WHATS ON
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Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood
March 2019
Saturday 2nd March 2019
Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood
Holywell Music Rooms
"I'm really looking forward to kicking off the Story Song Scientists tour with Meg in the Holywell Music Rooms. I hear it is an amazing venue and I look forward to sharing our stories and songs with the Oxford audience." Findlay Napier.
Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood:
A Collaboration – The Story Song Scientists
THE OXFORD PREMIER!!!
Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh 2016 - Megan Henwood and Findlay Napier are a few hours into an EFDSS (English Folk Dance Song Society) run song-writing retreat. They are outside drinking their 7th coffee of the morning! Napier’s driven nine hours from Glasgow and is a bit wobbly. Henwood’s back from a month long writing trip to Nashville and she is jet lagged and delusional.
“Fancy writing a song about maths?” Napier enquires. And so the seed for this songwriting partnership was sewn. Their collaboration has led to the creation of songs about hermit known as The North Pond Phantom, WBAI host Bob Fass’ lifesaving broadcast on 6th Nov 1971, George Cantor’s struggle with infinity, maths and God plus something about Shepherds and leaders. They are yet to write a song about pickup trucks…or beer.
If ever an artist called on the elements in her songwriting, it's Megan Henwood. The distinguished English singer-songwriter is far too self-deprecating to describe herself as a force of nature, but her third album ‘River’ reaffirms her unique ability to create roots music of beguiling purity from what's around her.
One of the finest songwriter's and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene Findlay Napier is an insurgent talent that comes on like a Caledonian Loudon Wainwright. Distilled to artful acoustic guitar and Napier's remarkable voice his most recent album ‘Glasgow’ captures the timeless essence of one of the world's great cities.
This brand new collaboration between Megan & Findlay will debut for the first time ever at the Holywell Music Rooms where once again we have secured an exclusive. These two amazing songwriters, singers and performers will be performing this show for the people of Oxford before anyone else so well worth seeing what these two have to offer us. The Holywell Rooms is Megan's favourite venue and has played there 4 times before, she is once again looking forward to playing this beautiful room with Findlay who makes his first visit.
Tickets for Findlay & Megan are £14 in advance + 10% booking fee, £17 on the door.
Tickets will be available through Truck Store soon
Saturday 2nd March 2019
Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood
Holywell Music Rooms
"I'm really looking forward to kicking off the Story Song Scientists tour with Meg in the Holywell Music Rooms. I hear it is an amazing venue and I look forward to sharing our stories and songs with the Oxford audience." Findlay Napier.
Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood:
A Collaboration – The Story Song Scientists
THE OXFORD PREMIER!!!
Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh 2016 - Megan Henwood and Findlay Napier are a few hours into an EFDSS (English Folk Dance Song Society) run song-writing retreat. They are outside drinking their 7th coffee of the morning! Napier’s driven nine hours from Glasgow and is a bit wobbly. Henwood’s back from a month long writing trip to Nashville and she is jet lagged and delusional.
“Fancy writing a song about maths?” Napier enquires. And so the seed for this songwriting partnership was sewn. Their collaboration has led to the creation of songs about hermit known as The North Pond Phantom, WBAI host Bob Fass’ lifesaving broadcast on 6th Nov 1971, George Cantor’s struggle with infinity, maths and God plus something about Shepherds and leaders. They are yet to write a song about pickup trucks…or beer.
If ever an artist called on the elements in her songwriting, it's Megan Henwood. The distinguished English singer-songwriter is far too self-deprecating to describe herself as a force of nature, but her third album ‘River’ reaffirms her unique ability to create roots music of beguiling purity from what's around her.
One of the finest songwriter's and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene Findlay Napier is an insurgent talent that comes on like a Caledonian Loudon Wainwright. Distilled to artful acoustic guitar and Napier's remarkable voice his most recent album ‘Glasgow’ captures the timeless essence of one of the world's great cities.
This brand new collaboration between Megan & Findlay will debut for the first time ever at the Holywell Music Rooms where once again we have secured an exclusive. These two amazing songwriters, singers and performers will be performing this show for the people of Oxford before anyone else so well worth seeing what these two have to offer us. The Holywell Rooms is Megan's favourite venue and has played there 4 times before, she is once again looking forward to playing this beautiful room with Findlay who makes his first visit.
