Newsletter         10^th January 2009

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

Coming up – Tuesday 20^th January

SINGER SONGWRITER SHOWCASE

ANDY WHITTLE ANAIS MITCHELL  SADIE JEMMETT

+ 2009 BBC Young Folk Award winners
MEGAN & JOE HENWOOD
BBC Southern Counties Radio’s ‘South Live’ presenter,
               Phil Jackson, will introduce the evening       See below

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…  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.

Have a listen…

Now playing on our MySpace jukebox: Anais Mitchell, Andy Whittle, Sadie Jemmett, Megan & Joe Henwood (live from the Folk Awards) - click here

Upcoming shows January – February 2009:

Ø     Tuesday 20 January
Click here for more details below

SINGER SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
Anais Mitchell, Andy Whittle, Sadie Jemmett, Megan & Joe Henwood

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

Ø     Monday 23 February
Click here for more details below

Martin Harley Band

Support tbc

Ravenswood, Sharpthorne

Tuesday
20 January
SINGER SONGWITER SHOWCASE

ANAIS MITCHELL + Andy Whittle + Sadie Jemmett +
Megan & Joe Henwood
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

Click here for News Release (PDF file)

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Four exciting singer-songwriters - including the just-announced 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards winners, Megan & Joe Henwood - and one of the most exciting US artists around, Anais Mitchell. All come together for a special showcase event dedicated to the craft of song-writing.

Recently signed to Grammy Award-winning Ani DiFranco's label, Anais Mitchell is a past winner of the US Kerville New Folk Award and is one of the most original and captivating singers and writers on the 'nu-folk' scene. She's spent in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, bringing a worldly depth to her meticulous writing, which she presents to her audience with a graceful presence of spirit.

Anais has recently written and produced a unique and compelling ‘folk-opera’ called Hadestown, based on the myth of Hades and Eurydice. A touring production to date; a CD version is expected soon.

"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

"She's been getting fantastic reviews in America. The albums absolutely gorgeous - it's called Hymn for the Exiled… I couldn't recommend it highly enough"   Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"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).

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

Completing the line-up are the 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards winners, a brother and sister duo from Oxfordshire, Megan & Joe Henwood. 20 year old Megan first stood on a stage to perform her own composition at the age of 9 and draws inspiration through her Mother's love of folk music and evenings spent at Nettlebed Folk Club. Megan is accompanied on saxophone by her 15 year brother Joe, who is still in his final GCSE year.

According to awards judge Jim Moray (winner of Mojo’s 2008 Folk Album of the Year), Megan & Joe Henwood stood out from the incredibly strong competition at the Young Folk Awards because of Megan's song-writing; something Moray described as 'world class'.

A wonderful evening awaits!

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

Click here for News Release (PDF file)

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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.

Monday
23 February
MARTIN HARLEY BAND

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne
www.theravenswood.co.uk
£10 (£12  door)    8.00pm
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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Surrey-born Martin Harley is a mesmerising singer/songwriter whose original sound draws on influences from old time blues and folk to world music to create songs that sound so familiar you think you’ve grown up with them. Songs about living in cars, worn out shoes, girls lost in the carnival lights, satellite hunting in car parks and a constant sense wondering are recurring themes. His original approach to playing slide guitar across his lap and his accomplished finger style playing are the cornerstone of the music along with his whiskey soaked northern breeze vocals.

Martin has appeared on compilations with J.J. Cale, P.J. Harvey and Eric Clapton, Paul Weller and The Who. He has played with the likes of Bo Diddley, Omar and the Howlers, Joe Bonamassa, Lisa Mils, Dr Feelgood, Newton Faulkner, Scott Mattews, James Blunt, Martin Simpson, Chas n Dave, Happy Mondays, Magic Numbers, The Hat, The Beautiful Girls, Peter Bruntnall, Kate Walsh and many more

Voted by Digital blues as one of the best solo performers of 2006 and voted best solo acoustic act by London Acoustic in 2005 this slide guitar virtuoso in not to be missed.

“an understated, mature and intelligent masterpiece of American roots music” Maverick Magazine.

“In the Martin Harley Band the future of British roots and blues is assured. Formidable guitar skills “ Guitarist Magazine

Martin Harley Band

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 March – Mark Erelli

Ø    1 April – Eliza Carthy

Ø    13 April – Bridget St John + Michael Chapman

Ø    4 May – Karine Polwart

Ø    21 May – Cara Dillon

Ø    8 June – Dick Gaughan

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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