Please wait...| Saturday 03 August 2019 @ 06:15pm : Square Fair - Evening Session w/Ruth Theodore, Eva Abraham Band, Truckstop Honeymoon, Railway Sleepers |
The Square Fayre is an all day celebration with an amazing line up of Live Music, Food and Drink.
THIS YEAR'S SQUARE FAYRE EVENING LINE UP features: - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ruth Theodore is truly unique artist and performer, creating charming and humble yet challenging and compelling pieces of original work. Her natural lyricism and deliberate turn of phrase is that of a skilled writer in command of, and having fun with, the idea of contemporary songwriting. Armed with a dazzling array of unconventional guitar tunings, a Keith Jarrett-esque ‘off the wall’ piano style, and some serious musicianship, Ruth tells stories with captivating vocal dexterity. At age 5 Ruth Theodore was told that she would never physically be able to play guitar and following a sledging accident, aged 9, that left her unable to speak, singing and playing the guitar were unexpected career choices. Yet by the age of 14 Ruth was earning money as a singer and guitarist, busking in doorways on detuned guitars. Remaining true to her own unique sound and signature guitar style Ruth has gone on to perform her songs and tour alongside legendary artists such as Ani Difranco, Dar Williams, Jane Siberry, Jeff Lang and Hamell On Trial, for packed out venues including The London Palladium, Bush Hall, The Union Chapel, The Borderline and Glastonbury Festival. Ruth has released four critically acclaimed albums to date, three released through homegrown label River Rat Records and the most recent, recorded in the US with producer and bassist Todd Sickafoose (Anais Mitchell/Ani Difranco) through Aveline Records. Free from knowing the names of the strings, Ruth’s guitar playing and use of unconventional techniques and unique tuning structures bewilders guitarists. Composing and arranging all of her music by ear Ruth can be heard in recent recordings applying her own unique style to Piano. Starting to create her own music as a teenager, teaching herself guitar and busking on Southampton High Street, when staying in the doorway of a branch of WHSmiths. Moving to London in 2006 in search of music, Ruth slept (secretly) beneath a workbench in a disused Turkish Delight Factory, which years later, she and a team of musicians transformed into a recording studio. It was here that she recorded and released; White Holes Of Mole Hills (2010) and Dear Lamp Love Moth (2013), receiving critical acclaim from the UK media, with reviews running in The Guardian & The Observer, whilst also achieving national radio play on BBC Radio3 and BBC 6 music, alongside rave reviews in music magazines Mojo, Q, fRoots and more. In 2007 once the workbench had become a drum booth Ruth moved on to a tiny narrow boat with no heating or electricity on the River Lea in East London. Her home for the last 10 years. The river and the land on which she moors have been a great source of inspiration. Keen to continue creating music on the water Ruth single-handedly converted a larger boat into a studio and rehearsal space which has become the base for her band, her own label River Rat Records and the venue for the ‘live’ EP ‘Earth to Shovel’ 2014. Ruth’s fourth and arguably her most popular album "Cactucus" was born from a collaboration with US producer and bassist Todd Sickafoose. Todd produced Anais Mitchell’s widely acclaimed ‘Hadestown’ and not coincidentally is bassist for American Folk legend Ani DiFranco with whom Ruth performed two solo shows at London’s Union Chapel in 2012, invited back with her band as a special guest later in 2017 for one sold out show at The London Palladium. The critically acclaimed "Cactacus" also features the talents of drummer Mathias Kunzli (Regina Spektor) and organist Rob Burger (Tom Waits) amongst others. Released through Aveline Records, ‘Cactacus’ made numerous appearances on Radio 2, BBC London, BBC Radio Wales, BBC6 music and received more rave reviews from The Guardian, Mojo, Rock n Reel, fRoots and others. Ruth Theodore: Guitar, Keyboard and Vocal
Links: ruththeodore.com Press: "She has a delicious turn of phrase… So listen closely [to] this most unconventional of artists." ~ BBC Radio-3 "Extraordinary… Confident and original." ~ The Guardian, 4 stars "Occasionally recalling Kate Bush and Ani DiFranco, this is a beautiful, sad, wonderful LP" ~ Mojo, 4 stars "Truly original…" "Her new album’s a killer" ~ Froots "Confident, assured and truly unique" ~ Fatea Magazine "… [an] impressive ability to excite audiences with her truly original, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining music….. a wealth of poetry, satire and pure, natural artistry. ‘Cactacus’ is a wonderful, captivating album." ~ Folk Radio UK "The more I play her the more I like her" ~ BBC Wales "Songs so quirky and unexpected that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else performing them" ~ The Guardian, 4 stars "Her tales leave you breathless" ~ Mojo, 4 stars "One of the most distinctive live performers, singers, song writers and guitarists has done it again!" ~ Froots - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Eva and the band perform original material (sprinkled with select covers) which draws upon of rich and varied spectrum of influences. From trad to folk to country to jazz to blues to roots to soul to…well, pretty much any music which is pure, real and rooted in truth. Think of the long summers of the 60’s and 70’s Laurel Canyon harmonies of CS&N, the lyrical echoes and homage to Joni (of course!), the soul and spirit of Stevie Wonder, Bobby Humphrey, Gil Scott Heron, Minnie Ripperton, Nina Simone, to name but a few. Eva Abraham - Lead Vocals & Guitar Songwriter Drew Salida - Flute, Guitar & Vocals Rick Foot - Double Bass & Vocals Stefan Pitsillides - Cajón, Guitar & Vocals About 'Eva Abraham Band Live @ The Square & Compass 13th Feb 2018' Eva delivers her characteristically adept performance with such great passion and playfulness that it’s impossible not to be swept along with her and the Band on their journey into unique and, frankly, divine, musical experience – we kid you not! She is flanked on stage by Drew Salida, whose soulful vocals, funky flute sorcery fiery flamenco tinged guitar skills blend seamlessly with Rick Foot’s mystifying double bass wizardry and the affably cool Stefan Pitillides, holding it down with his gutsy tight Cajón playing, rich vocals and evocative 12 string licks. So do yourself a favour, won’t you? Step into the warmth and enjoy a pint and a pasty or three and get lost for a while as four go mad in Dorset.