Tickets for Findlay & Megan are £14 in advance + 10% booking fee, £17 on the door.
Tickets will be available through Truck Store soon
Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders
April 2019
Friday 19th April
Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders (Support Kirsty Merryn)
Quaker Meeting House
"Whilst we've both played in Oxford in different shows in the past (most recently with A Winter Union, and before that Hannah's Music of Emily Dickenson, and Ben as part of The Willows) this will be out first duo show in the city so we're really looking forward to it. It will be the last date of our tour so I'm sure we'll be in a good place - we hope we can give everyone a moment of Springtime peace and love amidst the craziness of the world. Our new single 'Hidden Things' will be just out so we'll be playing that along with music from our albums and probably a few surprises too". Ben Savage
‘Spellbinding... Hannah and Ben were born to play and sing together’ FRoots
Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are an acoustic duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet their music is unique.
Fleetingly, they may evoke a memory of Gram & Emmylou, Shirley & Davey, or Gillian & David but their distilling of musical influences from both sides of the Atlantic produces a refined sound that is decidedly their own.
Their unique unplugged presentation creates a widescreen, cinematic soundscape with open spaces and atmosphere, giving their beautifully pure vocals room to share the songs’ emotion and narrative.
The material is as joyful and fun as it is intense, but the common factor is the duo’s warmth and confidence in each other; their natural ease and connection is clearly evident on the recorded music, and a genuine pleasure to witness on stage.
Ever since Ben and Hannah paired up, they have become regulars on the touring circuit and we are so pleased that they are playing the Quaker Meeting House for us in April. If you have seen them before you will know exactly what to expect, and if you have not, then I highly recommend you consider rectifying that oversight.
A beautiful evening of original and covers as part of their repertoire will have you listening in total admiration at their singing, playing and delivery. Two people who love to perform live to an appreciative audience.
Tickets for Ben and Hannah are £14 in adv + 10% booking fee, £17 on the door.
Tickets will be available from Truck Store soon.
Friday 19th April
Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders (Support Kirsty Merryn)
Quaker Meeting House
"Whilst we've both played in Oxford in different shows in the past (most recently with A Winter Union, and before that Hannah's Music of Emily Dickenson, and Ben as part of The Willows) this will be out first duo show in the city so we're really looking forward to it. It will be the last date of our tour so I'm sure we'll be in a good place - we hope we can give everyone a moment of Springtime peace and love amidst the craziness of the world. Our new single 'Hidden Things' will be just out so we'll be playing that along with music from our albums and probably a few surprises too". Ben Savage
‘Spellbinding... Hannah and Ben were born to play and sing together’ FRoots
Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are an acoustic duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet their music is unique.
Fleetingly, they may evoke a memory of Gram & Emmylou, Shirley & Davey, or Gillian & David but their distilling of musical influences from both sides of the Atlantic produces a refined sound that is decidedly their own.
Their unique unplugged presentation creates a widescreen, cinematic soundscape with open spaces and atmosphere, giving their beautifully pure vocals room to share the songs’ emotion and narrative.
The material is as joyful and fun as it is intense, but the common factor is the duo’s warmth and confidence in each other; their natural ease and connection is clearly evident on the recorded music, and a genuine pleasure to witness on stage.
Ever since Ben and Hannah paired up, they have become regulars on the touring circuit and we are so pleased that they are playing the Quaker Meeting House for us in April. If you have seen them before you will know exactly what to expect, and if you have not, then I highly recommend you consider rectifying that oversight.
A beautiful evening of original and covers as part of their repertoire will have you listening in total admiration at their singing, playing and delivery. Two people who love to perform live to an appreciative audience.
Tickets for Ben and Hannah are £14 in adv + 10% booking fee, £17 on the door.
Tickets will be available from Truck Store soon.
Sir Julian with The Duchess will be at the QMH on May 18th
May 2019
Saturday 18th June
Charlie Dore with Julian Littman (Support Charlie Reston)
Quaker Meeting House
"I’m very pleased to be returning to Oxford courtesy of our friends at Holywell Music & Folk. It’s been nearly six years since we last played this beautiful city and a lot of music, both live and recorded has flowed under the bridge since then, including eleven tours and two albums, Milk Roulette and the current collection, Dark Matter. I’ll be flying with my co-pilot and honorary brother Julian Littman and now there are even more songs to choose from we have to carry even more instruments - at the last count it was 9 between us - in case we fancy trying a new song or different arrangement of an old favourite. We like to keep it fresh.
