Tudor Folk Club
Chesham, Bucks, England

Archive for 2006.

16th January 2006 - George Papavgeris

The Chesham based songwriter with a growing national reputation. "George's complex commentaries on the world around him are deceptively simple, with repeated listening revealing both lyrical and musical excellence" "I wasn't prepared for the emotional experience of his performance. His presence was compelling" "a fine observer of human behaviour, with the musical ability to make his observations memorable" "songs you feel you've known all your life, or that you wish you did"
Just some of the comments from around the country about George and his songs.

30th January 2006 - Pint and Dale

William and Felicia so impressed us last year we felt we had to have them back as soon as posssible.
Pint and Dale play the music of the sea. Whether contemporary songs with the sea as a theme or shanties - the traditional work songs sung aboard the tall ships to organize the labor of the crew. Those crews were English, Irish, German, French, from the West Indies, The United States and other sea going nations, but the music itself was inspired by the oceans that link all these places together and cover two thirds of our planet. Pint and Dale take all of this as a source of inspiration for their music - giving it their own spin with guitar, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin and other exotic sounds. The result is an unusually energetic and exciting approach to folk music.

13th February 2006 - Strangeworld

"Strangeworld play such beautiful music that takes you to places well beyond any earthly location. Straight to the heart ! Great musicians, wonderful tunes."

Formed in 2004 by Bryan Causton of Shave the Monkey fame for a one off project, this band has taken on a life of its own and has been the hit of festivals and clubs throughout 2005. We're looking forward to seeing and hearing them at Tudor.

27th February 2006 - Colvin Quarmby

We've had these guys before and it's always a great evening. As their press release says -
ColvinQuarmby are a four-piece band from the UK featuring the songwriting talents of Gerry Colvin, a man who has rubbed shoulders with some of the finest.The live show is spontaneous - often very lively and always amusing.
To overstate the humour and tongue-in-cheek delivery style though would be to ignore the strength of this band and most importantly, Colvin's material. The songs are crafted with incredibly evocative lyrics which can touch the soul in a most powerful way. This power is the more enhanced due to the consistent performances of a great band featuring Dave Dutfield on Guitars and Backing Vocals and Martin Fitzgibbon on Drums and Backing Vocals. Founder member Nick Quarmby provides Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals.

13th March 2006 - Mawkin

Mawkin were finalists in the St Albans New Roots competition in 2004. Since then the music has grown and grown, and they regularly gig every weekend, having played at over 30 folk festivals and have been on national radio several times.
The music is taken from many influences, Jamie’s fiddle is very much in a English style, but still has aspects of Johnny Cunningham in his work. Alex play’s melodeon like he’s trying to tame a beast, a big punchy sound influenced by Andy Cutting, John Kirkpatrick and session players from his home county of Suffolk. Dave’s guitar work is influenced by jazz and rock, although he also has a classical guitar upbringing and Danny has taken influences of funk rock artists in his bass playing. We thought it would be a good idea to get their exciting music for Tudor on our nearest to St Patricks day night.

27th March 2006 - Ed Rennie

Ed was best known as the melodeon player in The Bismarcks for a long time, but is now building a parallel reputation as a fine singer. His material is drawn from a broad range, ancient and modern, English and borrowings from further a-field.
His performances are relaxed and uncluttered. The songs are of a wide variety and though there may be slayings and sorcery, there are also love and laughs. All of life is there.

April 3rd A Singers' Night and special celebration. Our Vice Chairman Johnny Seabrook has just had his 75th birthday, so we thought we'd have a party. Johnny has been with Tudor since the club started at the Trap Door some 40 years ago...

---

April 10th Singers Night featuring our regular Peter London.

April 24th The Brian Bedford Band.

The songwriting talent of Artisan in a new band consisting of Brian and Jacey Bedford, William Pint and Felicia Dale and Ben Walker. Five voices, fifteen instruments and original songs - A Musical Roller Coaster Ride!

May 15th Ian Bruce.

After a gap of 5 years Ian returns to Tudor to regale us with his songs.

June 5th A singers' night with a feature spot from Stephen Snow, a fantastic young fiddle player who was a finalist in this year's New Roots competition

Stephen, who will be 19 in August has been playing the fiddle since he was seven years old and in the past few years has played at folk clubs from Cornwall to Scotland. He has won cups for his playing and singing in the Devon Performing Arts Festival two years running. In November 2005, he played the Fiddler in the Northcott Theatre production of 'Fiddler On The Roof'. He hopes to attend Newcastle University Folk and Traditional Music degree course later this year. He is a regular performer at the Bradninch Music Festival

June 19th Flossie Malavialle.

