Welcome to this week’s Dreamers Newsletter
I have to start by thanking all those who made the journey to Four Lanes last Sunday despite some pretty awful rain, adding percussion from the roof to everyone’s performance. Fortunately it had eased off by the end so hopefully everyone got home ok. I saw Four Lanes featured again on the national BBC website this week for the impact of snow on Tuesday! It was a great evening and thanks too to all who performed or simply watched
Understandable in the weather that some felt it best to leave at the interval last Sunday but hope you’ll all be back for our first guest of 2023 with Jim Causley on his Wassail Tour, this Sunday 22nd January. A familiar figure to many, there’s plenty more information on Jim’s own web-site at Jim Causley • Devon Folk Singer | 6 x BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee – Then we have singers nights again until the visit of Silvington from Plymouth, on 19th February. More about them nearer the time and also about the next Cornish Zoom Folk club which is on 28th January.
One of the unexpected highlights of lockdown was the opportunity to watch many of the concerts from the huge Celtic Connections event in Glasgow. Whilst this is back on a live and in person basis now, we’ve just heard that they are offering a 1 hour special of the 30th anniversary opening concert online. The event is available to pre-order now from Celtic Connections 30th Anniversary Concert (vhx.tv) and will be available to watch from 24 Jan for 4 days. The show features selected performances from the anniversary concert line-up, alongside an extensive unique ‘big band’ originally conceived for the 2021 digital opening night and brought together in full live glory. The band features Duncan Lyall, Sorren Maclean, Fraser Fifield, Patsy Reid, Graham Mackenzie, Laura Wilkie, Michael McGoldrick, Hannah Fisher, Ross Ainslie, Anna Massie, Greg Lawson, Alice Allen, Alyn Cosker and James Mackintosh.
I’ve been contacted by Endelienta Arts, a charity based out of St Endellion Church, Port Isaac, who deliver a year-round programme of concerts, family theatre, workshops, exhibitions and literary events. Next month, folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Will Page, will be performing with a foot-stomping evening of heartfelt vocals accompanied by guitar, harmonica and fiddle. Will, who is best known as the frontman of acclaimed Americana band Noble Jacks, is now touring as a solo artist and showcasing his more traditional folk-style writing and playing across the UK. This is on Saturday 11th February at 7.30 at the Church. To find out more and for tickets, visit their website: https://endelienta.org.uk/
And another reminder that Wadebridge Folk Club restarts at its new venue, Pentireglaze NT Café tonight 19th January at 7pm. Very best wishes to them. It’s £5 entry.(cash on this occasion)
And thanks to Pete Grassby for news of two more zoom sessions:-
· Warwickshire Acapella Singers Circle on the 16th day of the month – link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88274965685?pwd=amN5ZVFvLzJBTkM1U3lMOFVYUVh3Zz09
Meeting ID: 882 7496 5685 Passcode: 318840
· Rowington folk Club; (Third Wednesdays)
Meeting ID: 822 8374 9857 Password: 330774
· Pete’s own alternate Singaround is every fortnight – Meeting ID 87338821694 password 115009
A reminder that, as mentioned last week, Scalene (Sandra Kerr, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan are on Live to Your Living Room on Saturday 21st January at 8.00 pm. This is hosted by Live at Sam’s in Sheffield and livestreamed via Live to Your Living Room. Tickets from Scalene | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room
And next week, on Wednesday 25th January at 8pm, Live to Your Living Room features US-based “Windborne”, advertised as “The most exciting vocal group in a generation.” The show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony with harmonies which are bold and anything but predictable. The ensemble shifts effortlessly between drastically different styles of music, drawing their audience along on a journey that spans continents and centuries, sharing stories about their songs and explaining the context and characteristics of the styles in which they sing.
Windborne are adherents to folk music’s longtime alliance with social activism, labor and civil rights, and other movements that champion the oppressed, the poor, and the disenfranchised.
Windborne | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room
All the best to all
Nigel