Geoff Smith is a loyal supporter and we’re particularly looking forward to playing our return gig for him in the wonderfully warm atmosphere of the Quaker Meeting House, which has wall-to-wall wood panelling - an acoustic gift for any musician". Charlie Dore
A night of eclectic, contemporary folk as multi-award winner Charlie Dore, one of the UK’s most respected songwriters teams up with long-time co-pilot Julian Littman of Steeleye Span to share her latest album, Dark Matter. Charlie promises another fast moving show as the pair swap guitars, mandolin, harmonium, ukulele, piano and autoharp.
Dark Matter has won two awards to date, both Album of the Year and Best Lyrics from the USA Indie Acoustic Project 2018 (the only UK album to be recognised that year) although previous UK winners have included Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby and Albert Lee.
As well as introducing some new and different flavours to shine a very personal light on her mysterious subject matter, Charlie and Julian will dip into favourites from the past 6 albums and share original acoustic versions of hits Charlie has written for others, including Celine Dion, George Harrison, Sheena Easton, Paul Carrack, UB40, Jimmy Nail, Tina Turner and Status Quo. And there’s always a possibility of a new angle on her own song, Pilot of the Airwaves - still a national radio favourite.
Charlie has lead a various and varied life having starred opposite Jonathan Pryce in the award-winning film 'The Ploughman's Lunch', worked in theatre, appeared with the iconic People Show, television ( 2 series of Rainbow!) and radio with Eric Idle and co-founded and performed at Soho comedy-impro venue The Hurricane Club for seven years, working alongside many comedy icons including Bill Bailey, Harry Hill and Robin Williams.
In 1978 Chris Blackwell signed Charlie to his iconic Island Records label as the British Emmy-Lou Harris - a brave signing at the height of the Punk movement, but one that produced the worldwide hit Pilot of The Airwaves. However, as she says herself, there’s been a lot of music under the bridge since then, so we are rather pleased to be welcoming Charlie and Julian to the Quaker Meeting House in May. Come along if you have never seen her before, an outstanding musician, songwriter and performer. Charlie and Julian last played Oxford in 2013 at St Michael's church, so it's about time to get them back.
"A gift for melody, brave, poignant, entertaining, original" Guardian ★★★★
“Dark Matter…an amazingly astute, moving, intelligent and connected songwriter…a voice like Kate McGarrigle meets Dory Previn. Wonderful” Mike Harding.
“Beautiful, existential, metaphysical and intruigingly other. Zen folk I want to call it. Charlie Dore’s ‘Time Out of Mind’“ Ricky Ross, BBC Scotland
Tickets for Charlie Dore with Julian Littman are £14 + 10% booking fee in adv or £17 on the door.
Saturday 18th June
Charlie Dore with Julian Littman (Support Charlie Reston)
Quaker Meeting House
"I’m very pleased to be returning to Oxford courtesy of our friends at Holywell Music & Folk. It’s been nearly six years since we last played this beautiful city and a lot of music, both live and recorded has flowed under the bridge since then, including eleven tours and two albums, Milk Roulette and the current collection, Dark Matter. I’ll be flying with my co-pilot and honorary brother Julian Littman and now there are even more songs to choose from we have to carry even more instruments - at the last count it was 9 between us - in case we fancy trying a new song or different arrangement of an old favourite. We like to keep it fresh.
Geoff Smith is a loyal supporter and we’re particularly looking forward to playing our return gig for him in the wonderfully warm atmosphere of the Quaker Meeting House, which has wall-to-wall wood panelling - an acoustic gift for any musician". Charlie Dore
A night of eclectic, contemporary folk as multi-award winner Charlie Dore, one of the UK’s most respected songwriters teams up with long-time co-pilot Julian Littman of Steeleye Span to share her latest album, Dark Matter. Charlie promises another fast moving show as the pair swap guitars, mandolin, harmonium, ukulele, piano and autoharp.
