Author: musiconthelevels

Steve Jinski on Sunday!

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The next concert is on Sunday 18 May 2025 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP with Steve Jinski. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm 

Steve Jinski is a songwriter, singer, performer, musician, music educator and cultural visionary. Born to an Irish mother and a Polish father, brought up in Liverpool, Steve is a truly international artist. He has toured the UK, Ireland, Europe, and Scandinavia as a solo artist and with his recently put together group of musicians simply known as The Festival Band.

Steve has made numerous festival appearances and opened shows for David Gray, Richard Thompson, Eddie Reader, The Proclaimers, Eliza Carthy and Rick Wakeman, to name just a few. Radio and TV appearances include BBC 1 The One Show.

Steve’s music is born of the singer songwriter tradition drawing on influences that include acoustic, folk, Americana, indie and blues but still he retains his own unique voice. Playing ‘live’ Steve accompanies himself on acoustic guitar, and piano. Added to the mix you’ll hear the occasional acapella tune, a wailing harmonica, a couple of interesting cover versions, some tall tales and a positive vibe that will leave you feeling so glad you came to see the show. Steve is equally at home in large concert venues and small intimate acoustic settings.

To date Steve has released 4 albums, 2 EPs and numerous singles. He has just released a brand-new double CD album titled ‘Muscle Memory’ which is available in hard copy CD, as a download, and on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.  Distribution is through Lucky Smile Records / Proper Music. This is an album that steps forward whilst looking back. Originally the project was to be a revisit, remix and rework of Steve’s debut album ‘Eventually’, previously only available on vinyl. However, Muscle Memory has grown into a collection of newer songs and timeless Steve Jinski classics, together with some gems which were (inexplicably!) overlooked at the time of their inception.

‘This is lovely stuff. You can hear all the love that’s gone into it’ – Bob Harris BBC Radio 2

‘One of the best originators of acoustic song around today’ – 5 STARS Rock ‘N’ Reel magazine

Further information:

stevejinski,com

SteveJinskiSpotify

SteveJinskiYouTuubeChannel

This Sunday: The Fitzwarren Trio

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The next free concert is with The Fitzwarren Trio on Sunday 27 April 2025 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm 

The Fitzwarren Trio is part of the Fitzwarren Collective- a Community Interest Company – directed by Jeannette Owen. 

‘We are a group of creatives that meet to play bespoke music by Somerset composers’, says Jeannette. 

‘The trio consists of Amanda Ayling playing flute and piccolo, Alice Thomas on clarinet and bass clarinet, and myself with flute and alto flute.’

Amanda and Jeannette studied together at the London College of Music and Alice at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Jeannette has recently been awarded a Masters in composition from Bath Spa. They have been playing together as a trio for a number of years, performing at many local concerts and events, and in more recent years, have concentrated on playing music written especially for this trio by Alice and Jeannette.

‘Our music is classical in style and very accessible, even though it’s new’, comments Jeannette, ‘and we’ll also play some familiar works too.

‘In this concert, you will hear some popular classics by composers such as Vivaldi, Schubert and Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan), some folk tunes and pieces written by Alice Thomas and me. These pieces are often inspired by the local landscape and our lives, such as our families, pets and travels.’

Performing Rights Society is supporting the Event with their Charity discount.

Harmonious March

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Music on the Levels announces details of its free concert with Rolling Harmony on Sunday 30 March 2025 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm 

Rolling Harmony is a vibrant vocal ensemble of experienced singers from the South West, passionate about the music they sing and excited about the sound they create as a group. Their performances showcase the group’s rich range of voices and are infused with their sheer enjoyment of singing together. 

“An exquisite blend of voices and rich harmonies”

Rolling Harmony has performed to great acclaim across the South West of England, including Bath Abbey, Halsway Manor, Shaftesbury Fringe, Calstock Arts and in the far west of Cornwall. They are delighted to be performing for the first time at Music on the Levels.

“Wonderful… truly wonderful”
“Soul-filling”
“Beautiful repertoire, fabulous voices… loved it”
“Amazing… sublime”

Glorious music and gorgeous vocal harmonies, rooted in English and American harmony singing traditions. Songs with compelling lyrics, captivating rhythms and interweaving vocal lines, and delicious arrangements of much-loved jazz standards. There’s something for everyone…

Performing Rights Society is supporting this event with their Charity Discount.

