Six years ago Sam Sweeney, fiddle player with Bellowhead, bought a violin in Oxford. It had all the appearance of a new instrument but the label inside gave the date 1915 and the name Richard S Howard.
Research revealed that the violin had been made – but never finished – by a luthier and some-time music hall performer from Leeds called Richard Spencer Howard. He had been conscripted in 1916 at the age of 35 and two years later was killed during the battle of Messines Ridge. His violin had been left unfinished in his workshop. The pieces were given to his daughter Rose in a manila...
In 1977, 27 year old Robyn Davidson set out on foot across the Australian outback on an extraordinary 9 month solo journey which would take her 2,700km through some of the world’s most awe inspiring and difficult terrain, with just four camels and her beloved dog. Fuelled only with a fierce determination to be alone and a desperate need to reconnect with the land, cash-strapped Robyn begrudgingly agreed to have the journey documented by photographer Rick Smolans, and subsequently her very personal journey became a worldwide phenomenon...
Following a hugely successful return tour in 2013, Steve Howe returns to the UK in September to play some of his more familiar pieces plus several new tunes like Solitaire from Yes’s Fly From Here album, The Golden Mean and others from Motif, plus various arrangements of Yes songs and other tunes he’s picked up along the way. A few stories thrown in for good measure should ensure a great evening.
Steve’s enjoyment for all this should be clear and pronounced, as he explores the territory that has helped define him as a world renowned guitar player.
A series of artists’ talks in association with Exeter College’s Centre for Creative Industries. Limited places available to the public.
Laura Reeves
Laura Reeves (b.1987) grew up in Exeter but now lives and works in Swansea. Laura graduated from Cardiff School of Art and Design in 2012 specialising in sculpture and received the Eistedfodd Young Artist Scholarship shortly afterwards. Laura will discuss the transition from recent graduate to artist.
Kris Drever’s voice and guitar forms part of the backbone of today’s contemporary roots scene.
A member of Lau, a band widely regarded as the epicentre of the new folk boom, and winners of the BBC Folk Award for Best Band for three years running, Kris is also widely admired as a solo artist and collaborator.
Kris will be playing with Éamonn Coyne, a leading figure in the youngest generation of Irish folk musicians.
As described in the scriptures, watch the nine primary emotions experienced by ‘Shiva’ the Lord of Dance, unfold through dance, stories and music. Displayed through Bharatanatyam (classical Indian dance) by one of the UK’s most talented young Bharatnatyam dancers, Vibha Selvaratnam With Carnatic (South Indian Classical) musicians from India. Including narration in English.
Free Bharatanatyam class on Wednesday evening with show of a ticket.
A collection of new paintings, collages and drawings. Working intuitively and quickly with few if any revisions, Piper lets the materials take the lead stopping when something new and interesting appears that resonates with something hidden inside.
Imagine the tone of Robin Trower, the inspiration of Hendrix, the influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the energy of Bonamassa, the intensity of Walter Trout and the haunting vocal of Stevie Nicks all rolled into one…
Described as a prodigy, at 14 Chantel was told by major labels ‘great voice, but girls don’t play guitar like that!’ Wisely ignoring that advice, she enrolled at the world-renowned Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s history, to achieve a 100% pass mark, with 18 distinctions. Chantel left with a First...
When it comes to a distinctive sound, exceptional duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin have shown they are in a league of their own. One of the most inventive and captivating rising acts on the acoustic roots scene, together, they won the Best Duo category at this year’s BBC Folk Awards.
Phillip is one of the UK’s top slide guitarists and harmonica players; his innovative harmonica style combines country blues and folk styles with beat-boxing to create a jaw dropping and much coveted 21st century harmonica sound heavily steeped in tradition. He has studied the Delta blues bottleneck...
