2018 events to look forward to:
Saturday 6th January : Modou N’Diaye West African “super-group”
Thursday 15th March : Phil Beer dazzling instrumentalist
Saturday 12th May : The Elephant Sessions energetic brilliant musicianship from the Highlands of Scotland
All above at the EMN Hall, Monksilver
+ news of other great music in and around West Somerset
1. Saturday 6th January 2017 Modou N’Diaye The EMN Hall Monksilver
Modou N’diaye brings West African kora-based “super-group” to West Somerset.
What a great start to 2018! This is part of the launch tour for “Tamala” an album which blends together an irresistible mix of beautiful harmonies with the gentle yet lively tones of the kora, bass guitar, calabash, djembe and a variety of African percussion instruments, uniting traditional and modern sounds that will leave you invigorated and inspired!
Modou’s dream is spread through his music: the universal language of peace, togetherness, love and understanding across the globe. Let’s give him a warm welcome to West Somerset!
Tickets £10 advance (£8 conc. : £12 otd, if not sold out) from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/423922 : Toucan Wholefoods; and at Wiveliscombe Post Office from 6th Dec.
2.
Thursday 15th March Phil Beer
Long-time collaborator with Steve Knightley in Show of Hands, Phil is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music. A dazzling instrumentalist, he is perhaps best known as a top flight fiddler and plays in the all-star line-up, Feast of Fiddles. But his skills don’t stop there, he also plays slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro, not to mention contributing rich vocals.
Advance tickets £13 (£15 otd) from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/423921 : in local outlets soon.
3.
12th May The Elephant Sessions
The return of the 5 amazing young musicians from the highlands of Scotland who make up The Elephant Sessions. Since their initial visit to West Somerset in 2015 The Elephant Sessions have performed at some of Europe’s most notable festivals.
Advance tickets £10 (£more otd) from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/423851 : in local outlets soon.
4.
See below for excellent musical and arts offerings from other friends such as Halsway Manor, Silver Street Sessions, Pebbles Watchet, Milverton Music Club, Take Art and Artsreach
NB ALWAYS CHECK direct with the venue in case of changes.
HALSWAY MANOR, National Centre for Folk Arts near Crowcombe http://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/ 01984 618274
Thu 7 Dec / 7.30pm:
John Kirkpatrick –
“Carolling & Crumpets”
Toe-tapping tunes and cracking choruses, hilarious original songs and a sprinkling of carols from the master folk singer and squeezebox player. £10 / £4
Fri 8 Dec / 8pm:
Piva – “Old Christmas Return’d”
Seasonal music, stories and song from Shakespeare’s time, performed on a vast array of fascinating period instruments by one of the UK’s finest early music ensembles. £10 / £4
All tickets available online:
www.halswaymanor.org.uk
SILVER STREET SESSIONS – see website http://www.silverstreetsessions.co.uk/
All (or nearly all) concerts at Cotleigh Brewery in Ford Road, Wiveliscombe. Tickets from Wiveliscombe Post Office (tel 01984 623308):
The Emily Askew Band 7th Dec, 8.00pm
A thrilling collaboration where Medieval and Folk worlds collide! Formed to fuse Emily’s passions for Medieval and Renaissance melodies/songs and modern folk styles. Emily has had a successful career in both Folk and Early Music.
Cotleigh Brewery, Ford Road, Wiveliscombe, TA4 2RE
£14/£12 concessions
PEBBLES TAVERN, Watchet
See http://www.pebblestavern.co.uk/news/
Milverton Music Club
First Friday of the month: open mic sessions
For specials see calendar on http://www.milvertonmusic.co.uk/
Rural Arts promoters in the SouthWest Take Art (Somerset http://www.takeart.org ) and ArtsReach (Dorset http://www.artsreach.co.uk ), all have some great acts and events, do check them out.