Bromyard Music Sessions

Christmas Wassail at Queen Elizabeth in Bromyard

A musical evening with a slight difference!

The QE's Christmas Wassail, “A Party Blower”, in aid of Acorns Charity, on Monday 14^th December and Tuesday 15^th December at 7.00 pm. Tickets available from Reception. Or see website.

December Sessions in Bromyard

We'll be continuing our sessions in Bromyard right up to Christmas week!

8th December: Green Dragon, Bishop's Frome

13th December: Rose and Lion

15th December: Falcon

20th December: Rose and Lion

22nd December: Wheelwrights Arms, Pencombe

27th December: Rose and Lion

Do come along, all welcome, all sessions thriving!

Bromyard Sessions at Bromyard Gala

I am arranging live music for Bromyard Gala on Sunday 5th July from 2.45 to 4.45. The stage is next to the Beer Tent (wonder who thought of that?) and a good time is anticipated for all.

If you are coming to the Gala that day please come along and say Hi. I do have a few slots left for performers so email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk to express an interest in being included.

The Gala is really a terrific day out, proper Country Fair with Shire horses, fairground organs, vintage cars, caravans, tractors, steam engines and much more.

Visit their website at http://www.bromyardgala.org.uk.

Two Big Events - We Need Your Support

There are two big events coming up in the next week and a bit - and we need your support!

Firstly on Tuesday next, 28th April, we have the relaunch of the session at the Wheelwrights Arms in Pencombe. For many years this was one of the finest sessions in the West Midlands till long standing licensees Colin and Sue retired. Then we had an object lesson in how to ruin a successful pub in no time flat and the session died. Now it's back again! The atmosphere is great; very pleasant beer from Holdens, Greene King plus a guest or two and very nice straightforward food - all the meats from Legge's in Bromyard, cooked to perfection! I'm not joking - seems like me and Brigi are eating there at least once a week.

Next Tuesday, 28th April is the first session back there. Please come and support us, kick off the revived session with a bang and give Liz and Paul (the new licensees) a bit of encouragement for getting the session back. I'll be doing my usual slavedriver thing, making sure there's more music than blather. Make the effort, come along, bring your friends. For directions post code is HR7 4RN. Just find Pencombe - the pub's in the middle of the village.

Then there's the big event!

From 1st to 4th May is Spring Festival in Bromyard. All sorts of events going on including Town Criers' Competition, Maypole dancing and lots of music. Prime venue is the Falcon Mews, the medieval banqueting hall behind the Falcon Hotel. This is an astonishing venue - if you haven't seen it yet don't miss this chance. It was  the stables of the Falcon in 18th and 19th centuries, the town's cinema in early 20th century but research suggests it was part of a medieval monastery or such like even earlier.

On Friday 1st May it will be graced by HotFeat, a really fun soul band but for your particular delectation it's the venue, on Saturday 2nd May, for another "Bromyard Sessions In Concert". Not for the first time, we have a selection of the acts who turn up to play in our pub sessions presenting themselves in concert. The lineup is a bit fluid but so far includes Foxtail Soup, AngelCynn, Ramshackle Bluegrass Band, Al Clearwater, Brian Jones + whoever he drags along, Tony Burt, Ken Crowther and more.

This will be the 3rd "Bromyard Sessions In Concert" and if you missed the first two make amends now!

Doors open at 8.00, music from 8.30 till we get fed up, it costs nothing so be there early as it will be busy (Bromyard folk love a bargain!), Wye Valley Bitter + Brains Rev James from the barrel. It'll be some night. Turn up in droves, tell your mates, support us PLEASE!!!

