Our next free concert is on Sunday 28 September 2025 with Glorishears in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. The concert starts at 3 pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15 pm.
This is a change from the previously advertised line-up as violinist Oscar Tabor is no longer available. However, we are pleased to welcome back Graham Vincent performing with Chris Edmunds.
Together they form Glorishears (named after the old English tune – a corruption of Glorious Years). The duo features Graham Vincent on fiddle and voice and Chris Edmunds on melodeon and accordion. Their performances feature traditional English tunes and songs, but expect some fine music from further afield to be added to the mix!
Graham has performed for us several times paired with the guitar of David Mitchell.
‘I’m really looking forward to playing at Music on the Levels again,’ says Graham, ‘it’s always an inspiring place to play thanks to the wonderful setting and acoustics, the lovely team running the event and, last but not least, some of the best cakes in Somerset!’
Quite simply, two ‘consummate musicians’ with an unbridled passion for their music.
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. Visitors are asked not to 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.
For the first concert after our summer break, on Sunday 29 September, we have the ever-popular, Reg Meuross, making his fourth appearance at Music on the Levels.
As usual, the concert starts at 3 pm, refreshments served from 2.15 pm, in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP
Performing at Music on the Levels in 2022
Bringing new songs from a forthcoming song cycle about the life of Woody Guthrie – Fire and Dust – and his acclaimed release Stolen From God. Love, death, political events and social themes are the subjects of the songs of English singer-songwriter Reg Meuross from Somerset. He is a modern folk troubadour who pays a close attention to his lyrics and has already won several prizes in his own country for his songs and albums, in addition to the general appreciation he has earned for his work. Several music critics think that elements from the sound of great folk singers like Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen can be heard in his music.
The breadth and depth of Reg Meuross’s material is unparalleled in contemporary folk: songs about forgotten heroes, famous names, folk legends, the climate emergency, tales from the kitchen sink and news from the world stage.
Someone said: ‘If something needs to be sung about then Reg Meuross has a song for it!’ And this proved to be the case when Reg performed here in February 2020 with a especially composed song about Westonzoyland. Challenged by a resident in 2010 to write a song about the village, the composition became a moving tribute to the many who fought and died in the Battle of Weston in 1685, and travesty of justice that followed.
Meuross has the gift of being able to touch people through his songs and performance, painting pictures that remain with the listener long after the song has been sung.
“I’m happy to be returning to sing in this beautiful church, to a wonderful audience and community,” says Reg.
Masterfully accompanying himself on his ‘44 Martin six-string guitar, harmonica, tenor guitar, banjo and dulcimer and captivating audiences with his beautiful tenor voice, witnessing a Reg Meuross performance is to experience a journey into the heart, soul and songs of one of England’s finest writers.
“…assured a place in the pantheon of great folk songwriters.” David Kidman, The Living Tradition
“Classic, with echoes of early Dylan, Tom Paxton and Leonard Cohen” The Guardian
“The remarkable singer-songwriter that is Reg Meuross” Sean Rafferty, Radio 3
“A mighty songwriter and an equally fine singer” Martin Carthy
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.
Our next concert on Sunday 26 May 2024 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP features the first appearance at Music on the Levels of Dan Whitehouse who is touring nationally a programme entitledA Night Of Glass.
‘Of course, for Music on the Levels we’d call it An Afternoon of Glass, says Dan.
As usual, the concert starts at 3 pm, refreshments served from 2.15 pm.
Over the past two years, acclaimed Black Country singer-songwriter Dan Whitehouse has been in a transparently reflective mood with three albums all themed around the nature of glass. The Glass Age, Voices From The Conesand Reflections On The Glass Age. Songs from these projects have now been gathered together for Night Of Glass, a simple but hypnotic live experience in which, variously behind a piano or on guitar Dan takes audience deep into the heart of glass in its myriad manifestations. His expressive style has a hint of Bowie here, a touch of Cohen there, and the performance is interspersed with narrative in his hearty Black Country voice.
Dan Whitehouse is recognised as one of the most individual voices in the field. Tom Robinson recently invited him to join him at an important gig at The Bolehall Manor in Tamworth.
‘My debut solo release was the balloon EP in 2009 and Tom Robinson was the first DJ to give it a spin on national radio’, comments Dan, ‘He went one step further and invited me to an immersion song writing retreat in rural Kent, an experience that shaped me and steered me towards the path I tread today.’
Along that path, Dan has received many favourable reviews. Here are a few:
Dan glides elegantly between propulsive guitar work and a refined pianistic sensibility that snatches intervals almost out of thin air, like glimpses of sunlight sparked off the facias of distant skyscrapers. MusoMuso
Gorgeous . . Intriguing. The Guardian
Dan has an outstanding singing voice, possesses a unique artistic vision and displays songwriting excellence. Chris Difford
Wonderful production and writing. Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music
Perhaps Mr Whitehouse’s greatest gift is his knack for writing seemingly simple songs that most listeners will be able to relate to. MAVERICK
Subtle and delicate melodies. The Sunday Times
Nothing short of beautiful – **** . RnR Magazine
Devotees of inventive, imaginative music-making should enjoy the new offerings from the excellent Dan Whitehouse. Morning Star
For an album partly inspired by distance, barriers and locked-down-ness, people and connection ripple through The Glass Age. Arts Culture Mag
… an earworm chorus hook that should send a luminous glow through Radio 2. Mike Davies
A seven track meditation on the way human experience and connecting has changed through the medium of virtual communication.folking.com
Maybe one day social historians will document the cultural impacts of screens and instant communication. When they do this album should be mentioned as it sums up this Zeitgeist better than anything I’ve heard. FATEA
. . . like glimpses of sunlight sparked off the facias of distant skyscrapers. MusoMuso
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.
Saturday 22 June 2019, 3.30 pm St Mary’s Church TA7 0EP
Creative interpretation of traditional folk songs with beautiful guitar and harmonium playing. ‘I play guitar, dulcimer and harmonium. I mainly sing English traditional song, the only kind of music that never gets old.’
There is no need to book; just turn up in time to be seated by 3.30 pm. The concert is presented during the Church Fête which starts at 2 pm in the church. So come early to browse the stalls and sample the refreshments on sale.
Sunday 28 October 2018, 3.30 pm Church Hall TA7 0ED
Nationally-acclaimed harpist, Sally presents a delicious mix of popular, traditional, classical and folk for solo harp and accompanied voice, in a mainly Celtic themed programme. She will play music from Ireland, the British Isles and European Celtic nations, on both the lever and the pedal harp.
Music on the Levels 