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.

JOYFUL NOVEMBER

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The final concert for 2024 is on Sunday 24 November 2024 at 3 pm in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP, with a performance by Joyful Spirit. Refreshments available from 2.15 pm.

‘We sing a range of music both accompanied and a capela with a broad gospel theme’, says choir representative, Marshall Clements, ‘Some of the songs we may sing could include: O Happy day, Dancing Queen, You love is lifting me higher, Son of a Preacher Man, Ain’t no Mountain high Eng, Hold on to the Rock, Feel the Spirit, Burning Love, Bridge over troubled Water. Lord I know I’ve Been changed, Mr Blue Sky, Hamba Lulu, Africa, Amazing Grace. I wish, Deep River. Walking on Sunshine. Let the River run.

Joyful Spirit is a community choir, made up of people over 18 and under 100 from all walks of life and backgrounds with different musical ability, based in Wrington. 

‘We are enthusiastically led by Alison Cooper White and her understanding of musical harmony makes the choir want to improve to reward her for all the work she puts in.’

The choir is supported by its band which is made up of Andrew Tyrell on Key board, Richard Fairs on Drums and Michael Gillett on Bass.

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. Please do not park in Church Lane as this prevents resident access.

Further information

01278 699071/ f.challenger@icloud.com

. . AND REMINDERS OF LAST MONTH’S CONCERT

Sam on Bouzouki and vocals, Sarah on Bass and Mandolin and Alex on stomping fiddle. This was Arquebus.

Homepage
https://musiconthelevels.com

Arquebus fires again!

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Our free concert on Sunday 27 October 2024 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP, is a return visit by Arquebus. Concert starts at 3 pm with home-made refreshments served from2.15 pm.

Winners of Purbeck Rising 2023 Arquebus Trio are establishing themselves firmly on the UK folk scene.

Off the back of an exciting summer of folk festivals including Wimborne, Swanage, Bridport and Purbeck Valley, they can’t wait to come and perform in Westonzoyland.

Especially as their performance will include original songs about the Battle of Sedgemoor and Admiral Blake as well as traditional songs and foot stomping tune sets; all from their debut album First Skirmish. 

‘Plus, you can learn how to count in Sheep!’, comments Sam Patten. He continued with an explanation of the name: ‘It is a long story but basically an arquebus was one of the first types of musket from the 15th century. It all comes from a comment someone made when we first started about how the arquebus was a bit hit & miss and you would basically set fire to it and hope for the best. Needless to say it tended to backfire and we joked it was a bit like our playing. So the name stuck.’ 

With Sam on Bouzouki and vocals, Alex on stomping fiddle and Sarah jumping about too much on Bass and Mandolin, Arquebus are full of fun, banter and stories.

There will be something for all folk fans to enjoy.

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.

Further information

https://www.facebook.com/ArquebusTrio

https://musiconthelevels.com