I listen to a lot of loud, and for that matter difficult to listen to, music but sometimes I crave, my soul and heart needs, something quietly beautiful, something that communicates directly with my emotions. Noggy’s new single ‘Weighed Down’ meets that need.
While Noggy himself describes what he does as folk-pop or indie folk (and broadly speaking I have not the slightest idea what indie folk is to be honest), for me this is a folk influenced pop ballad. The nod to folk I suppose is that there is some frankly wonderful acoustic guitar. But, and it’s a big but, can I really be happy with describing this as pop – it has too much depth and sophistication for me to be happy with using the term pop.
It starts with piano, sparse piano, and some synth sounds, then there is gently plucked guitar. Even before Noggy’s vocal came in I was hooked in. His vocals are quietly full of emotion, he doesn’t resort to overblown vocal gymnastics. He lets the words shine through. And yes it builds, there are ethereal backing vocals, There are more layers of sound, but it’s basically simple, the music never overwhelms the words, it compliments them. And although it builds, it swells, that swell is just enough to help you understand the emotion in the song.
And what all this does is to gently draw you in, you are taken into the song, you feel the emotion. And I wrote this while I listened to the song but I had to keep stopping because time and again my attention was taken completely by this beautiful song. And at times, particularly towards the end of the song it semi stops and then it swells again, I was moved so much that I felt something deeply, something in my soul.
I’m gushing, I’m gushing because this is so so good, so wonderful, so beautiful. I said in a review some time ago that sometimes I am so moved by a song that I feel I need to thank the artist or band for making it. This is one of those times.
So who is this song for? It’s for anyone who likes music that is fantastically put together, for anyone who likes a song to be full of emotion, for anyone that loves music that is food for the soul and heart. It’s for anyone who likes music to be beautiful.
The info
Noggy is a 23 year old songwriter from York making emotionally reflective and delicately raw folk pop. Noggy’s songwriting and presentation beautifully encapsulates life with the listener taken on the journey with him. His new music presents an ambient feel, with heart achingly honest lyrical content and gently powerful harmonies. Focusing on aspects of love, loss, angst and hope. Noggy’s music holds intense heartfelt character and brightens yesterday’s moment of darkness.
‘Glitter’ is a raucous slice of garage – garage with hints of raw R’n’B, indie, punk, and even the odd bit of surf. It’s a glorious thing. It takes a little while to warm up but once it’s reved up it’s just this blast of noise. The louder you play this, the better it is.
And play this thing very very loud, there is just the best fuzzed up guitar break at the end of it and that is just so so good played as loud as your ears will take it.
But there’s more – the vocals on this track are cool, they’re done in this kinda vaguely cockney voice that just takes you back to the raw R’n’B of the 60s. This is a cool thing people.
The song lasts as long as it needs to – it’s barely 2 ½ minutes long but that’s just right for what The Racketeers do. It say all it needs to say in that time.
‘Glitter’ is just way way cool. Get hip to this now.
The info
The Racketeers are a garage rock act from Leeds. Combining bright, pop – inspired vocal harmonies with fuzzy, biting guitar hooks, the music draws influences from 60s folk rock, Britpop and modern alternative indie to create a unique and memorable sound.
Band Members:
Joe Mosley – Guitar and vocals
Joe Dean – Guitar and vocals
Alex Scrowther – Bass
Mike Johansson – Drums
The Racketeers next gig is at This Feeling in Leeds on 18th May where they’re be promoting their next single ‘No Show’
Rising Sydney-based “trash can girl band” BODY TYPE have shared a new track + video from their upcoming EP – out May 3rd via Partisan/Inertia. ‘Free To Air’ is helmed by lead guitarist Annabel Blackman, and the accompanying video (dir. by Matt Griffin) weaves from a face swap bizarro world to the vegetable aisle.
