Gate to Southwell Festival cancelled
The Gate to Southwell Festival, one of the highlights of the Midlands’ music calendar, has been cancelled following the government’s introduction of stricter social distancing measures over the coming weeks. Although the annual festival would not have taken place until early June, the festival committee was forced to make the difficult decision now in order to limit further expenditure and offer 100 per cent refunds to all ticket buyers and traders.
The 14th festival was to have been an international extravaganza of roots, acoustic, folk, blues, soul, ska, world and other music styles, set over four days near the lovely market town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, featuring artists from the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and the UK.
"It’s been an incredibly difficult and painful decision for us," says the Festival Director Mike Kirrage. " We’ve built this festival from nothing over the past 13 years and its grown into one of the most successful and best-loved music events in the Midlands and contributes hugely to the local economy. But given the government’s health and safety guidelines, we have little choice.”
“If we don’t cancel now - only 11 weeks away from the festival - we’ll incur major costs. We attract international artists from all over the world; some are already changing their touring schedules, and others will soon have travel expenses. If we left the cancellation decision longer, we wouldn’t be in a position to refund our loyal supporters.
“Our sincere apologies to artists, traders and suppliers and our grateful thanks to our army of volunteers all of whom we will miss meeting up with this year. Our aim now is to look forward to providing another top quality festival in 2021."
The committee took the decision having already spent significant amounts preparing for the 2020 festival. Further expenditure in early April would have been necessary to cover infrastructure, artists and other costs. Cancelling now enables them to secure the future of the festival and also refund everybody who’s already paid for tickets.
A website statement, addressed to festival goers from the committee, explains: “we’ve read recommendations in the press and on social media that we should ‘hold our nerve’ and plough on. We could have taken this approach but it would have been your money being risked – you put your trust in us and we don’t want to betray that. We are a not-for-profit organisation and have only limited reserves. All ticket buyers will receive a full refund of the ticket price, as will traders who have paid us a deposit. Full details via www.gtsf.uk.”
“We’re really disappointed Gate to Southwell won’t be happening in 2020,” added Mike Kirrage. “Whilst we always have cancellation insurance, this does not cover cancellation due to communicable disease. So we would like to thank all of our wonderful supporters and hope to see them next year. More importantly, our thoughts go out to all those affected by health issues, as well as those who will be financially affected by current events.”
A wide range of artists have headlined the festival since it began in 2007 when the first, predominantly-folk line-up featured Martin & Eliza Carthy and Kathryn Tickell. Since then, Southwell’s witnessed great performances from the likes of Bellowhead, Clannad, Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Eddi Reader, Billy Bragg, Lindisfarne, Cara Dillon and, in 2019, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Los Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young).
The 14th festival was to have been an international extravaganza of roots, acoustic, folk, blues, soul, ska, world and other music styles, set over four days near the lovely market town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, featuring artists from the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and the UK.
"It’s been an incredibly difficult and painful decision for us," says the Festival Director Mike Kirrage. " We’ve built this festival from nothing over the past 13 years and its grown into one of the most successful and best-loved music events in the Midlands and contributes hugely to the local economy. But given the government’s health and safety guidelines, we have little choice.”
“If we don’t cancel now - only 11 weeks away from the festival - we’ll incur major costs. We attract international artists from all over the world; some are already changing their touring schedules, and others will soon have travel expenses. If we left the cancellation decision longer, we wouldn’t be in a position to refund our loyal supporters.
“Our sincere apologies to artists, traders and suppliers and our grateful thanks to our army of volunteers all of whom we will miss meeting up with this year. Our aim now is to look forward to providing another top quality festival in 2021."
The committee took the decision having already spent significant amounts preparing for the 2020 festival. Further expenditure in early April would have been necessary to cover infrastructure, artists and other costs. Cancelling now enables them to secure the future of the festival and also refund everybody who’s already paid for tickets.
