St George's Day 2009
Concert on the Square
Saturday 25 April 12.30 - 6.00pm
Trafalgar Square
Contemporary music - English roots
FREE
The concert features performances by Seth Lakeman, Eliza Carthy, Jim Moray, Kathryn Tickell, Peter Tickell, Netsayi, Demon Barbers and Bishi, artists who are reaching new audiences and finding innovative ways to express music that is inspired by the English folk tradition.
Award-winning Seth Lakeman draws on a wide range of influences and, like dazzling singer and violinist Eliza Carthy, has attracted a mainstream audience. Jim Moray has recently collaborated with rapper Bubbz and has reworked music by XTC, whilst Kathryn Tickell has been awarded for music deeply connected to Northumbria. Bishi meanwhile has been grabbing attention for music that draws on her musical loves from folk to electro.
Programme
Concert Artists
Eliza Carthy
Eliza has become one of the most dazzling folk musicians of her generation, making folk music relevant to new audiences with her stunning voice, songs and violin-playing. Along the way, she's twice been nminated for the Mercury Music Prize, and she's won an unrivalled seven BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Website: www.eliza-carthy.com
Jim Moray
Winner of both the Mojo Folk Album of the Year and the fRoots Critics Poll Album of the Year, Jim Moray picks bits of the past and re-imagines them for the future. Traditional ballad "Lucy Wan" is shaken back to life with British-Ghanaian rapper Bubbz, while XTC's "All You Pretty Girls" becomes a sea shanty. Explaining the title of his new album Low Culture, he says "If folk song is the music of the people then it's surely wrong to treat it as "high art" that should be preserved unchanged. Folk music is low culture".
Website: www.jimmoray.co.uk
Kathryn Tickell and Peter Tickell
Kathryn is a musician and composer whose music is deeply connected to Northumbria and in particular the North Tyne Valley where many of her relatives still play traditional music. She plays violin and Northumbrian pipes, and for this performance she is joined by her brother, fiddler Peter Tickell. Kathryn recently became the Artistic Director of Folkworks, and was awarded the Queen's Medal for Music
Website: www.kathryntickell.com
Bishi
Bishi was born into a Bengali musical family - she took her classical sitar, drilled holes for a guitar strap, and plays the instrument standing up, using it to accompany her extraordinary voice. She turns traditional English songs like "Flash Company" inside out, writes new versions of old folksongs, and creates great story songs like "Indian Skin", drawing on all the musics she loves from folk to electro
Website: www.bishi.co.uk
Demon Barbers
Youthful, enthralling, charismatic and with bags of attitude, the Demon Barbers combine energetic fiddle and melodeon, punchy tunes and songs, drum 'n' bass grooves, the odd touch of ska and the ever-present feeling that this is a band that knows how to PARTY!
Website: www.thedemonbarbers.com
Netsayi
Born in London to Zimbabwean parents, Netsayi studied film but then found her love of music overwhelmed her. She defies all the categories that get applied to black artists - her personal, playful and politically-aware lyrics have led her to a fascination with English folk music.
Website: www.netsayi.com
Seth Lakemen
Seth Lakeman writes and creates his own albums which are based on the kind of stories that inspired folk music over the centuries, but reach out to a much more contemporary audience. Over the last few years, he's been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and won both Best Album and Singer of the Year at the BBC R2 Folk Awards. He'll be bringing his band, and planning a few surprises...
Website: www.sethlakeman.co.uk
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