Sunday 22 May 2016 @ 02:00pm : The Familiar Srangers |
‘...when The Familiar Strangers hit their stride their blend of world folk styles was infectious...’ The Familiar Strangers are: - RORY An ex-circus clown and fire eater, Rory has played harmonica and guitar with Michelle Shocked, Ani Di Franco, Butch Hancock, Michael Franti, Townes Van Zandt, with the West-African guitarist Ali Farke-Toure and Taj Mahal and Madagascan group Tarika. He has enjoyed creative collaborations with Hassan Erraji, Kathryn Tickel, Paul Rodden and BJ Cole, virtuosos, respectively of the Moroccan Oud, the Northumbrian pipes, the Irish banjo and the pedal steel guitar. Rory has written songs and music for a BBC radio documentary - an oral history project - about East London's 400 year old Spitalfields fruit and vegetable market. Commissioned by 'Shiftwork', a Scottish dance and circus theatre based company devising a psycho-comedy theatre-show based on a traditional puppet play called Punch and Judy and to write music for TV animation series ‘Creature Comforts’ 2003. Appearances on Channel 4 arts programme 'After Image' and Welsh TV 'Television Ballads'. In 1996 Rory was the BBC's Pick of The Week for his ‘Invoking The Spirits’ - a recording of a personal musical journey through Zimbabwe, searching for the Mbira, (an African thumb Piano) playing and talking with African musicians for the BBC's Radio 4. Also commissioned to write songs and music for Scottish based, Tabularasa Dance Company, a dance-theatre piece for Children called ‘Huff Puff & Away’ about wind and breath and again in January 2010 to compose songs and music about Hadrian’s Wall, collaborating with other poets, musicians and writers. Best Live Act - BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2002 - Texas Harmonica Champion 1981 - Edinburgh Festival Street Busker of the Year 1985. ‘When he sings his songs he will take you on a journey with him’ ‘Poetry and dance-stories with verve, sharpness, humour and warmth about people and for people’ ‘Great songs to dance to, infectious rhythms, flying harmonica!’ BOB Bob performs in many styles, moving through Reggae, Jazz, Free Improvisation and The Blues towards World Music and has toured and recorded in Europe and the US, most notably in the footsteps of Sun Ra when heading up the Halloween Parade down New York’s 6Th Avenue with The Repeatos. He put together the improvising orchestra The Angel of The Odd to accompany classic silent movies and created a new genre in his music of wit and charm for children’s television. Bob has also worked extensively with young people, co-creating the first recording studio and record label within a youth club. His composing and improvising credits include: Bob has also recorded/performed with: Dennis Bovell, Bonga & the Vodou Drums of Haiti, Diabel Cissokho, Phil Manzanera, Sugar Minott, Jeff Nutall, Ian Seigal, Joe Strummer and Amy Winehouse. ‘Congratulations to .... the virtuoso clarinettist, this was something that really made you listen’ – The Financial Times ‘Honks away on sax ..... a master of the art’ – The Guardian ‘The best piano yet on Vinyl’ – New Musical Express DIEGO Since coming to the United Kingdom, he has been involved in different festivals as a performer and teacher around England, Scotland, Wales and Europe. Edinburgh Harp Festival,Scotland (2003, 2006), Stamford Harp Festival, England (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010), Carnaval del Pueblo, England (2003 and 2004), Mosenbergh and Lauterbach Harp Festival, Germany (2005,2006,2010, 2012, 2014), Süddeutsche Harp Festival, organised by The Institute for Harp, sound and healing in Southern Germany (2010,2013), Clarsach Society, London Branch Harp Weekend Sept. 2006, Spring String Weekend, Knighton North Wales March 2007, Seduced By Harps, Lommel, Belgium 2009, Royal Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, with ‘Ensamble Criollo’, supporting Buena Vista Social Club and Salsa Celtica (2009,2010), Glastonbury Festival as part of Georgy Pope Band (2010) and with The Familiar Strangers in 2011. In South Africa, he represented Colombia in the Ibero American Festival organised by the Colombian Embassy in Pretoria, 2004. Diego works as a solo performer, as well as a member of many different projects. He is a founder member of Ensamble Criollo, Folkloric Band featuring as a priority traditional music from the Colombo-Venezuelan plains; they expand their repertoire to cover music from different Latin American countries. RICHARD He has played at major festivals in the UK (Glastonbury, The Big Chill, London Jazz Festival etc) He has played in major venues in UK from Queen Elizabeth Hall to Ronnie Scott’s, etc and has played at jazz clubs and festivals in USA (Rochester, New York), Canada (Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto), Australia (Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) , New Zealand (Auckland, Queenstown) Thailand, most of Europe (not quite all tho!!)… TV – Later With Jools Holland, RTE Eire. ‘Sadler’s playing is tight, powerful and positive...– he’s an emphatic presence’ – Bruce Lindsay – All About Jazz
Links: thefamiliarstrangers.co.uk |