With: Bridie Jackson / Emily Portman / Fire Maidens from Outer Space / Christi Andropolis / Monster Ceilidh Band / Dirty Diamonds
Arts Centre Washington
Washington, United Kingdom
Friday, November 27 at 7:30pm
Folk versus hip-hop? Two cultures with no common ground?
Judge for yourselves as the best young folk talent in the North East bridge the gap. If you want to hear Public Enemy played on the English concertina, and fiddlers tackling NWA, tonight is the time and place to do it.
STARRING
CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS & DAVE NEWEY
http://www.christi-andropolis.com
http://www.davidnewey.com
Hailing from New York State, Christi Andropolis is a singer and fiddler whose musical inspirations range from the Southern States of the US to the UK, exploring connections between traditional music on both sides of the Atlantic. From delta blues to Appalachian tunes, she combines the influence of her American roots with a flair for Scottish and English fiddle, establishing a new voice for transatlantic folk music. Christi regularly appears with her musical partner, Dave Newey, one of the finest young folk guitarists in the country.
EMILY PORTMAN
http://www.emilyportman.co.uk/
Emily Portman is a singer, writer and concertina player with a passion for traditional narratives. Best known for her interpretations of English folk ballads, Emily is one of the brightest young stars on the British folk scene, having worked with Waterson:Carthy, Shirley Collins and making regular appearances on BBC Radio 2 and Late Junction on Radio 3.
Her first album, Other Stories, will be released in early 2010.
BRIDIE JACKSON
http://www.myspace.com/bridiejackson
Durham born musician-composer Bridie Jackson has been described as “a powerful performer with an otherwordly voice”, and mixes elements of classical guitar with blues and fado influenced vocal improvisation. One of the most original female singers in the region, Bridie has released her first EP on Urban and Eastern this spring, and her album will follow in April 2010.
DIRTY DIAMONDS
http://www.myspace.com/dirtydiamondsnewcastle
Dirty Diamonds play ukulele, banjo, viola and stylophone and have appeared in grubby pubs, smart nightclubs and festivals across the North East. Songwriter Nicky Rushton was formerly a member of All Because the Lady Loves, and also plays in Mush with Sarah van Jellie. The line-up is completed by Richard Bliss on voice, strings and comedic banter. Their debut EP will be launched in late 2009.
MONSTER CEILIDH BAND
http://www.myspace.com/monsterceilidhband
Amy Thatcher, Carly Blain, Kieran Szifris and David de la Haye represent the hottest young Ceilidh band in the country, and have just released their first album, Make Me a Dancer. Their music is strong on tradition, but has elements of jazz, bluegrass and even the rave scene, with an audience that follows them across the north east and beyond.
FIRE MAIDENS FROM OUTER SPACE
http://www.myspace.com/firemaidensfromouterspace
Four young women with piercings, tattoos and dreadlocks, the Fire Maidens are steeped in folk tradition, but not hidebound by history. Joanna Lindsay-Dunn is a champion clog-dancer, while fiddler Cathy Geldard hails from the Shetland Isles. Singer Bethany Coyle is a local lass with a fine bluesy voice, and Lucy Coggle on bass and bodhran hails from Lincolnshire. They combine their local traditions with jazz, blues and pop influences, and are possibly the only folk quartet in the country to cover a Britney Spears song.
Tickets £7.50 / £5 (conc)
Call 0191 219 3455 for tickets
If you are travelling by public transport catch the M1 or M3 bus from Heworth Interchange or The Galleries
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