Greetings Music Lovers
It's official! Spring is definitely on the way, complete with spring flowers, blue skies, birds busily nest building and lighter mornings, not to mention a fantastic FAB line up of gigs for you to come to now that getting out and about is somewhat easier. Keep scrolling down for a big surprise on June 5th - hot off the press and just confirmed!
FAB Nights Forthcoming gigs BOX OFFICE 01234-269519
Doors open 7-30pm, show starts 8pm unless otherwise stated
PLEASE NOTE We are trying to keep our ticket prices down this season
but are governed by simple economics! If we can get more people to turn up we can keep prices lower.
Help us to keep music live and affordable!
Friday April 9th The Spikedrivers plus Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke
The Howard Room
Tickets £12.00 and concessions
We are delightesd to welcome back to Bedford the fabulous Spikedrivers who never fail to deliver a fantastic evening of delta inspired blues, comsummate musicianship, fun and sheer entertainment. Tonight they are supported by Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke, making this a unique evening’s musical pleasure.
Taking inspiration from their American roots and the country’s rich musical heritage, the Spikedrivers’ songwriting, vocal harmonies and unique instrumentation make their sound fresh and exciting.
The atmosphere created by the band takes you on a journey, from southern jukejoints and lazy front porches to the huge open spaces of dust bowls and railroad tracks disappearing into the distance…
'The Spikedrivers were simply the revelation of the festival' It's Mojo Music Time-The More Blues Festival - Belgium
‘From their publicity it looks as though this band spends most of it's time on the blues circuit, but judging fromthe reaction from the audience at Bridgnorth they should think about getting more folk bookings.They were a knockout!’ Bridgnorth Folk Festival
“The Spikedrivers finished the afternoon session with possibly the set of the weekend. A highly original band, The Spikedrivers play with an intensity that makes you sit up and listen. Superb versions of Blue Trash, Where Did the Money Go featuring Maurice McElroy on drums, washboard and vocals, L’l Red Rooster, and Constance Redgrave took vocals with an excellent rendition of Gypsy Wind and with guitarist/vocalist Ben Tyzack on top form this really was an exciting set.” Mike Lightfoot Blues In Britain www.spikedrivers.co.uk/
Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke
Fran and Mike are members of the four-piece blues band So Long Angel, but after playing the Blues Matters Acoustic Stage at the Colne Blues Festival in 2004 as a duo they decided to investigate the acoustic scene again. They've just completed their new CD "The Road That You Believe In".
“…it's an appropriate time to pay tribute to the impressive, hard-working musicians who never quite make the headlines. McGillivray and Burke are just such a duo. They have been playing for the best part of 30 years, in the blues band So Long Angel and as acoustic folk-blues guitarists. Much of what they do is very impressive. McGillivray has an agreeably controlled and laid-back vocal style, often with an American twang, while Burke is an excellent blues guitarist. Guardian review 2008
Thursday April 29th Megson plus Liz Simcock and guests
The Howard Room
Tickets £12.00 concessions available
Megson almost need no introduction. We booked them as a support act to Bob Fox back in The ent. Shed days – and since then they have gone from strength to strength clocking up miles, awards, accolades and endorsements from the best in the business. We have had them at WoodWorks and now as headliners in their own right we are delighted to welcome them to The Howard Room for what promises to be a very special evening. If you like harmony, great musicianship, beautiful thoughtful songwriting, and great listenability this is an evening for you - not to be missed.
"Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna, better known as Megson, have steadily established their reputation as two of the freshest, most original performers in the latest folk revival, and this album places them in the major league...a subtle and intriguing set"
**** - THE GUARDIAN - Sept 08
“This is first rate - if you don’t like this music you have a problem! Megson are a couple of potential stars, peaches and cream harmonies, melodic roots consciousness and a huge sense of individuality. ” fRoots – Oct 07
“…this hits all the targets ****”. ROCK’N’REEL – Nov 07
http://www.megsonmusic.co.uk/
Liz Simcock played for us in The ent Shed days and always impressed with her unique songwriting style and gorgeous voice. We are delighted to welcome her back with her two backing musicians Warwick Jones and Ian Brown.