A website statement, addressed to festival goers from the committee, explains: “we’ve read recommendations in the press and on social media that we should ‘hold our nerve’ and plough on. We could have taken this approach but it would have been your money being risked – you put your trust in us and we don’t want to betray that. We are a not-for-profit organisation and have only limited reserves. All ticket buyers will receive a full refund of the ticket price, as will traders who have paid us a deposit. Full details via www.gtsf.uk.”
“We’re really disappointed Gate to Southwell won’t be happening in 2020,” added Mike Kirrage. “Whilst we always have cancellation insurance, this does not cover cancellation due to communicable disease. So we would like to thank all of our wonderful supporters and hope to see them next year. More importantly, our thoughts go out to all those affected by health issues, as well as those who will be financially affected by current events.”
A wide range of artists have headlined the festival since it began in 2007 when the first, predominantly-folk line-up featured Martin & Eliza Carthy and Kathryn Tickell. Since then, Southwell’s witnessed great performances from the likes of Bellowhead, Clannad, Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Eddi Reader, Billy Bragg, Lindisfarne, Cara Dillon and, in 2019, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Los Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young).
A new album every month, and last solo tour for Clive
2020 is Clive Gregson’s 40th year as a professional musician. So… what better time to announce his big project? Clive plans to release one brand new album each month throughout the year – all different, all new, all original.
Clive will when possible to support these releases, before finally hanging up his bus pass and retiring from solo touring at the end of 2020.
January’s release was One Year, an almanac of songs about each month of the year. February will see an electric rock ‘n’ roll record, March an album of acoustic guitar instrumentals, and then several “themed” albums: a Rockabilly CD, an album of social commentary, a collection of songs about the north of England, a CD of love songs… and along the way there will also be an album of songs featuring guest performances by many of Clive’s guitar heroes. Many and varied!
Born and raised in Manchester, Clive took his cult band Any Trouble around the world in support of five critically acclaimed albums and a number of singles that became radio hits before the group disbanded in 1984. Fondly remembered and greatly missed, the band have occasionally reformed since 2007, recording two brand new albums: Life in Reverse (2007) and Present Tense (2015). The band toured to support these releases and the three CD box set of The Complete Stiff Recordings 1980-1981 (2013). Grown men cried!
Between 1985 and 1992, Clive formed a partnership with Christine Collister that Rolling Stone called "The state of the art in British folk-rock". Having released five albums and toured the world to much acclaim, their decision to call it a day left a huge gap in the roots music scene. The entire Gregson & Collister catalogue plus a “Best Of…” compilation were re-issued in 2009.
In 1985, Clive released his first solo album and he has maintained a solo profile ever since. His solo recordings and tours have been one of the main outlets for his prolific song writing. The albums feature an eclectic mix of pop and folk styles, ranging from a stripped down one man and his acoustic intimacy to a full electric band approach.
Live shows are usually solo performances and the guitar skills that prompted Guitar Player to include Clive in their 1,000 Great Guitarists book are always well in evidence.
Clive has toured and recorded with Richard Thompson (1982 to 1992), Nanci Griffith (1996 to 2007), Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine (1993 and 1999) and Plainsong (1997), and he was the musical director for the hugely successful Dennis Locorriere Hits & History tour in 2007.
His songs have been recorded by many artists, including Nanci Griffith, Kim Carnes, Fairport Convention, Claire Martin, Norma Waterson and Smokie. Nanci Griffith's version of I Love This Town (performed as a duet with Jimmy Buffett) was released as a single in 2006 and became a radio hit in both America and the UK, receiving more than5,000 spins in the USA.
Still… it’s as a solo artist that audiences get to see the real Clive Gregson and the 2020 shows will be the last opportunities to catch Clive doing what he does best. See you there! For details of all dates and releases, visit clivegregson.com
Clive will when possible to support these releases, before finally hanging up his bus pass and retiring from solo touring at the end of 2020.
