	Newsletter 5 May 2008		Contact details Tel. 01342 716975 or email: info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk
2^nd CD competition - winning answers! Many thanks to those who entered our CD competition, naming the artists playing on our MySpace jukebox last week. The answers were: - Thea Gilmore (Call Me Your Darling, from the album Harpo’s Ghost) - Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick (Mrs Bermigham/No178/Blind Mary, from Skin & Bone) - Celtish (Homunculus, from Centrifusion) - Eleanor McEvoy (A Woman’s Heart from the compilation album of the same name) - Amy Wadge (Free Fall, from the Hummingbird album, Tougher Than Love) - Eve Selis (A Beautiful Day, from Nothing But the Truth) The lucky winner of all 6 CDs was Richard Squibbs. Congratulations!			Acoustic Sussex on MySpace If you visit the jukebox now, you can still hear the 6 tracks playing, until mid-week. All the artists are appearing in the Acoustic Sussex programme in the coming months (click on the links left or see below).
A REMINDER OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS Ø Thursday 15 May – Tannahill Weavers (w/Celtish) at Chequer Mead, East Grinstead Ø Saturday 24 May – Anais Mitchell at the Ark, Turners Hill Ø Monday 2 June – Amy Wadge (w/Andy Walker) at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne Ø Wednesday 18 June – Eleanor McEvoy (w/Liehsja) at Chequer Mead, East Grinstead Ø Monday 30 June – Thea Gilmore (w/Pete Du Pon) at Chequer Mead, East Grinstead Ø Monday 21 July – Eve Selis Band at The Ravenswood, Sharpthorne Click here for other 2008 dates			Acoustic Sussex website
GREAT DOUBLE BILL! Thursday 15 May TANNAHILL WEAVERS at Chequer Mead East Grinstead www.chequermead.org.uk Support: Celtish £13 (£11 conc) 8pm Box office 01342 302000 Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead Click here for full News Release in PDF format BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* ”One of Scotland's premier traditional bands, The Tannahill Weavers' diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads. They have that unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich vocals that make their performances unforgettable. Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland and named for the town's historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the group has made an international name for its special brand of Scottish music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. Over the years ’the Tannies’ have been trailblazers for Scottish music, winning fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. They are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot-stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that.” "The Tannies are the best that Scotland can aspire to (and believe me, that is THE BEST)." The Living Tradition. “World class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very heart of the tradition.” Mojo Magazine “Acoustic core and trad playing that’s crisp and sweet and a vocalist that has a voice that is worth the asking price alone” froots "Scotland’s Tannahill Weavers play acoustic instruments, but the atmosphere at their shows is electric. The quintet is as tight and as versatile as any band in the Celtic music revival. They can summon rock ‘n’ roll intensity or haunting introspection." The Boston Globe *What we say…* It’s incredible to think that ‘the Tannies’ were first formed in 1968 – come along and help them celebrate their 40 year anniversary! Their musicianship is just outstanding (and any band that features the Great Highland Bagpipes just has to be worth seeing)! Joined tonight by the hugely talented Celtish – this should be a great evening’s entertainment – two for the price of one!	Tannahill Weavers Gwyneth Keen from Celtish Celtish
Saturday 24 May ANAIS MITCHELL at The Ark Turners Hill Support tbc SPECIAL EVENT JOINTLY PROMOTED WITH TURNERS HILL HOUSE CONCERTS £10 (£12 door, subject to availability) 7.30pm Tickets 01342 716975 or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* Anais Mitchell began writing songs at 17. At 18 she moved from Vermont to Boston, and started playing for whoever would listen. After a year of that, Anais enrolled in a liberal arts school back in Vermont, where she studied political science and languages, ran a folk radio show, and wrote and performed a good deal. She spent a half-year in Austin, waitressing on 6th street and playing as much as she could. She also recorded her debut album during that spring ('The Song They Sang When Rome Fell'). In 2003, The Kerrville Folk Festival honoured her work with the prestigious New Folk Award . After spending time in Cuba, a semester in the Middle East and some unexpected touring with a rock project called "Circus Guy's Rock & Roll Revue" Anaïs released her acclaimed album, 'Hymns for the Exiled' (being re-released next month). The stirring collection of guitar and voice cemented Mitchell's status as a singer-songwriter to watch, and the record eventually reached the ears of Ani DiFranco, a songwriter whose fusion of personal and political themes was a formative influence on a teenage Mitchell. After seeing a few of Anaïs' captivating concerts, DiFranco signed the artist to her label, Righteous Babe Records. Anaïs is passionate about the music of her native land, from