Author Archives: South Downs

BROOMDASHER set sail with John Tams’ endorsement…

Broomdasher will have the wind in their sails this weekend after John Tams’ resounding endorsement of their newly arranged version of two of his songs especially chosen by him for their show with us!

They sang “How High the Price/All Clouds the Sky” when they supported John and Barry Coope (of #CoopeBoyesandSimpson) at the RamFolkClub.

“It’s lovely, I wouldn’t change a thing…. It’s your song now” said John, “I hope your audiences at SouthDowns Folk Festival really enjoy it”.

Barry added: “There’s a lovely balance of voices”, and he said he was looking forward to hearing Broomdasher again.

The 16-voice acapella group from London count John among their admirers and he suggests one of his songs which is in keeping with the venues where they’re singing, for them to arrange in their own traditional style.

“The songs are both about the perils of the sea and how badly deep sea fishermen used to be treated, and we think they’re poignant and moving,” say the group, whose website is www.broomdasher.com.

You can hear them at 2.15pm at The Regis Centre​ and 3.30pm at The William Hardwicke​ THIS Saturday.

Want to join in? They’re hosting a singing and harmony workshop for adults led by their renowned musical director Sally Davies in the Tent at Place St Maur next to The Regis Centre from 10.30 til 11.30am.

Datchet Border Morris will perform on Bognor Regis esplanade (seafront) on
Saturday (23rd Sept) 10:15-10:45 am, plus on Sunday (24th Sept) 10:15-10:45 am and 12:15-12:45pm.

Datchet Border are an all male Morris side with a mixed band, performing dances in the English Border style (English/Welsh border).

This promises to be fun…

To mark the International Day of Peace, Bognor Philoxenia is inviting people to reflect on the meaning of peace. We’re pleased to be working alongside them with this project.

They will have an installation on the High Street during the weekend of our event, at which people will be able to contribute to an enormous – roughly eight times life size – dove by drawing or writing on hundreds of mini dove-shaped cards with their own drawings and reflections on peace.

The results will be used to inspire an ‘evening on peace’ later in the year.

‘Philoxenia’ means ‘friendship with strangers’ and the opposite of Xenophobia.
Bognor Philoxenia is a group of Bognor people from the UK, Eastern Europe and around the world, concerned with the
development of a common sense of community between people across national boundaries.
It is part of ACCORD: a Cross Cultural Organisation Recognizing Diversity.

Broomdasher will bring a seafaring treat to the South Downs Folk Festival when they sing two songs that have been “gifted” to them by John Tams, especially for their performances at the Festival.

The 16-voice acapella group from London count John among their admirers and he suggests one of his songs which is in keeping with the venues where they’re singing, for them to arrange in their own traditional style.

So they will be premiering “How High The Price/ All Clouds The Sky” during their shows at The Regent Studio at 2.15 and The Sir William Hardwicke at 3.30 on Saturday 23 September.

“The songs are both about the perils of the sea and how badly deep sea fishermen used to be treated, and we think they’re poignant and moving,” say the group.

And they’ll know what John thinks of their arrangement, too, because they are supporting him at The Ram Folk Club in Thames Ditton on 15 September, when they’ll sing it to him and no doubt pick up some composer’s suggestions from him.

Broomdasher have enjoyed a whirlwind year since they first got together last September – and as well as supporting John, they are also supporting Coope, Boyes and Simpson at their last ever London gig, at New Cross Folk Club on 5 October.

Conceived at Cecil Sharp House, where they met, born at Moseley Folk Festival, where they made their debut, and now being nurtured by a clutch of notable artistes – Chris While and Julie Matthews, Roy Bailey and Ray Hearne are also “gifting” songs from their repertoires – Broomdasher have been sweeping up fans wherever they’ve performed.

And if you want to join them, they’re hosting a singing and harmony workshop for adults led by their renowned musical director Sally Davies in the Tent at Place St Maur next to The Regent Centre from 10.30 til 11.30 on Saturday, 23rd September.

Sussex Young Folk contestants (the competition takes place on Sunday 24th September) are rolling in, but there’s still time to get involved!

If you’re a folk musician aged between 10 and 21 years living in, or near, Sussex this competition is for you!
For more details and the enter, please e-mail rnash10@hotmail.com.

This is Leowan, a 15 year old musician from Chichester, who has been playing guitar and singing for many years. She’s very passionate about music. Good luck Leo!

The Wriggle-Jigglers play traditional folk music.

We look forward to welcoming the band to Bognor Regis. They’ll be playing around the High Street and London Road on Sunday 24th September.

Try this out for size!

Our ‘Sussex Young Folk Competition’ is open to folk musicians aged 10-21 years living in, or near, Sussex.

For more details and the enter, please e-mail rnash10@hotmail.com (this is Roger’s email, don’t worry, he’s nice and friendly).

We’re delighted to be working in partnership with ‘Making Theatre Gaining Skills’ to run a skills course for local unemployed, as part of our 2017 event.

Our festival chairman, Roger Nash said: “We are very grateful to the Sussex Community Foundation for funding which will enable us to work with and involve local unemployed people in planning and running this year`s Festival. The September event is very much community based and takes over the whole of the Town Centre and being able to work with local people who need help to get them into the working environment is a opportunity which we are delighted to take forward.”

Hilary Strong from Making Theatre Gaining Skills added: “We have a lot of experience in helping unemployed people gain confidence and improve their skills; many of our participants progress into local jobs and we work closely with the local Job Centres to achieve this. A project like this involving a popular local event which attracts many
thousands of people to the Town is worth its weight in gold. Participants will not only learn about basic health & safety, but will also have First Aid training plus the opportunity to experience theatre and event management skills such as stewarding and dealing with the public. At the end of the course, successful course members will get a recognised `employability` qualification”.

The Regis Centre and Bognor Regis Town Centre Management will also play an important part in making the Skills Project a big success. Hazel Latus from the Regis Centre said: “We very much welcome this Project as part of the 2017 Festival and we will be helping in providing technical, back stage and front of house training for those involved.”

Town Centre Manager, Toyubur Rahman added : “Having these trainees as part of the Festival will be a boon to everyone involved, and with all the exciting Town Centre activities planned as part of this year`s Festival, I am sure they and we will gain a great deal from their involvement.”