before in the Acoustic Sussex programme (supporting the Ric Sanders Group).

Ex-Sussex-resident (now living in London), Sadie Jemmett is one of the most magical English singer-songwriters to excite our ears in many a year.

Completing the line-up are the 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards winners, a brother and sister duo from Oxfordshire, Megan & Joe Henwood. 20 year old Megan first stood on a stage to perform her own composition at the age of 9 and draws inspiration through her Mother's love of folk music and evenings spent at Nettlebed Folk Club. Megan is accompanied on saxophone by her 15 year brother Joe, who is still in his final GCSE year.

A wonderful evening awaits!

Monday
9 February
“A Celebration of
  the Guitar”

GORDON GILTRAP + Alan Prosser
+ Jon Gomm
+ Duncan McKenzie
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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Aa one-off showcase of some of the UK's most talented and original guitarists. 

Headlining is the ever-popular Gordon Giltrap, who has made 25 albums and several hits over his 30 year career. By the time he was 18 he had secured his first recording contract.  10 years, 6 albums and numerous concerts later, he became an ‘overnight success’ with the hit single ‘Heartsong’, the first of two chart singles and two chart albums. Gordon continues to innovate and develop, such as his Double Vision duo with the classical guitarist Ray Burley and his new project “The Dodo Dream” in which he uses electric guitars to build and expand a composition live on stage.

“A wonderful guitarist, I just wish he would slow down so that I could copy (play) with him” Bert Jansch

“People would tell me about (American guitarist) Sandy Bull and I'd say, I don't know about Sandy Bull; you want to start listening to some of these people over here; Bert Jansch, Davey Graham and Gordon Giltrap for heaven's sake.”  Jimmy Page

Alan Prosser is widely known as the guitarist in Oysterband. But beyond the trademark power chords and driving rhythms he is an accomplished acoustic artist with a reputation among fellow musicians as a perfectionist. Alan's solo performances give the audience an opportunity to enjoy his well crafted songs and fluent finger-style guitar playing as they were written - for guitar and voice.

“This is a side of Prosser that has been kept very much under wraps” Folking.com

Completing the bill are by two superb and inventive musicians, Leeds-based Jon Gomm and, from Sussex, Duncan McKenzie.

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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Future 2009 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    23 February – Martin Harley Band

Ø    23 March – Mark Erelli

Ø    1 April – Eliza Carthy

Ø    13 April – Bridget St John + Michael Chapman

Ø    4 May – Karine Polwart

Ø    21 May – Cara Dillon

Ø    8 June – Dick Gaughan

Ø     19 June – Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes – NOW BOOKING – tickets selling fast – Box Office 01342 302000

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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