Hilary James and friends: songs, stories and traditions

Internationally renowned folk singer and musician, Hilary James and one of the world's foremost mandolinists, Simon Mayor, present another series of folk music concerts and workshops at MERL.

Hilary and Simon, two of the country’s most highly acclaimed folk musicians, met as Reading University students in the 1970s have lived in the town for more than 30 years.

The concerts are set within the evocative context of the Museum gallery. They focus on the music of the English countryside and its evolving tradition, and feature high profile invited guests from the national folk scene. The series includes talks and workshops on the issues surrounding folk music and the Englishness debate.

 

The Museum of English Rural Life is very grateful for the generous support of:

The University of Reading Arts Committee
Acoustics Records, Hilary and Simon's record label
West Berkshire Brewery
'Award-winning beers of exceptional character' 

 

Enjoy a drink of real ale from the MERL bar, open from 7pm and during the intervals at each concert. All proceeds go towards the cost of staging the events.

 

Spring 2012 series

Hilary James returns to present a new series of folk music concerts, workshops and illustrated talks. Beginning with Tales of land and sea by Taffy Thomas in March, the series will continue with a visit from Oxfordshire's 'Magpie Lane', Hilary James's English Sketches and a concert and masterclass workshops with The Mandolinquents.

Tales of land and sea - Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest Taffy Thomas

20 March, 7.30pm

See pictures from the first concert in the series on the MERL Facebook page here

 

Tinker, Tailor, Beggarman, Thief - Magpie Lane

24 April, 7.30pm

• £15, £12 concessions
• book now

 

 

Magpie Lane specialise in performing traditional English songs and dance tunes, with a particular focus on the musical heritage of Oxfordshire. In this show they present tales of ordinary folk – ploughboys, poachers, shepherds, sailors and serving maids – at work, at play, in love and, quite often, in trouble with the law. Some of the band's material is well known on the folk scene, but they also bring to life many lesser known items from the manuscripts of Cecil Sharp, Vaughan Williams, and other collectors working roughly a hundred years ago.

Magpie Lane "release consistently good albums of English songs and music"
Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

"The Oxfordshire-based quintet marry a deep love of their material with an unflashy musicality and a seriousness of purpose that is never solemn. This is traditional music with nothing taken out and just the right soupçon of seasoning."
Jon Boden & Fay Hield, Royal Traditions, Dungworth  

To find out more, visit Magpie Lane 

 

English Sketches - Hilary James and friends

19 June, 7.30pm

• £15, £12 concessions
• book now

Hilary performs songs from her acclaimed CD English Sketches, with guests Simon Mayor, Ed Quick, Richard Collins and Eddy Jay.

Hilary's paintings and sketches will also be on display, following her exhibition as MERL during the Whiteknights Studio Trail, on June 17 & 18th.

Listen to extracts from 'English Sketches' on Hilary's website.

"Hilary James's celebration of all things rustic has blossomed into a serene disc that blends traditional songs with settings of Shakespeare, Houseman and Hardy."
The Sunday Times

"Pretty irresistible."
The Scotsman

 

A day with the
Mandolinquents:
concert and masterclass
workshops -

8 July, 1pm-9pm

• £55, £42 concessions
• Booking required

Mandolin maestro Simon Mayor, UK banjo champion Richard Collins, conductor of the National Youth Guitar Ensemble Gerald Garcia and Hilary James present an afternoon of mandolin, banjo, guitar and voice workshops followed by an early evening concert.

For more details and information on how to book, visit www.mandolinquents.com

 

"Wicked and wonderful"
BBC Radio 3

 

Tales of land and sea - Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest Taffy Thomas

20 March, 7.30pm

• £15, £12 concessions
• book now

The first UK Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy Thomas takes us to East Anglia for tall tales of tall ships and landlubbers. Currently artistic director of Tales in Trust, the Northern Centre for Storytelling, Taffy has also been awarded the MBE for services to storytelling and charity. With songs from Hilary James and additional music from mandolin and fiddle maestro Simon Mayor.

This concert is part of a programme of events related to Field Work, our photographic exhibition. For more information, visit the Field Work exhibition page

 

 

Be the first to hear all our events news by joining our mailing list or checking out our MERL Facebook page

 

 

Previous series

Spring 2011 series

The English fiddle - rags, reels and airs
Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest Dave Swarbrick

1 March, 7.30pm

• Tickets £15 or £12 (concesssions)
  (10% discount when you book tickets for all 3 concerts)

Dave Swarbrick (or Swarb as he is affectionately known to friends and fans alike) is truly a living legend and lauded as the most influential of all English folk fiddlers. As a member of Fairport Convention (1970-79), he was instrumental in the band’s transformation from Byrds-style folk rock band to its focus on updating the jigs and reels of Great Britain. His many collaborations include Peggy Seeger, Ian Campbell and Martin Carthy.

