Across the Pond #10 - July 2000
Sat 1st Paul Brady
http://www.paulbrady.com
(The Hawth, Crawley)
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul is one of
Ireland's most respected and popular artists. A member
of The Johnstons
in the 60's, Planxty,
and later, a wonderful
duo with Andy Irvine
in the 70's, he released his first solo
album, 'Hard Station' in 1981. His latest album 'Oh What
A World' (Rykodisc) includes collaborations with Carole
King
and Ronan Keating, the former 'Boyzone' lead singer. On
recent dates in Dublin, Paul was joined on stage by longtime
friend, Bonnie Raitt,
who was holidaying in Ireland at the time.
Sat 1st One World Leicester
(De Montfort Hall,
Leicester)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
http://www.mambazo.com
One of South Africa's biggest musical exports, Ladysmith
rocketed to fame following Paul Simon's Graceland album.
Since their humble beginnings in a rural farming community,
this close-knit group of talented singers has come to
embody the black traditions suppressed under apartheid.
Nitin Sawhney
http://www.nitinsawhney.com/
Beautiful, mesmerising and totally accessible, drum & bass
mix with Indian Qawwali singing and laid back jazz.
Salsa Celtica
http://www.netreal.co.uk/salsaceltica/
Delivering fiery, pulsating South American dance rhythms with
a blissful exuberance that can't fail to have you on your feet!
Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
http://www.anonymousweb.com/index_ssi.shtml
Their latest album 'Chimurenga Explosion' (Chimurenga Music)
has been described as "Masterfully arranged with the cultural
mbira sound blended with the lead guitar of the highest order,
plus the sweet backing vocals... It's pure magic.." by The
Sunday Mail Magazine (Zimbabwe)
Moussa Kouyate
This Senegalese master of the Kora blends the fundamental
roots of West African music to produce a beautiful and
haunting sound.
Flook
http://www.flook.co.uk
Weaving traditional Irish music with their own compositions,
Flook's unique style has made them one of the most popular
groups on the live music circuit.
Sun 2nd Vin Garbutt
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/acornent/vin.htm
(Bromley Acoustic, Bar Pavilion, Leisure Centre, Kentish Way,
Bromley, Kent 020 8466 1744)
"Garbutt's blend of outlandish humour and powerful songs
(usually self penned) turns a live performance into an emotional
roller coaster ride...Whether he is singing of industrial workers
in Britain, chemical weapons in Iraq, toxic sprays in New
Zealand, or human embryo research, he grasps many a nettle
that others would rather avoid. Share his opinions or not, one
has to respect his diversity, intensity and integrity. These songs
move the hardest of hearts." [The Real Groove].
3rd Steeleye Span
http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/steeleye.span/
(Nettlebed Folk
Song Club)
Along with Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span have remained
the most successful and enduring British folk-rock band.
Formed in 1970 when the then Fairport Convention bassist
Ashley Hutchings left to team up with Maddy Prior, Tim Hart
and Gay and Terry Woods, they took their name, at the
suggestion of Martin
Carthy, from a character in the Lincolnshire
ballad, Horkstow Grange, which recounts a fight between a
tyricannal farm foreman named John Bowlin, who came to
blows one day with an old waggoner named Jon `Old Steeleye'
Span. The current line-up includes Bob Johnson, Tim Harries,
Peter Knight and Gay Woods.
Fri 7th Mundy and Turner
http://www.mundy-turner.com
(Ram, Claygate)
Touring Australia back in 1995, UK singer-songwriter
Jay Turner met his future wife and singing partner Catherine
Mundy, at the time a member of the acclaimed acappella
trio, 'Sister Moon Ensemble'. Jay is a versatile acoustic
guitarist, alternately driving and delicate. Cath plays lyrical
violin and piano in a cross between classical, folk and rock
styles. Together their live performances are characterised by
strong original material, intricate harmonies, humorous story-
telling, and powerful arrangements. Their 1998 album, 'High
Life' (Gypsy Records) has been described by Australia's
Barfly Magazine as "a CD which not only does justice to their
live performances, but transforms their music in a way that will
delight and surprise..."
Fri 21st Old Rope String Band
http://www.adastey.demon.co.uk/Old_rope/index.htm
(Ram, Claygate)
Founded by fiddle player Joe Scurfield in 1988, they are a
wild and energetic trio from North East England who play a
mixture traditional Irish tunes, steamy Cajun numbers,
Mexican polkas, and Spanish love songs
Tue 25th Neti Vaan and Bart Ramsey
http://www.gnofn.org/~gnofs/bart%26neti/
(Dartford
Folk Club)
Fiddler Neti and pianist Bart from the US play "a great
collection of contra-versial jigs, reels and waltzes."
Thur 27th Leon Rosselson
http://www.fishdesign.com/rosselson/profile.html
& Robb Johnson
http://www.moosemusic.co.uk/rob.html
(Royal Oak
Folk, Lewes, East Sussex)
Two generations of leading radical songwriters combine
their talents in an evening that is part of the first Tom Paine
Project.
Fri 28th Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
http://www.emerging.demon.co.uk/artists/kerr_fagan/kerr.htm
(Ram, Claygate)
Winners of this year's BBC New Horizon Award. Nancy, the
daughter of musician and songwriter Sandra Kerr has a distinctive
singing voice and exquisite fiddle/viola style. James is a member
of "The Fagans" a well established Australian folk singing
family.
He is a powerful singer and a dynamic player of the flat backed
bouzouki and mandolin. Their debut album "Starry Gazy Pie"
was met with great enthusiasm... "just class, class, class"...
"an
album that should be at the top of the shopping list." Living
Tradition. Their latest album, 'Steely Water' has been similarly
well received.
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