Links: evaabrahamband.com Press: "So damn fine it’s haunting. Eva Abraham’s talent may just be the lasting kind. Go girl!" ~ Virgin In-flight Magazine (UK Australia) "Excellent soulful vocal wizardry and powerful lyrics. What a performer!" ~ Kashmir Klub "A woman who shatters the image of the female singer/songwriter" ~ Dazed and Confused "Fresh, emotive and seductive. Great songwriting and arrangements. ‘Secret Garden is almost epic in its emotional depth. A contender for next years Mercury Prize." ~ Impro Management "Delivering the most beautiful lyrics. An artist to discover" ~ Les Inrocks . France "Eva Abraham’s beautiful, clear, clean-cut voice is amazingly projected throughout the whole album." ~ LiveGigGuide.com "Its not often you hear an album you know that you’ll be listening to for a long time. A beautiful refreshing album." ~ Freddie B BigChill.net "One of the most inspiring singer/songwriters to emerge in recent times." ~ Inertia, Australia "Lush and tender work that beautifully showcases Eva’s pure and evocative voice" ~ Time Out "Eva uses her voice with great clarity, tinted by emotion and at points standing your hairs on end." ~ Blues and Soul - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hollering with all their hearts over a five string banjo and a doghouse bass, Truckstop Honeymoon live the life they sing about. Touring across three continents with four kids and a truck load of songs, Katie and Mike West tell stories about the strangeness of everyday life. Their music com-bines elements of bluegrass, music hall jazz, and straight up rock’n’roll. They have released nine albums and a full length documentary film on Baton Rouge label, Squirrel Records. Mike and Katie also have produced over two hundred recordings for other artists out of their studio, The 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor. They are recipients of the Phoenix award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, Big Easy Entertainment Awards (New Orleans) and Off Beat Magazine Best of the Beat Awards. Their 2017 album 'Big Things and Little things' was chosen for a Best Album of the Year by The Music.co.au writers poll (Australia). They are founders of the first and only Mardi Gras parade in Kansas. Truckstop Honeymoon’s story begins in New Orleans, where Katie played wash-tub bass and blues piano in the streets of the French Quarter. There she met Mike, who slung a banjo and sold his CDs to tourists as a curative for hangovers and small mindedness. After a court house wedding, they hit the road together. They spent their wedding night in a truck stop somewhere between Lafayette and the Atchafalaya Swamp. There, Truckstop Honeymoon was born. In 2005 Mike and Katie’s home and recording studio were washed away by hurricane Katrina. After a few months of living out of their van, they took their young family to the midwest music mecca of Lawrence, Kansas. Here their performing and recording careers flourished. Truckstop Honeymoon continue to tour in the US and overseas, playing festivals in Australia, the UK and Ireland.
Links: truckstophoneymoon.com Press: "One of the most integrated, enjoyable, counterculture acts around" ~ Dirty Linen Magazine, USA "Bluegrass, punk-rock and a palpable dose of soul" ~ The Pitch, Kansas City MO "Tales of cheating spouses, bad attitudes, short-change romances, endless asphalt and dodgy diners, all told with a 'psychobilly' sense of playfulness, ringing banjo and a bass as certain as a highway centerline" ~ The Herald, Newcastle, Australia. "They spit on enough conventions to keep things interesting" ~ The Onion, Madison WI "Charming, incisive and funny" ~ Sing Out Magazine, USA "It’s gritty, grisly and guttural, and makes for damn fine music" ~ Where Y’at Magazine, New Orleans LA "Truckstop Honeymoon got the the chops" ~ The Stranger, Seattle WA "They’re crazy like a fox" ~ Third Coast Music, TX "By far the freshest ‘new’ discovery of my year so far" ~ Folk Radio UK "Truckstop Honeymoon work their way through an entertaining set flawlessly... the husband and wife duo have the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands." ~ Bring the Noise, UK "The music of Truckstop Honeymoon tells a story that is sometimes ferociously funny, sometimes bitterly sad, but always affecting and believable." ~ The Lyons Recorder, Colorado - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Railway Sleepers are a fast paced outfit of ragtags and second generation academics. sounds similar to how you might expect punk, pickled swing, klezmer, gypsy, Balkan and spew blues to sound. The band all currently exist in a range of fashions in Bristol and play regularly in about the town and parish. They have also played further afield and in many a field but none in Latvia... yet Members:
Links: soundcloud.com/therailwaysleepers |