old-school country to dustbowl labour ballads to rebel rock. However, the time she's spent in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East has lent a worldly depth to her writing, which she presents to her audience with a graceful presence of spirit. “A songwriter of startling clarity and depth, equally skilled at turning a melody or lyrical phrase into what you didn’t know you needed until you heard it.” Acoustic Guitar magazine "Not since Bob Dylan's early years has a 23 year old songwriter had such power and meaning. Political and poetic, personal and universal, Anaïs Mitchell's work is my latest obsession." Jonathan Byrd *What we say…* Quite simply the most interesting artist we know – totally unmissable. Her current obsession is her self-written folk opera, Hadestown – you’re sure to hear some pieces tonight.	Anais Mitchell PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF DATES IN THE UK THIS YEAR AND DEMAND FROM ANAIS’ FAN-BASE IS LIKELY TO BE HIGH. ALSO, TICKET NUMBERS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED FOR THIS VENUE – SO PLEASE PURCHASE WELL IN ADVANCE. A scene from Hadestown
Monday 2 June AMY WADGE at The Ravenswood Sharpthorne www.theravenswood.co.uk Support: Andy Walker £10 (£12 door) 8pm Tickets 01342 714810 or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead Click here for full News Release in PDF format BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* Amy Wadge is a fine singer/songwriter and inspirational live performer, with a vocal range that can be as intimate as a whisper or as powerful as gritty gospel shout. She first came to national attention in 2002 when she won Best Female Solo Artist at the BBC Welsh Music Awards, ahead of Charlotte Church. She went on to win same award the following year (beating Cerys Matthews). Her honest, unsentimental emotionally articulate songs have often been compared to Sheryl Crow. She has appeared at many festivals including Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival. In 2003, she was personally invited by the Welsh Prime Minister Rhodri Morgan to perform for the 'Wales Rocks Sydney' showcase in Australia during the Rugby World Cup. She has opened for the legendary Jeff Beck and played support to Van Morrison, Damien Rice, Brian Kennedy and Eric Bibb, among others Amy is about to release her next album, "Bump!" It was recorded at Room With A View studios in Dorset, at the end of her "Bump on the Road Tour", when she was nearly eight months pregnant! Amy has four previous releases; The Famous Hour, (2002), Woj, (2004), No Sudden Moves, (2006) and Tougher than Love, (2007), by an all female, three part vocal harmony group called Hummingbird, in which Amy was involved and which toured extensively during 2006-7. *What we say…* Amy is a superb singer, guitarist and songwriter – she really has it all. She was our choice for the first ‘official’ Acoustic Sussex gig in February 2005, and this welcome return marks her third appearance for us. Just great!	Amy Wadge Andy Walker
Wednesday 18 June ELEANOR McEVOY at Chequer Mead East Grinstead www.chequermead.org.uk Support: Leihsja: £13 (£11 conc) 8pm Box office 01342 302000 Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead Click here for full News Release in PDF format BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* Eleanor McEvoy is one of the leading singer songwriters of her generation, known throughout the world for her stunning live performances. A multi-instrumentalist, Eleanor first shot to prominence when her song ‘A Woman’s Heart’ became the theme and title track to the biggest selling ever Irish album ‘A Woman’s Heart’. The album stayed in the Top 10 for over a year and still remains in the Irish charts to this day. A seasoned session musician and orchestral fiddle player from an early age, Eleanor was first signed to Geffen Records and has toured the world, achieving chart success in many countries with the eponymous album ‘Eleanor McEvoy’. A move from Geffen to Sony Columbia yielded two further highly rated albums ‘What’s Following Me’ and ‘Snapshots’ before she embarked on her own musical journey. ‘Yola’, her first independent release, was Hi-Fi Plus album of the year and became a standard reference in the world of High End Audio. This was followed by the moody late night album ‘Early Hours’ and the highly acclaimed ‘Out There’ Eleanor's new album, 'Love Must Be Tough', is planned for released in late May. The album represents a completely new departure, featuring a band of Ireland's finest session players and songs from a wide range of writers. “Immaculately tuneful, lyrically potent tales of love and life” MOJO “Bags of class… McEvoy earns plenty of respect for her multi-instrumental skills .. her writing gets better & better” Daily Telegraph “First class songs sung by a genuinely soulful singer. Spare, clean arrangements and respectful covers. I think that about ticks all the boxes” Maverick *What we say…* A true class act. Eleanor's new album, 'Love Must Be Tough', is planned for release in late May. The album represents a completely new departure, featuring a band of Ireland's finest session players and songs from a wide range of writers. We are also delighted that local harpist Liehsja is joining Eleanor for this show.	Eleanor McEvoy A Woman’s Heart CD Liehsja
