'World debut' performance at Alcombe soloists' concert

FOURTEEN pupils of music tutor Mrs Jeannette Owen performed in a soloists’ concert in Alcombe Methodist Church on Wednesday, July 25.
Mrs Owen stages concerts for parents and friends for all her pupils, usually at Christmas, but this was the first soloists’ concert with pupils being selected for their motivation and continued hard work throughout the year.
The evening started with a presentation of the Associated Board of Royal Music Schools examination certificates - the most senior pupil, Ellie Stone having achieved grade five theory with merit, and the most varied, Wilfred Owen, having achieved grade three bassoon with distinction, and grade two piano with merit.
Five flautists, two clarinetists, one bassoonist, one trumpeter, one saxophonist, and one violist gave solo performances, with piano accompaniment from Mrs Owen.
There were also three piano solos.
The music varied from early music - Sarabanda: Corelli, through
Allegro: C P E Bach, Les Roseaux: Couperin, Malageuna: (Trad) Spanish, to Promenade: Musorgsky and Easy Winners: Scott Joplin.
The audience was delighted to see the enthusiasm of the young soloists, and were in for a final treat to conclude the evening - the world debut of Minehead’s Alternative Quartet, dressed in black with a colour (pictured above), who played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Mozart, from the string quartet music, with the violins being replaced by 1st flute - Ellie Stone, 2nd flute - Jeannette Owen, viola (in its rightful place) - Abi Owen, and for the cello, bassoon - Wilf Owen.
Mrs Owen said: “It worked - these young people only having had the music for a few days have had such fun in practising the quartet.”
Further soloists’' concerts will be held each term, with the concert for all pupils being held as usual during the Christmas season.
Photo submitted.

Exmoor love song launches at Dulverton folk festival

THE first Dulverton Folk Festival, which runs from Friday, July 27, to Sunday, July 29, sees the launch of a new song ‘Winsford Hill – A Love Song for Exmoor’.
It has been composed by Exeter-based artists Colin Rea and Juliet Field, with words by Dulverton poetess Atisha McGregor Auld, and is scored for voice accompanied by piano and guitar.
Atisha said: “The emphasis of the composition was to create melodic phrases that encapsulate the beauty and ageless mystery of Exmoor, and to evoke in the listener the feelings of dark and light, earth and air.
“It invites the listener to step out of time for a few moments and marvel at the grand and sensitive simplicity of nature. It is definitely a love song for Exmoor.”
‘Winsford Hill’ is taken from Atisha’s recently-published book of poetry called ‘Eight Rivers – A Tributary of Words’.
The score, which has been published with the cover showing an image of an ancient hawthorn tree laden with red berries sitting gracefully on a rich moorland hill, will be on sale at the festival.
Other artists featured in the folk fest include Vikki Nuttall, Stephen Snow, Maurice Condie, Liz Law, George Papavgeris, Gillian Tolfrey, Terry Conway, Steve Last, Christine Connelly, Jim Causely, Greame Maynard, Tom Oakes and Julian Sutton.
The festival, organised by local musician Dave Towers, brings the best of local and national talent to venues around the town during the weekend.
Mr Towers said: “Dulverton is a great place to hold the festival and tickets are going fast. We have a great line-up for people to enjoy.
“As well as top local talent, we have some great national and Irish singers and musicians. There are plenty of exciting events in venues around the town all through the weekend and I am sure there will be something to please everybody”
Local performers include fiddle player Stephen Snow, 19, from Devon and Dulverton singer and guitarist, Vikki Nuttall.
Vikki said: “We are delighted to perform alongside these acts – they are very well known so it is quite a privilege. We are really looking forward to it.”
Councillor Neil Parbrook, the district council’s leisure, culture and recreation portfolio holder, said: “It is great that the council can assist events like the folk festival.
“They give local people the opportunity to sample new sights and sounds as well as drawing in tourists, which is great for local businesses. It will be a fun weekend for everybody.”
The folk festival is supported with funding from Exmoor Events and ArtLife, in partnership with West Somerset Council, and tickets for concerts are available at The Tantivy in Dulverton or by telephoning 01398 323818.
Full details are on the internet at http://www.dulvertonff.co.uk/.

• Our photographs show (top) Vikki Nuttall and Dave Towers; and (below) Atisha McGregor Auld outside Dulverton Town Hall with a copy of ‘Winsford Hill’. Photos submitted.