Blackman says: “‘Free To Air’ is about an old neighbour whose life seemed to play out entirely in his lounge room in front of the TV, which he blasted day and night. My bedroom faced looking into his lounge room, so it was almost like we were waking up and watching the morning news together or having a TV dinner after work…it was definitely not that romantic in reality though. We invited the esteemed video artist & 10/10 person, Matt Griffin, to make a video for the song because he is a master manipulator of screens and could slice us into an assortment of scenes and onto bodies without needing us to be physically present, which is the perfect disembodied embodiment to accompany the song.”
‘Free To Air’ is the second track lifted from the bands forthcoming release EP2 after last month’s ‘Stingray’, and follows the bands debut self-titled EP in 2018. Consisting of radio favourites ‘Ludlow (Do You Believe In Karma?)’, ‘Arrow’, ‘Palms’ and ‘Teeth’, the release received critical acclaim.
The band head to the UK for their first shows on these shores this May, including slots at Live At Leeds, Hit the North and Great Escape festivals, as well as a headline London date at Moth Club on May 15th.
Along with the digital release of the EP, the band will be releasing a double-sided 12” for the first time, featuring EP1 on Side A & EP2 on Side B – it’s out June 28th on Partisan/Inertia. It is also available as a Rough Trade exclusive on limited edition slime-coloured vinyl. Pre-order it here: https://bodytype.lnk.to/EP2
Body Type – EP2 // Partisan Records – 03/05/18
1. Stingray
2. Free To Air
3. UMA
4. Insomnia
5. Sad Wax
Tour dates:
May 4th | Leeds, UK – Live at Leeds Festival
May 5th | Newcastle, UK – Hit the North Festival
May 7th | Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
May 8th | Manchester, UK – YES
May 9th-11th | Brighton, UK – The Great Escape
May 12th | Dublin, IE – Eastbound @ The Sound House
May 15th | London, UK – Moth Club
May 16th | Bristol, UK – Crofters Rights
May 17th | Cardiff, UK – Clwb Ifor Bach
May 18th | Southampton, UK – Heartbreakers
After seven hugely successful, sold out #360RAW events over the past year or so, RICHARD WATSON, promoter of the 360 Club, and ALAN RAW, presenter of BBC Introducing West Yorkshire and BBC Introducing Humberside, have announced the eighth of these special events showcasing the incredible talent emerging from Yorkshire.
Taking place on FRIDAY 21 JUNE – and subtitled #360RAW8 – the event focusses again on the region’s finest and most exciting emerging artists: CEILING DEMONS from Richmond in North Yorkshire and IMPYUS, WEEZY JEFFERSON and PILLS, WEEDS AND A FEW KEYS all from Leeds.
As with previous #360RAW events, the night will see Alan Raw DJ before and between the live sets, playing new music of all styles from local artists. Anyone can turn up and meet the face behind BBC Introducing and are encouraged to bring demos which he may well play on the night, or pass onto the producers for consideration on his shows. The ethos of #360RAW is purely about supporting emerging acts, a passion that both Richard and Alan share, and one that sees them freely offer musicians their time, their help and their advice without any hidden agenda.
CEILING DEMONS
“… Amazingly powerful and heartfelt roots music from the North of England …” TOM ROBINSON
CEILING DEMONS are an alternative art-rap band from the rural North. Born of bereavement and taking influence from The Streets, Joy Division and Tricky, they combine poetic wordplay from front men and twin brothers Psy Ceiling and Dan Demon over cinematic instrumentals, striking the heart strings with intense and chaotic performances touching on themes of love and loss. The band are strong advocates of addressing mental health issues in their art and have worked extensively with suicide prevention charity CALM to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to their hearts. Championed by Louder Than War and Narc for their passionate live shows, they released their debut album Nil in 2017 with Win Big Records on CD and cassette, and reissued a beautiful vinyl version in 2018 with Butterfly Effect Records. They are currently preparing to play at this year’s Stockton Calling and Long Division festivals.
IMPYUS
“… In short, they’re the nu-metal that stayed relevant; the rap rock that didn’t try to copy the market; and the funk rock that never went cliché …” MUSIC SEASON
IMPYUS is a group from Leeds who use guitars, drums, a Moog, some phat bass, a bloody heavy piano, some clever stuff on an iPad, some feedback and a healthy dose of hip hop to conjure up melodies for maladies in the 21st Century. They exist in an age of copyists and bandwagon-jumpers, brigands, blaggards and ne’er-do-wells. Their purpose is to sound unlike anything you’ve ever heard whilst sounding exactly like everything else you’d ever want to hear. It’s all there, like an existential self-help anthology written in a foreign language with some of the pages stuck together.