Monday 30 June THEA GILMORE at Chequer Mead East Grinstead www.chequermead.org.uk Support: Pete du Pon £14 (£12 conc) 8pm Box office 01342 302000 Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead Click here for full News Release in PDF format BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* Thea has blazed a unique and highly independent trail since releasing her debut album in 1998 aged 18. Prolific and diverse, her albums run the gamut from hushed, intimate acoustic settings to full throttle rock, always unified by her spine-tingling vocals and lyrics that combine poetic grace with acerbic, take-no-prisoners social observation. In 2003, Thea achieved commercial breakthrough with the album Avalanche, which became Radio 2's Album Of The Week and included the hit singles Juliet and Mainstream. In the two years following this, she toured the US and Canada five times, including a 2004 pre-presidential-election tour with long-time fan Joan Baez, who joins Thea for the final track on the new CD. Indeed, over the years, Thea has collaborated and shared stages with some of music's most revered names including the Waterboys, Steve Earle, Martha Wainwright, Peggy Seeger, Karine Polwart and Beth Orton. Noted Thea Gilmore fans include Bruce Springsteen - who regularly uses her tracks as his pre-performance music. Thea Gilmore is an artist of great talent and integrity, who really matters and the show promises to be an unforgettable night. *What we say…* Just over a year since her last visit (and after headlining last year’s Crawley Folk Festival), Thea returns to East Grinstead to showcase her new CD, Liejacker, due for release on 12th May. The album is a back-to-basic affair – and we love it. Come and hear for yourself.	Thea Gilmore Thea Gilmore headlining at Crawley Folk Festival 2007
Monday 21 July EVE SELIS BAND at The Ravenswood Sharpthorne www.theravenswood.co.uk Support: tbc £13 (£15 door) 8pm Tickets 01342 714810 or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead BACK TO TOP		*What they say…* From the west coast of America, Eve Selis has been impressing audiences from Hollywood to New York and many places in between with her powerful and distinctive vocals. Winner of the 2005 San Diego Best Americana award, the California-based singer mixes country with R&B, blues and folk. Her vocals are strong and her band includes some of Southern California's finest musicians. Eve has been compared to Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Joan Osborne but has more than proved herself as an artist in her own right - she is one of the top female artists on music download site MP3.com and has had ten number one songs in various charts. On stage Eve delivers a stunning performance with equal parts innocence and authority, always soulful, strong and sexy. Her voice is variously described as passionate, melodic, raspy and sweet, with a phenomenal range. She has opened for Crosby, Stills & Nash who dedicated "Darkstar" to her after a mesmerizing set. Eve is not only a writer and performer but is also committed to helping less fortunate people and supports various charities including one for battered women and abused children. "A gifted writer and electrifying singer who stands head and shoulders above many of her big name contemporaries" Maverick magazine "One of the best shows I've ever seen in the U.K." Bob Harris, BBC2 "A modern day queen of 'Roadhouse Rock', Eve blends soaring pop melodies with hard-hitting rock & roll and alternative country twang, topped off with a passionate and powerful delivery. Her live performances with a kick-ass band are something to behold" Proper-records.co.uk *What we say…* After a short break to have a baby, Eve is back with a superb new CD, out on 31 May, co-written by her long-time musical partner and wonderful guitarist, Mark Intravaia, and she’s touring with a full band including ‘Cactus’ Jim Soldi (Johnny Cash Band) – a guaranteed top show!	Eve Selis Mark ‘Twang’ Intravaia
Don’t forget that as well as our own shows, the Acoustic Sussex website has a Regional Gig Guide and links to venues and clubs in the South East that offer folk, roots and acoustic music – and our MySpace site contains over 500 links to a variety of other MySpace ‘friends’ sites, including musicians, venues, magazines and lots more.			Regional Gig Guide
*For* *your future diaries...* BACK TO TOP		Other 2008 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include: Ø 8 September – Kirsty McGee + supoort (tbc) Ø 22 September – Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carthy + support (tbc) Ø 3 October – Eliza Gilkyson + support (tbc) Ø 3 November – John Tams & Barry Coope + support (tbc) Ø 9 December – Dougie MacLean + support (tbc) More information on all up-and-coming artists can be found on our website: www.acousticsussex.org.uk. You can also find us on MySpace (with samples from some of the artists appearing) at: www.myspace.com/acoustic_sussex. If you know anyone who you think may enjoy our events, please forward this email to them.	*UNSUBSCRIBE* If you do not wish to be on this mailing list, please reply to this email, ensuring you include your name in the email and the word 'unsubscribe' in the heading. (Please note the list has recently been re-built so please accept our apologies if you have received this newsletter in error.) Thank you.