January’s release was One Year, an almanac of songs about each month of the year. February will see an electric rock ‘n’ roll record, March an album of acoustic guitar instrumentals, and then several “themed” albums: a Rockabilly CD, an album of social commentary, a collection of songs about the north of England, a CD of love songs… and along the way there will also be an album of songs featuring guest performances by many of Clive’s guitar heroes. Many and varied!
Born and raised in Manchester, Clive took his cult band Any Trouble around the world in support of five critically acclaimed albums and a number of singles that became radio hits before the group disbanded in 1984. Fondly remembered and greatly missed, the band have occasionally reformed since 2007, recording two brand new albums: Life in Reverse (2007) and Present Tense (2015). The band toured to support these releases and the three CD box set of The Complete Stiff Recordings 1980-1981 (2013). Grown men cried!
Between 1985 and 1992, Clive formed a partnership with Christine Collister that Rolling Stone called "The state of the art in British folk-rock". Having released five albums and toured the world to much acclaim, their decision to call it a day left a huge gap in the roots music scene. The entire Gregson & Collister catalogue plus a “Best Of…” compilation were re-issued in 2009.
In 1985, Clive released his first solo album and he has maintained a solo profile ever since. His solo recordings and tours have been one of the main outlets for his prolific song writing. The albums feature an eclectic mix of pop and folk styles, ranging from a stripped down one man and his acoustic intimacy to a full electric band approach.
Live shows are usually solo performances and the guitar skills that prompted Guitar Player to include Clive in their 1,000 Great Guitarists book are always well in evidence.
Clive has toured and recorded with Richard Thompson (1982 to 1992), Nanci Griffith (1996 to 2007), Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine (1993 and 1999) and Plainsong (1997), and he was the musical director for the hugely successful Dennis Locorriere Hits & History tour in 2007.
His songs have been recorded by many artists, including Nanci Griffith, Kim Carnes, Fairport Convention, Claire Martin, Norma Waterson and Smokie. Nanci Griffith's version of I Love This Town (performed as a duet with Jimmy Buffett) was released as a single in 2006 and became a radio hit in both America and the UK, receiving more than5,000 spins in the USA.
Still… it’s as a solo artist that audiences get to see the real Clive Gregson and the 2020 shows will be the last opportunities to catch Clive doing what he does best. See you there! For details of all dates and releases, visit clivegregson.com
New trio line-up and tour for Harbottle & Jonas
Devon folk act Harbottle & Jonas, one of the most exciting prospects on the folk circuit today,
have been putting their down time to good use: writing new material, rehearsing with other musicians, and recording a new live performance video of their track ‘Liverpool City’.
A rare personal love song in the duo’s output ‘Liverpool City’ was written by David for Freya and tells the story of how they first met in Liverpool whilst studying at university. The song has become a staple of their live shows and, in the course of 170 performances in 2019, Freya has had plenty of chances to consider what the song means to her:
“It’s wonderful! I think a song is probably the greatest gift you can give someone so it feels very special to have one written about you”, she says.
“When I sing it at gigs I feel quite proud… not of myself, but proud to be married, working and writing with such a wonderful and loving man. Cheesy maybe, but it’s true!”
The video also features Annie Baylis, adding her fiddle playing and close harmony singing to the duo’s compelling live signature sound as they perform as the Harbottle & Jonas Trio.
Looking back on the previous year of hard work which included returning to Dartington International Summer School in Devon, performing at the infamous Sidmouth Folk Week for the first time and being invited to Costa Del Folk festival in Portugal, Freya is grateful for the chance to take stock:
“We’ve been on the road solidly since the album launch last February” says Freya, “but we’ve really appreciated our rare times at home.”
David agrees: “Yes we need those spaces to sit and breathe and relax. Having said that we had our first day at home for ages yesterday and we wrote 4 new songs!”
2020 is shaping up to be another busy year for the pair, building upon the successes of 2019 and with a raft of festival and folk club bookings across the UK and beyond and the addition of Annie Baylis to the lineup, it looks to be one full of exciting and new music with a richer, fresh sound that still remains unmistakably Harbottle & Jonas. For more information, visit: harbottleandjonas.com/live
have been putting their down time to good use: writing new material, rehearsing with other musicians, and recording a new live performance video of their track ‘Liverpool City’.
