There’s a special concert to celebrate one of most enduring combination of instruments the fiddle and the banjo on Friday 20th of Janaury at The Electric Palace, Bridport. It will feature a great triple bill of Stompin’ Dave & Edward Bennett, Kate Lisauer and The Gollywhoppers.
Bridport’s own fiddle and banjo man Stompin’ Dave has performed support at a plethora of events at The Electric Palace in 2011 including Michael Roach, The Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys, Maurice Dickson, The Secret Sisters, Ira Bernstein and Julie Felix. Now Dave gets his chance to headline. Joining Dave on fiddle will be young banjo whiz Edward Bennett. Sixteen year old Edward from Penzance is the most promising young musician in the UK’s old-time music scene. Ed was youth banjo champion at the prestigious Clifftop Festival, Virginia and the Morehead old-time festival in Kentucky last year. Edward also scooped third prize at the old-time banjo contest at the legendary Galax Fiddlers Convention.
Old-time fiddle & banjo
Dave and Ed have just released a new CD titled Old-time fiddle & banjo. The duo first performed together at The Cornish Bluegrass Festival this summer, a hit with the packed festival audience. Following this success Dave and Ed performed together again at Dorchester Arts Centre to support The Whitetop Mountaineers from Virginia.
To celebrate their new found partnership Dave and Ed have invited two of the best acts from the UK’s old-time scene to share the stage with them. Kate Lissauer, currently resident in England, is a highly regarded exponent of American old-time country music. Kate has been performing and teaching for many years, and brings her knowledge and love of mountain, bluegrass and folk music to life through her passionate instrumental and vocal style.
Kate’s musical history includes playing with one of Maryland’s champion string bands, Rev. Chip and the Moonbrides, touring as a member of the legendary Steptones Appalachian cloggers, who helped to bring American step-dancing to the UK.
Clawhammer
Kate began her career as a champion fiddler in her home state of Maryland, and is also an expert clawhammer and old-time three-finger banjo picker, a guitarist, and singer. Her solo performances range through a great variety of music, including old ballads upon which she has placed her own stamp, blues and gospel songs, hard-driving fiddle tunes, and one of her trademarks – fiddle-backed songs.
She presently performs as a solo artist and with her band, Buffalo Gals who recently appeared on radio 4’s Women Hour. Her appearances include folk clubs and folk festivals, international music and dance festivals.
The Gollywhoppers
Dawlish duo The Gollywhoppers (named after the North American crane-fly) is a recently formed duo playing old-time music. Andrew Henley and Emily Poole both sing and play fiddle, banjo and guitar. Their songs and tunes draw on early recordings. Both have been part of the UK old-time scene for many years, playing in various bands at festivals and for Appalachian dance teams. They have already been invited to perform at The Friends Of American Old-Time Music (the UK’s Old-Time music society) Festival in Lincolnshire, Burnham Folk Festival, Orwell Bluegrass Festival, Didmarton Bluegrass Festival and at Teignmouth Folk Festival.
Tickets for are available from Bridport Music (01308) 425707 or Bridport TIC (01308) 424901, or online from Stompin’ Dave’s website www.stompinstore.com. The show starts at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.15pm.
