Folklife Quarterly FQ 40: Jan 2014 Folklife Quarterly, web version | Page 30

v FQ 40 Jan 2014 p28 v MEMBERS, we love to hear from you • up to 200 words; more if advert (word limits p4) PERFORMERS' NEWS ® = for details of Folklife Members, see Listings or Festival Diary Mitch Reynolds’ feature night, at the Somers Trad Folk Club, 20 Sep 2013. Mitch has been singing and playing folk music for over 30 years. For 10 years she sang with a sea shanty group and played with a ceilidh band in her native North East. Living now in the West Midlands, she is a regular part of the Somers’ weekly singers nights. Her expressive contralto voice, with a tonality similar to June Tabor, delivered a fine collection of sea shanties and ballads, plus a growing repertoire of her own songs in the traditional mode and lovely tunes for recorder or whistle. She has recorded two CDs of this material which she sells for Cancer Relief [see advert above]. Her singing and playing is always a highlight of ordinary club nights, it was a special pleasure to hear an extended set from her, ably supported by Bob Fox on guitar and bouzouki for a few numbers. ® Chris Stewart Village Quire: ‘Precious Bane’, at St Margaret’s Church, Herefordshire, 21 Sep 2013. It is now four years since I first came across the Village Quire. Since then they have entertained audiences along the Welsh Marches and beyond, with their unique four-part harmony in the traditions of West Gallery singing and folk song. On Saturday 21st September, some 90 people gathered at St. Margaret’s Church, Herefordshire, for the premier of their latest programme of narration and song, Precious Bane. Based on Mary Webb’s novel about life on the Welsh Marches this new work captures the sense of an intriguing time and place. Phil Smith’s narration brilliantly dealt with both the comic and the tragic while the singers delivered the most stunning performance I have heard them give. Under the leadership of Dave Newell, we were treated to a succession of songs (music mostly written by Dave himself), which told the story and created a growing body of emotion as the audience was transported back to those often dark days but in the company of beautiful singing from twelve accomplished singers. With West Gallery music gradually gaining in popularity and the current rude health of the folk scene, this work should make an impressive mark. Go and see them. Visit www.villagequire.org.uk ® John and Jane Baxter • John & Jane are our SE Herefordshire correspondents ® FRIGGITT, formerly a duo, is a trio once again - see Directory updates page 4 for listing under Performers: Groups; Shanty Groups. ® ALAN COURTNEY Sadly Alan is not in the best of health at the moment, having had a heart attack at the end of September. It has brought his banding/ceilidhing activity to a full stop at the moment. But he’s on the mend and the prognosis is good. Best wishes to him from all of us. or ring 01736 786463. Sunday, April 27: Ivybridge. Folk On The Moor, Westward Inn, Lee Mill Bridge, Ivybridge, PL21 9EE, 7.45pm, doors: 7.15pm. £9. This will be Sarah’s second visit to this friendly club! For more info, visit www.moorfolk.co.uk or ring 01752 331121 or 01752 708770. : www.sarahmcquaid.com gig details, photos, tour diary, lots more GIGS LIST from SNG LIVE Seth Lakeman @ Lichfield Cathedral Fri 6th February Seth Lakeman @ Exeter Cathedral Sat 7th February Seth Lakeman @ Truro Cathedral Sun 8th February The Wurzels @ The Subscription Rooms, Stroud Fri 14th February Patsy Reid @ Folk House, Bristol Fri 21st February Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman @ St Bonaventures, Bristol Sat 1st March Bridie Jackson & The Arbor @ The Lantern, Bristol Fri 11th April Emma Stevens @ The Louisiana, Bristol Fri 11th April, tickets available from Bristol Ticket Shop: 0117 929 9008 Meridian Ayers-Bowen ® ROB BARRATT I’ve got a gig in Australia at New Year at the Woodford Folk Festival. It’s a big festival near Brisbane: www.woodfordfolkfestival. com. I’m performing on the “raw poets” stage. I’ve also got a gig at Brisbane main library after the festival. I’m off to Northern Ireland on Friday 22nd Nov to take part in the Bard of Armagh Festival of Humorous Verse. I was runnerup last year against 13 poets from all over Ireland in front of 1000 people. I’ve also got a gig in Ireland in June 2014 at the Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival in Ballydehob, Co. Cork. www.robbarratt.co.uk ® JAMIE SMITH’s MABON Maw 8: ® GŴYL RYNG GELTAIDD CYMRU Porthcawl, Cyngor Sir Penybont ar Ogwr. Pafiliwn y Grand. Mar 8: ® WALES INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL Porthcawl, Bridgend County Borough, Wales. The Grand Pavilion. Swyddfa’r Ŵyl / Festival Office: 07774 816209, info@cwlwmceltaidd. org, www.cwlwmceltaidd.org. See Festival Diary listings. • J.S. MABON and Maz O Conner (trio) will be touring as a double bill in 2014 - see website. : www.jamiesmithsmabon.com ! • Members are welcome to send in up to 200 words about live performances or CDs that enthuse them! ® SARAH McQUAID Thursday, January 30: Helston. Open session hosted by Sarah - all musicians & singers welcome! @ The Blue Anchor Inn, 50 Coinagehall Street, Helston, TR13 8EL (01736 786463), 8pm. Free. For more info, visit http://www.spingoales.com free REVIEWS contact John: 02476394737 Email: [email protected] ~ The price is £8 and the CD can be purchased by contacting me by email at [email protected]. too - already confirmedMoira Furnace Folk Festival Scrag End Folk Club Ashby-de-la-Zouch Arts Festival Moira Canals Festival Green Man Folk Club Warwick Folk Club Stratford on Avon Folk Festival Zouch Folk Club ert, Vocals and instrumental accompaniments are contributed by Pete Kelly, Kim Lowings, Bob Fox and John Taylor, with Pat Simons and Mike Wheeler of Cuckoo Oak doing vocals on a couple of tracks. are now booking 2014 your adv It has four of my own self-penned songs and eight of my own tunes with another eight tracks of traditional shanties, sea songs and mining songs. DRAGONHEAD we can types et This is my second CD in aid of Cancer Research having raised £400 with my debut album for them.