Throughout the day there will be free opportunities to sing, play in music sessions or just listen to local musicians, dance and “have a go” at traditional instruments. The main venues for this will be St Peter’s Church Hall, The Walnut, Pallet Bar, Stowmarket Parish Church, Stowmarket Library and Fox Yard Studio who is isn’t involved for just one day but for a whole fortnight hosting the quARTet Art Exhibition from 1st to 15th September.
Stowmarket Parish Church – FREE EVENT 12 noon-2pm
Join us for the launch of the Vaughan Williams Folk project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Essex researcher Sue Cubbin will be telling us about where Vaughan Williams started his folk song collecting and local band – Potiphar’s Apprentices – will be playing some of the song tunes he collected in Essex. Find out more about his collecting in East Anglia, about our Youth Mentorship scheme, which we will be launching as well as our schools programme and Research Conference which will be hosted in November in Stowmarket.
The Walnut – FREE EVENTS from 12 noon until 10.30pm
12 noon-2.30pm Come and listen to musicians and singers from local bands Hushwing & Bristol Fashion who will also be joined by Ray Hubbard and Steve Matthews.
3pm-4.30pm Expect fine singers and award winning musicians from The Cambs Acoustic Collective who will be playing in Session. With Bernie Kedge, Andy Wall, Robin Gillan, Andrew Burn, David Somerville and Greg Smith (3/4 of Camus).
5pm-6.30pm A Chance to Sing – An Open Song Session hosted by EATMT Trustee and singer/dancer Eammon Andrews. All welcome!
7.30pm-10.30pm Music and Song with Hushwing and Friends.
Pallet Bar – FREE EVENTS from 12 noon-10.30pm
12pm-12.30pm -Local musician, singer and dancer Heather Bexon kicks off our first half hour set in this lovely friendly bar with her accordion.
1pm-1.30pm – The Twisted Willow are East Anglian based duo Anna & Auriel – Anna on fiddle, guitar and vocals and Auriel on harp. This young duo are recent music graduates.
2pm-2.30pm – Jill & Meg join us from Essex with Dulcimer & Recorder for this afternoon set.
3pm-3.30pm – Pete Gosling & Sarah Sloan are a local duo on guitar, mandolin and vocals.
4pm-4.30pm – Simon Bentley is another local musician and our final timetabled act at the Pallet Bar on classical guitar.
The Pallet Bar welcomes musicians so if you would like to strike up a session between 4.30pm and 7pm bring your instruments, buy a drink and play!
7.30pm-10.30pm Join Mr Walsh’s Wonders for a traditional music session.
Mr Walsh’s Wonders (named after the eighteenth century music publisher) is a recently formed acoustic band playing mainly English music. Personnel are: Karen Cater (Banjo), Colin Cater (Anglo Concertina / Melodeon), Sue Cubbin (Fiddle), John Cubbin (Guitar), Danny Gallagher (Melodeon / Anglo Concertina). All have decades of experience playing for dance, Clubs and concerts and play regularly together in sessions.
Catch them in concert with Peta Webb & Ken Hall and Liz Giddings & Roger Digby at 3.15pm in the British Legion. For more details see HERE.
Stowmarket Library – FREE EVENTS 11.30am-4pm
The library in Church Walk is the place to be for storytelling with Justine de Mierre and puppet shows with Gemma Khawaja – free shows from 11.30 until 4pm throughout the day. See HERE for more details.
There are ticketed events here too post 4pm with Racker Donnelly & Emma Scarr* and an “Evening With…” from 7.30pm. *Emma is a late replacement for Jacquelyn Hynes.
St Peter’s Hall – FREE EVENTS 11.30am – 4pm
11.30-12.30 – Step into Stepdance with Kerry Fletcher -Suitable for absolute beginners. If you have hard soled shoes or tap shoes, bring them with you. There will be some tap shoes of various sizes to borrow. Live music and a chance to learn about this very East Anglian Percussive dance tradition. For more details see HERE
1.00pm-2.30 – Meet the Musicians – Come and listen and chat to three traditional musicians – Andrew Collins on Anglo Concertina, Ron Ross on Melodeon and George Monger on East Anglian Tuned Dulcimer. There will be spare musical instruments to have a look at and have a go at trying to get a tune out of. It’s also an opportunity to ask about the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust’s Instrument Hire scheme.
3.00pm-4.00pm – Plough Monday in the Fens – with Nicky Stockman, Erin Watson & Barry Watson Learn two dances with traditions found in the Fens – Molly Dancing and Broom Dancing. More details HERE.
quARTet – Art Exhibition 1st – 15th September – Fox Yard Studio
Four of our performers at Traditional Music Day are first and foremost Artists in their “day” jobs and so we are delighted to share what they do alongside showcasing their music and dance skills…our four Artists are Fiona Davies, Tony Hall, Gemma Khawaja and Michael Sheehy and this special exhibition is a must for those that didn’t know they didn’t just play, sing and dance! Saturday opening 11am-3pm. This exhibition runs for a fortnight until 15th September.
Around the town
11am-4pm Morris Dancing – All around the town there will be dance spots where 6 East Anglian based morris sides will be dancing their particular style of morris dancing. There will be opportunities to take part for those who dare!
2pm-4pm Join the Stepdancing Fraternity led by North Norfolk stepdancer Fiona Davies in the Church Grounds, Church Walk – watch, learn or join in this very East Anglian free style type of traditional dance. Boards and shoes available to use.
5pm-8.30pm Meet the Brewer at Bonitas Wholefoods on Tavern Street. Join Ollie and Tree with Brew Company Ampersand and musicians George and Eileen Monger (on dulcimer & whistle).
8pm Visit Langams Cafe and Bar who have Eliza, Saxophonist entertaining for the evening. Langams are one of our 16 (!) participating cafes/bars/pubs who are taking in vouchers that our lovely voluntary Artistes will be exchanging for refreshment during the day/evening.
Other participating outlets are: The Walnut, Pallet Bar, Osier Cafe, Lime Tree Cafe, Bella Sorento, The Royal Oak (the manager is an ex morris dancer!), Cafe 1936 @ The Regal, The Queen’s Head, The British Legion, The John Peel Centre, Petite Pancakes, Little Pig Bakery, Pickwicks Coffee Shop, The Royal William & Stowarket Library for the evening events. We could have added many more…but we’re a VERY small team and were overwhelmed at the keen involvement of those we approached first!
The Little Wellington pub welcomes musicians but on a Saturday afternoon it also welcomes the football fans to watch premiership games. There is outdoor seating and it’s definitely worth taking a punt to see if it’s a place to strike up a session.