WEEZY JEFFERSON
“… He definitely feels like an artist on the up …” YORKSHIRE EVENING POST
Born and raised in Leeds, WEEZY JEFFERSON has quickly become one of the UK’s most versatile and unique performing artists, taking inspiration from hip hop artists renowned for their lyrical prowess. He has released countless musical projects, each displaying growth and progression in his style, appeared across a wide range of platforms including BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1xtra, and supported a number of international artists such as KRS-One, Mos Def and The Jungle Brothers.
PILLS, WEED AND A FEW KEYS
In an industry where people toe the line and play it safe, PILLS, WEED AND A FEW KEYS [PWK for short – a subtle nod to NWA] are unashamedly doing their own thing, combining Northern angst, gangster rap and melodic rock to create a sound dubbed Rap N Roll, a sound which makes a statement before you’ve even heard a lyric. A PWK gig is an energetic rollercoaster ride with tactical melodic breaks before the carnage begins again with something distinctly PWK about every song. The band are yet to release any music but the fact that over 100 people attended their debut gig is a further statement in itself.
‘Pretty’ is Sheffield band Sweetness’ debut single, although they released an EP last year (and ‘Pretty’ represents a change in direction from the EP). They are, yet again, one of those bands that I’d heard of, but not actually heard their music. And when I’d heard of them it had been to describe them as an indie band. This, in itself, may had been enough to turn down the review request but then I read their Facebook bio where they describe themselves as ‘an upbeat jangle pop/rock trio’ which intrigued me so much that I just had to give ‘Pretty’ a whirl.
So what ‘jangle pop/rock’ translated into, at least for me, was that it sounds like that jangley guitar driven music of say The Smiths or Orange Juice (Ed – is this going to be one of those it’s all retro with something that brings it bang up to date type reviews?) crossed with a goodly slice of indie pop. What this description doesn’t mention is that there lurks in this single something of a post-punk thing going on. The vocals for example hover somewhere between Robert Smith and Morrissey at times (and no I’m not defining The Smiths as a post-punk band, get a grip there). There is also something that reminds me somewhat of pre-Martin Rushent Altered Images. So yes, and I’m sorry, this does have, for me, a certain retro appeal.
But ‘Pretty’ has something, something that fills me with a certain huge joy, and that people is the words, for the words are brilliant. They have something I haven’t heard since The Smiths. They have wit, they have a certain art-rock studied thing going on. They are not your usual indie lyrics.
So yes, there are retro elements and there are up to date elements but Sweetness treat these as a starting point, a launchpad to make their own music. And that music has a sort of timelessness, if I’d heard it back in the early 80s it would have fitted in then, hearing it today it sounds fresh and new.
‘Pretty’ is so – and please forgive me for this – sweet and pretty, it fills you with joy, it makes you smile. It’s hugely infectious. And, sorry forgot to say this before, it makes you want to throw yourself around the room madly dancing. I’m horribly addicted to this.
Note: There are two versions of the single – a radio edit and a long version, which clocks in at over 6 minutes. Go for the long version.
And while you’re at it check out the EP
The info
Sweetness are an upbeat jangle pop/rock trio, combining witty lyrics with infectious guitar riffs. Bringing deeper teenage insight to modern indie, the Sheffield band released their debut EP, “An Honest Man”, in July 2018. Their tunes have been featured multiple times on BBC Introducing radio shows.
Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter: Aedan Butler
Bass: Jacob Turnbull
Drums: Ryan Moore
Many classical composers used to improvise, so are jazz and classical music connected? This concert, in aid of Calder Valley Search and Rescue and Music for the Many, was an attempt to demonstrate that they are.