"Opening the show was a gorgeous singer called Liz Simcock, who I hadn't seen live before. A songwriter of considerable charm and ability, Liz is the first musician to be signed to Angelic Music (www.angelicmusic.co.uk) a new specialist label for female singer songwriters. Set up in response to the homogeneity of the pop industry and backed by Katie Melua, the label seeks out artists with talent and individuality, rather than those who fit the build of a stereotypical pop princess. Liz showed why she's been chosen for the label, performing a gorgeous and varied set, including songs of loss and unrequited love among more upbeat numbers. Her voice and melodies are sweet without being cloying and her tunes have a habit of sticking in your mind afterwards. Favourites for me were Masterpiece and a song about the life of Joni Mitchell, The Sand That makes the Pearl. This was a wonderful evening's entertainment and a treat for anyone looking to turn off the mobile phones and enjoy the 'real thing'" (Bob Preece) Acoustic Sussex and the Mid Sussex Times.
Don't miss this special evening!
Postponed from January 15th PLEASE NOTE Tickets bought for January 15th can be used. Tickets for this gig (£12) are available from the Central Box Office.
Thursday May 13th The ent.Shed, Gordon Arms, Castle Rd. BEDFORD Keith James and Rick Foot
celebrate the music of John Martyn together with songs by Davy Graham, Sandy Denny and Nick Drake
It was with extreme sorrow that all of us heard of the loss of John Martyn just over a year ago.
His powerful yet often lamenting songs, his seductive guitar style and enigmatic voice have drawn together and embodied a devoted audience spanning two generations. John was greatly loved and will be missed more than any of us now realise.
Keith and Rick, having performed hundreds of successful concerts of both the music of Nick Drake and the poetry of Lorca within the intimate format of voice, acoustic guitar and double bass were, unsurprisingly, approached by countless of both their and John’s audience along with many venues across the country to play some concerts of his music. It is with a humble heart and a profound sense of responsibility that these concerts are presented.
All performances by Keith and Rick are a much cared for, fragile and personal affair.
'a performance that is hypnotic and compelling’ Muse Magazine
‘some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’ The Independent
www.keith-james.com www.keithjamesandrickfoot.com
Saturday June 5th Chumbawamba! (and guests tbc)
The Corn Exchange
Tickets £14 (+ concessions) available soon
ABCDEFG (the new album)
Seven letters to hint at what Chumbawamba have spent their adult lives doing: fashioning something weird, funny, eccentric and challenging from a seven-note Do-re-mi of possibilities. Or by another name, music.
This, the band’s 17th album, is another concept album (‘concept’ as in ‘idea’. Above all, ideas is what Chumbawamba thrive on, an album full of ideas specifically about music. Music both good and bad, music celebrated and music ridiculed.
Music. Since they’ve been banging away on biscuit tins and twanging bits of string attached to tea-chests for the best part of 25 years, it’s probably about time Chumbawamba turned their attention to this huge, sprawling, hydra-headed monster. Its history, its stories, its heroes and its villains. A sweep through several hundred years of what music means to people and what it means to the band.
ABCDEFG is musically eclectic and wide-ranging, from acapella to pop to folk to jazz, a mix-up of ideas to reflect its subject matter. That subject matter includes a gentle hymn to teenage under-the-pillow discovery of music heard on late-night transistor radio; a celebration of the marching songs written by soldiers in the First World War; the story of how people had to battle against State Communist ideology to play their music; a poke at the folk world’s obsession with collection and authenticity; the story of the concentration camp survivor who disrupted the first playing of Wagner in Israel by swinging a football rattle.
There’s a lot of stuff on this album - both literate (Chumbawamba love to use music to talk about history, politics and philosophy) and funny (Chumbawamba would be the first people to poke holes in the seriousness of this history, politics and philosophy). The stuff on this album is played on a battery of instruments (by the band) and augmented superbly by contributions on various songs from:
Chopper of Oysterband on cello
Jon Boden of Bellowhead on fiddle
Belinda O’Hooley (ex-Unthanks) on piano
If you were listening to Mike Harding last week he played 3 numbers from this album on his show.
Always controversial, never less than brilliantly entertaining and thought provoking, I am delighted to bring you this 5 piece band before they hit the festival circuit over the summer.
And now a little taste of what the Autumn has to offer:
September 4th/5th
WoodWorks Featuring: The Churchfitters, Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby, Faeries Wear Boots, Landermason, The Last Battle, and more to be confirmed.
October 15th Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol plus Barron Brady