Dark Matter has won two awards to date, both Album of the Year and Best Lyrics from the USA Indie Acoustic Project 2018 (the only UK album to be recognised that year) although previous UK winners have included Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby and Albert Lee.
As well as introducing some new and different flavours to shine a very personal light on her mysterious subject matter, Charlie and Julian will dip into favourites from the past 6 albums and share original acoustic versions of hits Charlie has written for others, including Celine Dion, George Harrison, Sheena Easton, Paul Carrack, UB40, Jimmy Nail, Tina Turner and Status Quo. And there’s always a possibility of a new angle on her own song, Pilot of the Airwaves - still a national radio favourite.
Charlie has lead a various and varied life having starred opposite Jonathan Pryce in the award-winning film 'The Ploughman's Lunch', worked in theatre, appeared with the iconic People Show, television ( 2 series of Rainbow!) and radio with Eric Idle and co-founded and performed at Soho comedy-impro venue The Hurricane Club for seven years, working alongside many comedy icons including Bill Bailey, Harry Hill and Robin Williams.
In 1978 Chris Blackwell signed Charlie to his iconic Island Records label as the British Emmy-Lou Harris - a brave signing at the height of the Punk movement, but one that produced the worldwide hit Pilot of The Airwaves. However, as she says herself, there’s been a lot of music under the bridge since then, so we are rather pleased to be welcoming Charlie and Julian to the Quaker Meeting House in May. Come along if you have never seen her before, an outstanding musician, songwriter and performer. Charlie and Julian last played Oxford in 2013 at St Michael's church, so it's about time to get them back.
"A gift for melody, brave, poignant, entertaining, original" Guardian ★★★★
“Dark Matter…an amazingly astute, moving, intelligent and connected songwriter…a voice like Kate McGarrigle meets Dory Previn. Wonderful” Mike Harding.
“Beautiful, existential, metaphysical and intruigingly other. Zen folk I want to call it. Charlie Dore’s ‘Time Out of Mind’“ Ricky Ross, BBC Scotland
Tickets for Charlie Dore with Julian Littman are £14 + 10% booking fee in adv or £17 on the door.
Harp and a Monkey
June 2019
Saturday 8th June
Harp And A Monkey (Support Stew Simpson)
Quaker Meeting House
"We are very excited for our first show with Holywell Music and Folk at the Quaker Meeting Rooms. It's going to be a great night. For those who haven't seen us before, we have a lot of songs inspired by such a wide range of subjects. There is something for everyone. It will be great to share them with some new faces alongside our regular followers." Martin Purdy
SONGS about cuckolded molecatchers, a lone English oak tree that grows at Gallipoli, care in the community and medieval pilgrims… we can only be talking about the folk experimentalists Harp and a Monkey.
The harp ‘n’ banjo driven contemporary-folk-storytelling of Martin Purdy (vocals, glockenspiel, accordion, harmonica and keyboards), Simon Jones (harp, guitar, viola) and Andy Smith (banjo, melodica, guitar and programming) is imbued with a deep Lancashire sensibility that shines through in their beautifully crafted and sometimes spooky vignettes of northern life, love and remembrance.
The outfit, who have been friends for more than 20 years, channel the ghosts of summers spent in municipal parks and winters walking on the moors. Ask them about their influences and they are as likely to cite Ordnance Survey maps and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as they are Chris Woods, Bjork or The Oldham Tinkers.
Formed in 2008, Harp and a Monkey have been establishing a loyal following via the old fashioned practice of relentless gigging and modern practice of social network sites.
Regulars on the national circuit, the band have gained a strong reputation for the excellent rapport they establish with their live audiences. Such is the strength of their reputation as a quality live act, they have twice been asked to perform at the English Folk Expo; the annual international showcase of the best of English folk and roots music.
The trio’s melodic and hauntological storytelling, which is always underpinned by a firm commitment to classic songsmithery, has caught the attention and support of the likes of Steve Lamacq, Mark Radcliffe, Clare Balding and Mike Harding on BBC Radio 2, Lopa Kothari and Nick Luscombe on BBC Radio 3, Folk Radio UK and many more international, national and regional broadcasters.
