What's On — World Music & Folk events

Mariza
More Info Cancelled
Wed 21 Jan 2009 Symphony Hall
Richard Thompson: 1000 Years of Popular Music
More Info Book Tickets
Thu 29 Jan 2009 Town Hall

Displaying his trademark humour and uncanny genius, Richard Thompson takes you on a personal journey through his list of the greatest songs of the Millennium. From the ballads of the early middle ages, to more modern songs originally made known by such artists as Nat King Cole, Nelly Furtado, Gilbert & Sullivan and The Who, "_this as much a journey through Thompson's virtuosity as through a millennium of song._" The Guardian £20, £25
with *Judith Owen* (vocals, piano) and *Debra Dobkin* (percussion, vocals)
Juan Martin Flamenco Ensemble
More Info Book Tickets
Thu 5 Feb 2009 Town Hall

Voted into the top guitarists in the world by US Guitar Player magazine, Juan Martin brings his line up of the finest dancers and musicians. Martins ensemble is at the vanguard of modern flamenco with a unique style of music that succeeds in embracing classical, jazz and modern harmonies. An evening of exhilarating music and dance not to be missed. £10, £15, £20
Tom Paxton
More Info Book Tickets
Tue 24 Feb Town Hall

Tom Paxton's songs are known and loved around the world: _The Last Thing On My Mind_, _Ramblin Boy_, and _Bottle Of Wine_, just a few of his truly timeless works. His generosity to both audiences and fellow musicians is renowned, and his passion for justice and the ties that bind people together is unwavering: for all this and more, Tom Paxton ranks as one of the most revered musicians of his generation. "_I think we are all born singing Tom Paxton songs_" *Nanci Griffith* "_Tom's songs are fine songs in anyone's book_" *Uncut*
Festival of Polish Folklore
More Info Book Tickets
Sat 28 Feb 2009 Symphony Hall

All over the world where there are Polish people, they keep to their old traditions and encourage a sense of belonging and roots. One of the most colourful and fun ways of doing this is through song and dance. The colour, excitement and spectacle of Polish dance and music can be seen at Symphony Hall: over two days the UK's largest gathering of Polish folk performers, featuring 12 groups and over 300 performers from across the UK, will take to stage to bring Polish culture alive. From the fiery elegance and grandeur of national dance, the Krakowiak, to the acrobatic feats of strength found in the rural dances of the Carpathian Mountains, the 7th Festival of Polish Folklore in Great Britain has it all. £15
Fairport Convention Winter Tour 2009 plus special guest
More Info Book Tickets
Sat 7 Mar 2009 Town Hall

Enjoy an evening of great music with Fairport Convention, the legendary originators of British folk-rock, featuring Simon Nicol (guitar, vocal), Dave Pegg (bass, backing vocal), Chris Leslie (fiddle, mandolin, vocal), Ric Sanders (violin), and Gerry Conway (drums). Fairport Convention has attracted huge critical acclaim and has delighted audiences for over four decades, not least on its annual Winter Tours and at its world-famous music festival at Cropredy. Fairport Convention has won the coveted BBC Radio 2 Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted the groundbreaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time'. The album has since gone on to win a Gold Disk for Fairport. In 2009, Fairport Convention's greatest strength is still live performance and this concert will present an exciting mix of the old and new. Longstanding Fairport favourites such as Matty Groves will share the bill with new songs from the band's most recent albums. £21
Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet
More Info Book Tickets
Fri 24 Apr 2009 Symphony Hall

More details to follow
English Orginals Festival
More Info
15 May - 17 May 2009 Town Hall & Symphony Hall

Town Hall and Symphony Hall is delighted to announce its second English Originals Festival will take place over the weekend of 15 - 17 May 2009. Last year's hugely successful three day celebration of original and innovative English music saw a sell out audience for national treasure Billy Bragg alongside spectacular performances by artists such as Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Tunng, Lou Rhodes and Bishi. Described as “a superb weekend of folk music” and “of sublime contrast and invigorating energy” by the Birmingham Post, the heady mix of traditional folk and leading contemporary singer songwriters is set to continue. Details of the weekend line-up and programme for the second English Originals Festival will be announced soon.
Christy Moore with Declan Sinnott
More Info Book Tickets
Mon 1 Jun 2009 Symphony Hall

“The mighty figure of Christy Moore looms over Irish song in much the same way that Martin Carthy dominates the English folk scene” Nigel Williamson, The Times Christy Moore has been singing, writing and collecting songs for most of his life. His career spans an amazing 40 years, and includes over 30 recorded releases. His live performances have run the gamut from small folk clubs in Ireland and England to premier concert halls throughout the world. Christy is regarded by many as one of Ireland’s most important and influential artists, being called ‘Ireland’s Woody Guthrie’ by some and considered by many to be a national treasure. “I’ve been singing since before I could talk and performing since I’ve learned to walk - songs have infiltrated every corner of my life. I’ve been learning where the music comes from and how the words sound so different when they are sung. I’ve been mesmerised by the power of the greatest musical instrument and I’ve witnessed how it can induce the healing tears of sadness and laughter.” Christy Moore
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club featuring Cachito Lopez, guajiro Mirabal, Aguaje Ramos, Manuel Galban & Barbarito Torres
More Info Book Tickets
Thu 8 Oct 2009 Symphony Hall

An extraordinary line-up of Buena Vista Social Club™ stalwarts, together in a 13 piece band direct from Havana present some of the finest Cuban music ever made. This unique concert will take audiences on a musical excursion from the original 1996 Buena Vista Social Club™ recordings up to the present day. Each of these artists has an individual take on the gamut of Cuban Music, and they’ve each put their own stamp on son montunos, danzón, cha cha cha, boleros and Cuban jazz. Having honed their skills over many years, their passion for the music has remains undiminished. Now after ten years as the backbone of the Buena Vista Social Club™ and as Ibrahim Ferrer's live band and Grammy winning albums, this esteemed group finally gets their chance to shine. The heartbeat of the Buena Vista Social Club™, Cuban bass player Orlando 'Cachaíto' López is the only musician who has played on every track on every album in the World Circuit Buena Vista Social Club™ series. Cachaito's groundbreaking debut album on World Circuit, Cachaíto, won a BBC Radio 3 Award for Word Music in 2002 and was hailed by The Independent as a 'masterpiece'. Guajiro Mirabal's distinctive trumpet sound has accompanied virtually every Cuban star you could mention. His blistering tribute to the son conjuntos of the great Arsenio Rodriguéz, Buena Vista Social Club™ Presents Guajiro Mirabal has been nominated for a Latin Grammy and its release was met with widespread praise. 'Brilliant' - New York Times. Jesús 'Aguaje' Ramos' trombone has been an integral part of World Circuit's Cuban recordings for the past decade, and both his playing and bandleading skills have made him a key feature on various Buena Vista tours. He is the musical director of the show as he was on many of the past Buena Vista tours led by Ibrahim Ferrer and Rubén González Guitarist, pianist and organist Manual Galbán made his name with seminal Cuban doo-wop group Los Zafiros, and in recent years has appeared on a number of albums in the Buena Vista series. His duets album with Ry Cooder, Mambo Sinuendo won a Grammy in 2004. Barbarito Torres, another of the “original” Buena Vista Social Club lineup, is Cuba’s reigning master of the laud, a twelve string lute. He uses traditional guajiro rhythms to render traditional Cuban music that defies you not to dance. The New York Times called him “the Cuban Chuck Berry”.