Dulverton hosts its first folk festival

A TRADITIONAL folk festival is being launched in Dulverton in July with three days of big-name acts from the folk scene performing before going on to the renowned Sidmouth Folk Festival.
There will also be lots of local talent in the festival, which starts on July 27.
Local musician Dave Towers is the inspiration behind the event, and he is using his contacts within the folk industry to turn dreams of hosting a festival into a reality.
Dave said: “We have a great line-up and an exciting programme of events.
“There are three concerts in the Town Hall, a series of workshops, and plenty of fringe events around the town to surprise and entertain our visitors.”
The festival starts with guitarist Maurice Condie and Irish music singer Gillian Tolfrey, who will be joined by singer-songwriter George Papavgeris.
They will be supported by local performers Stephen Snow and Vikki Nuttall.
Fiddle player Stephen, who is only 19 and from mid-Devon, has already played at an impressive list of British venues. Vikki lives in Dulverton and sings and plays guitar locally.
On the Saturday, the Town Hall will be given over to a series of daytime workshops, including guitar with Maurice Condie, Appalachian dulcimer with Liz Law, song writing with George Papavgeris, singing with Gillian Tolfrey, and melodeon with Julian Sutton.
John Lowday will also demonstrate his work in making Sugan chairs in the lower Town Hall.
Saturday evening’s concert features Julian Sutton and Tom Oakes. Julian plays the melodeon in traditional dance bands, while singer Tom is also regarded as one of the best young flute players in Britain today.
The concert will also feature Liz Law and Terry Conway with their repertoire of English and Scottish traditional ballads, Irish songs, and other traditional songs.
On the Sunday, events start at noon with the well-known duo of Steve Last and Christine Connelly, sometimes known as Moses and The Ref.
Steve is an accomplished guitarist and singer and Chris has a remarkable voice, presenting sensitive interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk songs.
They will be joined by the Devon singer/songwriter Jim Causley, who performs an exciting mixture of traditional and contemporary songs.
Graeme Maynard, from Dulverton, will also be bringing his own particular style of folk music and whistling.
Throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of opportunities for informal music playing in local pubs, and the Bridge Inn will be hosting a real ale festival.
The folk festival has been financially supported by Exmoor Events and ArtLife, in partnership with West Somerset Council.
Tickets for the concerts are available at The Tantivy, Dulverton, or by telephoning 01398 323818, and full details are on the website at http://www.dulvertonff.co.uk/.

Cult band Portishead to make Christmas comeback at Butlins

BUTLINS has pulled off an entertainments coup at its Minehead resort with the announcement that cult band Portishead will be playing their first full live concert for nearly 10 years.
The British band will be the next curators and will be performing exclusively at ‘All Tomorrow's Parties, Nightmare Before Christmas’, which takes place on December 7, 8, and 9.
‘All Tomorrow's Parties’ was started in 1999 as an alternative to festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading, and previous curators have included indie bands Mogwai and Sonic Youth in the UK, and Simpsons creator Matt Groening, in the US.
Portishead said in a statement on their Myspace page: “We have always loved the All Tomorrow's Parties set up and we're happy our first shows will be there.
“It is great to have the opportunity to introduce bands we love or have influenced us.
“We have chosen a diverse collection of artists to play with us and we are really looking forward to it.”
The band said details of the All Tomorrow's Parties line up would be announced on its Myspace page and also on the website http://www.atpfestival.com/.
Portishead were pioneers of tri-hop music and their debut album Dummy won the Mercury Prize in 1995.
A follow-up album, Portishead, came out in 1997, after which little happened until an unannounced acoustic performance in Bristol in February of this hear, when they said they were close to finishing a third album on which they had been working for some years.
Details of tickets and available accommodation can be obtained via http://www.atpfestival.com/.
Photos submitted.

Young musician's historic China tour

YOUNG West Somerset musician Abi Owen has returned from the ‘trip of a lifetime’ to China with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.
Abi, who is 13, plays the viola and became an orchestra member four years ago while a pupil of Minehead Middle School.
She now has a music scholarship to Queens College, Taunton, and has just been accepted for the Somerset County Youth Orchestra.
Her audition for the county orchestra was made all the more nerve wracking because it was after her viola had gone to China and she had to borrow another for the occasion.
Since coming home, Abi has also had to use her father’s viola because the Chinese authorities had not allowed the NCO’s instruments to be sent back.
She is the daughter of Jeanette and Steve Owen, of Glenmore Road, Minehead.
Mrs Owen, a freelance music teacher who gives woodwind lessons in local schools, said: “She had a wonderful time, it was absolutely amazing.
“They did four concerts and a little tour in between for their education. It was all very mind-expanding.
“It was the first time Abi had gone on an aeroplane, and now she wants to go to France with the county youth orchestra next summer.”
During the 10-day visit to the Orient, Abi also saw the famous Terracotta Warriors exhibition and the Great Wall of China.

• Our photograph shows Abi with some of the souvenirs she brought back from China. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M1108099. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.