Events > March 2013

March 2013

Local young musicians delight Wiltshire audiences March 2013

Last week over 200 young musicians from the Marlborough and the Pewsey Vale area thrilled local audiences performing a series of folk music concerts in their communities.
 
Performing in St Johns’ Theatre on the Hill and Pewsey Vale Secondary School, local music charity Superstrings presented the concerts as the grand finale of the Folk Project which has been running in local schools since March last year. 

Back in July audiences were treated to songs and tunes inspired by the incredible Wiltshire landscape and heritage, including the White Horses and our own local hero, Swindon’s song collector and writer Alfred Williams.  This time round we were taken into the world of the Moonrakers, Smugglers and Highwaymen. 

The massed folk band saw a sea of fiddles, cellos, winds, guitars, keyboard, drums and the lesser known psaltery, play alongside professional local musicians from the New Scorpion Band and The Yirdbards. 

One highlight of the evening, of which there were many, saw newly formed folk rock bands from both St Johns’ and Pewsey Vale bringing old folk songs to life.  With superb lead vocalists, Theo Compston, Chloe Connerton and Lucy Deval, the groups performed with confidence and great musicality.  The lively final number, Dribbles of Brandy, saw all the musicians aged 7 to 16 perform together and had the audience jigging out the door.

The workshops followed Superstrings groundbreaking folk music event for Music Nation 2012 which saw 120 children of all ages perform the world premiere of ‘Vici - a Folk Suite’ by Pete Flood at STEAM, Swindon alongside members of
super-group Bellowhead.  

Superstrings Folk Project is generously supported by Arts Council England and both Pewsey and Marlborough Area Boards.

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Superstrings play on 28 November 2012
Video by Tanya Cochrane