Show of Hands

Saturday 21st June 2008

For the first of our Book Festival concerts in 2008, we are very proud to present Show of Hands.

Steve Knightley and Phil Beer are widely acknowledged as the finest acoustic roots duo in England. Knightley, who writes most of their inspired material and Beer, a dazzling multi instrumentalist, have built up a huge following which has seen them twice sell out the Royal Albert Hall, headlining at major festivals from Glastonbury to WOMAD and playing all over the world, from Europe to America, Australia and India. Voted Best Live Act by the public at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, the jury is still out on just what kind of music they play. A genre defying mix of rock, roots, blues, country, traditional, and often influenced by the music of other countries, it is played out on an array of instruments from slide guitar to fiddle, mandolin to South American cuatro.

Here is just a small selection of comments about this illustrious duo:

“Knightley and Beer champion a counterculture – with scant mainstream media exposure they have built a mighty word-of-mouth following that fills venues from Northern arts centres to the Albert Hall” – Colin Randall, Telegraph

“There’s nothing to beat seeing these guys live, but this is a pretty damn good approximation” – Total Music Magazine

“Steve Knightley’s writing reveals a deep understanding of the human condition. The musicianship of Knightley and Beer is of the highest order; the alchemy between them lifts their music away from divides of genres – Spiral. Earth.co.uk

“The focus is on Knightley’s fine original songs which include an impassioned defence of England’s musical heritage while Beer supplies harmony vocals and plays a bewildering array of instruments” – Dublin Evening Herald

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Tickets: £15.00, £12.50 concessions

On Sale from 11th February 2008

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Lark Rise Band

Tuesday 24th June 2008

What could be better suited to a Book Festival than a band based on a book! Lark Rise to Candleford is a classic book which has spawned two remarkably successful plays and an album of music. To this can now be added a major BBC TV series – see below – and a new group, The Lark Rise Band.

Lark Rise to Candleford, written by Flora Thompson, recalls the rural England of the late 19th century, leading up to the Great War of 1914 – 1918. It is crammed full of stories, customs, music, singing games and much more besides.

Early in 2008, BBC TV will present a 10 part adaptation of the book, filmed in and around Bristol and Gloucestershire and starring Dawn French, Liz Smith and Julia Sawalha amongst many others.

With the recent CD release of the original Lark Rise album, Ashley Hutchings has formed a Lark Rise band to once again draw focus to the memorable music of the plays put on some years ago by the National Theatre. Joining him in the band is a new generation of singers and musicians, all of whom have discovered the magic of Lark Rise and its words and music. This concert performance will present music, words, dance and song from the book and the plays, celebrating a lost way of life so memorably captured by Flora Thompson.

“The countryside depicted here has certainly disappeared. But thanks to these sterling musicians, we gained a tantalizing glimpse of an England that has all but faded from living memory”

Review of Lark Rise Band performance at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester.

Tickets: £12.50, £10.00 concessions

On Sale from 11th February 2008

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Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri

Friday 27th June 2008

Kiki and Carmelo performed for us at the 2007 Book Festival, a concert that was a sheer joy to stage. The strength and depth of feedback received both on the night and since was unprecedented and we are delighted that they have agreed to make a return visit in 2008.

Kiki’s career has spanned three decades and she is, of course, best-known for hit records such as ‘Amoureuse’, ‘I Got the Music in Me’ and the collaboration with Elton John ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ which topped the charts both in the UK and the US. She has also performed in the West End, including a starring role in ‘Blood Brothers’ for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier award.

Carmelo’s abilities as a composer, guitarist and producer have taken him on a fascinating musical path over the years. He has performed and recorded with artists as diverse as Andy Williams, Chris Rea and Ralph McTell.

The collaboration of the duo brings together their eclectic backgrounds from the worlds of soul, pop and rock that results in an acoustic act that pushes the boundaries and takes the listener on a journey through the emotions.

Whether through live performances or through recorded music, what excites and motivates the partnership is connecting with the audience. “If we have touched someone and made a difference in some way, then everything begins to make sense” says Carmelo. “We use our music as a form of communication but we also want to have fun through it and create something positive, uplifting yet thought-provoking”.