Sessions In April/May

Just a reminder of events/sessions in Bromyard and surrounding villages over next few weeks:

 

12/04 - Rose & Lion

14/04 - Green Dragon, Bishop's Frome

19/04 - Rose & Lion

21/04 - Falcon

26/04 - Rose & Lion

28/04 – Wheelwrights Arms, Pencombe

02/05 – In Concert at the Falcon Mews

03/05 – Rose & Lion

05/05 – Falcon

10/05 – Rose & Lion

12/05 – Green Dragon, Bishop’s Frome

17/05 – Rose & Lion

19/05 – Falcon

24/05 – Rose & Lion

26/05 – Wheelwrights Arms, Pemcombe

31/05 – Rose & Lion

 

Basically schedule is now:

 

Rose & Lion every Sunday

Falcon 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays

Green Dragon 2^nd Tuesday

Wheelwrights 4^th Tuesday

 

For anyone not familiar with these sessions all are in singaround format and all are based on acoustic instruments only. Different sessions are more or less "folky" but any kind of good music is welcome at all.

 

The Rosie is the most variable and probably the most raucous of the sessions, tends to start fairly folk-oriented but later on plenty of 60's, blues, gypsy jazz as well as folk. The Green Dragon is probably the most "folky" of the sessions. The 3rd Tuesday at the Falcon is very well supported with a wide range of high quality music, the 1st Monday session there has just started and can't see a pattern yet. Finally the session at the Wheelwright's is a resurrection of an old long running session that died a while back. First new session yet to happen but history suggests it will be a good 'un

 

The "Bromyard Sessions In Concert" event is different. It's featuring a selection of the regular performers at the pub sessions but in concert format. This will be the 3rd such concert we have run and the previous two have been a great success. More info on this shortly.

Temporary Session date changes - Amendment

To accommodate other vents at a couple of the local sessions the days/days for April have been rescheduled as follows:

1. Walter de Cantelupe, Kempsey, Nr. Worcester : Sunday 19th April instead of 12th April

2. Admiral Rodney, Berrow Green, nr. Martley : Thursday 23rd April for the annual St George's Day celebrations, instead of Wednesday 22nd April.

Be good to see as many of the regulars, and any newcomers, at either or both sessions.

JT

Amendment

Admiral Rodney - totally missed that there were five Wednesdays in April, therefore there will be the usual acoustic/folk monthly session in April on Wednesday 15th.

Apologies for oversight.

JT

Robin Williamson at Malvern Wells

Remember the Incredible String Band? I saw them many times in the late 60's and early 70's at Mother's in Erdington, Birmingham Town Hall (a couple of times) and at various festivals. I have all their albums and still play some of them, especially "5000 Spirits" and "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter".

So I'm really chuffed to learn that half of the ISB, Robin Williamson, is performing locally on March 21st. I've got some of his recent solo stuff and it's great. I've booked my tickets already so here are the details provided by the organiser plus a link to the poster for the venue:

Robin Williamson Poster

Tickets at £10 are available on our number 01684-567058. We'll hold tickets on the door for cheques to be made out to The Wells Revellers and sent to:-

Peter Flagg, 100 Wells Road, Malvern Wells, Worcs. WR14 4PG

Bar - good selection of real ales - open from 7pm, doors open 7.30pm for 8.00pm.  

Very good Thai restaurant Ban Thai 100 m. from venue - open from 6pm.

Tickets also avalable at Daniels Garage, Malvern Wells.

 

Reminder: Jam Session At Marmalade Festival!

Don't forget there will be an acoustic session at the Hop Pole in Bromyard between 1.00 and 3.00 this coming Sunday, 15th February. This is part of the Herefordshire Marmalade Festival which takes place over the weekend. Musicians most welcome as are listeners and marmalade fans.

Brian and I are working frantically to learn "Reflections Of My Life" and "Cousin Norman" to celebrate Marmalade in the right way!

Worcester Traditional Music Page

Be sure to check out and bookmark Mike Walton's website at www.worcesterfolk.org.uk. It includes most of our sessions but also goes further afield throughout Worcestershire with a wealth of information you won't find elsewhere.