A rare personal love song in the duo’s output ‘Liverpool City’ was written by David for Freya and tells the story of how they first met in Liverpool whilst studying at university. The song has become a staple of their live shows and, in the course of 170 performances in 2019, Freya has had plenty of chances to consider what the song means to her:
“It’s wonderful! I think a song is probably the greatest gift you can give someone so it feels very special to have one written about you”, she says.
“When I sing it at gigs I feel quite proud… not of myself, but proud to be married, working and writing with such a wonderful and loving man. Cheesy maybe, but it’s true!”
The video also features Annie Baylis, adding her fiddle playing and close harmony singing to the duo’s compelling live signature sound as they perform as the Harbottle & Jonas Trio.
Looking back on the previous year of hard work which included returning to Dartington International Summer School in Devon, performing at the infamous Sidmouth Folk Week for the first time and being invited to Costa Del Folk festival in Portugal, Freya is grateful for the chance to take stock:
“We’ve been on the road solidly since the album launch last February” says Freya, “but we’ve really appreciated our rare times at home.”
David agrees: “Yes we need those spaces to sit and breathe and relax. Having said that we had our first day at home for ages yesterday and we wrote 4 new songs!”
2020 is shaping up to be another busy year for the pair, building upon the successes of 2019 and with a raft of festival and folk club bookings across the UK and beyond and the addition of Annie Baylis to the lineup, it looks to be one full of exciting and new music with a richer, fresh sound that still remains unmistakably Harbottle & Jonas. For more information, visit: harbottleandjonas.com/live
Postcards & Pocketbooks: a unique record of Bella
With unflinching courage, Bella Hardy has explored and blurred musical boundaries in her search for meaning, releasing her first nine records in the space of just ten years.
Postcards & Pocketbooks (October 2019) is a double CD of Bella Hardy's most highly treasured works, with re-recordings of classic material, and some never heard before songs.
There is also a beautifully produced casebound book, available either with the CD or separately, which features lyrics to every song written or adapted from traditional music and recorded by Bella from 2007 - 2019.
BBC Folk Singer of the Year Bella Hardy found her first home in folk music through a childhood love for ballad books. A self-taught ‘fiddle singer’, she began performing at Cambridge and Sidmouth festivals from the age of thirteen.
Her debut album Night Visiting established her reputation as a talented songwriter when her first original composition Three Black Feathers earned a BBC Folk Award nomination. Since then, Bella has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall, taken a band of drums, brass and electronics to the National Concert Hall of Budapest, and learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province.
She’s sat on the moors of her beloved Peak District with only her fiddle for company. She spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. With her mesmerising voice and ability to conjure and twist stories that call straight to the heart, Bella has beguiled audiences from Canada to Japan, from Spanish bars, to Castles, to Concert Halls.
From Bella's mastery of traditional music and the stripped back strings and concertina of her early days more than a decade ago, to the electric guitar and drums in the self-penned humanist hymns and feminist battle cries of Hey Sammy (2017), via the Derbyshire ballads of The Dark Peak & The White and ancient Chinese poetry of Eternal Spring, (an album of songs and poetry recorded in China), it's been a spellbinding journey. Her themes of displacement and home, lost and found love, heartache and joy, are delivered with her unique, disarming honesty, and, of course, the acclaimed crystalline voice that won her BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year.
Postcards & Pockebooks reflects and records each moment of Bella's career, and is a must for all who appreciate skillful interpretations of traditional music, as well as the relevance of contemporary folk in the modern world. For more information, visit www.bellahardy.com
Postcards & Pocketbooks (October 2019) is a double CD of Bella Hardy's most highly treasured works, with re-recordings of classic material, and some never heard before songs.
There is also a beautifully produced casebound book, available either with the CD or separately, which features lyrics to every song written or adapted from traditional music and recorded by Bella from 2007 - 2019.
