Live Music

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Highly acclaimed songwriter and guitarist Mark Harrison, along with well-known national radio and TV broadcaster David Freeman, present an uplifting and informative evening of modern and classic blues songs and stories, about life today and the history of blues music and blues personalities. This unique show introduces the audience to the origins of the incredibly influential musical style, and links the music of the past with life as it is lived today.

Mark Harrison

a unique British songster who draws heavily on the blues for his inspiration, his songs covering both modern issues and the world of the original blues artists. He and his band tour extensively and have appeared frequently on BBC Radio.

David Freeman

a hugely experienced broadcaster for BBC, Jazz FM and Sky, and a leading authority on all forms of blues music and its history. He has done a host of live shows, including many literary festivals.

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Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies – Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs. The famous purple happy bus is fired up and ready for action, and there’s room for you – jump aboard!

It’s always a joy to me when something jumps up and smacks you between the eyes – Mad Dog Mcrea did that to me

Mike Harding

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Legendary troubadour Gary Stewart (Gary Stewart Band / Hope and Social) and his incredible 6-piece band recreate Paul Simon’s landmark Graceland album in all its glory.

Expect to hear those magical songs, with their captivating stories, distinctive harmonies and South African rhythms brought to life in front of you with no detail spared; from the layers of guitars and percussion, right down to the legendary bass solos and maybe even some token dance moves – if you’re lucky!

Let the singing, dancing and nostalgia take hold and pretend you’re basking under the hot summer sun in Zimbabwe.

…a huge joy to listen to [and] an ambitious and wonderful feat to achieve in a live performance.

Joe Rusby – Underneath the Stars Festival

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Programme:

• Chopin Piano Concerto no.1. Soloist Yeseul Kim.
• Mendelssohn Symphony no.3 (Scottish)
• Beethoven Egmont Overture

We are delighted to welcome back Yeseul Kim as our soloist in Chopin's first piano concerto. Yeseul has won two international piano competitions, as well as many other major awards throughout Europe and has recently released a recording Moments Musicaux on the Presto Music label.

Mendlessohn's Scottish symphony was inspired by his visit to Holyrood Castle and is dedicated to Queen Victoria.

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From Knoxville to Nashville via Hertfordshire, Martin Harley, Daniel Kimbro and Sam Lewis collaborate for the first time on a slow cooked, laid back album reminiscent of an early American songbook. Individually they have worked with some of the biggest names in the business. This is acoustic Americana at is finest and now they are taking it out on tour.

Martin Harley

he has been making music and touring the world for over two decades. Exploring blues and roots in a style The Guardian referred to as ‘Spellbinding’, Harley has released eight albums to date and he participated in the 'Worlds Highest Gig' in the Himalayas. Recent nominations include Best Acoustic Guitarist, Best Acoustic Blues artist. Notable appearances at Glastonbury, Royal Albert Hall, Union Chapel and countless international venues and festivals.

Daniel Kimbro

raised on American Roots music in and around Appalachia, Kimbro is a GRAMMY-nominated musician from Knoxville, TN with numerous recording credits and touring appearances. Splitting his time between Knoxville and Nashville, has appeared on stage with the likes of James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Cara Dillon, R.B. Morris, Molly Tuttle, Maura O'Connell, and many others.

Sam Lewis

the Nashville-based singer-songwriter has collaborated with everyone from Leon Russell to Chris Stapleton who dubbed him “a modern Townes Van Zandt”. A decade worth of touring has captivated audiences all around the world. His songs and stories are glued together with a unique stage banter developed from performing in numerous music halls, clubs, theatres and festivals.

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Beth Rowley broke onto the music scene in 2008 with her UK top 10 album Little Dreamer selling over 100,000 albums and receiving a Brit Award nomination for Best Female Solo Artist.

Since then she has appeared on stage with some giants of the music world including Jools Holland, Burt Bacharach – BBC Electric Proms alongside Adele, Jamie Callum, David Arnold, and at Willie Nelson’s 4^th July Back Yard Festival in Austin alongside Ray Wylie Hubbard. When she isn’t performing her own music she tours as guest vocalist with Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

Brought up on Led Belly and Mahalia Jackson, Beth’s early influences were Gospel Spirituals, Soul and Blues. Her simply stunning vocals have grown edgier and deeper, whether backed by her duo/trio or 4 piece band.

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Chris Difford is a Grammy nominated and double Ivor Novello Award-winning lyricist who has brought us characters and sketches from everyday life, and has successfully turned the mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite for over 40 years.

With his collaborator, Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook, Chris has written some of the most enduring and best-loved songs of our time such as Up The Junction, Cool For Cats, Labelled With Love, Tempted plus many others.

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A celebration and tribute to Sandy Denny's defining role in British Folk-Rock Music performed by the Julie July Band, who have built a substantial reputation with reinterpretations and arrangements of the Denny’s work.

In Sandy’s brief career she left a legacy of beautiful, haunting original and traditional compositions with Richard Thompson calling her “The greatest artist of her generation.”

Inspired by Sandy’s work and the wider folk, rock and blues movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s, the band will also perform songs from their own albums Lady of the First Light and Wonderland.

The Julie July Band are: former Decameron members Dik Cadbury (Bass, Vocals) & Mick Candler (Drums), Steve Rezillo (Lead guitar), Bas William (Acoustic guitar, Vocals), Carol Lee Sampson (Keyboards, Vocals) and Julie July (Vocals).

Julie July Band : Quality songs, superb vocals … delivered with skill, technique and conviction.

John O’Regan – fRoots

Taster:

Julie July Band - Warwick Folk Festival

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Along with Mark Knopfler, John was a founder member of the legendary band who, during their time together, sold over 120 million albums.

The evening will feature classics from the Dire Straits history and include a Q & A with video clips led by Paul Cummins. John will reveal the story and development of the band from its humble beginnings in a council flat in South London, where songs like Sultans of Swing and Wild West End were created, to their journey playing all over the world to millions of fans and working with some of the world’s most influential and creative musicians and producers.

Having Mark Knopfler as songwriter, singer and guitar player in the band gave Dire Straits its unique character. It was a pleasure for me to be able to contribute to the distinctive sound of the band, and enjoy the friendship and musical journey that Mark and I shared.

John will be joined on stage by members of his band to perform music from the whole DS catalogue including Money for Nothing, Brothers in Arms, Romeo and Juliet and Sultans of Swing.

It promises to be a special, intimate evening looking into the life and times of one of the biggest rock & roll bands of all time.

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Sound of the Sirens are a singer-songwriting duo based in Exeter, Devon comprising of Abbe Martin & Hannah Wood.

Honing their craft over the past decade, they have cemented themselves as firm favourites not only on the West Country scene, but nationally, and internationally too. The pairs’ musical and vocal dexterity dovetail beautifully on the co-written songs, which range from beautiful, emotive ballads, to up-beat, foot stomping, hands in the air, sing-along anthems.

Their latest album, Damage Control, is released March 22.