Newsletter        29 November 2008

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

It’s great to see a number of the artists from the Acoustic Sussex programme in the finals of the 2009 BBC Folk Awards. Eliza Carthy and Karine Polwart are both nominated in 2 categories - Folk Singer of the Year and Best Album; and we’re delighted to say that both artists appear in our 2009 programme, on 1 April and 4 May, respectively (tickets are already selling!).

We were also pleased to see Bob Fox & Stu Luckley nominated for Best Duo – their show for us in October was definitely one of our ‘gigs of the year’.  The finals will be held in London on 2 February 2009. Click here for more details on the BBC website.

And if you’re interested in tickets for the BBC Young Folk Awards (taking place this Friday, 5 December at the Queen Elizabeth Hall), please email us as we have several pairs of tickets available, first come, first served. Click here for more details on the BBC website.

Don’t forget that East Grinstead’s radio station, MeridianFM, features a folk, roots and acoustic programme (7pm - 10pm, Sundays). Last week’s show included a live recording of Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carthy, Albion Band’s Lark Rise to Candleford, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Eliza Gilkyson and lots more!  If you live in the East Grinstead and surrounding area, you can tune into FM 87.7 - or alternatively listen over the internet at www.meridianfm.com

Click here to view the Folk Roots & Acoustic show playlists

FM 87.7 or listen on line at
 www.meridianfm.com

Upcoming shows   Click here for future shows (below)

Dougie MacLean and Jane Taylor are now playing on our MySpace jukebox - click here

Ø     Tuesday 9 December
Click here for more details below

Dougie MacLean
Support: Jane Taylor

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Ø     Tuesday 20 January
Click here for more details below

SINGER SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
Anais Mitchell, Andy Whittle, Sadie Jemmett

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Ø     Monday 9 February
Click here for more details below

“CELEBRATION OF THE GUITAR”
Gordon Giltrap, Alan Prosser, John Gomm, Duncan McKenzie

Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

Tuesday
9 December
DOUGIE MacLEAN
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
Support:
Jane Taylor

£14.50 (£ 11 conc)    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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Click here for News Release and biography (PDF)

What they say…
Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland's most successful, respected and popular musicians. A pre-eminent singer-songwriter, fine guitarist and fiddle player, he is regarded as one of the country's greatest musical treasures.  Labelled a "Scottish James Taylor" by some and "world music with deep Scottish roots" by others" MacLean is renowned for the uniqueness of his haunting and emotion-filled songs, which have been covered by a host of artists. Caledonia, in particular, has become one of Scotland's most popular contemporary songs. His music has been used in Hollywood films such as Last of the Mohicans, TV Drama (eg. BBC's A Mug's Game) and he has been the subject of three BBC TV music-documentaries.

MacLean has performed several times before at East Grinstead's Chequer Mead - most recently in December 2006

"He has a knack for turning the experiences of his own life into something universally understood, as well as a gift for bestowing each with jut the right melody."  The Scotsman

"Strong yet subtle, hauntingly evocative yet contemporary in feel, this music demands listening to over and over again."

Time Out

"If Dougie MacLean has only written Caledonia, he would still have earned a place in Scottish musical culture."

 Dirty Linen

What we say…
A rare visitor to England these days, Dougie always says yes to a date at East Grinstead’s Chequer Mead if his diary permits – and we love to see him. Catch this show before he heads off for a month-long tour of Australia! A guaranteed wonderful evening of great songs, movingly sung and beautifully played.

Dougie is joined by from Bristol-based singer Jane Taylor (with cellist Beth Porter). Jane has performed before in the Acoustic Sussex programme and is returning tonight by popular demand.

Dougie MacLean

Jane Taylor

Tuesday
20 January
SINGER SONGWITER SHOWCASE

ANAIS MITCHELL + Andy Whittle + Sadie Jemmett
at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
£12 (£14  door)    7.30pm
Tickets 01342 714810
or buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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Three exciting singer-songwriters, one from the US and two from the UK come together for a special night dedicated to the craft of song-writing.

Recently signed to Ani DiFranco’s label, headliner Anais Mitchell is a past winner of the US Kerville New Folk Award and is one of the most original singers and writers around. She's spent in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, bringing 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

Andy Whittle is a Midlands-based songsmith whose poetic lyrics with memorable melodies are inspired by great songwriters, but his style is quite unique, revealing a sensitivity beyond his years. Andy has played once before in the Acoustic Sussex programme (supporting the Ric Sanders Group).

“A performer who is undoubtedly a major name in the making.” Phoenix Arts Centre

Ex-Sussex-resident (now living in London), Sadie Jemmett is one of the most magical new singer-songwriters to excite our ears in many a year.

A wonderful evening awaits!

Following the praise for Hyms for the Exiled (2004), Anais Mitchell’s The Brightness was released in 2007 to nods of approval from the traditional folk press, who recognised an old soul and a musician who is part of the true troubadour tradition rather than part of the New Folk scene. Anais supported the release with a short UK tour and a live-to-air session for long-time supporter Bob Harris’ show on BBC Radio 2.   Her set can be expected to include material from both her albums and from her forthcoming opera “Hadestown” release, which is based on the Orpheus myth.

Monday
9 February
“A Celebration of
  the Guitar”

GORDON GILTRAP + Alan Prosser
+ Jon Gomm
+ Duncan McKenzie
at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead
www.chequermead.org.uk
£13 (£ 11 conc)    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

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Aa one-off showcase of some of the UK's most talented and original guitarists. 

Headlining is the ever-popular Gordon Giltrap, who has made 25 albums and several hits over his 30 year career. By the time he was 18 he had secured his first recording contract.  10 years, 6 albums and numerous concerts later, he became an ‘overnight success’ with the hit single ‘Heartsong’, the first of two chart singles and two chart albums. Gordon continues to innovate and develop, such as his Double Vision duo with the classical guitarist Ray Burley and his new project “The Dodo Dream” in which he uses electric guitars to build and expand a composition live on stage.

“A wonderful guitarist, I just wish he would slow down so that I could copy (play) with him” Bert Jansch

“People would tell me about (American guitarist) Sandy Bull and I'd say, I don't know about Sandy Bull; you want to start listening to some of these people over here; Bert Jansch, Davey Graham and Gordon Giltrap for heaven's sake.”  Jimmy Page

Alan Prosser is widely known as the guitarist in Oysterband. But beyond the trademark power chords and driving rhythms he is an accomplished acoustic artist with a reputation among fellow musicians as a perfectionist. Alan's solo performances give the audience an opportunity to enjoy his well crafted songs and fluent finger-style guitar playing as they were written - for guitar and voice.

“This is a side of Prosser that has been kept very much under wraps” Folking.com

Completing the bill are by two superb and inventive musicians, Leeds-based Jon Gomm and, from Sussex, Duncan McKenzie.

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...

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Future 2009 dates in the Acoustic Sussex programme include:

Ø    23 February – Martin Harley Band

Ø    23 March – Mark Erelli

Ø    1 April – Eliza Carthy

Ø    13 April – Bridget St John + Michael Chapman  (NEW)

Ø    4 May – Karine Polwart

Ø    21 May – Cara Dillon

Ø     19 June – Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes – NOW BOOKING – tickets selling fast – Box Office 01342 302000

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.

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