BBC Folk Singer of the Year Bella Hardy found her first home in folk music through a childhood love for ballad books. A self-taught ‘fiddle singer’, she began performing at Cambridge and Sidmouth festivals from the age of thirteen.
Her debut album Night Visiting established her reputation as a talented songwriter when her first original composition Three Black Feathers earned a BBC Folk Award nomination. Since then, Bella has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall, taken a band of drums, brass and electronics to the National Concert Hall of Budapest, and learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province.
She’s sat on the moors of her beloved Peak District with only her fiddle for company. She spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. With her mesmerising voice and ability to conjure and twist stories that call straight to the heart, Bella has beguiled audiences from Canada to Japan, from Spanish bars, to Castles, to Concert Halls.
From Bella's mastery of traditional music and the stripped back strings and concertina of her early days more than a decade ago, to the electric guitar and drums in the self-penned humanist hymns and feminist battle cries of Hey Sammy (2017), via the Derbyshire ballads of The Dark Peak & The White and ancient Chinese poetry of Eternal Spring, (an album of songs and poetry recorded in China), it's been a spellbinding journey. Her themes of displacement and home, lost and found love, heartache and joy, are delivered with her unique, disarming honesty, and, of course, the acclaimed crystalline voice that won her BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year.
Postcards & Pockebooks reflects and records each moment of Bella's career, and is a must for all who appreciate skillful interpretations of traditional music, as well as the relevance of contemporary folk in the modern world. For more information, visit www.bellahardy.com
A fine Summer of folk at Downend Folk Club
Bristol's ever-popular Downend Folk Club has announced its programme for the Summer of 2020.
The June event, on Friday 19th, will be headlined by Hannah James & Toby Kuhn. Well-known to Downend Folk Club regulars as one third of Lady Maisery, Hannah met Toby in Summer 2018 at Floating Castle festival in Slovenia.
After seeing Hannah perform one of her solo pieces, Toby suggested she should keep him in mind if she ever needed a cellist. After a short jam in the Slovenian sunshine it was clear that these two musicians shared a common approach to music making and a real artistic chemistry. Toby joined Hannah at a solo gig a few days later and a new duo was born! Opening the evening’s entertainment at Frenchay Village Hall will be popular local duo Cooper & Toller
Friday 17th July sees the Summer Programme rounded off with a long-awaited return for UK roots star Luke Jackson. An accomplished performer who impresses from the outset and takes his audience on a shared journey with a full bus down the bye-ways of love, hope, sorrow, and melancholy via the service stations of folk, roots, blues, Americana and soul. Getting the evening underway at Frenchay Village Hall will be Pearl Fish.
Each concert will be held at Frenchay Village Hall and starts at 8.00pm (doors open at 7.30pm).
For any further information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
The June event, on Friday 19th, will be headlined by Hannah James & Toby Kuhn. Well-known to Downend Folk Club regulars as one third of Lady Maisery, Hannah met Toby in Summer 2018 at Floating Castle festival in Slovenia.
After seeing Hannah perform one of her solo pieces, Toby suggested she should keep him in mind if she ever needed a cellist. After a short jam in the Slovenian sunshine it was clear that these two musicians shared a common approach to music making and a real artistic chemistry. Toby joined Hannah at a solo gig a few days later and a new duo was born! Opening the evening’s entertainment at Frenchay Village Hall will be popular local duo Cooper & Toller
Friday 17th July sees the Summer Programme rounded off with a long-awaited return for UK roots star Luke Jackson. An accomplished performer who impresses from the outset and takes his audience on a shared journey with a full bus down the bye-ways of love, hope, sorrow, and melancholy via the service stations of folk, roots, blues, Americana and soul. Getting the evening underway at Frenchay Village Hall will be Pearl Fish.
Each concert will be held at Frenchay Village Hall and starts at 8.00pm (doors open at 7.30pm).
For any further information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
