Excited crowds enjoy Goin’ Local Street Party in Shipston

Barney Porter from Wired

 The 18^th edition of the Shipston Proms finished with a night in the Shipston market square with a line-up of local bands. This included Jon Wright’s rock band Balboa, Shipston Proms Fame contest winner in the solo/duet category 16 year old Savannah, 9 piece Funk band Kinky Farnham fronted by Tom Threadgill and 6 piece WIRED with their rock/blues sound led by Mark Jervis and Barney Porter.

The last night was MC’ed by Shipston Proms chair Tim Porter

Mayor Ronnie Murphy with Tim Porter

and included the Proms Grand Draw raffle with the winning tickets pulled by Shipston Mayor Counsellor Ronnie Murphy.

The locals, and not so locals (even one couple from Melbourne, Australia!), packed the square enjoying some especially prepared Proms ales from Hook Norton Brewery and pulled pork and stuffing baps from the Paddock Farm Butchery. The stage lighting and sound was provided by Codex, the stage trailer by Wixey’s transport and ambulance cover from Tolan Events, Coventry.

The whole evening was sponsored by Brailes based Translyft Lifting Technologies (with owner George Scholes appearing twice on the Proms programme with his band 3^rd Dimension).

The second week of the Shipston Proms featured great performances from singer songwriter Andrew

Kinky Farnham

Duhon, a lunchtime organ recital at St. Edmunds church by Charles Matthews, an Open Mic night at the Black Horse with lots of local musicians queuing up to play (including 17 year old singer/guitarist Ben Bryan) and another excellent Young Musicians concert at St. Martin’s church, Barcheston (with musical direction from Helen Porter).

At the Tredington Fayre on Saturday afternoon, which was part of the Shipston Proms, we had music

The Soul Traders

from Shanade, the Soul Traders (with Proms committee member Charlotte Haines on vocals with her brother) and Jabba Cartel.

On the night before the Goin’ Local Street Party we had an evening of Songs from the Shows featuring Stratford-upon-Avon based Soprano Victoria Wilson (trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire), with songs from My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Oh Kay! There was also a great Moulin Rouge duet from brother and sister act Charlotte Haines and Jamie Wright, with the Elephant Love Melody. This was pulled together and managed (with piano duties on the night) by Helen Porter. This was as well as a lot of local talent of all ages who performed a variety of show songs.

George Scholes with 3rd Dimension

Later that evening we had the excellent 3 piece band 3^rd Dimension (Georg Scholes – vocal & guitar, Laura Furnell – vocals and Jez Walker – percussion and vocals playing at a packed and lively George Inn in Lower Brailes.

We also had the first Folkin’ Friday group performing at the Cherington Arms to give a wide selection of music.

This coming week the award winning, and Shipston resident, blues guitarist Laurence Jones will be running a musical workshop at Shipston High School, with support from Proms committee.

After a well-earned rest the Shipston Proms committee will initially have its post event review before looking at the dates for 2017 event. We as always are looking for additional committee members to run this exciting 16 day event, and interested people should email shipstonproms@gmail.com

Shipston Proms 2016 Music Festival – Line-up Taking Shape

Beatbox band DUKE

The 18th Shipston Proms starts on Friday 17th June 2016. The annual 2-week festival is unusual in that it embraces music of all genres from classical through folk and blues to heavy rock, and gives musicians of all ages and backgrounds a chance to be part of it.

This year's Proms starts with a big Launch Party Night with DUKE – a beatbox band who play at festivals up and down the country, local 2015 Fame Contest winning local band Brixton Alley and local DJ Dirty Harry, all performing in the Townsend Hall on Friday 17th June.

As the band DUKE commented on performing this year “Since our performance (last year) we have fans from Shipston-on-Stour contacting us every week asking when we'll be back, well, WE'RE BACK and we couldn't more excited!!! We have been invited to play at the Launch night of this year's Proms and we can't wait to see everyone from last year! Hold on to your pants, it's going to be a big one!! Much love... The DUKE boys!”

The Fame Contest, on Saturday 18^th June in the Townsend Hall, is a must for aspiring local musicians to enter, with the winners of solo/duet & bands categories getting an opportunity to play on the main stage on the Proms last night.

Kinky Farnham perform at 2015 Proms

Classical music includes The Orchestra of The Swan, the Shipston Town Band and Young Musicians night at St. Martin’s church Barcheston, world music comes from Leamington Spa based community samba band Sambassadors of Groove and folk with Stratford Folk Club coming into town.

As usual the power of music will be celebrated in schools, halls, and pubs in the town and surrounding villages with events every day over the period.

The fortnight finishes with the now legendary free concert in the town square with a Goin’ Local theme with the two Fame Contest category winners then two legendary local bands Kinky Farnham and Wired to finish off the night in style!.

