Festival events

The Mithras Trio have established themselves as one of the next generation’s most exciting and dynamic piano trios. Named as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for the 2021-2023 seasons, they have recorded extensively for BBC Radio 3, as well as giving live-broadcast concerts. They have performed at many of London’s major venues, including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, and have also appeared in concert across Europe and North America. Their programme features works by Haydn and Mendelssohn and music from Ravel and his contemporary Mel Bonis. The Guardian: ‘seriously good chamber music playing’, The Arts Desk: ‘exhilarating, highly-toned performances’.

Refreshments available.

One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin Simpson’s interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His remarkable solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. Martin’s latest solo album, Skydancers, is a twin release featuring a live CD and a studio CD, including some of his favourite musicians. A virtuoso player without question. Martin Simpson conveys from the heart his diverse treasure trove of material, performing with subtlety, intensity and honesty. A true master of his art. The Guardian: ‘One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene... sounds better than ever’. Praise for Skydancers: KLOF MAG ‘An excellent record from a master of his craft’; UNCUT ‘Acoustic finger-picking magic’; MOJO ‘Penguin eggs-good. Seriously.’

Melodic jazz with inspirations from around the world. Cape Town-born pianist/composer Clouts’ South African roots have inspired a voyage of discovery that has led to him soaking up the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso, the bluesy melodies of Middle Eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel, while honouring jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd. On their latest CD, entitled Umoya, Clouts’ African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to Gnawa music and Afrobeat, and further to pan-European folksong and soul-jazz. Joined by rising star saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Tim Fairhall and drummer Ted Carrasco, he brings his musical journey alive with superb musicianship and infectious vigour. Chris Phillips Jazz FM: ‘The best of British jazz’; The Guardian: ‘Precise ebullience and relaxed funkiness’.

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Ken Wood & the Mixers brought the house down when they previously played at Nailsworth Festival. Now they’re back with a whole new show that they’ve been performing at festivals, including the Edinburgh Fringe, over the past year. Spearheaded by that whirling R&B dervish Mr Kenneth B Woode, and featuring the Mixers’ full eight-piece line-up, “Amazing Stories of Blues and Soul: The Road Trip” is the Mixers’ very own big stage show and takes audiences on a rollicking journey around the places where soul, blues and R&B were born - with the stories, the songs and a wild stage show that capture the raw energy of the early days of rhythm and blues. Fringe Review: ‘Top notch musicianship with segues that are both informative and funny. The whole show fizzes with noise and energy. What’s not to like!’.

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