A treat for your eyes and ears...
"Hearing Andy Cutting play is like going through the wardrobe and finding Narnia. His music is glorious, joyful, moving, subtle, emotionally charged, a totally spell-binding experience that is never long enough". June Tabor |
Andy CuttingAndy Cutting is a rarity. A musician's musician (BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner Best Musician 2008, 2011 & 2016): a soulful and technically outstanding melodeon practitioner with an ear for a fine tune. Many of his tunes have been purloined along the way: some considered contemporary classics on the folk scene. But then, Andy is also a warm and emotive performer, modestly engaging his audiences with his self-deprecating wit and then flooring them with downright staggering musicianship. There are few melodeon players who put so much feeling into their playing, whether it is a set of dance tunes, or accompaniment to a slow English ballad.
Andy has been consistent musical force since he came swiftly to prominence with the innovative Blowzabella. As well as a thorough grounding in the English tradition, Andy's influences extend way beyond these isles, particularly to the music of Central France and to the storming Quebecois tradition. These influences will be well-known to all those familiar with Andy's duo with English fiddle player, guitarist and singer, Chris Wood. Wood & Cutting became one of the most influential, and enduring, duos on the scene; paving the way for the explosion of many of today's thrusting young newcomers. Andy's commitment to, and sense of pride in traditional music, as well as his sensitivity and understanding of the form, has made him one of the folk scene's most wanted, playing with Kate Rusby, John McCusker and Under One Sky to name but a few. There is also a growing demand for him to play outside this genre (having recorded with Sting, John Illsley (Dire Straits) but most recently being asked to join The Who for an acoustic concert in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. As well as his ongoing work with Blowzabella, Andy currently tours with his trio Leveret (Andy Cutting, Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron) and with Anglo-French acoustic dance band, Topette. He is also working on a new duo with Belgian diatonic accordion player Anne Niepold. |
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Much Ado About Falstaff
Kick In The Head Theatre Co
Kick In The Head follow up recent successes with Old Herbaceous, Fagin?, Three Men in a Boat and Choice Grenfell with a new play about Sir John Falstaff…a rogue, a philanderer and a glutton, but also one of Shakespeare’s greatest and enduring comic creations.
In this new comedy by Simon Downing we find Falstaff, played by Giles Shenton (Old Herbaceous & Three Men in a Boat) in his bedroom in the Boars Head being nursed by Mistress Quickly, played by Suzanna Walters (Choice Grenfell). The creditors arrive demanding payment. Will Falstaff resort to marrying Mistress Quickly in order to pay off his debts? Will he turn teetotal? Will he mellow in his old age? Find out the answers to all these important questions that Shakespeare never bothered to answer and join Falstaff for an evening of jollity, frivolity, a definite lack of coequality and more Shakespearean insults than ever previously heard on a theatrical stage! This performance will take place outside, weather permitting. Please bring something to sit on. Should the need arise to move the performance inside, social distancing measures will be adhered to and will meet government guidelines.
Saturday 12th September 2020, 2.30pm
Tickets £14 / £12 Online sales via http://www.wegottickets.com/event/505082 |
"... at art school they said I had a remarkable eye for trivia, like it was a bad thing." |
Chris WoodChris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables.
A self-taught musician, composer and song writer, Chris is a lifelong autodidact whose independent streak shines through everything he does. Always direct and unafraid to speak his mind, his song writing has been praised for its surgical clarity. He cites his major influence as “Anon”. His most recent album ‘So Much to Defend’ has received wide critical acclaim and includes reflections on minor league football, empty nest syndrome, learning to swim, Cook-in Sauce and, not least, the Gecko as a metaphor for contemporary society. Hollow Point; his chilling ballad of the shooting of Jean Charles Menezez, won a BBC Folk Award (he's won six.) and emphatically secured Wood’s place as a serious speech-master for the unofficial history of England. Collaborators include Martin Carthy, Dizraeli, Billy Bragg, Andy Cutting, Andy Irvine, Karine Polwart, Jean Francois Vrod, The Imagined Village, Hugh Lupton, Martin Butler and many others. On stage Chris has the air of a craftsman who no longer needs to be precious about his art. Without any apparent effort he reaches deep into an enviable repertoire of songs before revealing another gem. |
“Knight’s playing is a revelation. A world away from folky fiddling, it’s fully informed by the classical style, all long sweeping bow strokes and eloquent legato. Yet he never loses the essential folk heart of the music, tracing a graceful line of his own making” |
Knight & Spiers
On a summer's day in 2016, the organisers of FolkEast Festival masterminded one of the most intriguing and exciting collaborations on today's folk scene.
Peter Knight, legendary violinist and ex-member of folk-rock band Steeleye Span was paired with leading melodeon player and ex-Bellowhead member, John Spiers, for a special one-off performance which left audiences in awe. With no space to be found in the marquee, people stood five deep in the pouring rain in order to witness the bringing together of two of the most genuinely gifted musicians in their respective fields. With a standing ovation and roars for more, and much to the delight of folk fans everywhere, Knight and Spiers decided not to leave things there. The pairing of violin and melodeon is not a new one, but in the hands of Knight and Spiers, improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn. Together they have created a musical document that resonates with history, but also something that should inspire future generations of musicians to engage with Britain’s folk dancing heritage, and the beautiful, mysterious tunes that can be found within that heritage. These uniquely gifted musicians make a sublime pairing, and create a live performance to be remembered for a long time. Listen on SoundCloud from here! |
A Brief History of Christmas
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“Eclectic and enjoyable - a bewildering array of instruments” English Dance and Song
“You guys are awesome!” Bill Barclay, Director of Music at Shakespeare’s Globe |
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A Christmas Carol
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Photo by Judith Burrows
“Martin Simpson has transcended borders and oceans to quietly become a superb storyteller and musician of great depth and unquestionable taste.”