He has received the highest professional accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards, the English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge and the Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

 

A take on Jake: the music of the late, great Jake Thackray

5 April, 7.30pm

• Tickets £15 or £12 (concesssions)

Simon Mayor presents a highly entertaining review of Jake’s finest songs and masterful wit.

Simon is “Britain’s leading hot-fingered mandolin virtuoso”, fine guitarist, fiddler, writer, wit...and a huge admirer of fellow Yorkshireman, the late, great Mr Jake Thackray. Hilary James plays various basses and sings “like an angel”.

Taking centre stage tonight are some of Jake’s finest songs and masterful wit: Bantam Cock, Sister Josephine, The Lodger, The Bull, Widow of Bridlington... and many more.

 Jake Thackray

Jake Thackray's lyrics are firmly and recognisably rooted in the English countryside, character and language. They are also painfully funny, sad, tragic, rude, irreverent, incisive and happy, and often enough all these things at the same time. In short, they are unique. By the mid-sixties Jake was back in his native Yorkshire teaching at a school near Leeds where he found a way to get unruly pupils to take an interest was through his songs. This and performing in folk clubs led to appearances on local BBC programmes followed by national TV with regular slots on The Frost Report, The Braden Beat and That's Life. In nearly thirty years of performing he made over 1,000 radio and TV appearances ranging from a topical song in magazine programmes to broadcasts of live concerts on both radio and television. His EMI catalogue produced seven albums between 1967 and 1991.

He died on Christmas Eve 2002 at the age of 64. He left behind a collection of songs unsurpassed by any contemporary songwriter or poet, the songs of a craftsman whose lyrics, melodies and accompaniment are as relevant and appealing today as they ever were. If Jake Thackray had been French he would surely have received the Legion d'Honneur and become a national treasure.

For more information about the life and music of Jake Thackray, visit The Jake Thackray Website

 

Accordion times
Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest Karen Tweed

24 May, 7.30pm

• Tickets £15 or £12 (concesssions)
  

Join accordion queen Karen Tweed on an uplifting, personal musical journey exploring the life and times of this simple air-filled instrument. From mussettes, polkas, and tangos to Morris dances and Irish marching bands the music intertwines with politics. Full of controversy, from dance floor to concert stage and beyond, this illustrated talk will entice you into a push-pull debate you hardly realised could be possible! Karen will play, talk, present and inspire you to have a squeeze!

 

Arrangements from an accordionist's repetoire:
a workshop with Karen Tweed

24 May, 6.15-7.15pm

• £5 or free to concert ticket holders
• Book

Whatever your level of ability bring an instrument and voice, join Karen in her rollercoaster journey of making an arrangement from tunes scattering via Scandinavia, Quebec, Wales, England and her ink pen and become an organic orchestration! Karen is breathtaking in her approach to hands on arrangements, always packed with laughter, elegance and frolics! She'll casserole an arrangement to suit everyone from enthusiastic beginner to seasoned professional. Great fun for all!

 

Spring 2010 series

Sex, drink and death in 17C England
Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest Tim Healey

16 March, 7.30pm

• Tickets £15 and £12 (concs) (Save by buying tickets for all 3 concerts for £36 or £30)

A very welcome return to MERL of popular writer and broadcaster Tim Healey whose last illustrated talk on the Green Man was a huge success. Tonight he explores the colourful and raffish side of English social life during the tumultuous era of the English Civil War and Restoration. Accompanied in song and music by Hilary and Simon.

Only 60 tickets available, so book now!!

Don't forget to in plenty of time to enjoy a drink of West Berkshire Brewery Real Ale, which will also be available throughout the evening!

 

The Victorian village band workshop, with John Kirkpatrick

18 May, 6.15-7.15pm

• Free
• Booking required (FULLY BOOKED)

Whatever your level of ability bring an instrument, join in the fun and become part of the Victorian village band. John's experience as a workshop leader and teacher of singing, instrumental and dancing skills is legendary. He'll concoct an arrangement to suit everyone from enthusiastic beginner to seasoned professional. Great fun for all!

There are only 20 places available on a first come first served basis, so book now!