The band’s self-titled debut album received critical acclaim on its release in late 2011 and they collected excellent reviews for their contribution to the 2012 ‘Weirdlore’ compilation which highlighted Britain’s most promising practitioners of alternative folk. Their second album, All Life Is Here, was released in April 2014 and again received outstanding reviews, with the likes of fRoots magazine describing them as “undoubtedly one of the most vital and charismatic things happening in English folk music right now”.
The band’s third album, War Stories, was released in July, 2016, as part of a project (part-sponsored by Arts Council England and The Western Front Association) to mark the centenary of the First World War. The band performed new material and re-worked traditional songs (which challenged stereotypes of the conflict) in unusual venues related to the war on British shores. The album received outstanding reviews, with the likes of The Observer describing it as “bold and brilliant”. Support from BBC Radio 2 was substantive, including live sessions and interviews with the likes of Clare Balding (Good Morning Sunday) and Mark Radcliffe (The Folk Show).
Tickets for Harp and a Monkey are £14 in adv + 10% booking fee or £17 on the door
Saturday 8th June
Harp And A Monkey (Support Stew Simpson)
Quaker Meeting House
"We are very excited for our first show with Holywell Music and Folk at the Quaker Meeting Rooms. It's going to be a great night. For those who haven't seen us before, we have a lot of songs inspired by such a wide range of subjects. There is something for everyone. It will be great to share them with some new faces alongside our regular followers." Martin Purdy
SONGS about cuckolded molecatchers, a lone English oak tree that grows at Gallipoli, care in the community and medieval pilgrims… we can only be talking about the folk experimentalists Harp and a Monkey.
The harp ‘n’ banjo driven contemporary-folk-storytelling of Martin Purdy (vocals, glockenspiel, accordion, harmonica and keyboards), Simon Jones (harp, guitar, viola) and Andy Smith (banjo, melodica, guitar and programming) is imbued with a deep Lancashire sensibility that shines through in their beautifully crafted and sometimes spooky vignettes of northern life, love and remembrance.
The outfit, who have been friends for more than 20 years, channel the ghosts of summers spent in municipal parks and winters walking on the moors. Ask them about their influences and they are as likely to cite Ordnance Survey maps and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as they are Chris Woods, Bjork or The Oldham Tinkers.
Formed in 2008, Harp and a Monkey have been establishing a loyal following via the old fashioned practice of relentless gigging and modern practice of social network sites.
Regulars on the national circuit, the band have gained a strong reputation for the excellent rapport they establish with their live audiences. Such is the strength of their reputation as a quality live act, they have twice been asked to perform at the English Folk Expo; the annual international showcase of the best of English folk and roots music.
The trio’s melodic and hauntological storytelling, which is always underpinned by a firm commitment to classic songsmithery, has caught the attention and support of the likes of Steve Lamacq, Mark Radcliffe, Clare Balding and Mike Harding on BBC Radio 2, Lopa Kothari and Nick Luscombe on BBC Radio 3, Folk Radio UK and many more international, national and regional broadcasters.
The band’s self-titled debut album received critical acclaim on its release in late 2011 and they collected excellent reviews for their contribution to the 2012 ‘Weirdlore’ compilation which highlighted Britain’s most promising practitioners of alternative folk. Their second album, All Life Is Here, was released in April 2014 and again received outstanding reviews, with the likes of fRoots magazine describing them as “undoubtedly one of the most vital and charismatic things happening in English folk music right now”.
The band’s third album, War Stories, was released in July, 2016, as part of a project (part-sponsored by Arts Council England and The Western Front Association) to mark the centenary of the First World War. The band performed new material and re-worked traditional songs (which challenged stereotypes of the conflict) in unusual venues related to the war on British shores. The album received outstanding reviews, with the likes of The Observer describing it as “bold and brilliant”. Support from BBC Radio 2 was substantive, including live sessions and interviews with the likes of Clare Balding (Good Morning Sunday) and Mark Radcliffe (The Folk Show).
Tickets for Harp and a Monkey are £14 in adv + 10% booking fee or £17 on the door
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Holywell Music Rooms, Holywell Street, Oxford, OX1 3SD
Doors open at 19.00 – support 19.15 – Main show 20.00 Tickets £12.50 available on line at www.wegottickets.com + £1.25 booking fee |
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Website © HolywellMusic&Folk2017
