Newsletter               25 June 2009

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

With good weather expected, great music and lots of free events on offer
to keep the whole family entertained, Crawley Folk Festival is the perfect,
affordable way to spend a day, an evening or even the whole weekend!

Other acts include: Megson, Robb Johnson, Mawkin:Causley, Drew Nelson, The Lonnigans,  Touchstone, Brooks Williams, Edwina Hayes, Carrivick Sisters, and more – plus a Saturday Ceilidh, an Irish dance stage on Sunday, storytellers, workshops, stalls and a real ale tent!
Click here for full details

 In association with Acoustic Sussex

And reminder of upcoming Acoustic Sussex events:

Click to listen to sample tracks on our MySpace jukebox

Ø     Monday 6 July
Click here for more details below

Christine Collister

Support: Alex Hall

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Monday 20 July
Click here for more details below

Iain Matthews

Support: Mary Leahy

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Monday
6 July
Christine Collister

at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk

Support: Alex Hall
£12 (£ 10 conc)    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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With a gravity-defying voice and impressive live performances, Christine Collister (singer of the theme song of the popular BBC Television series The Life and Loves of a She Devil) is one of the most respected female vocalists in the contemporary music scene.

Although she first attracted attention as a member of Richard Thompson's band in the late 1980s and then in a duo that she shared with Clive Gregson, she's continued to make her presence felt since embarking on a solo career in 1992.

Over the course of her career Christine has become a familiar name on the UK ‘live’ scene and at all major festivals from Glastonbury to Winnipeg to Cambridge. She has the ability to mesmerise and astound with her unique blend of soul, blues, pop, jazz, country and folk.

"..boundary breaking is routine for Collister and makes her one of the finest grown-up vocalists on the planet.   ...so much soul you think she’d been signed by Motown" Q Magazine

“Christine Collister can sing the birds down off the trees and send them back with a tiny flick of her vocal chords.”   Mojo

"Christine Collister has a killer voice. As full as Dusty Springfield or as blue as Alison Moyet"  FRoots

"Forget your Katie Meluas. If you want a real voice try Christine Collister"  Alan Clifford,   BBC website

Support for this show is from Alex Hall, a young singer songwriter from Brighton who we think is a real talent to watch. His haunting and melanchonic song 'Carley' is a shining example of the brutally honest and well crafted material which the 22 year old has written.

Christine Collister

Alex Hall

Monday
20 July
Iain Matthews

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk

Support: Mary Leay
£10 (£13  door)    8.00pm
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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When some artists are referred to as “legends” it is usually measured in years, or based on the quality of their music. Few are measured in both time and quality. One artist that has been judged by both is Iain Matthews.

As a founding member of Fairport Convention back in ’67, Matthews appeared on the bands’ first three recordings (Fairport Convention, What We did on our Holidays and Unhalfbricking) until musical differences caused him to leave in ’69 during the recording of their third album.

In order to facilitate and develop his growing fascination with American singer/songwriters, in 1969 he formed his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, This group spawned a massive European hit with the Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock". However, within a year, Matthews felt restricted and began his solo career, signing with the Vertigo label and a new era began. After 2 albums for the company, once again, he felt the need for newer pastures and in 1972 Plainsong, a quartet, was formed with friend Andy Roberts, where together and to high critical acclaim, they chronicled the exploits of American aviator, Amelia Earhart.

Within a year Matthews was again on the move, this time changing continents in a move to Los Angeles, where he established an artist, producer relationship with ex Monkee, Michael Nesmith.

Intending to make the one album, stay for a year and return to Britain, Matthews eventually became a US resident, staying for the next 28 years. Along the way, recording a further 15 solo albums, plus several more with Plainsong and a couple with former Pavlov's Dog founder, David Surkamp, in the short lived Hi-Fi.

In 2000 he returned to Europe and for the next 4 years worked closely with Dutch singer/songwriter, Ad Vanderveen and together with Eliza Gilkyson, they formed the trio More Than a Song, recording and releasing 2 albums.

3 years ago Matthews released his 11th solo work, Zumbach's coat.

On his latest album, Joy Mining (with the Searing Quartet), Matthews says:”It’s the best work I have ever done, without a doubt. It took me forty years to find this place and now I’m here, I wonder where the hell I’ve been looking all those years.”

Iain Matthews

Mary Leay

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     3 September – Claire Martin

Ø     7 September – Sam Baker (band) + The Haley Sisters

Ø     15 September – Sinéad & the Dawnbreakers

Ø     21 September – Corinne West + Tinderbox

Ø     12 October – Uiscedwr + Luke Sital Singh

Ø     9 November – Chris & Kellie While + Joseph Topping

Ø     20 November – Dar Williams (tbc)

Ø     23 November – Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies+ Lucy Ward

Ø     11 December – The Unthanks (formerly known as Rachel Unthank & The Winterset)

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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