Three evenings and one afternoon of total guitar enjoyment are being played out in Barton upon Humber at the beginning of June at The Ropewalk’s first ever Guitar Festival.
Taking place from Thursday June 2 until Saturday June 4 the three day guitar fest has been put together by the Festival’s musical director Mark Keable of mtm promotions aided by Ropery Hall’s Liz Bennet.
The Festival could not get off to a better start on Thursday, June 2, with the appearance of Martin Taylor whose inimitable style has seen him recognised as the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz guitar playing.
“As well as being a true guitar innovator, he is also a master concert performer, dazzling audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humour, with a strong stage presence and I think that all those who come along to Ropery Hall will not be disappointed,” said Mark.
While Martin Taylor is the undoubted headline act of the three day festival those going along to Ropery Hall on the final two days of the Festival will not be disappointed.
“On Friday we have Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley along with Dave Swarbrick, formerly of Fairport Convention, returning to the Ropery Hall stage but I am also sure there will be a very warm welcome to Steve Tilston, one of this country’s greatest song-writers with many of his songs considered modern folk-song classics and covered by the likes of Fairport Convention, Dolores Keane, John Wright and others,” Mark went on.
On Saturday another newcomer to Ropery Hall is the Steve Skaith Band. Steve was the singer and co-writer of Latin Quarter which had a 80s hit single, Radio Africa but after a stay in Mexico he has now returned to the UK with his own band.
The band will be playing in the Saturday afternoon session along with an old favourite, Paul Liddell, and the Marcus Bonfanti Trio who are at the moment basking in the knowledge that Marcus has been nominated in two categories – Best Male Vocals and Best Guitar – in the British Blues Awards 2011 which will be announced at the Newark Blues Festival in September.
Saturday evening brings the Festival to a close with the appearance of old favourites Walter Strauss and Ezio along with Chantel McGregor who is making a rare appearance as a solo artist.
“What better way to bring the Festival to a close than with such a line up,” said Mark.
Walter will be making his penultimate appearance in this country during his current UK tour and he is unlikely to disappoint his many friends in Barton.
“It’s rare and exciting to witness such artistry and technique on the guitar. Walter layers on highly articulated melodies and harmonies, rhythms and counter-rhythms giving the impression he is magically playing several instruments at once while EZIO with its two lead guitarists, Ezio Lunedei and Mark Fowell, form a perfect unit” Mark revealed.
Chantel normally appears with her rock blues trio, the Chantel McGregor Band, but during the final session there is a rare opportunity to hear this outstanding performer as a solo artist.
Tickets to see Martin Taylor cost £15 or £17 in advance and for the remaining two days there are several ticket options including packages for both Friday and Saturday performances, the two sessions on Saturday as well as the individual sessions.
To view all the details including ticket prices and timings please go to www.roperyhall.co.uk
Throughout the summer in the Box Gallery we are showcasing work from makers who are influenced by the sea.
Featuring in Coastal are ceramics by Tregear Pottery from the Isle of Wight, Rebecca Harvey from St Ives, Pru Green from Essex and Dianne Cross from Yorkshire. A new collection of work by Tony Bellars of King’s Lynn brings a bright splash of colour, looking at his fishing boats and gulls you can almost smell the salt air and hear the unmistakable cry of the gull.
This month in the Box Gallery we are celebrating everything nautical with a range of makers from around the UK. Their pieces aim to represent the fun of the ocean and the curious creatures that live within it.
We have a range of ceramics and prints to transport you back to the seaside or give you gift inspiration for that perfect someone who is never far from the beach. So why not come and visit the Craft Gallery today and start your holiday early with a piece from our exhibition, transforming your home into your very own seaside escape.
Here are just a few of the pieces we have on offer in the exhibition.
You are probably wondering why we have a boat within the Box Gallery exhibition!
Not only does it match this month’s nautical theme in the gallery it also promotes Barton’s Heritage Open Days and the free tours taking place from September 14 to September 22 in the neighbouring Barton Haven Shipyard.
Don’t forget to book your free ticket today along with many more events on offer at The Ropewalk.
Selected by Rob Moore and Melvyn Petterson, this biennial exhibition aims to show the best of our region’s printmakers.
Situated on the rugged south coast of the Isle of Wight, Tregear Pottery produces a beautiful range of handmade stoneware pottery. Each piece is made from fine white stoneware clay. The work is hand decorated in a variety of designs – all drawing their inspiration and influences from the exceptional beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
Trained in Kyoto, Japan, in porcelain throwing, Neil’s passion for pottery has seen his work travel across the globe. He continually pushes and challenges the work at Tregear Pottery, refining glazes, developing new designs and expanding the studio. Neil has been awarded with a number of grants, international show selections, and other accolades for the quality of his work. The work is sold in several galleries and shops on the Isle of Wight as well as many well-known outlets across the mainland and now at The Ropewalk. Come in to the Craft Gallery during the month of June and admire the coastal bliss that Neil Tregear’s pottery creates.
Noted brings together artists Lou Hazelwood and Sarah Pennington for the first time, as they negotiate similar interests in the mechanisation of music and roles of women.
Hazelwood’s piece in progress ‘La Boheme/I’ve Got Her Disease Inside My Head’ transposes pianola scores to playable music boxes working with the oppositional themes of the female bohemian and hysteric.
Pennington has constructed a series of new sculptural observations and print works through a combination of historical research and material experimentation with player piano rolls and remnants of piano mechanisms.
This exhibition showcases the initial findings of their separate but related research into, and interventions with, the structures of pianos and pianolas, and social situations surrounding their key periods of use.
If you are interested in following these processes of exploration as they continue to unfold, please visit www.facebook.com/Noted
Rachel Morley creates unique felt items by hand using the wet felt method. The natural colours and shapes of the Scottish coastal landscape have inspired the Pebble range or Doorstops, Cubby Bowls, Cubbyholes and Pebble Pods. Rachel experiments with wool fibres from British breeds of sheep to take advantage to their varying qualities. As a contrast, Rachel enjoys the challenges of felting with a broad colour palette to create the colourful range of bowls.
Rachel’s aim is to elevate felt craft to create innovate products for the interior, echoing organic forms of the coastal landscape. Her fine art background brings a very sculptural feel to her work which is tactile and evocative.
Rachel has a Fine Art Degree and Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Feltmaking. She is a member of the international Feltmakers Association and Design Nation. She is a supporter of the campaign for Wool and member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Rachel works from a studio in Hickling a village situated between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray. Come in to the Craft Gallery during the month of May and admire the Scottish bliss Rachel Morley felt pieces create.
