From: Martin Snodin [martin_dot_snodin_at_homecall_dot_co_dot_uk]
Sent: 11 July 2009 15:22
Subject: Acoustic Sussex Newsletter 2009-07-11

Newsletter               11 July 2009

Contact details
Tel. 01342 716975
or email:
info_at_acousticsussex_dot_org_dot_uk

Click to listen to sample tracks on our MySpace jukebox

 

Monday
20 July
Iain Matthews

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk

Support: Mary Leay
£10 (£13  door)    8.00pm
Tickets 01342 716975
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 and biography (PDF file)

 

 

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When some artists are referred to as “legends” it is usually measured in years, or based on the quality of their music. Few are measured in both time and quality. One artist that has been judged by both is Iain Matthews.

As a founding member of Fairport Convention back in ’67, Matthews appeared on the bands’ first three recordings (Fairport Convention, What We did on our Holidays and Unhalfbricking) until musical differences caused him to leave in ’69 during the recording of their third album.

In order to facilitate and develop his growing fascination with American singer/songwriters, in 1969 he formed his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, This group spawned a massive European hit with the Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock". However, within a year, Matthews felt restricted and began his solo career, signing with the Vertigo label and a new era began. After 2 albums for the company, once again, he felt the need for newer pastures and in 1972 Plainsong, a quartet, was formed with friend Andy Roberts, where together and to high critical acclaim, they chronicled the exploits of American aviator, Amelia Earhart.

Within a year Matthews was again on the move, this time changing continents in a move to Los Angeles, where he established an artist, producer relationship with ex Monkee, Michael Nesmith.

Intending to make the one album, stay for a year and return to Britain, Matthews eventually became a US resident, staying for the next 28 years. Along the way, recording a further 15 solo albums, plus several more with Plainsong and a couple with former Pavlov's Dog founder, David Surkamp, in the short lived Hi-Fi.

In 2000 he returned to Europe and for the next 4 years worked closely with Dutch singer/songwriter, Ad Vanderveen and together with Eliza Gilkyson, they formed the trio More Than a Song, recording and releasing 2 albums.

3 years ago Matthews released his 11th solo work, Zumbach's coat.

On his latest album, Joy Mining (with the Searing Quartet), Matthews says:”It’s the best work I have ever done, without a doubt. It took me forty years to find this place and now I’m here, I wonder where the hell I’ve been looking all those years.”

Iain is doing 2 shows at London’s Barbican Centre in London next weekend (one show with Fairport Convention) but you can catch him here in Sussex in this long-awaited and rare performance.

 

Joining the bill as support is Sussex-based Mary Leay, an exciting new ‘urban folk’ artist with a timeless and authentic quality both in her voice and songs. Leay is a powerful lyricist with an ability to make you feel she's talking only to you. She already has writing and vocal credits on several films including the autumn 2009 release 'Heartless' starring Jim Sturgess. Most recently she's been writing and recording towards a debut album at the studio of legendary artist Steve Winwood. There are no gimmicks in Mary's music, no clever tricks, just a rare honesty and beauty that has captured the hearts of those that have discovered her so far. Watch out for this one!

BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAAPOINTMENT
Iain Matthews


Fairports with Iain Matthews


Mary Leay

Thursday
3 September
Claire Martin

at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

www.chequermead.org.uk

In association with the Cuisine Studio Jazz Cafe

£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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Acclaimed as the best-ever British jazz singer in America's leading jazz publication, Jazz Times, and five times winner of the Best British Jazz vocalist awards, Sussex-based Claire was born to sing. Growing up in a house full of music in Wimbledon, South London, she'd learned all of Judy Garland's songs by the time she was 12. But it was hearing Ella Fitzgerald's legendary Song Books that changed her life, inspiring her to go to Stage School and then to study singing in London and New York.

Her most recent CD, 'He Never Mentioned Love' was being hailed as her finest album to date. Recalling the songs and spirit of the late and legendary Shirley Horn, the album features some of the hottest talent in UK jazz and captures the normally 'sassy' singer in intimate and mature mode. Claire was deeply affected and influenced by the technique, spirit and approach of Horn, and she describes the album as "A really heartfelt hour of remembering someone who I really love." Claire explains: "I wanted to do my own little tribute, because she has given me so much. She has taught me so much musically. I wanted to doff my cap and say fantastic, great, ideal. Although I'm not trying to copy her in any way."

This show is presented in association with the theatre's Cuisine Studio, which regularly hosts Jazz Café evenings at the venue. Telephone 01342 324860 to reserve a table for a pre-show meal.


