Live music stage

Posted by Admin 7.12.2011 | 0 Comments

BENOIT VIEILLEFON AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Friday 13th January 12.00 - 14.30

Benoit Viellefon and his orchestra are the leading vintage dance ensemble to have emerged from the UK in recent years, taking the British scene by storm. Amongst the finest entertainers of his generation, Benoit, a London based French singer, directs an ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians in a manner reminiscent of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Charles Trenet at the very height of their popularity.

Headlining festivals such as the jazz stage at Glastonbury in 2011 and the Rhythm Riot Festival in the same year, Benoit and his orchestra are the hottest live outfit for all those who revel in the nostalgia and elegance of a by-gone era, with a repertoire consisting of the most beautiful and uplifting songs from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and originals in the same classic style.

Benoit and the orchestra are consistently the first choice for all the most fashionable vintage festivals and events across Europe and are the UK's finest exponents of vintage dance music. Benoit's authentic vocal renditions of French chanson, swing, jive, Russian-folk, Charleston, Latin American and Cuban dance music have captivated festival audiences all over Europe, America, and the far East.

The wailing clarinet and scorching trumpet of Benoit's brass section are always a festival favourite, and with the addition of one of Europe's finest accordion players, a thumping double bass, Harlem-style stride piano, old school drum set, a host of gypsy jazz guitars and as very special guest the exotic songstress and dancer Suri Sumatra, the orchestra is complete. Indeed Benoit's successful tours in Italy, France, Belgium, Croatia, Russia and Japan are testament to the orchestra's dazzling mix of high energy multi-instrumental virtuosity and effortless melody, guaranteed to have audiences on their feet and in each others' arms.

www.benoitandhisorchestra.com
www.twitter.com/benoitviellefon
www.facebook.com/johnjohnrecords

FREDERIC LA VERDE 
Friday 13th January 15.00 – 17.00 and Saturday 14th January 14.30 - 16.30

Frederic La Verde has captivated the imagination of an international audience with his unique talent, compositions and, of course, his ‘Red Piano’.

Frederic La Verde was born in La Rochelle,and started to play the piano at the tender age of three – by just 16 years old he had received a gold medal and other prestigious prizes from the Conservatoire de Clermond-Ferrand under the guidance of Jean-Marie Besnard.  He then joined the 7th Art Orchestra directed by Claude Giot on a tour of Europe playing the most beautiful film music at the festivals of Cannes, Anvers and Deauville.

In 1997, he takes part in a performance of “La Suite des Parapluies de Cherbourg” with the Auvergne and the 7th Art Orchestra, under the baton of Michel Legrand. The destiny of the 21 year old is now cemented. He decides to dedicate himself to film music.  By 1998, at Beziers , Frederic is the main pianist in the musical comedy “Le Monde de Jacques Brel” produced by Madly Bamy.  During this period he decides to concentrate on film scores, and becomes artistic director for Phil Barney, Gordon Henderson, and Jacques de Kera, whilst continuing his theory at the American School of modern music.

In 2005, Frederic decides on a whim to go to Los Angeles and the American reaction to his talent reaffirms his love of the film music industry.  The following year Frederic moved to London, regaling audiences at private functions and on cruise ships.

The birth of the travelling ‘Red Piano’
In 2008, Frederic returned to France with a new ambition: to get closer to his audience in order to gain more inspiration for his own compositions.

A chance meeting with Gerard Fauvin at the Domaine of Petignac (Bordeaux) enabled him to fulfil a dream. Gerard created a mobile platform fashioned around a piano and Frederic’s father, Carmelo La Verde, then customises this by adding clear perspex, lights and painting the piano pillar-box red. This enables Frederic to play in the most extraordinary places. The results are very positive - everyone is surprised, enchanted even, to be able to listen to their favourite film themes and classics in such wonderous locations, played to them on a bright red piano.  

During the summer of 2011 he performs one concert after another in extraordinary locations, be it a park or a beach, a church, or a chateau - he continues to mesmerize his audiences everywhere.

On the 8th September 2011 Frederic returned to London and to play in more unusual places, this time at the top of the BT Tower, and then at the London Eye, under the backdrop of Big Ben and Westminster.  Frederic has, to date, released 28 titles of soundtrack music.

www.fredericlaverde.com
facebook.com/frederic.laverde

MISHAPED PEARLS
Saturday 14th January 12.00 -14.00

‘Sensationnel’  Tom Robinson, BBC6 Music

The brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Ged Flood and classically-trained mezzo soprano Manuela Schuette, ‘Mishaped Pearls’ sound is a unique contemporary blend of classical, folk and world music, inspired by the colourful world of the Baroque from where the group takes its name. (‘Misshapen pearl’ is a literal translation of the word ‘Baroque’)

As well as being the silky voice of the group, Manuela draws on her love of ancient poetry by researching and providing most of the lyrics to the songs, which cross many countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK  and even Ancient China.  They are joined by five versatile musicians: Andrew on keys, Clare on bass, Sean on guitar, banjo and mandolin, Naomi on cello and Calie on hand drums and percussion.

The ‘Mishaped Pearls’ reputation as an astonishing live band has grown in the last year, gaining recognition from Tom Robinson, Kelli Ali and even Damon Albarn. It was also Tom Robinson who personally invited them to perform at the “BBC Introducing: Fresh On The Net Festival” at the Riverside Studios in London to celebrate and showcase the best acts from the last three years of his radio show.

