Canny Sheels’ – late afternoon and evening music …….free event 4pm to 10.30pm in the Trevelyan Garden and Trevelyan Hall, Linskill Centre
A celebration of traditional and local music reflecting the story of the town and beyond in relaxing surroundings, with an opportunity to enjoy the best of local craft ales provided by Three Kings Brewery and the Enigma Tap bar.
Featuring: 5 Strung Out, Tony Corcoran’s Ceili Band, Jed Grimes, the Vieux Carre Jazzmen and the Mariners and Marras.
These local performers all share a passion for the music and songs that tell the story of the region’s rich history and heritage, including the cultural influences from near and far that continue to be celebrated to this day.
Their performances will include mining songs, sea shanties, traditional local music and the music of the New World – jazz and contemporary folk.
This is a free event but tickets are required.
GET TICKETS
The event is being organised by the Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project.
Any tickets still available on the day can be requested from the information desk in the main entrance area at the Linskill Centre. This event is restricted to people over 18.
About the performers:
5 Strung Out
Formed in1983 by brothers Kevin and Colin who played as a duo in local folk clubs. After meeting with Bill, George and Ian and ‘jamming’ at a local gig, they found they all shared a similar taste in music and a desire to perform so a band was born.
Their name came about because when they appeared together, all five were ‘strung out’ along the stage!
They shared a liking for Irish folk music, singing songs made famous by The Dubliners, The Fureys and the Clancy Brothers, encouraging audiences to join in and sing along. They then added Scottish traditional songs, ‘Geordie’ songs, Skiffle, and Country and Western styles of music, along with sea shanties, and other unaccompanied and sometimes humorous songs.
In 2022, Ian left the band, and the remaining four were joined by Robert Webster on percussion and harmonica.
They have appeared at venues up and down the country.
Tony Cocoran Ceili Band
Tony Corcoran (fiddle) has been playing for ceili and barn dances in the North of England for more than 40 years, in the early days providing music for Irish step dancing and even performing in Dublin’s historic Mansion House. He travelled to his family’s homeland often with the Beggarmen Folk Group, appearing on Irish TV from the Rose of Tralee Festival.
Benny Graham (melodeon, vocals) is one of the region’s most acclaimed traditional singers and one of a select few to hold the English Folk Song and Dance Society’s Gold Medal.
Lindsay Zobel (keyboards) provides the rhythm driving the band. Brought up in Scottish country dancing, he learned the fiddle with Tony and ceili music with the late Peter Hollins.
Peter Desmond (Bodhran, guitar, vocals) was the founder of the Beggarmen back in the 1970s and was a champion step dancer and winner of an All-Ireland Medal for ceili dancing.
Gemma Telfer (piano accordion) is the band’s special guest. After graduating with a degree in music and accordion from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, she spent a year of post-graduate study at the prestigious traditional music department at Limerick University.
Jed Grimes
Performer of folk, roots, blues and beyond.
A founder member of the legendary 70s folk-rock band Hedgehog Pie (1974-81), Jed was also producer/presenter of Jed Grimes Folk Show on Metro Radio from 1978-82.
He then enjoyed a solo career as an innovative singer-guitarist of traditional song, playing festivals, arts centres, folk and roots clubs across the UK and Europe.
Since 2019 he has been touring solo and with Niles Krieger (fiddle, vocals) and Rupert Hughes (guitar, vocals) as Grimes/Krieger/Hughes, with appearances at Hexham Bluegrass Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Wark Town Hall, Heddon-on-the-Wall and The White Room, Stanley.
“Jed Grimes brings folk music into the 21st century!” - Mel McLennan
— BBC Radio Two Folk & Acoustic Website.
Vieux Carré Jazzmen
The Vieux Carré Hot 5 is a New Orleans style band with trumpet, trombone, clarinet, tenor sax, banjo and sousaphone, who play and sing the popular jazz numbers of the 1920s and 1930s.
Expect to hear old-time hits such as Bill Bailey, Bourbon Street Parade, Ice Cream, Mama Don't Allow etc.
The band comprises Ian Sanderson, Dave Gray, Jim McBriarty, Brian Bennett and Phil Rutherford.
Mariners and Marras
Mariners and Marras are a rum old bunch of community singers based in North Shields who take delight in entertaining the public with their unique mix of sea shanties, North East traditional working songs and poetry. Joining in is optional but strongly advised!
The singers have appeared at many local community events, including at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre and the Salt Market on North Shields Fish Quay.