Claire Martin

Pre-show meals available in Chequer Mead – reservations 01342 324860

Monday
7 September
Sam Baker

at The Ravenswood
Sharpthorne

www.theravenswood.co.uk

with special guests:
The Haley Sisters

£12 (£15  door)    7.30pm
Tickets 01342 714810/716975
or
buy online via Acoustic Sussex website

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

 

 

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A lot can happen in a few years. Sam Baker can tell you that a lot can happen in a few seconds. Back in 1986, he was travelling in a train through Peru, when the carriage he was in was blown apart by a terrorist bomb, killing fellow passengers and leaving him clinging to life. Deafened and gravely injured, Baker spent the better part of the next decade working on both a physical and spiritual recovery. It was through storytelling and the art of songwriting that Baker began to make sense of a sometimes senseless world.

Baker's songs are pictures sketched in short, spare lines and lay bare the honest truths and simple details of life. His vocals are fragile, almost spoken, and totally absorbing.

These days, Sam is becoming one of the biggest underground Americana names of recent years. His debut album, Mercy, gained much critical acclaim, largely by word-of-mouth. Within days of its release in Europe, his second album, Pretty World, was sitting at the Number 1 slot on the Euro-Americana Chart and his increasing popularity led him to the headline slot of the 2008 Maverick Festival.

His new album Cotton, is not released in the UK until September but is already getting repeated airplay on UK radio such as BBC Radio 2 Bob Harris' programmes.

" He is a major artist. He'll be playing play live on the show when he's in the UK in December. 'Pretty World' is magnificent - one of the great albums of the year." Bob Harris

"A fantastic album that is guaranteed to open your mind and your heart."
 
Maverick Magazine

Special guests for this show are The Haley Sisters, Jo-Ann and Becky, who have appeared at leading venues, festivals, theatres and clubs throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, gaining massive popularity by virtue of their natural talent, dedication and down to earth personalities. In 1993 guitarist Brian Smith joined them, having previously worked in Nashville, Tennessee, on Crystal Gayle’s “Three Good Reasons” album.

“The great undiscovered natural talent of the UK music scene”
Alan Cackett, Maverick magazine


Sam Baker


The Haley Sisters

Tuesday
15 September
Sinéad & The Dawnbreakers

at Chequer Mead
East Grinstead

www.chequermead.org.uk

Support: Danni Nicholls

£12 all seats    8pm
Box Office 01342 302000
Tickets are also available at Hobgoblin in Crawley and Bullfrog in East Grinstead

 Pre-show meals available -reservations 01342 324860

 

Click here for News Release and biography (PDF file)

 

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Sinéad and The Dawnbreakers is a 4 piece rockabilly/country band, playing original material with a few classic hits thrown in. Lead singer Sinéad Quinn was runner-up in the TV show, Fame Academy in 2002. She was the only contestant selected by public vote rather than the judges’ panel. She subsequently released 2 hit singles and a self-penned album entitled 'Ready to Run'.

Sinéad has since spent time performing for the British Armed Forces around the world and has shared the stage with artists such as Lulu and Justin Hayward (when she played the role of Beth in Jeff Wayne’s musical production of War of the Worlds).

Sinéad recently married drummer Paul Stewart of The Feeling, who hails from Copthorne (several members of the band have strong Sussex connections). Their marriage, in Sinéad’s home town of Irvinestown in Co Fermanagh, was heavily featured in OK! magazine, although the couple turned down an exclusive deal so that everyone in the town could enjoy their big day.

The band's name is taken from the Irish Showband who backed her mother, Philomena, in the 1960s, and with her father Gerry also a working musician, Sinéad grew up surrounded by the very music she now writes and performs with her band - rock'n'roll, rockabilly and country music. She has returned to her roots and those of her parents, her love of music from the 50s and 60s clearly evident in her own songwriting, which brings these styles up to date with a contemporary twist.

Sinéad and The Dawnbreakers' vibrant, engaging and energetic performance never fails to get the crowd on its feet and guarantees a great night out.

And for this show, husband Paul joins virtuoso rock & roll guitarist, Ray Waters, and one of the UK's leading double bass players, Tom Waters, to complete the line-up.

“80's pop stars Toyah Wilcox and Carol Decker were the stars of the festival, but just as impressive was Sinéad Quinn, who started the concert series in South Shields. with her new band the Dawnbreakers.
South Shields Gazette, 5 July 2009

 

Support for this show is from a wonderful Brighton singer-songwriter, Danni Nicholls, who is currently working on a new album with Kate Walsh's producer, Tim Bidwell.


Sinead Quinn

 


Danni Nicholls

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     21 September – Corinne West + Tinderbox

Ø     12 October – Uiscedwr + Luke Sital Singh

Ø     9 November – Chris & Kellie While + Joseph Topping

Ø     20 November – Dar Williams NEW

Ø     23 November – Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies+ Lucy Ward

Ø     11 December – The Unthanks (formerly Rachel Unthank & The Winterset)

 

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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