It gives us a huge amount of pleasure to welcome them back.

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Tickets: £12.50, £10.00 concessions

On Sale from 11th February 2008

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Deborah Bonham Band

Saturday 11th October 2008

Deborah and the band have just finished recording the new album 'Duchess', featuring all new original material. Deborah has even co-written an unfinished Steve Marriott/Jerry Shirley composition. Deborah's live band (Peter Bullick Guitars, Ian Rowley Bass, G Louis Keys, Jerry Shirley Drums) take up the reins in the studio, contributing co-writes, and a solid backing for some wonderful guest musicians, including Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Dick Parry (Pink Floyd), BJ Cole (EmmyLou Harris), Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant), Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention), and a duet with Paul Rodgers. The album will be ready for release in May/June 2008.

Deborah's last album, 'The Old Hyde' released in the UK on Track Records in 2004 is a stunning array of bluesy rock and emotive ballads, all perfectly showcasing Deborah's powerful voice to maximum effect. The title track being a ballad written about her Father Jack, and brother's John & Michael and the house they built, where Deborah lived. Produced by Mo Foster (of Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, Phil Collins fame), the album features guest appearances from, Mick Fleetwood, Robert Plant guitarists Robbie Blunt and Dougie Boyle, Pretenders/Paul McCartney's guitarist Robbie McIntosh and John's son Jason Bonham on drums.

Deborah was only five when brother John joined Led Zeppelin, and this powerful introduction sparked in her the overwhelming desire to write and perform her own material. Her home was at The Old Hyde farm, where she lived with her father, John Henry Bonham snr, known as Jack, in the cottage at the back of The Old Hyde Farm. Her brother John and his family lived in the main House. While living there, Deborah and Jason started playing and recording their own songs. At the age of 17, at Robert Plant's house in a nearby village, she recorded her first demos. With some encouragement and advice from Robert, Deborah sent out the songs anonymously and soon landed her first record deal with the major label Carrere Records, for whom she recorded the critically acclaimed album "For You and the Moon". The album reached the top 5 in the NME chart, was Simon Bates record of the week on Radio 1 and sold extremely well in Europe, being voted "Record of the Year" by Musik Mart, Germany. A period of recording for the Japanese Sam Corporation followed, and with press and radio promotion including interviews for Burrn and J Wave Radio. After this, English label RPM records released the single, "Perfect World" in 1995. Deborah spent 1996 getting her new band together, new songs for an album and playing some great shows such as headlining The Belfast Festival and a sell out show at the Bottom Line, Shepherd's Bush to excellent reviews, honing a new direction for the forthcoming album. The beginning of 1997 saw two extremely successful trips to the US. Firstly, she performed live on LA's Rockline radio to three million listeners throughout North America and Canada. This was followed by a special appearance with Jason Bonham and his band at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, where she went down a storm! The success of the first trip led to another visit to the US with her band to open for Jason Bonham Band's shows in Los Angeles 'House of Blues' with guests Slash and Terry Reid. Subsequently, two more tours across America were secured. Back in the UK and Europe, Deborah toured and performed with Van Halen, Alannah Myles, Tim Rose, Uli Jon Roth, Paul Weller, Humble Pie, Donovan, Lonnie Donnegan, Jools Holland, Ann Peebles, Foreigner and Paul Rodgers. She and her band have played festivals from Glastonbury to Donnington, and twice at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival.

Tickets: £12.00, £10.00 concessions

On Sale from 4th August 2008

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Kerfuffle

15th November 2008

Kerfuffle will become the third band to play a third concert for us and after their stunning show last year – which saw them leave the stage to a standing ovation - how could we not invite them back? Not only is the music outstanding, there is a real rapport between audience and artists that makes their appearances that little bit special.

Now in their seventh year, Kerfuffle enter 2008 having played venues as diverse as Towersey, Cropredy & Bromyard Festivals, Radio 3’s “Late Junction” and the bar under the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Their music cannot easily be categorised and their vibrant arrangements draw on influences from across Europe, incorporating tunes, songs and dances. Four of the finest young musicians on the folk scene today, Sam Sweeney, Hannah James, Jamie Roberts, & Tom Sweeney perform their music with immense vitality and style.