The Darlington based French songstress who has wowed our members whenever she's been heard.
Entry £6 for members, £8 for visitors.
After 12 years teaching English full time in France, Flossie came as a French teacher in Stockton-on Tees. Having sung for years in France, she joined Darlington Folk Club to meet the locals and sing. Although she returned to France for a year, she missed the life in England and came back! Now based in Darlington, she teaches when needed but mainly focuses on her singing. She has released 4 albums, and is now working on her fifth. Her songs include famous numbers, such as 'Roll on the day' 'Making up the miles' 'The child who asks why', and Edith Piaf's 'No regrets' and 'La vie en rose', but also songs which are full of 'vavavoum' and she makes space for lovely ballads as well as jazzy tunes.

July 3rd John Kirkpatrick.

The king of all things squeezable brings us another night of top rank entertainment.
John is one of the most prolific figures on the English folk scene, performing solo, in duos, acoustic groups and electric bands, and has established an enviable reputation as an instrumental virtuoso and session musician, as well as a leading interpreter of English folk music. He has been a member of the Albion Country Band, Magic Lantern, The Richard Thompson Band, Umps and Dumps, Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey, Trans-Europe Diatonique, and Band of Hope, as well as numerous ceilidh bands.

July 10th Singers' night featuring Laura Hewison,

another New Roots finalist who plays the cello beautifully, and our own Simon Stephenson - also a finalist at this year's New Roots
Laura Hewison is a young musician who combines voice and cello to produce innovative and expressive arrangements of both traditional and original songs. Laura has performed extensively regionally and beyond and as well as solo performing, she is involved in a number of bands and ensembles, two of which (Bmused and The Art of Kissing) were chosen to perform at the Sound 05 festival at The Sage, Gateshead.
As a member of folkESTRA North!, directed by Kathryn Tickell, Laura developed her interest in traditional music and performed at festivals such as Sidmouth and Towersey. As a winner of New Roots 2006, Laura will be performing at Sidmouth Folk Week and various folk clubs throughout the country. Laura is studying Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University.

September 11th MARTIN CARTHY.

Say no more. In the downstairs main hall with wheelchair access

Tickets at £10 for visitors and £8 for members are available in advance direct from the club or by writing to:
John Hatton,
519 Waterside,
Chesham,
Bucks HP5 1QF
enclosing a stamped self addressed envelope and a cheque payable to Tudor Folk Club for the necessary amount. (You may want to take out membership for £6 which is valid for 1 year from 1st September and entitles you to £2 off each guest night and £1 off on Singers' nights, so it pays for itself really quickly!)

September 25th Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen.

American duo strongly recommended by Tudor favourites Dana and Susan Robinson, and praised by Martin Carthy when he was with us on the 11th September.
Steve Gillette is best known as a songwriter, with songs recorded by artists from Ian & Sylvia to Garth Brooks, from Jiminy Cricket to John Denver. His song Darcy Farrow alone has been recorded by more than one hundred artists since 1966, most recently by Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Nanci Griffith.
Cindy Mangsen, who married Steve in 1989, is also a songwriter, but her focus has been on songkeeping. Cindy is a master interpreter of traditional ballads, rich in myth and legend. She plays guitar, concertina, and banjo, and is renowned for her compelling voice, described by one critic as a voice that can warm a New England winter.

---

October 2nd Colum Sands.

Another returnee to Tudor - he's been missed!
Colum has performed in over thirty countries around the world, confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humorous details of life. A member of the internationally renowned The Sands Family from County Down, Colum established his reputation as a songwriter with the release of his first solo album, Unapproved Road in 1981. Songs like "Whatever You Say, Say Nothing", and "Almost Every Circumstance" were soon in the repertoire of artists from Billy Connolly to Maddy Prior and June Tabor.

Cracking stuff from Damien Barber and friends. "Over the last four years The Demon Barbers have gained major recognition for their original and imaginative approach to traditional music and song." - So says Froots.
In the main hall with wheelchair access again.





enclosing a stamped self addressed envelope and a cheque payable to Tudor Folk Club for the necessary amount. (You may want to take out membership for £6 which is valid for 1 year from 1st September and entitles you to £2 off each guest night and £1 off on Singers' nights, so it pays for itself really quickly!)

---

October 23rd Singers night -

featuring New Roots competition finalist Ceridwen Davies again (she played for us in 2005 and impressed us mightily! We're delighted to see her again)

November 13th Johnny Silvo.

Tudor favourite Johnny is back to entertain us as only he can.

November 27th Quicksilver.

A Duo building up a huge following since their formation in 2003.
The amazing voice of Hilary Spencer(ex Artisan) and the superb playing and songwriting talents of Grant Baynham ("That's Life" resident for four years).

December 11th Alan Reid and Rob Van Sante.

Founder member of the Battlefield Band Alan playing with one of the best guitarists around.