In 2010, as well as appearing at The Southbank Royal Festival Hall and a number of music and folk festivals, Mishaped Pearls toured The Auvergne in France to great reviews from the regional press. In 2011 they returned to tour France and appeared at many summer festivals in the UK.

“Seeing Mishaped Pearls for the first time live at The Slaughtered Lamb, I was hypnotized by their poetry and beauty... their live shows are mesmerizing.” Kelli Ali - Spiral Earth Magazine

www.mishapedpearls.org
www.myspace.com/mishapedpearls
www.facebook.com/mishapedpearls

THE PORTRAITS
Sunday 15th January 12.00 - 14.00

The Portraits’ sound is captivating: a unique brand of folk-pop with ethnic tinges built around voices and imagery. Poetic lyrics, rich harmonies, haunting piano, world rhythms – welcome to the musical landscape inhabited by songwriters Lorraine (guitar, vocals) and Jeremy (piano, vocals, production) Millington who cross multiple borders to create, orchestrate and record their work.

Lorraine and Jeremy have lived life in reverse. They have worked in arts education, run a small business in France, and had children, all of this prior to giving their full focus to a music project that has been bubbling away under the surface for years waiting for the right moment to appear. Now, it seems, this is that time: in 2011, they find themselves in the unique position of giving a chunk of their profits away for a good cause, one they have handpicked themselves.

The song writing partnership between Lorraine and Jeremy grew over a decade ago when the two were young teachers on the Isle of Wight, Lorraine an art tutor and Jeremy a classroom music teacher. Turning their backs on their day-jobs, the two set out to perfect their craft, working with a series of other musicians and eking out a following on the Bristol and London live gig circuits at the turn of the millennium.

Fast forward a decade, and Lorraine and Jeremy find themselves plunging into a new musical existence in London, working with a fantastic team of musicians who bring their work to life on stage.

Their previous album ‘The Blushing Of A World In White’, a rich sonic tapestry giving a healthy nod to the warm vocals of yesteryear, and with allusions to Brian Wilson, Ben Folds, the Beautiful South and even Clannad, but a confidence in its own individuality, received stunning reviews upon its release in 2010. Its “choir-like” vocal arrangements shone through with a supporting cast of orchestral instruments and world percussion and the musings of a well-known Bristolian saxophonist. From the album’s warm reception grew the decision by Lorraine and Jeremy to build their live sound on a permanent basis to include orchestral and additional vocal elements.

And now... “We are having the time of our lives”, explains Jeremy, “and in a way it is completely unexpected. How lucky are we to have found three musical soul mates who believe so whole-heartedly in what we do. Shemi [Jones, cello, bodhran], Kate [Thomas, vocals] and Vincent [Imbert, violin] all come from such widely varied musical, cultural and geographic backgrounds, and it is the bits of themselves that they have injected into our music that has helped it to sparkle this year – and everyone who sees it is saying it!” Lorraine and Jeremy’s own influences, shaped largely by their own nomadic life (France, Ireland, Africa and Asia amongst the destinations they say they are privileged to have drawn from), have now been joined in the Portraits’ sonic melting pot by elements of jazz, music theatre and classical styles thanks to their new musicians. And now these are being poured into brand new material which the band hopes to release in 2012. They pull no punches about it. “We’re totally confident that it’s the best work we’ve ever done,” says pianist Jeremy, “and we have a warm glow from the conviction that others will agree”.

“An utterly entrancing live act... a sound that is gloriously uplifting and truly magical” Andy Ropek, Blackheath Halls, London

www.theportraits.info
www.facebook.com/theportraitsmusic
www.reverbnation.com/theportraitsmusic
www.myspace.com/theportraitseurope
www.twitter.com/The_Portraits

OH LA LA!
Sunday 15th January 14.30 - 16.30

Jazz and pop with a French twist. The rich and evocative sound of the accordion blends perfectly with the delicious voice of Fifi La Mer. She is currently very successfully touring the country with ‘Oh La La!’ thanks to Rural Touring with her regular band members: John Pearse, Colin Oxley and Julian Bury.

‘Oh La La!’ mixes Parisian folk music with unforgettable jazz standards and the occasional pop tune. The evocative sound of the accordion blended with the violin, guitar, double bass and the voice of Fifi will take you straight back to that little café by the Eiffel Tower.

Fifi La Mer, founder of ‘Oh La La!’, was born and raised in Paris.  She first trained as a figure ice skater before beginning her singing career on the boats of the river Seine. Settling in London in the mid-nineties she recorded her debut album “Do you know what love is?” with top London jazz musicians. Her Parisian roots instinctively drew her towards performing more French music. (Musette and Chanson realistes). In order to accompany herself, she studied the chromatic accordion under the tutelage of Eddie Hession (Captain Pugwash).

The band have performed at music venues including, the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), the Queen Elizabeth Hall. They have also played on the Orient Express, at the West Sussex Game Fair,  the QE II, The Royal Albert Hall, London City Festival, St Martin in the Fields, The foyer at the National Theatre, London Fashion Week for Erdem’s catwalk show, The Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, The Ritz, The Dorchester, The Grosvenor house, Park Lane Hotel, NEC centre . They have also toured thanks to Rural Touring schemes in North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire selling out tickets in most venues. It has been a great success.

www.ohlalamusic.co.uk

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