In 2007 we were given some tantalising tasters of the forthcoming album ‘To the Ground’ which is due for release later this year. The year looks like being a busy one for the band as Festival appearances throughout the summer are being added to their schedule at a rate of knots.

Here is a selection of comments made by others about this exciting, maturing band:

“Not To Scale is still an extraordinarily fine début recording” David Kidman, NetRhythms

"...by any yardstick, this album succeeds triumphantly. A candidate for one of my top 5 albums of the year" Dai Woosnam, The Living Tradition

“They perform with a maturity, skill and exuberance that belie their tender years…. K2 is a great listen.” Debbie Koritsas, The Living Tradition

“The skillful way the tracks are performed and put together is testament to the bands growing maturity for the music and the technique they display is second to none … The instrumentals are pure class” Phil Daniels, Folking.com

"Constantly inventive arrangements of tunes and songs alike...a sharply defined sense of purpose" fRoots

"Links profiles their impressive grasp of a wide range of material from thrilling balladry to the swift reel " MUsician [magazine of the Musicians Union]

Tickets: £10.00, concessions £8.00.

On sale from 8th September 2008

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Mad Agnes

Friday 19th September 2008

Mad Agnes is not one person, but three, and they're mad in only the most inventive way.  Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones and Mark Saunders stir up elements of classical and folk, cross singer/songwriter poignancy with street-theatre smarts and infuse it all with courageous harmonies, complex counterpoint and rich storytelling in a powerful live performance.  Their lyrics are intelligent, their delivery warm, and insightful.  Not surprisingly, each has arrived at the trio from a long list of solo accomplishments.

They've been called genre-bending -- with classical, rock and old-world backgrounds they play everything from contemporary original to madrigals, to Celtic traditionals, to harmony-driven folk pop. They are recognized for their terrific live show and have played at festivals across North America.

Mad Agnes will become the first American artists to play a ‘Warthog’ concert and we see this as a fantastic way to get our fourth season of concerts off to a flying start. Here is a small selection of comments about Mad Agnes’s live performances:-

"When I first heard Mad Agnes I knew instantly these were special people with a special act. Musically, emotionally and spiritually they ticked all the right boxes. When I finally got to meet them, my suspicions were confirmed. They are lovely people making lovely music that reaches out and grabs you."
Simon Nicol - Fairport Convention, Chipping Norton '07

“Their harmonies were extraordinary and tight, their attack was nothing less than fierce, their voices were wonderful and the instrumental work was terrific... precision that was never at the cost of passion. I'm not entirely sure it's folk music, but I do know it’s sensational.”
Richard Walton, Stone Soup Coffeehouse

“…from witty to wildly innovative, there seems nothing out there like Mad Agnes, and certainly nothing like it in the folk world. A fusion of folk, pop and classical contrapuntal harmonies – contemporary and yet also timeless – sort of Paul Simon meets Bach, as sung by the Bitching Babes.”
Peter Spink, New Age Voice

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Tickets: Adults £10, Concessions £8

On sale from July 14th 2008

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Daniel Smith Blues Band

13th December 2008

For the fourth successive year, Daniel and his band will perform for us in the run-up to Christmas. A look through the ‘Previous events’ section of this website will give an indication of what a great night this is. Last year’s concert sold out before the end of October and we had to turn quite a few away, so the message for this gig is most definitely ‘Book early to avoid disappointment’.

"Absolutely brilliant..... A boogie piano maestro with a top class band ... a great performance" - PAUL JONES - BBC RADIO 2

"Dazzlingly accomplished boogie woogie and blues piano" - THE GUARDIAN

"This guy is something else - he sure knows the blues.... I ain't seen nothin' like this since Otis Spann and Memphis Slim" - MOJO BUFORD

"A serious challenger to Jools Holland as the UK's number 1 boogie pianist" BLUES IN BRITAIN

"Daniel Smith is the only man I've seen play bottleneck piano (with a beer bottle). He is quite simply one of the UK's finest... he just gets better." - BLUES AND RHYTHM

"For small-combo jump blues look no further than The Daniel Smith Blues Band." BLUES REVIEW, USA

"Daniel Smith is one of the best blues pianists on the European circuit. He can boogie, swing and slam out slow blues like an old master - always crisp, note perfect and his adventutous approach always makes you sit up and listen." - RED LICK MAGAZINE

Tickets: £10.00, concessions £8.00.