Sal's Weekend Winter Warmer

Singaround/MusicSessions/Ceilidh at:

The Sawey Arms Hotel, A49 Wooferton, Ludlow, SY8 4AL

Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th January

Ceilidh Friday 23rd - Cut The Mustard - £5 on the door

Free hard standing for caravans and campers (please book) or rooms in hotel or Travel Lodge next door.

Enquiries: 01568 770821 or email sally.stamford@hotmail.co.uk

"Jam Session" at the Marmalade Festival!

A date for your diaries!

As part of the Herefordshire Marmalade Festival (Download Details) there will be a "jam session" at the Hop Pole in Bromyard around lunchtime on Sunday 15th February. All are welcome to play or listen - for more info nearer the date watch this blog or email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk.

Session Tonight (6th January) at the Hop Pole

Happy New Year to you all!

Tonight's session at the Hop Pole in Bromyard is the first of 2009 so do come along and join in the fun.

Don't forget your thermals!

November Sessions In Bromyard

Dates for sessions in and around Bromyard in November are:

Sunday 2nd November: Rose & Lion

Tuesday 4th November: Hop Pole

Sunday 9th November: Rose & Lion

Tuesday 11th November: Green Dragon, Bishop's Frome

Sunday 16th November: Rose & Lion

Tuesday 18th November: Falcon

Sunday 23rd November: Rose & Lion

Sunday 30th November: Rose & Lion

All kick off around 8.30, musicians and audience welcome at all times.

RUSHWICK FOLK CLUB CONCERT SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER - 8 PM - CMAJOR7

Just a reminder about the Rushwick Folk Club concert this Saturday, 8pm, at Rushwick Village Hall. The artists are the very talented Cmajor7, otherwise known as Chris Stewart (vocals and guitar), Caroline Waldren (accordion and piano), Phil Cross (flute) and Graham Foord (mandolin). They will be ably assisted at times by other performers including the ever-popular Foxtail Soup. £5 on the door. Hope to see you! Best regards Frank Jolley

Bromyard Sessions In Concert : This Friday - 12th September

FREE concert this coming Friday, 12th September, in the Falcon Mews, the medieval banqueting hall at the back of the Falcon Hotel on Bromyard's main street. Doors open at 8.00, music starts at 8.30 and finishes at 11.30 or when we've had enough, whichever is later!

What's it all about?

Well, Friday is the first night of Bromyard's famous Folk Festival, the highlight of our year when huge numbers of music fans visit us for a weekend of terrific folk and roots music. But Bromyard is blessed with amazing live acoustic music during every one of the other 51 weeks of the year and this is our chance to show visitors it's well worth coming to Bromyard more than once a year.

"Bromyard Sessions" is a community of musicians living in and near Bromyard who regularly figure in our popular pub sessions. There are normally a couple of these every week in Bromyard or the nearby villages featuring a wide range of music including traditional English folk, Irish, blues, country, gypsy jazz, modern folk and much more.

So with the support of the Folk Festival we are giving a FREE concert for festival visitors and townsfolk alike. Just turn up. No tickets required. Fully stocked bar including real ale straight from the barrel and a great time guaranteed.

For more info email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk.

Photos From Moors Meadow

I have uploaded a load of photos from last Sunday's day at Moors Meadow. Take a look at the photo album in the right navigation.

Thanks to Ray Whittaker. for more info on Ray see: www.PowerfulImagery.co.uk.

A Hot Day in August

A HOT DAY IN AUGUST

Flower-power and Music, Food and Art, all come together to make a perfect day

In aid of St.Michaels Hospice.

At  Moors Meadow Garden and Nursery, Collington, HR7 4LZ 

4 miles North of Bromyard on B4214, Tenbury Road.

www.moorsmeadow.co.uk tel: 01885 410318

On Sunday 10^th. August from 11.00am - 5.00pm I would like to welcome you all to my garden to join in this great day, you will be greeted at the entrance by my friends and family (watch out for the ones in hats they are crazy-barking, but don’t tell them I told you), you will be asked to pay - Adults £4. Children 3-16 years £1. Yes, only £4 for a whole day of entertainment.

