If like me you're a fan of Cara Dillon, you may be interested in a new BBC Sounds programme broadcast on BBC Ulster, This Woman's Work in which Cara plays music by female singers who have inspired her.
There's some folk but lots of other great music too: Deanta, Dusty Springfield, Taylor Swift, Regina Spektor, Kate Bush, Dervish and others
You can listen to the series HERE
Simon Haines
If you live in Suffolk or the surrounding area, you've probably seen the distinctive work of the artist Glynn Thomas, whose etchings have been displayed in galleries around East Anglia for many years. Although some of Glynn's work features images from other parts of Britain and beyond, many of his etchings are of well-known East Anglian scenes. A few years ago, I came up with a musical idea: The Hosepipe Band were looking for a subject for original compositions and a new recording, and it occurred to me that Glynn's etchings might be an ideal subject. I approached Glynn who seemed happy with idea and even produced a new image for us: Polstead Meadow, a round picture ideal for the label and from cover of a new Hosepipe Band CD. We selected 8 of Glynn's Suffolk etchings and members of the band composed music to accompany them. We played our new music at the opening of an exhibition of Glynn's work at the John Russell Gallery in Ipswich and also, together with slides of his images, at Colchester Arts Centre and other venues in our area.
Glynn Thomas was born in Cambridge in 1946. He studied at the Cambridge School of Art specialising in illustration and printmaking For many years now, he has been a full-time professional artist living in Suffolk. You can see a full range of his etchings on his website at www.glynnthomas.com
For this recording, members of The Hosepipe Band were:
• Geoff Combs - Octave mandola, Mandolin, Percussion
• Simon Haines - Melodeon, Hurdy Gurdy
• Nick Sadler - Bass guitar
• Val Woollard - Saxophone, Flute, Recorder, English bagpipes, Dulcimer
Below are the texts and sound files which accompanied the seven etchings on the CD cover. Click in sound files to hear the music.
Dave Benford — Musician, Entertainer, Artist in oils and pastels, Actor, Entrepreneur, Family man - husband, dad, grandad, great grandad - as well as the electronics day jobs and running his own business!
Dave, together with Andrew Kendon, formed the Crofters Folk Club - named after where Dave lived - The Croft - in 1964, and by 1967 the Cambridge Crofters folk group had been started, first as a singing group, then as a ceilidh band. Dave’s energy, vision and organising ability were driving forces behind the group for over 50 years.
The Cambridge Crofters outside the Portland Arms, Cambridge: Left to Right: Andrew Kendon, Dave Benford, Richard Brading
We have been sent a recording of the song Morning Tide which was written by Norfolk melodeon
maestro Tony Hall and recorded by the band Threescore on their most recent CD.
The song was written in the context of the Falklands War (1982) so is appropriate at this time of
annual remembrance.
Morning Tide - Tony Hall
Two Bold Singermen and the English Folk Revival
The Lives, Song Traditions and Legacies of Sam Larner and Harry Cox,
by Bruce Lindsay, pubished Equinox www.equinoxpub.com
£25 from publisher
I have been sent a review copy of this book and am currently reading it. A review will follow. Simon Haines
