Programme for the 2009 Fiddle FestivalThursday 14th MayClassical /Jazz Concert, Angel Ballroom 7.30pmChamber Viva and Christian GarrickThis year a Cello, Violin duo from Chamber Viva are going to entertain us for the first part of this concert. Sinfonia Chamber was founded in 1982 and, as a National Orchestra based in the East Midlands, provides classical concerts and outreach activities that make live music accessible to all. The duo today consists of Clare Bhabra on violin and Deirdre Bencsik on cello. Clare co-founded the Mirage String Quartet and the Janacek piano trio and also was a first violinist with the Opera North. Deirdre is also a member of the Usher Piano Trio and the Sancerre String Quartet and has worked with many of the major orchestras in the country.The jazz element of this concert is with the amazing talents of Christian Garrick. He played the festival last year and everyone who saw him nearly burned his or her fiddles!!! Chris is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. He is one of the world’s leading jazz and improvising violinists. He has 6 solo albums to his name and has played with many of the world’s jazz greats. He is joined by Andy Crowdy on bass and Jezz Cook on guitar. |
Friday 15th MayEvening Concert, Angel Ballroom 7.30pmJoe Broughton & Kevin Dempsey and KoshkaKevin Dempsey and Joe Broughton are two virtuosi of guitar and fiddle. They have played with the greats such as Whippersnapper and the Albion Band and Joe even ran away to join the circus!! Musically they’re tighter than two coats of paint!Koshka formed in 2001, they are Oleg Ponomarev on violin, born in Habarovsk, Russia and is better known for his role in Loyko the renowned gypsy group. Lev Atlas also on violin, who has had a distinguished career as a classical musician but also specialises in Klezmer and Eastern European music. Nigel Clark is the third member and is one of Scotland’s best known jazz guitarists. Koshka is one of the most exciting virtuoso trios on the circuit. This concert should not to be missed! This concert will begin with the amazing Wootton Fiddle Club |
Saturday 16th MayAfternoon Concert, Angel Ballroom 2pmSkyhook, Uiscedwr and LunasaSkyhook is Martin Harwood on fiddle, guitar and bouzouki, Cath James on fiddle and viola, and Eoin Teather on guitar, bouzouki and vocals. Skyhook are a spellbinding trio who play an exciting mix of the music of Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton Island, plus some of their own jigs and reels.They are followed by the funky folk quartet of Uiscedwr featuring Anna Esslemont on fiddle and vocals with James Hickman on guitar and Karen Tweed on piano accordion, the band’s sound is underpinned by Cormac Byrne (Of Seth Lakeman band fame) Their eclectic repertoire draws on traditions from all over the British Isles tempered by influences as diverse as jazz, blues and klezmer. Lunasa finish this amazing concert. Billed as Irelands newest super group they will get everyone’s feet tapping! Lunasa is a gathering of some of the top musical talents in Ireland. It’s members have helped form the backbone of some of the greatest Irish groups of the decade- Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of the Waterboys. Fiddler Sean Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who also played with Donal Lunny’s Coolfin: Kevin Crawford, considered to be one of the finest Flautists in Ireland played with the acclaimed traditional group Moving Cloud. Trevor Hutchinson on Guitar and Cillan Vallely on pipes make up the rest of Lunasa. We’ve started this concert earlier so don’t be caught out! |
Saturday 16th MayEvening Concert, Angel Ballroom 8pmRosie & Lucy Coggle and SolasRosie and Lucy Coggle have grown up with the Fest and are now undergraduates on the Folk works degree course. They are fast developing a reputation as soloists in their own right as well as been one of the most exciting duos on the circuit. A worthy penultimate act.To round off this years Fest we are very privileged to have the talents of SOLAS. They are Seamus Egan, on flute, tenor banjo.mandolin, tin whistle, guitar and bodhran. Winifred Horan, Violin and vocals, Mick McAuley Accordion/concertina, vocals: Eamon McElholm guitar keyboards, vocals: Mairead Phelan vocals. Since its birth in 1996, Solas has been proclaimed as the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band to emerge from the United States. We are privileged and very excited to have them at the Fiddle Fest. We hope you enjoyed the Fest! Many thanks to all our sponsors. Don’t forget the sessions at Scanlons, the street entertainment, busking competition and our Craft Fair on the Saturday. |