Flower-power- As you approach the 7-acre garden you will see superb views over the beautiful Kyre valley, then you will enter another world where the microclimate allows for plants rarely seen in Britain and where the whole feel of the garden is one of peace and tranquillity. It is a garden with a WOW factor and like none you have ever seen before. It has a little ‘formal’ with orderly laid-out vegetable garden and herb parterre. It has lots of ‘ordered chaos’ with large beds and borders of herbaceous perennials. It has ‘bring your own machete’ with narrow paths meandering through shrubberies and at every turn something different. It has a grass garden combined with plants of a more structural form, and fernery with it’s stone men’hir. There are small dingles with large trees and long sweeping wild flower meadow with innumerable specimen trees and shrubs and the oak circle with a unique new seat. The lake is stunning with many varieties of plants both in the water and around the margins, the jetty is great to watch wildlife from, with many species of damselflies and dragonflies, or sit and relax on the ‘hobbit house’ porch. For luxurious comfort try the house veranda overlooking the lily pools and courtyard. It is a garden full of inspiration and ideas, with many original features and unusual sculptures and seats. You can chat to the Head Gardener or maybe meet Bromyard Mayor Jonathan Lester.

Music - Head to the terrace where you can listen to 6 hours of acoustic music from some very talented local bands;

The folkish ‘Foxtail Soup’ will astound you with their versatility on a number of instruments and with unaccompanied songs.

‘Tony Burt’ who’s varied repertoire is so big he could play for 24 hours without playing the same song twice.

‘Pete and Stevie Geoghegan’, Pete’s legendary playing is accompanied by Stevie’s sweet melodious voice that will delight all.

‘Les ’Ot Potatoes’ for a toe-tapping, hand-clapping good ole Cajun sound.

Gypsy Jazz from the absolutely amazing ‘Tipsy Jazz’ a new band of young musicians whose talent is awesome, the speed their fingers fly up and down the frets is totally mesmerizing.

Some lazy day jazz from ‘The other Tony and Friends’.

‘Ken Crowther’ wordsmith extraordinaire, the resident poet at ‘The Floor’ will have you tickled pink and raucously red with laughter.

‘Richard and Anne’, great voice for traditional folk and sea shanties.

‘Ian-Blues Boy-Jackson’ will be joined by Dave on slide and Sue on spoons.

‘Angelcynn’, this father and son duo play the music and song of old and new England.

‘Brian Jones’ will play some of our favourite sounds of the sixties and seventies.

‘Eric and Eileen’ with guitar and voice this duo compliment each other superbly.

Food - Throughout the day the Bromyard and District Support Group for St.Michaels Hospice will be serving refreshments should you want morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea, along with some delicious home-made cake.

Art - “Oliver Dakers Blacksmith” is an enthusiastic Artist Blacksmith with a flair for design and creation, he is skilled in a great range of work but is most inspired by Art Nouveaux and the Arts and Crafts Movement. He is joined by another young blacksmith and together they will enthral and astound you with their creative genius.

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS SESSION TUESDAY 29 JULY WHEATSHEAF, WHITBOURNE ON A44

Quick reminder - Country Music/Bluegrass session again this Tuesday 29 July, and last Tuesday every month. Hope you can make it!

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS SESSION TUESDAY 25 JULY WHEATSHEAF, WHITBOURNE ON A44

Quick reminder - Country Music/Bluegrass session again Tuesday 29 July - last Tuesday every month. Hope you can make it!

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS SESSION TUESDAY 25 JULY WHEATSHEAF, WHITBOURNE ON A44

Quick reminder - Country Music/Bluegrass session again Tuesday 29 July - last Tuesday every month. Hope you can make it!