The Daniel Bath Trio, with Daniel Bath on keyboard, Adam Medlock on bass, and John Shepard on drums, opened. Bach morphed into “How High the Moon” and Purcell into “My Funny Valentine”.
Next came singers Leighton Jones and Marie Claire Breen, with Leighton Jones on keyboard. Their songs evoked various moods, from the slow but catchy “Last Train from Paris” to a romantic song about dancing.
The Ariana String Quartet played as one musician. They started with Mozart, went on to a beautiful slow melody by Dvorak, and finished with Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t she Lovely”.
Munch Manship led a vigorous performance of jazz classics such as “Strike up the Band”. His main instrument was the saxophone but in his hands the flute also sounds jazzy.
The final part of the concert featured all the musicians, and foregrounded the beautiful voice of Marie Claire Breen. It included three of the loveliest songs ever written for soprano voice: Purcell’s “When I am Laid in Earth”, Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro”, and concluded with another Gershwin song, “I Got Rhythm”. The audience was swept away.
Do jazz and classical go together? How about having them all back again so we can think about it some more?
Legendary singer-songwriter GRAHAM NASH hits the road in July for a new batch of UK tour dates as he continues to support the release of Over the Years…, a 2-disc collection of Nash’s best-known songs from the past 50 years plus more than a dozen unreleased demos and mixes.
The UK tour begins on July 16 at Southport Theatre with stops in Halifax, Oxford, Cardiff, Folkestone, Bath and London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre. In addition, Nash will be featured at both the Wickham Festival on August 1 and the Cambridge Folk Festival, August 2. For ticket information, go to https://www.grahamnash.com.
2019 UK TOUR DATES
16/7/2019 Southport Theatre
17/7/2019 Halifax Victoria Theatre
18/7/2019 Bath The Forum
20/7/2019 Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
21/7/2019 Oxford New Theatre Oxford
22/7/2019 Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
1/8/2019 Wickham Wickham Festival
2/8/2019 Cambridge Cambridge Folk Festival
3/8/2019 London Alexandra Palace Theatre
Nash will be accompanied by longtime collaborator and 2016 album ‘This Path Tonight’ producer, Shane Fontayne on guitars and vocals, and former CSN keyboard player and vocalist, Todd Caldwell. Nash and friends will perform songs from his days in the Hollies through his years with Crosby, Stills & Nash and from his beloved solo recordings, weaving anecdotes and tales from his 50-year career throughout the evening.
Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career stands the litany of songs he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half-century. His remarkable body of work, beginning with his contributions to the Hollies opus, including “Stop Stop Stop” and “Carrie Anne”, his signature CSN (&Y) offerings like “Teach Your Children”, “Our House” and “Marrakesh Express” and his solo standouts “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness”.
Amongst glowing reviews for his recent tour dates, Classic Rock said “A magical evening celebrating the work of a talented musician and of music that helped define a generation” the Daily Mail concluded “Witty and warm, it’s a Nash hit” and No Depression proclaimed “Nash walked the audience through his catalogue, a rich tapestry of music spanning more than five decades, accompanied by Shane Fontayne on guitar and vocals. The strength of the material and the resilience in Nash’s voice made for a wonderful evening. And, as the crowd soon discovered, the new songs were every bit as vital as the classic anthems they came to hear.”
Graham Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and two-time Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Award winner, a New York Times best-selling author, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.)
On January 31, the UK Americana Music Association presented Nash with its highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to Nash by Hollies’ co-founder, Allan Clarke. Past recipients of the award include Richard Thompson and Robert Plant.
Heir are a DIY-pop band from Leeds. Organic songwriting, infectious rhythmical hooks and powerful vocal harmonies have propelled the five-piece to striking independent success. After hitting viral figures on Spotify with their debut single, ‘I’ll Pick You Up’, they have since performed at Reading and Leeds Festival, worked with producer Ken Scott (The Beatles, David Bowie) and launched their own collaborative arts night, Blueprint. In celebration of the release of new music the band are heading out on tour across the UK and Europe, which will begin with a sold-out show in Leeds.