Arrangements for this concert

There is no need to book as the church’s capacity have never yet been exceeded. However, it should be noted that seats are available on a first come, first served basis. 

In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged. It costs over £400 to put on a concert.

There is limited parking on the road by the church but there is additional parking at Somerset Young Farmers on School Road TA7 0LN, map attached. Visitors are asked not to park in Church Lane as this prevents resident access.

. . and a reminder of our February concert with Trio Paradis- from left:  Ruth O’Shea – violin, Jacquelyn Bevan – piano, and Linda Stocks – cello.

Bringing some sun to dark winter days

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The free concert on Sunday 23 February 2025 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP is by Trio Paradis.

The concert starts at 3 pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15 pm.

Much appreciated at Music on the Levels many times over the past few years, Somerset-based Trio Paradis (Jacquelyn Bevan – piano, Ruth O’Shea – violin and Linda Stocks – cello) return with a programme entitled ‘The Latin American Collection’. 

‘This collection of music by South American composers will bring some sun to dark winter days’, says Jacquelyn, ‘with popular dances such as Tango and Rumba alongside classical and reflective pieces. 

‘Composers include Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, the king of Argentinian Tango, Astor Piazzolla, fellow Argentinian Magdalena Garcia Robson, Cuban brother and sister composers Ernestina and Ernesto Lecuona, Mexican Manuel Ponce and Carlos Guastavino, the Schubert of the Pampas. 

‘The music will be introduced as we go along – it’s a fun and informal concert.’

Arrangements for this concert

There is limited parking on the road by the church but there is additional parking at Somerset Young Farmers on School Road TA7 0LN, map attached. Please do not park in Church Lane as this prevents resident access.

There is no need to book as the church’s capacity have never yet been exceeded. However, it should be noted that seats are available on a first come, first served basis. 

In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged. It costs over £400 to put on a concert.

. . . . ..and a reminder of our January concert:

The Barnacle Buoys delighted a packed and enthusiastic audience.

Start 2025 with some swagger!

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As it approaches its tenth year, Music on the Levels announces another varied programme of Sunday afternoon concerts. It is maintaining its winning formula of making the concerts free to attend while raising money to cover costs by offering refreshments at modest charges, holding a raffle and accepting donations

The first concert of the year is with The Barnacle Buoys on Sunday 26 January 2025 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm and reveals outline details of concerts for the rest of the year.

The Barnacle Buoys is a group of a cappella sea shanty singers based in North Somerset. It exists to enjoy their craft, entertain audiences and raise money for charities.  

‘In recent times we have consistently completed over 40 performances each year’, comments Clare Flay, the group’s organiser, ‘and this has been a significant contribution to the charities we support. Our main charities are CHSW and RNLI and over the past 12years since the group was established, we have raised thousands of pounds for them including may other charities. We have also organised shanty events on board the cherished MV Balmoral.

‘The Barnacle Buoys have known each other for many years before realising that they had something in common: the appreciation of shanty music.  After making the discovery the Buoys got together in February 2013 and shared a pint or two in the Old Inn, Clevedon and experimented with a few shanties.  The rest, as they say, is history . . .’

Arrangements for this concert

There is no need to book as the church’s capacity have never yet been exceeded. However, it should be noted that seats are available on a first come, first served basis. 

In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged. It costs over £400 to put on a concert.

Website: https://musiconthelevels.com/

The remaining concerts are as follows:Sunday  January

Sunday 23 February

Trio Paradis

Presenting ‘The Latin American Collection’.

Sunday 30 March

Rolling Harmony 

Glorious music rooted in English and American singing traditions.

Sunday 27 April

The Fitzwarren Trio

Well- known classical pieces and new compositions inspired by Somerset. 

Sunday 18 May

Steve Jinski- Folk Acoustic Guitar

This is lovely stuff. You can hear all the love that’s gone into it – Bob Harris Radio 2.

Sunday 29 June

Lutes and other instruments

Presented by Steve Graham with ravishing music.

Sunday 28 September

Jacquelyn Bevan and Oscar Tabor

Piano and virtuoso violin.

Sunday 26 October

Spirit of the Blues

Julia Titus recreates the songs of Bessie Smith.

Sunday 30 November

Kingsbury Band

The ever-popular forty-piece concert band.