DUKE Photo: Copyright DUKE

Kinky Farnham Photo:  Copyright Chris Roberts/WiderViewPhoto 

Shipston Proms 2015 first weekend opens on a High!

CopyCats

The 17^th Shipston Proms, was launched on Friday 19^th June at Townsend Hall in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire with 3 local bands, The CopyCats, Average Wyatt Band and Kinky Farnham.

The proms were setup in 1998 by a group of local Shipston residents who wanted to showcase local music in clubs, pubs and halls, using a 2 week festival format.

For this years event the organisers, in the smart green T-Shirts, had brought in a special Proms Ale brewed specially for the Proms in the Cat Brewery in Sugarswell, by the Cats Brewing Co. A nice pint it was too!

Also available for purchase were raffle tickets and limited edition Proms t-shirts.

After a final sound check the first group The CopyCats took to the stage with a line-up of Mark Newton (Keyboard/Guitar/singer), Matthew Wyatt (Bass Guitar), Adam Grey (Guitar) and Jon Bryan (Drums). The group has been playing gigs for over 20 years, but now just play for fun, and they had to thank guitarist Adam for stepping back in at the last minute, after not playing with the group for 2 years (not the fact that you could tell as he was an excellent guitarist).

The group sang a range of songs from the 60s to 80s including Queen (Don’t Stop me Now), Elvis Presley (Suspicious Minds) and Bryan Adams (The Summer of 69).

Their set lasted an hour and was well received by the audience who were dancing to the numbers in increasing numbers.

Next up on the stage were Average Wyatt Band which was a name given to them at an early gig and

Average Wyatt Band

has stuck, according to lead guitarist Robin Wyatt. The group are based near to Warmington, and their name was of more interest to me as that is my wife Sue’s maiden name (no relation).

The band line-up was Robin Wyatt (guitar/vocals), Neil Ions (vocals, percussion, flute). Leon ions (drums), Matthew Wyatt (bass guitar/vocals) and Ian Hattersley (trumpet).

As their band name does imply they did play an Average White Band number (Lets Go Round Again) along with songs by Santana (Smooth), Bob Marley (No Woman No Cry) and Dancin in the Moonlight (Thin Lizzy).

For a very appreciative audience for an encore they played a song by Paulo Nuttini.

Kinky Farnham

Then space was made for the 9 piece headline act Kinky Farnham from Chipping Campden/Blockley, who are also headlining on the Saturday night at the 2015 Stratford River Festival. They have also played at the Cotswold Olimpicks after party in Chipping Campden.

The group plays a mixture of souland funk music with horn section and multiple singers to give a very distinctive sound.

The band line-up is Tom Threadgill (lead vocals, conga, bongo), Mark Hanks (guitar and vocals), Toke Bennett (bass guitar), Teebs Bryan (keyboard and vocals), Jon Bryan (drums), Meg Graham (saxophone and harmonica), Ben Bryan (guitar and vocals) and Chris Slatter (trumpet).

The group played a lot of funky music including Cosmic Girl (JAMIROQUAI), Freak Out (Chic) and Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder) and many other songs that had the crowds dancing in the hall.

The organisers wanted to thanks Holly End Luxury B&B for sponsoring the Proms Launch night and Clearsound Productions for the brilliant sound and lights.

At separate local events a band from Shipston High School, Battered Soul were playing for the locals

Battered Soul

both at the Picnic on the Pitch (on a damp Saturday afternoon) and at a sunnier garden at the Gate Inn (Upper Brailes).

The group had been formed around 3 years ago by David Hunt the head of Music at Shipston High School (with himself joining the horn section on trumpet) with some year 8 students. The group won the Fame Contest at the 2013 Shipston Proms, as well as the Battle of the Bands at the Kineton Music Festival in 2014. They appeared at the recent Shipston Wool Fair in May 2015.

The band line-up is Ben Bryan (guitar and vocals), Gilbert Blocksidge (rhythm guitar), Harry Coupe (bass guitar), Will Packer (organ/piano), Tristan Hoff (drums), Sam Rawles (alto saxophone), Abel Wilson (cornet), Hector Banks (trombone), Charley Mack (vocals) and Artistic Director David Hunt (trumpet).

With several of the band leaving Shipston High after completing exams it will be interesting to see if the band can continue in some form, but exciting to see all the talent 16 or under in the group.

The set at the Gate Inn at Upper Brailes included many soul and blues numbers included in the Alan Parker film The Commitments, including In the Midnight Hour and Mustang Sally.

The audience enjoyed their two part set in the pub garden, and the organiser Tim Porter wants to thank their sound man Alan Parker (no relation), event sponsors Simon Healey Paddocks and Grounds and Ian and Anne from The Gate Inn.

This as the third day of the Shipston Proms which go on until Saturday 4^th July with music of all tastes available every day at multiple venues.

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