‘After Forever’ may well be their grooviest yet. It’s the latest in a string of classy pop tracks, delicately crafted to depict the confusion, love, sadness and promise that accompanies life as an early twenty-year-old. The band have a reputation for feel-good, ’80s throwback energy but they also cite honest and thoughtful songwriting as one of their primary pillars of inspiration. “As well as gravitating towards writing music that makes you want to move we also love the process of getting right inside the story-world of the lyrics. I think with this latest stuff we captured a rhythm of writing that channelled a little bit more of that simple songwriter sound that we grew up listening to.”
It is this marriage of two of popular music’s most charming features that makes Heir so exciting. Combining the synth-driven, party-playlist sounds of Prince and the ponderings of Paul Simon, the anthemic Fleetwood Mac-esque choruses and the rhythmical prowess of HAIM and Parcels, these boys have an energy that flows from the heart, bounces about on stage for a bit before hitting you in the chest and winning you over in an instant.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be in a position where we can release music that means so much to us.”, says Sam Luca (keys). “Looking at it now we have all sacrificed a lot to be in this together. The project is so collaborative and intense and challenging but we wouldn’t want it any other way. It keeps it magical knowing that the music only breathes with the life that we want it to when everybody is in on it.”
UK 2019 Tour
10.04.2019 ~ Leeds, Lending Room – SOLD OUT
15.04.2019 ~ Newcastle, Think Tank Underground
16.04.2019 ~ Hull, The Polar Bear
17.04.2019 ~ Manchester, Gullivers
18.04.2019 ~ London, Sebright Arms
Neil Hannon, one of the country’s foremost songwriters, releases a wonderful new Divine Comedy album ‘Office Politics’ June 7th. It’s the follow-up to the acclaimed top ten 2016 album ‘Foreverland’.
“Office Politics” is a 16 track tour de force full of inventive, timeless music peopled with a typically irreverent cast of characters. “It has synthesizers. And songs about synthesizers,” Neil says. “But don’t panic. It also has guitars, orchestras, accordions, and songs about love and greed.”
The Divine Comedy will play the following UK headline tour dates. Tickets on sale from 9.00am on Friday 12th April at www.thedivinecomedy.com
October 2019 dates
Sun 6th Dublin, Bord Gais Energy Theatre
Mon 7th Belfast, Ulster Hall
Tue 8th Cork, Opera House
Thu 10th Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket
Fri 11th Birmingham, O2 Institute
Sat 12th Oxford, O2 Academy 1
Mon 14th Bristol, O2 AcademyTue 15th Leeds, Metropolitan University (Leeds Beckett University)
Wed 16th Brighton, Dome
Thu 17th London, Eventim Apollo
Fri 18th Manchester, Albert Hall
The album was written, produced and arranged by Hannon, and recorded and mixed in Ireland and London by Ber Quinn and Guy Massey. Additional orchestral work was captured by Jake Jackson at Air Studios, and the LP was wrapped up and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Additional guest & backing vocals come in the form of Chris Difford, Cathy Davey, Thomas Walsh & Pete Ruotolo.
Not your ordinary 9 to 5 existence, ‘Office Politics’ central characters are the machines. Or ‘Infernal Machines’ as one track rages. “I do try to make normal records,” Neil says with a smile. ”But it always seems to wander off into odd territories.”
And for that we should be thankful.
‘Office Politics’ Tracklisting:
1. Queuejumper
2. Office Politics
3. Norman And Norma
4. Absolutely Obsolete
5. Infernal Machines
6. You’ll Never Work In This Town Again
7. Psychological Evaluation
8. The Synthesiser Service Centre Super Summer Sale
9. The Life and Soul Of The Party
10. A Feather In Your Cap
11. I’m A Stranger Here
12. Dark Days Are Here Again
13. Philip And Steve’s Furniture Removal Company
14. ‘Opportunity’ Knox
15. After The Lord Mayor’s Show
16. When The Working Day Is Done
Physical & Digital Release Format Info:
16 track ‘Office Politics’ album on 2 x heavyweight 180g vinyl in gatefold packaging
Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl LP. 16 track album on 2 x heavyweight 180g coloured vinyl in gatefold packaging
Standard CD. 16 track ‘Office Politics’ album on 1 CD in gatefold packaging with 12 page booklet containing lyrics and credits.
