Friday, 22 January 2016

Sunday 31st January

....and so farewell.

I'm hoping that this will be a quiet and intimate affair. Some of the larger bands have had to  call off or are coming in reduced size ( we've had apologies and bid farewell and good luck to Emma and the Professor; Heed the Thunder; Thieves of Time; Stash)
In a month when we've said farewell to the likes of Bowie and Lemmy and Glen Frey, I'd also like to  remember Marcus Morris from A  Month of Sundays, Jarvis and Trigg, and Paul Brett from Red Madog, both of whom are Balladeers who passed away and for whom Balladeers and Chancers was their last public performance...a humbling
event...no less so than the bands they fronted or performed with will be performing on Sunday.

The line up will be,( in  no particular order of performance);

An Afternoon of Sundays ( slightly reduced A Month of Sundays)

The Himalayas

Red Madog

The Volunteers

Vaginapocalypse

Aspel Orchid

Anya

..and a couple of others doing an odd song or two

we start around 17.30 and go on 'til we stop.

The laptop is about to go into repair or retirement. I had hoped to have edited copies of performances on Sunday night.If you have ever played, the chances are I have recording from the desk.If you want a copy, let me know on swatty.yikes@gmail.com and in the spring I'll hopefully get a copy to you.

Thanks to you all for all the support and kind words.

Thanks especially to Tony for the years of great sound and to John for giving us the space to make it all happen

Thanks to Sian for years of deadline editing and closing her ears to expletives


see you on Sunday

pax,

watty

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Thursday 26th November 2015

Hi all,

It's a happy happen-chance that I've managed to find my way back into my blog after losing access the last 6 months. It's slightly sadder to be announcing that this is the last 'proper' Balladeers (we have a farewell event planned January 31st, 17.30 onwards).
 

In brief, I've been organizing and running B&C in Presteigne for over 10 years and I feel I need a break from it. It's been a joy and a privilege to meet so many wonderful people, musicians and punters alike and to have been able to keep my ideal going throughout-of a shared platform for musicians to perform, irrespective of experience or assumed ability- and for this to have consistently kept us all entertained.
Of course it would not have been possible without John and his team (Jan,Jo,Les) creating such a welcoming pub and being blessed with great sound: in the early days Pete Mustill who set up the  p.a. and gave encouragement for the night and then Tony Lancett who's p.a.. skills have become legendary amongst performers and encouraged those who could charge decent cash to play elsewhere to come back just for the craic and share of the hat.

Before I give details of Novembers B&C, I'd like to acknowledge and thank all who've performed at Balladeers since 2006:

The Daughters; Lily Langworth; Ken Crowther; Izzyjack; Ted Smith; Joe Morgan; Sammy and Noah; Tonye; Lunacy; Joe Gardiner; Tripe and Funions; The Volunteers; Code X; Loose Hounds; Nick Baker and Stephe; Kevin Howcroft; Alex and Beat Box Boy; Little Rhumba; Jonny and Lou; John Standing; Small Blue Fish; Paul Hassett; Stephe; The Arquettes; Howard Bragen; Little Hoedown; Tony Walton; Paul Hassett; Kate; Bobshop; Emma and the Professor; John Eyre ;John Wickes and Bod; Whitton Voices; Black Mountain Bluegrass; Steve Williams and Tony Lancett; Richard Lewin; Dave Luke and the John Beddoes Stars; Toby Wainwright Johns; Mad Hatters; Sam Smith; Ann Grey; Sue Littlejohn; Jerry Price; Gareth Owen; Mark and Jill (from the Rhythm Thieves);  Virg Clenthill and Comfort of the State; Cailyx; Alex Croose; Fetch the Deckchair;  Borderline Blues; Loxley; Mr Lloyd; Roger Keenan; Remi Harris; Jarvis and Trigg; Steve Littlejohn; Tim Parkes; A Month of Sundays; Beth Prior;  Star of the Sea; Heed the Thunder; Ragged Glory; Wattie and Bragen; Rapsquillion; Rhythm and Bob; The Almshouse Band; Katie Green; Tree Frogs; Grey Wolf; Neon Blue; Appleby-Kinsey; Banjanova; Gwen and Ken; The Fordsons; John Wood; Aspel Orchid; Red Madog; Adam Campbell Jones; Brother M and Sister C; Toby Parker; Geoff Rogers; Jack Brett; James and Cetys; Vaginapocalypse; Sam Thomas; Pete Newcombe; Tobian;  The Tony Burt Band; Chris Edler; Crying Out Loud; Murray Esplin; Roger Pugh; Mark Stephenson; The Happening; Alex Cook; Clive Williams; Three Cool Cats; Benji Kirkpatrick; Stack; Toby Parker; Ross Mc Queen; Ragwort, Mice in a Matchbox; The Incurables..
(if i have missed any of you out, you know it is not intentional and I'd be gutted to have done so).

..and in November we have performing:


Toby Johns
Bardic Folk Rage from the Black Mountains/Herefordshire. Distinctive bass voice, nylon stringed classical guitar, live looping and effects.

Captain Gerry
Forever lost upon the tide but now safely anchored in Radnorshire entertaining us with his brand of great folk songs.

The Stoned Cherries
A band that enjoys playing  songs and tunes with verve and passion, and a sprinkling of humour that make people dance, smile and think.  The 'Cherries have played the Worcester Music Festival, Earth Fest at The Fold, Bransford, BearFest, the opening night of Bromyard Folk Festival, "A Major  Folk Festival" at The Majors Arms, Halmonds Frome and The Lowfield Inn, Marton, The Sun Inn at Leintwardine, amongst others.  http://dgand2.wix.com/thestonedcherries

Mark Leedham
Direct from the Severn Valley comes Mark Leedham's virtuosic guitar, original songwriting and deep toned, soulful vocals with infectious grooves. Mark has had a diverse career as a session guitarist in London, including a BBC @Maida Vale live session (For BBC Radio 1 broadcast) with Pyrelli, supporting Mika and touring the UK and Europe. Right now Mark is playing in a power duo with Marc Miletitch (Babajack, Roving Crows) on double bass.  Mark's first EP launch is planned for end of year, his second already in the making.  www.markleedham.com

The Swifts
Best described as theatrical country rock- Big original melodies with a dramatic edge, delivered with conviction by this passionate duo!

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Thursday March 26th 2015


Hello all,

It's another humdinger of an evening coming up tomorrow. Our four top performers are:

Emma and the Professor
Emma and The Professor are Emma Heath (guitar and vocals) and Mark Davies (Bodhran and Cajon). They’ve been performing together on the folk circuit for 10 years. Emma & The Professor give full throttle performances, weaving a journey through tales of lusty battles, love lost and found and legends deeply rich in our heritage. Their songs are contemporary folk with rock and roots influences. Their closeness as musicians and people can’t help but catch you up in their lively and animated gigs.
https://www.facebook.com/emmaandtheprofessor

"They let rip in a joyous tumult of noise" – ‘The Living Tradition’ Magazine

A Month of Sundays
Ledbury’s finest make a welcome return, now a five-piece with Martine Molyneaux on vocals, and an evolving repertoire. https://www.facebook.com/amonthofsundaysuk

Toby Parker
Toby Parker is a busking one man band. His performances are a mix of traditional one-man bandship and some effect-laden, loop pedal playing in a search of a 21st century Herefordian hybrid sound. https://www.facebook.com/tobyparkermusic

Ross McQueen
Self-confessed spanner of genres, multi-instrumentalist Ross picks off old and new classics one by one, resulting in a miscellaneous musical minestrone. Enjoy!

Hope to see you all there
pax,

Stephe