The annual Acoustica Festival is back again this year and it’s bigger than ever! From 12th-14th September the festival is taking over the city playing at venues around the city including The Phoenix Arts Centre, The Bike Shed Theatre and The Old Firehouse.
The festival will showcase genres such as Alt Folk, Folktronica and Americana which are the roots of Folk music. Students from the Academy of Music will perform also.
On the 11th September at the Globe Inn, Newtown, there will be a warm up event for the festival from 8pm which is FREE!
Six years ago, Sam bought a violin in Oxford. It had all the appearance of a new instrument but the label inside gave the date 1915 and the name Richard S. Howard.
Research revealed that the violin had been made, but never finished, by a luthier and some-time music hall performer from Leeds called Richard Spencer Howard.
He had joined the army in 1916 at the age of thirty-five and less than two years later fought and was killed at the Battle of Messines in West Flanders, Belgium.
His violin had been left unfinished in his workshop.
The second Exefest – Exeter Canalside Folk Festival, taking place on Saturday 12 April, is featuring an entire concert dedicated to showcasing folk and folk-influenced musicians from the Exeter area.
Musicians were invited to apply, which many did, and these were then narrowed down to the final six featured in the concert. There are varying flavours and styles amongst the artists, the idea was to give people a sample of what is out there right on their doorstep.
Festival founder and director Laura English-Rose said “We spoke to people after the festival last year and one of...
Eliza Gilkyson is a politically minded, poetically gifted singer-songwriter who has become one of the most respected musicians in Folk and Americana music circles. The daughter of songwriter Terry Gilkyson, whose songs were recorded by artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, the White Stripes, and Dean Martin, Eliza was headed for a career in music at an early age.
She has appeared on NPR, Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, Etown, Sirius/XM, Air America Radio and has toured with Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin and Mary Chapin Carpenter. She has been inducted into the Austin Music Hall...
Jim Moray is one of the most consistently inventive musicians working in English traditional music today. Winner of five BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, after five ground-breaking albums he now finds himself at the forefront of a new folk revival in the UK, and hailed as a pivotal influence by a new generation of folk musicians. In 2013 he celebrated both 10 years since his landmark debut album Sweet England and the success of his 2012 career best Skulk. Now he brings material from his forthcoming album of traditional ballads out on the road for an evening of storytelling music at its best....
Kimmie Rhodes - kimmierhodes.com/ @kimmie_rhodes Thurs April 3rd £10.00
Singer-songwriter Kimmie Rhodes is a native Texan who calls Austin home. Kimmie’s multi-platinum selling songs have been recorded by such stellar acts as Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Joe Ely, John Farnham, Waylon Jennings, Peter Frampton, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris. A creative and prolific artist, she has recorded and released a total of fifteen solo CDs, written and produced three musical plays and a catalogue of hundreds of songs, and published a book. Kimmie is...
Cara Dillon has a staggeringly beautiful voice whether she's singing her native traditional songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer.
Cara and Sam also appeared in the Transatlantic Sessions,in a spectacular setting on the shores of Loch Lomond. They featured in the first episode as well as two further episodes....the first of which was broadcast on BBC TWO in Scotland on 15th September 2013 for six weeks. The series was then broadcasted on BBC Four starting on September 27th 2013 for...
The Lost Sound are an a cappella, mixed voice chorus and are excited to be playing their first full concert at The Mint on Jan 25th @ 7:30pm. They have sung at the Night of 1000 voices in 2012 and 2013 to rave reviews. They have had full houses at The Flavel Arts Centre as part of the Dart Music festival last summer and helped raise money for many charities and causes through the last few years. Expect a choir with a firm foothold in the folk tradition - with beautiful ancient melodies re worked with contemporary flair and finesse by some of our leading arrangers and composers. Their...
Rosa Rebecka is a Swedish singer/songwriter, storyteller, folk performer and multi-instrumentalist.
In this one-off concert she introduces her century-old guitar, recently heard on Radio 4, which has been passed from mother to daughter for four generations.
Rosa will be supported by a group of young, emerging singers from various parts of Devon, collectively known as The Resonance.
The members of The Resonance have all been taught singing by Rosa, but have voices which are distinctly their own. Their rich, intricate harmonies...
Award-winning fiddle player and singer Tom McConville is internationally renowned for his fiery, heart-stopping performances.
Blending traditional music from his home town of Newcastle with Irish, American and Scottish influences, he creates a sound that has jazz, folk, bluegrass and classical influence. His live performances are a roller coaster of musical delights; fast rhythmic dance tunes through beautiful slow airs and of course great singing – all presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style.
Tom will be joined on stage by virtuoso guitarist Andy Watt from...