On sale from 6th October 2008

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New Rope String Band

Saturday 16th January 2009

There is nobody quite like the New Rope String Band and attempting a description of their act is virtually impossible. Here’s their own description –

Brilliant musicianship counts for very little if you're playing with total wallies. The Old Rope String Band(what is left of them: Pete Challoner and Tim Dalling) have joined forces with two amazing musicians (Jock Tyldesley and Vera van Heeringen) and as a four piece they are taking off from where the Old Ropes sadly stopped.
They play a big assortment of things and all sorts of hoedown pan-celtic old-timey up-beat down-home music. All this is combined with bizarre physical nonsense and clowning about. And singing.
And dancing. The sheer visualosity and laughableness of the New Rope String Band, plus the amount of interesting things will bring pleasure to absolutely almost everyone. Boundless energy, exuberant spectacles and beautiful music executed with kindness.
What could possibly go wrong?

The band is hugely popular in this area, regularly selling out the venues fortunate enough to have booked them. This will be a concert like no other this season – we can’t wait!

“How little these descriptions tell of the high standard of multi-instrumental musicianship without which the japes would have no structure. but it was evident that those who thought they'd come mainly for the fun found themselves caught up in the music; and those who came mainly for the music yielded willingly to the frolics”.

To find out more

Tickets: Adults £10, Concessions £8

On sale from 10th November

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Breathing Space

Saturday 7th February 2009

We would be the first to admit that Breathing Space are not an obvious choice for a ‘Warthog’ concert, in the sense that we’ve not been anywhere near the ‘classic rock’ genre previously. However, we’ve always said that we’re looking for variety so here’s a concert to satisfy those who still like to play Dark Side of the Moon and list Genesis and Yes amongst their favourite bands. We’ve seen the band play live and are delighted to be bringing them to Lowdham.

Breathing Space, the band, started life as a solo album project by Iain Jennings, ex-keyboard wizard and co-songwriter with rock giants, Mostly Autumn. For the first album and early live gigs he enlisted some of his Mostly Autumn colleagues before putting  together his own touring band, retaining Mostly Autumn's backing singer Olivia Sparnenn as lead vocalist for the new venture. They are gaining terrific reviews for their live shows and for their excellent recent CD ‘Coming Up For Air’.
“This is a very impressive album indeed, and there’s a great sense of flow and maturity about ‘Coming Up For Air’ that was perhaps only starting to develop on the first album. The songs are infectious and vari-paced, with a strong sense of melody, catchy hooks and haunting choruses always part of each and every performance. The standard of musicianship is extremely high, but all the players are seen as an integral part of the overall “band” performance rather than being individual virtuoso performers, with the outstanding feature being Olivia Sparnenn’s vocals, which are just sensational!”

To find out more

Tickets: Adults £8, Concessions £6

Tickets on sale December 1st 2008

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Maggie Bell and Dave Kelly

14th March 2009

Although they have known each other just a few years, their long time mutual respect for each other’s music and voices recently brought Maggie and Dave together professionally.

This will be an evening with two stalwarts of the British R&B scene, two great voices, two great reputations, and a wonderful couple of hours of acoustic blues, soul and good times…..and no doubt lots of warmth and humour also.

A solo set by Dave, followed by a set with Dave playing guitar for Maggie's songs, all topped by a few duets.

Maggie Bell - Scotland's Queen of Soul, founder member of Stone the Crows, later had an incredibly successful solo career on both sides of the Atlantic, now once again back on the music scene after a 20 year sojourn.

Dave Kelly - London's slide guitar king, having learned his trade in the backing bands of, and recording with, Son House, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells to name but five blues legends, has been a member of The Blues Band for the past 28 years.

Tickets: £12.50, concessions £10.00.

On sale from 5th January 2009

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