Limited Edition Deluxe CD. As per standard CD, with a second CD – ‘Swallows and Amazons – The Original Piano Demos.’ This 15 track album consists of Neil Hannon’s original demos for the stage musical adaptation of ‘Swallows and Amazons.’ The songs from the show have never before been released.
Digital. 16 track ‘Office Politics’ album as per Standard CD
Deluxe Digital. As per Deluxe CD – 1st Volume is the 16 track ‘Office Politics’ album, 2nd Volume is the 15 track ‘Swallows and Amazons – The Original Piano Demos’.
The festival runs July 12th – 14th at Burton Agnes Hall, Driffield, YO25 4NB
Headliners have been announced along with more of the wonderful acts that will perform at this years Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival held in the stunning Great Hall, gardens and courtyards of the 16th century Elizabethan stately home that is Burton Agnes Hall, East Yorkshire.
A truly, family friendly festival for all, including canine family members, festival goers will be treated to some fabulous Afro Beat and Punk Jazz courtesy of Newcastle and Cumbria band PONYLAND, music from one of the greatest keyboard players and multi-instrumentalists of his generation, Morris “Mo” Pleasure, melodic jazz from the vibrant quartet Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat, along with country blues and ragtime, hokum, jug band Max and Veronica.
Once again bringing the festival to a close will be Ben Beattie’s after midnight band plus host Simon Cunliffe-Lister.
They join the already announced artists Artephis, The Mark Williams Trio and King For a Day: The Nat King Cole Story with Atila.
More 2019 artists and headliners will be announced over the coming weeks – to keep up to date please visit:
6.30 – 8:00pm Manchester Jazz Collective
An exciting collaboration of talented northern jazz artists, creating and performing original large scale jazz compositions. The group bring together their wide musical influences, including middle eastern harmonies; high energy, dance-able afro-jazz; and heavy metal and rock grooves. Powerful sounds from a strong brass section of saxophones, trombones and trumpets.
8.30 – 10.00pm PONYLAND: HEADLINE
Saddle up with PONYLAND for a ride into a heady, energetic world of live Afro-beat, Punk Jazz, with a 7-piece ensemble. Expect animalistic behaviour, galloping grooves that will make your legs rattle uncontrollably, chaos and raw energy!
PONYLANDs line-up includes Frankie O’keeffe vocals, Jordie Cooke Guitar, Faye McCalman Saxaphone, Geoff Bartholomew Trumpet, John Pope Bass, Adam Stapleford Drums and Dave Mckeague Drums, creating a hypnotic interplay, entrancing the audience into fits of loose-limbedness. The band sonically aims to be the love child of Sun Ra and Lightning Bolt. Think African polyrhythms, syncopated beats, improvisation with punk scuzz. “Our music explores the themes of community, the loss of cultures and changing society and our live performance aims to break down the proverbial fourth wall between us and the audience”.
PONYLAND brings together professional musicians from across Newcastle and Cumbria to create a sound that’s unique. Two Drummers, Vocals, lead and bass guitar and a mighty horn section. Something tribalistic this way comes! Highlights so far have been, supporting Shabaka Hutchings (The Comet is Coming) in the Cluny Newcastle, playing alongside the Mancunian Analog Alien Paddy Steer and headlining the Carvetti stage at Kendal Calling.
“At a typical gig, the performers are on the stage and there’s a barrier between them and the crowd, our aim is to break down that proverbial fourth wall,” Jordie said. “If you think of a drum circle, everyone who’s there is part of it. I’ll be happy if the people who come to our gigs feel like we’re all taking part in something together.” Despite being the band’s guitarist, Jordie writes all Ponyland’s songs starting with the drum rhythms.
“Underlying a lot of the tunes are African polyrhythms, and jazz lovers will also recognise syncopated beats and Improvised passages. Ponylands music explores the themes of friendship, community, the loss of cultures and changing society.
This music will take you through unfamiliar territory to a place you will want to stay… Ponyland!