 

The Victorian farmer's year in song
Hilary James and Simon Mayor
with special guest John Kirkpatrick

18 May, 7.30pm

Singer, melodeon and anglo-concertina maestro, John Kirkpatrick (as seen recently on BBC 2's 'Victorian Farm') takes his audience on a remarkable journey through the country calendar in music and song.

Don't miss this opportunity to see the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year perform in an intimate and atmospheric setting.  Only 60 tickets available, so book now!!

West Berkshire Brewery Real Ale bar!

 

The sands of song
Hilary James with guests, Simon Mayor and Belshazzar's Feast (Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson)

22 June, 7.30pm

Hilary traces the history of English Rural Life in song: bell-ringing, country dancing, high days and holidays, love, lust, loss, landscape and labour. Virtuoso accompaniment on guitar, fiddle, oboe, accordion and mandolin plus a hearty dose of wit and repartee from the assembled company. Only 60 tickets available, so book now!!

 

Special free, pre-concert event for ticket-holders (please book when you buy your tickets):

In converstation with Belshazzar's Feast
6.30-7.10pm

A rare opportunity to meet this highly respected and hugely popular musical and witty duo in the intimate setting of MERL. Paul Sartin (who appeared with Bellowhead at the 2008 Proms) sings and plays fiddle and oboe while Paul Hutchinson plays accordion. Recently seen in a 2009 TV Christmas Special for BBC4.

West Berkshire Brewery Real Ale bar!

 

Spring 2009 series

In the Spring of 2009 MERL ran a series of folk concerts, workshops and illustrated talks with and  represents a new and exciting departure for the Museum in exploring new ways to encourage the current resurgence of interest in English traditional music, song and storytelling.

'Songs from a small island': Hilary James and Simon Mayor in concert

3 March, 7.30pm

• Tickets £12 and £10 (concessions) SOLD OUT

A musical journey around the British countryside from Dorset to Scotland viewed through folksong and settings of poems by John Clare, William Barnes and Robbie Burns. Also featuring some fine fiddle and mandolin tunes from maestro Mayor.

“Evocative virtuosity and faultless singing” The Daily Telegraph

”Just fantastic to go and see live” BBC Radio 3

Listen to Hilary singing her song, 'Linden Lea' set to the words of the poem by William Barnes, from the album 'Music from a Small Island'.  Click here to download (MP3 - 3MB)

 

How to play the tin whistle in 15 minutes

28 April, 6.30-7pm

• Free
  
• Booking required

Never made music and wondered what it would be like? For families and individuals from 7 years old to 70!

As well as learning to play simple folk tunes by ear on pennywhistles provided on the day, you will be helped and encouraged to make up your own tunes and contribute to what Luke sees as an ever evolving folk music tradition.

Luke Daniels is a well known and highly respected folk musician with previous experience of outreach and educational work, including the Folkworks National Summer School and for the Newcastle University folk music degree course. In 2003 he set up the first folk music academy in the South East dedicated to young traditional musicians with funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music.

 

'Trading traditions': Hilary James and Simon Mayor with special guest, Luke Daniels

28 April, 7.30pm

• Tickets £12 and £10 (concessions)

Luke Daniels is one of a new breed of contemporary performers coming from a background of Irish folk and traditional music, 1992 BBC Young Tradition Award Winner and ex Riverdance band member. Luke was more recently selected to take part in the Distil project organised by the Scottish Arts Council, an event through which he met and completed a series of mentoring sessions with the composer Judith Weir & Paul Rogers.

His latest piece ‘Circle of Stone’ was recently featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune program. Previous work has been performed at the English National Opera Works, London Jazz Festival, South Bank’s ‘Folk in the Fall’ and in The Royal Festival at the London Philharmonic’s 2004 ‘Roots Day’ event. He performed at this year’s Belfast Festival and last year’s ROH Firsts event in the Lindbury Studios. He has just returned from a tour of China with his own ensemble “Lost Music of the Gaels.”

He believes that the folk music ethos can help young people develop a highly disciplined approach to music through their love and enjoyment of it. A belief that led him to set up his Traditional Music Academy at South Hill Park in 2004 with funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music.  

"An engaging new force to reckon with." The Guardian

 

The Green Man - a mythical figure, with special guest Tim Healey

12 May, 2009

• Tickets £12 and £10 (concessions)

The Green Man is an age-old presence in architecture and crafts. Who is the mysterious figure? Is he, as some say, a brooding woodland deity from early pagan tree cults? Does he derive from Celtic or Roman religion? What are his connections with traditional May Day celebrations? Freelance writer and popular broadcaster, Tim Healey tells the Green Man story, with stunning visual images and musical interludes from Simon and Hilary.