Music

We’ve had to change the concert for 24 March

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Music on the Levels announces a change in its free concert on Sunday 24 March in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. 

Adam Piggott of Wildwood Jack is indisposed and unable to perform. However, Music on the Levels is pleased and privileged to have secured the ‘impossibly talented’ Rodney Branigan to appear at this concert.

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

The Texas-born troubadour, Rodney Branigan, who learned to play in Austin, perform in Los Angeles, craft songs in Nashville, and put it all together in London has played all types of music in all types of venues in his storied career. His adventurous, boundary-breaking guitar playing (sometimes two at the same time) earning him the title “The Two Guitar Man” has led to performance invites across America, India, Africa, and Europe

In 2018 Rodney catches the attention of Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis who offers Rodney a headline spot at the Glastonbury Extravaganza (the very next day!) at Glastonbury Abbey. It is a double bill alongside Tom Odell. The response is immediate and Rodney lands a spot on the Glastonbury Festival Acoustic Stage. Rodney performs to a seam-splitting and fully crowded tent and the show goes down like a storm.

Rodney Branigan’s style is termed ‘full contact folk music’, Americana Folk Roots with virtuoso presentation, with a touch of clean comedy thrown in for good measure.

He has toured and collaborated with around 40 of the foremost performers in the field, including Billy Bragg, Stereo Phonics, and Tom Robinson, to name but a few.

In addition, he has appeared at well over 80 festivals in more than 15 countries around the world, including many in the UK and in his native USA.

Enthusiastic endorsements have followed Rodney’s musical progress, among them:

Rodney Branigan is one of the most amazing artists you will ever see. Not simply because he is unique, but rather because he is impossibly talented. Music Connection Magazine

Leave to cross France from end to end, because this is what we call a real discovery. A contemporary musician as innovative as the Boulez was in his time. Paris Moves

Every year there will be one or two artists that take the audience completely by surprise. This year Rodney Branigan was undoubtedly that artist, his name being mentioned in our feedback over and over again as peoples stand out act. John Marshall-Potter, FolkEast

‘Rodney is always very keen to perform in local, community venues and is especially looking forward to his first visit to Westonzoyland’, comments Lisa Nasta, Rodney’s representative. 

A member of Music on the Levels said, ‘We are thrilled that an artist of Rodney Branigan’s stature has agreed to play at our next concert.’

Daughters of the Muse

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The next concert concert is on Sunday 25 February 2024 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.

Performing at this concert will be Trio Paradis, much appreciated at Music on the Levels many times over the past few years.

The programme is entitled Daughters of the Muse, to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, and will consist of music by women composers from over the centuries.

Trio Paradis consists of Jacquelyn Bevan, piano, Lisa Betteridge, violin, and Linda Stocks, cello. The performers will introduce the music with biographical details about the composers. 

‘We specialise in performing music by women composers,’ says Jacquelyn, ‘and this time we are presenting a varied programme of pieces with a spring-time theme, from 12th century Abbess Hildegard of Bingen to the 20th century, including works by Clara Schumann, Laura Netzel, Elfrida Andree, Helena Lopuska, Mel Bonis, Cecile Chaminade and Lili Boulanger, along with a rarely-performed Scherzo by Bath composer, Kate Loder.’ 

Morris Minor saves the day.

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There’s a change to our concert on Sunday 28 January 2024. Due to the illness of one of its members, The Barnacle Buoys will be unable to play on this date. 

However, Morris Minor (folk songs, shanties and more) has kindly agreed to perform in their stead.

Morris Minor is the singing arm of Chalice Morris and appears regularly at The Vault in Weston-super-Mare and at festivals and events across the region.

‘Bob and I are rather steeped in the English folksongery,’ says Paul Wilson, a founder member of Morris Minor, ‘and Bob has inherited an original copy of Cecil Sharp’s Folk Songs of Somerset from the Rev Kenneth Loveless who was taught the concertina by William Kimber the Musician for the Headington Quarry Morris Men.

‘It was hearing Kimber playing set off Sharp collecting Morris Dancing and, as they say, the rest is history . . . . . ‘

Paul goes on to say that he and Bob Cross have been singing a capella together for over 40 years. Bob and Paul were the founders of Morris Minor. They were joined by Derek Bond, their comic song and monologue specialist, Andy Hebden their bass voice and melodeon player and Harlan Chapman-Green the main shantyman ( AKA the Handsome Cabin Boy). Unfortunately, Derek will be away at this time.

As usual, the concert will take place in in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm. 

We hope to feature The Barnacle Boys some time in 2025.

Church Fête Concert- Si Barron

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Saturday 22 June 2019, 3.30 pm St Mary’s Church TA7 0EP

Si Baron singing

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.’

Website: http://sibarron.eu/index.html

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.

Contact Ann Philcox on 01278 691438 akphilcox@btinternet.com for more information.

Black Cat Jazz

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Sunday 26 May 2019, 3.30 pm St Mary’s Church TA7 0EP

Black Cat Jazz

A six-piece band playing in the New Orleans dance hall style, in a varied programme, including popular songs, blues, rags, jazz standards and a liberal sprinkling of spirituals.

Website: http://www.blackcatjazz.co.uk

There is no need to book; just turn up in time to be seated by 3.30 pm. The church is open all day; teas served from 3.00 pm. Contact Ann Philcox on 01278 691438 akphilcox@btinternet.comfor more information.