“Meet Ponyland, the funkiest new group on the scene”
Saturday 13th July
12.30-2.00pm The Mark Williams Trio
Mark Williams is a guitarist/composer from Belfast who moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to complete a BMus (hons) in Jazz, Popular and Commercial music.
Since then he has played and recorded alongside some of the top musicians in the country.
He formed his own trio back in 2009 to showcase his own compositional and improvisational talents.
The trio draws influences from jazz, blues, rock, fusion and metal to create original music that is unique, diverse and honest.
Paul Susans (bass) / Russ Morgan (drums) / Mark Williams (guitar)
“….Williams’ playing is outstanding……..”. – The Jazz Mann.
6.30 – 8.00pm King For a Day: The Nat King Cole Story
Celebrating the centenary of the birth of one of the greatest vocalists and entertainers of the twentieth century: Nat King Cole.
Acclaimed vocalist, Atila, and a world-class group of musicians, have performed sell out shows at London’s Hippodrome and Ronnie Scott’s. They take a fresh look at the life and work of the timeless Nat King Cole, whose vocal styling in songs such as Nature Boy, Unforgettable, and When I Fall In Love defined a golden era of music and earned him a place in the history of American Music as one of the most iconic vocalists of all time. Expect Nat King Cole’s most celebrated songs, alongside stylish reworkings of his lesser-known gems. This is a unique evening celebrating one of music’s all-time greats.
About Atila: ‘I was very impressed with his singing. He has a real feel for the lyric’ Sir Michael Parkinson
8:30 – 10.00pm Mo Pleasure: HEADLINE
One of the greatest keyboard players and multi-instrumentalists of his generation. Morris “Mo” Pleasure has been at the forefront of American popular music for the last thirty years.
A child prodigy, he began on piano at the age of four and by his early teens was also performing on bass, trumpet, guitar, drums and violin! After gaining a BA in Music in the mid 80’s, Mo began his professional career playing with Ray Charles before moving into the studios, including work with the likes of George Duke, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Christina Aguilera, Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, and Roberta Flack. In 1993, he became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire. ascending to become the band’s musical director from 1994-2001.
He was featured with Janet Jackson, played keyboards and trumpet with Boney James and is currently musical director for the iconic Bette Midler. Mo was also approached by Michael Jackson to play keyboards in Jackson’s last touring band that was scheduled to perform in the late superstar’s historic 2009 comeback tour at London’s O2 Arena, which sadly never came to fruition. If all that wasn’t enough he is also a renowned composer and producer.
Expect a selection of originals as well as Mo’s favourite classic funk, soul and groove songs.
Mo will be joined by a hand picked band of some of the finest musicians in the UK, plus the vocal talents of Ivy Chanel. Philly native soul singer/songwriter, part African American, French and Native American, Ivy Chanel (younger sister of hall of fame inductee DJ Cash Money) has performed for Presidents and other dignitaries around the world. Ivy has worked with award winning artists and producers; Q-tip, Scratch Professor, Biz Markie, MBE Omar Lye-Fook, The Temper Trap, Curtis Richardson, Freedom C+C Music Factory, and DJ Kazu to name a few. Ivy is also a sought after vocal coach described by Simon Cowell as ‘Fantastic’, she has tutored a few of his artists such as Otsie Williams (JLS). Ivy has also worked with Anthony Duncan (Flawless), contestants from Missy Elliot’s ‘Road to Stardom’ and The Voice.
“…Pleasure proves that jazz can still be made which is smooth yet textured, is varied and interesting and can appeal to a wide range of ears. Superb and essential.” Soul Express
Sunday 14th July
11.00am – 12.30pm Artephis
Manchester-based contemporary jazz-rock quintet, Artephis, comprises some of the North’s most creatively diverse young musicians, who met at the Royal Northern College of Music. Their debut, loosely conceptual album, ‘ALL CHANGE NO CHANGE’, was independently released in June 2017 with an accompanying UK tour and has aired on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Jazz Now’ and BBC Radio 2, Jamie Cullum calling it a “brilliant new release that got my ears bouncing” and choosing ‘Feroz’ as his BBC Introducing highlight of the year.
