Tuesday 28th February 2012
Folk at the Unicorn
Author: tom
Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston
Wednesday 25th January 2012
Folk at the Unicorn
Hannah James & Sam Sweeney
Friday 4th November 2011
The first concert took place on Friday 4thNovember 2011 with “Two of the brightest young stars of the folk scene” – Hannah James and Sam Sweeney.
Hannah and Sam have been playing together since 2002 and were at that time probably best known for their work in Kerfuffle and then as individual members of the Demon Barber Roadshow, Bellowhead, Fay Hield Trio and Jon Boden’s Remnant Kings. Forming officially as a duo in 2008, they released their first album “Catches and Glees” in 2009 and were nominated for the Horizon Award at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards.
Since the release of their album, Hannah and Sam have toured nationally, played festivals across the UK and received radio play internationally. They play predominantly English songs and tunes on accordion and fiddle and the live show includes Hannah’s renowned clog dancing.
Folk at the Unicorn
November 2011 saw the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon once again filled with the sound of folk music. Local music promoters Tom Povey (tp-ents) and Jenny Semmence (Seahorse Promotions) began bringing both established stars and new folk artists once a month to Abingdon.
The Unicorn Theatre building was originally constructed in the 14th century in a small complex of buildings that once belonged to Abingdon’s magnificent Benedictine Abbey, which was dissolved under Henry VIII’s reign. The Chequer Hall was saved from ruin in 1952 and refurbished into an Elizabethan style theatre.
“Abingdon and the surrounding towns have a massive folk contingency and its continually growing with events such as the Abingdon Folk Music Group that plays at the Kings Head pub in East St Helens Street each month. We think the Unicorn Theatre is a stunning, intimate venue and is perfect to showcase some of folk’s up and coming artists as well as some well-known names. ”
Lark Rise Band
Saturday 22nd October 2011
St Mary’s Church, Wallingford
A music adaptation by Ashley Hutchings’ Lark Rise Band featuring Ashley Hutchings, Simon Care, Judy Dunlop, Ruth Angel and Mark Hutchinson.
This concert presented music, words, dance and song from the books and the original plays, celebrating a lost way of life so memorably captured by Flora Thompson in her books Lark Rise to Candleford and Candleford Green.
The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Keith James in concert at St Mary’s Church, Wallingford
Saturday 4th June 2011
Part of a mammoth 63 date UK tour for Keith James featuring the songs of Leonard Cohen.
“I’m endeavouring to pare back each song to its’ central core and original sense of purpose by performing each song as near to the way it was originally written, exposing Cohen’s unprecedented sense of humanity”
“Certainly the UK’s most celebrated and evocative interpreter of golden music” The Guardian
“Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear”
The Independent
St Mary’s Church Wallingford
Phil Beer
Phil Beer – solo and acoustic
Sunday 6th March 2011
Oysterband
Sunday 3rd October 2010
Oysterband deconstruct their sound to reveal its acoustic heart in the intimate setting of the Holywell Music Room, the oldest surviving public music room in Europe. Re-arranged and re-invented songs with voices, harmony singing and acoustic instruments to the fore.
The promoter donated proceeds from this concert to the Ocean Youth Trust South
Dark Horses
Saturday 25th September 2010
Following their appearance at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival, Flossie Malavialle & Keith Donnelly gave an acoustic concert in the Holywell Room. Each performed a solo set and then came together to play songs from their album “Dark Horses”.
Photos by Alan Cole: (click here to see the full set)
