English Originals Weekend at Symphony Hall
A celebration of the life and work of legendary singer songwriter John Martyn, curated by long time friend and collaborator Danny Thompson, live performances from the Graham Coxon Power Ensemble, rousing big band Bellowhead and rising folk star Jackie Oates are all amongst the highlights of this year’s English Originals weekend.
Now in its third year, the weekend celebrates music uniquely English in character and infused with authenticity of place, identity, time and tradition, and takes place at Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham between Friday 14 May and Sunday 16 May.
The life and work of John Martyn will be celebrated by a very special gathering of artists at Symphony Hall on Friday 14 May, with Grace and Danger - curated by bassist, instrumentalist and legend of the jazz and folk worlds, Danny Thompson. Danny, who has worked with Ronnie Scott, Tim Buckley, Roy Orbison and Nick Drake as well as helping to found British folk-rock band Pentangle, started working with John in the early 1970s. Soon after the pair became inseparable, performing together for years and gaining notoriety for their antics off stage.
“I never thought that I’d be playing the songs of my curly haired mate with anyone else. He inspired so much of the younger generation. I’m so excited about being part of this concert.” – Danny Thompson
Blur guitarist, folk connoisseur and lovable English eccentric Graham Coxon will be joined by several notable friends including folk–guitar legend Martin Carthy and cult singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock at Town Hall on Saturday 15 May for a reprisal of The Spinning Top, Graham’s acclaimed musical story of a man’s journey from birth to death.
“The Spinning Top is a revelation. A gorgeous album….cements Coxon as a true icon in a day and age populated by unmagnificence.” BBC Music
Last week Blur released Fools Day, the first song recorded together since 2003 and released for Record Store day – only pressing 1000 7 inch vinyls, selling out in a matter of hours.
Rising star Jackie Oates, who won two awards at the 2009 BBC Radio2 Folk Awards and received three nominations for Folk Singer of The Year, Album of the Year and Best Traditional Track for ‘Isle Of France’ at the 2010 ceremony earlier this year, opens for Bellowhead in the final show of the English Originals weekend at Town Hall on Sunday 16 May.
“Jackie Oates is deservedly becoming yet another young celebrity in the new folk scene” - The Guardian
Headliners and raucous big band Bellowhead bring their stomping stage show to the historic venue for the second time since its reopening, dragging a trail of awards, accolades and triumphant sell out shows behind them. The 11 piece band, who embrace a plethora of styles from around the world - big band to soul; jazz-funk to classical strings, with more than a hint of music-hall, have won four Best Live Bands awards (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
“One of the country’s greatest live outfits. They should be a greater source of national pride.” - The Daily Mirror
THE WEEKEND IN DETAIL:
Grace & Danger: The Songs of John Martyn
7.30pm Friday 14 May
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
£18.50 / £21.50 / £25.00
“Of all the musicians I’ve come into contact with Danny has taught me the most…particularly about style and jazz technique.” - John Martyn
Surrey-born and Glasgow-raised singer-songwriter John Martyn counted Nick Drake and Jimmy Page amongst his contemporaries and was the first white artist to be signed to the Island record label. His career, which spanned over forty years, took him across the world and led to recognition as the most soulful and innovative singer of his generation.
A musician of genius who walked a tightrope between the grace of his art and the danger of personal demons, John’s career was blighted by alcohol-fuelled misadventures, drug abuse and a high-profile amputation, yet his influence on artists including Phil Collins, Ray Davies, Keane, The Verve, Billy Bragg, Portishead and Eric Clapton amongst others is huge.
Despite his passing in January 2008, John’s legacy lives on in much of the folk, jazz, blues, reggae, trip hop and funk music being played today.
Beverley Martyn, John’s ex-wife and musical partner throughout the 1960s, Wolverhampton born singer songwriter and Ivor Novello award winner Scott Matthews, pop-folker extraordinaire Eddi Reader, young Kansas City singer Krystle Warren, Mercury Prize winning artist Badly Drawn Boy and star of last year’s Way To Blue concert Beth Orton will be join Danny Thompson and further special guests for a memorable evening celebrating one of the world’s finest singer-songwriters.
Folk for Free
5.30pm-7.30pm, Friday 14 May and 2pm, Saturday 15 May
Level 3 Bar, Symphony Hall
Free
Birmingham based folk ensemble N.O.M.A.D. open English Originals with a free performance in the Level 3 Bar at Symphony Hall from 5.30pm on Friday 14 May as part of the popular Rush Hour Blues series, while nationally acclaimed music and festival promoters Moseley Folk invite a selection of artists from across the West Midlands to perform in a free afternoon showcase on Saturday 15 May.
Spanning ambient folk, psychedelic roots and blues and ethereal vocals, Dave Boddison, Abie Budgen, Deborah Hodgson, Goodnight Lenin and Megan Henwood will perform from 2pm in the Level 3 Bar at Symphony Hall, ahead of the evening Graham Coxon Power Acoustic Ensemble concert at Town Hall.
“In less than two years, Birmingham’s reborn Town Hall may have already secured its place as the new spiritual home of English folk music” - Birmingham Post, 2009
For more information visit www.thsh.co.uk/englishoriginals2010