Formed in 2014, Artephis is a mercurial, improvising collective that draws contemporary influence from Christian Scott’s ‘Stretch Music’, Butcher Brown, and Brian Blade & the Fellowship, all the while rooted in Miles Davis’ late-’60s/early-’70s On The Corner/Big Fun/Jack Johnson era, distilling an eclectic sound of their own with an increasingly electronic element. Informed diversely by the musicians’ backgrounds and specialisms including Afrobeat, contemporary classical, funk and hip-hop settings, Artephis compose with a feel for the programmatic, immersing the listener in a familiar, while challenging, sound-space of imaginative textures, explosive and sensitive grooves, and spirited melodies.
Described by mentor Mike Walker (The Impossible Gentlemen) as having ‘an organic, collectively individual sound that always has an eye on the narrative’, Artephis have performed at the Brecon, Manchester, Liverpool, Scarborough, Marsden and Lancaster Jazz Festivals, as well as at The Cavern Club, Band On The Wall, Kendal Calling, La Belle Angele and RNCM Opera Theatre. They are a Jazz North Northern Line artist 2018-19, and former Jazz North Introduces artist (2015-16).
1.00 – 2.30pm Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat
Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat is a vibrant quartet, led by saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson and featuring Calvin Travers (g), Angus Milne (db), and Alasdair Wells (dr).
Emma’s writing displays a contemporary sound rooted by infectious melodies and the group have been described as demonstrating a “strong and joyful bond, immediately apparent in their sound”.
Gravy Boat is a band that aspires to write and perform melodic, accessible jazz that anyone can enjoy.
Having been selected by Jazz North as one of this years Northern Line acts, Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat are currently sailing around the UK performing at many prominent festivals before setting to work on their debut album.
3.00 – 4.30pm Max and Veronica
Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernardi passionately play country blues and ragtime, hokum, jug band and rural music from the 1920’s and 30’s. They like to keep this precious musical heritage alive, faithfully reproducing its original sound whilst playing it with a modern twist. Together they represent an irresistible blend of blues, ragtime, vaudeville music and jug band music played using strictly acoustic instruments such as ukuleles, washboard, kazoo, acoustic and resophonic guitars.
Max and Veronica won the European Blues Challenge 2013, held in Toulouse, France. They were selected in January 2015, for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.
‘Good time blues is alive and well…A band with a mission’ Folk & Roots Magazine
5.00 – 6.00pm Ben Beattie’s after midnight band plus Simon Cunliffe-Lister
Saxophonist and pianist Ben Beattie’s compositions bring together an intriguing mix of atmospheric jazz, blue grooves and soulful ballads.
Festival organiser and saxophonist Simon Cunliffe-Lister joins Ben to play out the weekend.
More artists will be added over the coming weeks.
Friday and Saturday late night sessions acts to be announced soon.
A wide variety of jazz, blues, acoustic, soul and funk – with, above all, superb musicianship – will grace the main stage, performance tents, courtyard and Great Hall. Firmly established in the festival calendar, this is a weekend designed for the whole family to relax and enjoy, in the most beautiful festival surroundings imaginable.
The Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival began in 2007 and past performers have included the multi award winning Claire Martin OBE and Ray Gelato, Mississippi native Lisa Mills, Belfast Blues legend Kaz Hawkins, 3 time Grammy nominee Billy Branch, Jo Harrop and the New York Brass Band, to name but a few.
Early bird full weekend tickets £75 with individual afternoon / evening tickets also available:
Built in 1598 by Queen Elizabeth’s master mason, twenty-three generations of the same family have lived in this much-loved home, and filled the house with treasures. Today, magnificent original carvings provide a backdrop for fabulous French Impressionist paintings, contemporary furniture, tapestries and other contemporary artwork. Simon Jenkins, author of ‘England’s Thousand Best Houses’, described Burton Agnes Hall as ‘the perfect English house’ and as one of England’s twenty finest homes alongside Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Chatsworth House.
The info
The info