- Stephen Fearing |
Martin Simpson
The remarkable intimate solo performances Martin gives go from strength to strength - every gig is a masterclass. He travels the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing.
“What’s it like being the best guitar player in the world…?” Martin’s modesty and grace prevented him from answering this BBC Radio 4 interviewer’s question recently, but the facts speak for themselves. 40 years after he recorded his first album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, Martin is known as a guitarist of formidable talent. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues and his own compositions, he is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world. |
"Sublime show that celebrates family, nature and the ties that bind goes on to pack a fierce political punch" The Guardian ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"when she speaks we listen, when she pauses we lean forward. For the clarity of her voice, speaking and singing, is rooted in the truth. And the power of her words, scripted and sung, are steeped in poetry" - ReviewSphere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "a beautiful allegory for how the survivors deal with historical atrocity... horror and beauty co-exist and the titular red dress becomes an eloquent symbol of resilience, but also how the prejudices of the past are sewn into the celebrations of the present" - The List "the pinnacle of her musical journey to date" - Folk Radio UK "vivid songwriting" - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 |
Rowan Rheingans – Dispatches on the Red Dress
Dispatches on the Red Dress is an intimate and courageous new live show by twice BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning songwriter Rowan Rheingans. Adventurous new writing meets the warmth of a folk gig in this heartfelt and personal one woman show, uniquely weaving immersive storytelling with live fiddle, banjo and original songs taken from Rowan's brand new genre-melding debut solo album 'The Lines We Draw Together'.
Unravelling the joy and pain from a story of her grandmother’s youth in 1940's Germany, Rowan celebrates small acts of resistance and boldly asks a troubling question for our times: can hope for our future be found in the very darkest pockets of our history? |
Gibbons & Gaulier presents
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“...an evening with Gibbons & Gaulier is one not to be missed... the material is glorious and original. The Affair is a deftly written play... with a depth that will leave you wanting more... Gibbons & Gaulier are simply unique!”
- James Pearson, Artistic Director, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club |
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Bloody Poetry
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'Definitely one of the best folk acts I’ve heard in a long while'
– Music News ‘I would stake money on a bright future for Harbottle & Jonas’ – Folkwords ‘Stunning songwriting and heart-rending arrangements 9/10’ – Americana UK |
Harbottle & Jonas
Partners in life and music, dynamic Devon duo Harbottle & Jonas are currently touring with their fourth and most ambitious album, ‘The Sea Is My Brother’.
Combining a love of the richness of traditional folk with their own original and powerful songwriting, the album’s maritime theme is maintained across political, historical, and personal stories and songs. A compelling live show during which David & Freya blend their distinctive solo voices and close harmonies with concertina, harmonium, mandola, stomp box and acoustic guitar. This signature sound has been honed by over six years of performing together and up to 200 gigs a year including the prestigious Dartington Hall as well as music clubs and festivals up and down the country. With plaudits from Seth & Geoff Lakeman, Jon Boden, Rod Clements, Lankum, Declan Sinnott, BBC Introducing, and Tom Robinson (BBC6 Music), Harbottle & Jonas have managed to establish themselves as one of the most exciting prospects on the folk circuit. Friday 25th October, 7.30pm
Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on the door Online sales: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/469425 |
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Agatha Christie’s "And Then There Were None"
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Lost in Translation
Back in concert again at Wingfield Barns, local duo Lost in Translation (Pat Blanchet and Roy Goodwin) have made a big step forward in producing a new album of all their own songs that they have been working on for the last year.
They are very excited to launch their new CD ‘Syleham Lights’ on Oct 5th at the Barns with guest musicians Simon Winter (Keys) and Frank Warne (Cajon) who are on the album. With all the stories behind the songs they will be performing these tracks which include the titular ‘Syleham Lights’, ‘The Ghost of the Brockdish Bride’ and ‘Two-timing Isobel’. Profits from the night go to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, joining in is allowed and of course the CDs will be available on the night. Saturday 5th October, 7.30pm. Online ticket sales: www.wegottickets.com/event/478538 |
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“There are a few seriously funny books that remain great for all time. Three Men in a Boat is one of these” The Guardian
“Timeless appeal” The Independent “Pitch-perfect comedy about, well, three men in a boat” The Telegraph Giles Shenton "creates an instant rapport with the audience, drawing us into his world and making the characters in it so real we feel you have known them forever. " Edinburgh Fringe Review "Skilfully distilled from Jerome K. Jerome’s comic masterpiece into 95 minutes of pure delight. To those who wondered if the same team could live up to the earlier success of Old Herbaceous, the answer was an emphatic yes. A master class in confidence, stagecraft and delivery." Opening Night Review “The nearest thing to "audio slapstick" I've ever heard, culminating in the sublime comedy of opening a tin, when you've forgotten the tin opener. It is not often that you come out of a theatrical performance feeling like you've been sharing happy and hilarious times, safe from a cruel world & wrapped in a warm blanket.” Vera Fletcher Review |
Three Men in a Boat
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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Two
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Radient Vermin
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Drama is a crucial part of the programme of events and includes performances by professional companies. We are also delighted to host plays by local societies and are keen to promote events by students in local schools and by pupils of local music teachers.
Please call 01379 384505 if you would like to discuss Wingfield Barns hosting your community group performance.
Please call 01379 384505 if you would like to discuss Wingfield Barns hosting your community group performance.
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The smaller print:
Unless otherwise credited, content © Wingfield Barns CIC 2009-2020. Unless otherwise credited, photographs © WBCIC and Mike Allmey. All content is published in good faith. Spotted an error? There are no prizes, but please let Webslave know (Webslave doesn't get to meet real people very often). It'll be corrected or removed as appropriate. |