|
Hitchin Folk Club |
|
Monthly Newsletter - Hitchin Folkus |
|
May 2010 |
|
|
Hi
Folks
We
start the month on the 2nd with the extraordinary Wild
Willy Barrett's Sleeping Dogz. This unique trio mix
English, Cajun, Celtic and Moorish influences to produce a blend of highly
emotive original music and arrangements. The band formed in September 2002
and continues to grow in popularity. For those of you not already familiar
with Mr Barrett's unique performance style, come prepared to be both
entertained and inspired by the Dogz' repertoire of original material and
arrangements. Willy Barrett (guitar, fiddle, banjo, balalaika, vocals) -
following a successful partnership with John Otway throughout the 1970s and
80s, his interest in acoustic live performance was re-kindled after
hearing the strains of a cello being interwoven around a group of musicians
accompanying a belly dance troupe during a visit to a canal-side pub. After
a swift introduction, he suggested that Mary (cello, percussion, harmonium,
vocals), the cellist, and a previous acquaintance John Devine (uilleann
pipes, whistles, harmonium, percussion), should work together utilising
their diverse musical capabilities. Supporting will be Matt
Ord.
On the
9th we are promised another full night with Martin
Simpson. Martin's primary musical interests are
in British, Anglo-American and Afro-American traditional forms, building on
the foundations laid down by Harry Cox, Blind Willie Johnson, Big Joe
Williams, Percy Webb and Blind Willie McTell. Much of Martin's
music reflects the places where he has lived. Time spent in
Sunday
16th we have the second visit to the
club for Boo
Hewerdine. One of the hardest working artists on
the folk scene. (A look at his date sheet shows 18 gigs in May alone!)
Boo’s music is well known to the Hitchin audience, from his collaborations
with Clive Gregson and with Eddi Reader, probably most famously her major
hit “Patience of Angels”. For
his latest album, Harmonograph, Boo resolved to record his own versions of
songs he had written for, and often with, other people. From around 400 such
songs he drew up a shortlist of 140. After listening to these with the
album’s producer, Neil MacColl, he settled on a shorter list of around 80.
Then he more or less gave up. Each morning
he would arrive at the studio and simply pick whichever song he fancied
doing next! He resisted any pressure simply to stack together versions
of his most successful collaborations. Amongst the many artists he has
written for are Natalie Imbruglia, Mel C, k d Lang and Alex Parks. He
also wrote the film scores to the movies Fever
Pitch and TwentyFourSeven
with Neil MacColl. Supporting will be Lou
Brown on her second visit to the club.
On the
23rd we have Nancy
Kerr and James Fagan. After a maternity break Nancy and
James are on the road again, complete with new son, Hamish. Winners of
the 2003 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo this well-loved Anglo
Australian duo combine highly skilful and innovative performance with
accessibility, warmth and stage presence. Rarely are duos so full in sound;
We end
the month on the 30th
with Harvey
Andrews.
Keiron
goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk
|
|