artists and groups
Paddy Milner
After living for a short while in Scotland, Paddy Milner spent most of his youth in Dorset, England. It was here that he was exposed to music from an early age and learnt to play the piano. Initially studying classically, it was the blues and boogie-woogie that captured his imagination and this provided the base for his musical development through jazz and back to classical music.
In the year following his graduation from Kings College with a music degree, Paddy was introduced to Gerry Bron, signed a deal with Bronze Records and recorded the highly original album Walking On Eggshells. This, his second album, was recorded mainly at Gallery Studios with encouragement from the studio's owner and Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. Taken from the album, the first single ‘Unsquare Dance’ is a riotous and truly original arrangement of Dave Brubeck's classic, and has received accolades all around. Brubeck himself said, "I love it wouldn't change a note". The video to the single ‘You Think You're So Damn Funny’ gained coverage on French and German TV, helping to propel the album to the No.1 Bestselling Jazz/Blues album in France in May 2005. As well as Paddy's songs and arrangements, the album features five songs co-written with iconic lyricist Pete Brown, most well known for his collaborations with Cream.
His most recent album, Based On A True Story, was released in May 2007. The album includes the rarely covered Beatles classic ‘Hey Bulldog’ and a characteristically quirky reworking of the Violent Femmes' ‘Blister In The Sun’. Paddy has just completed recording his fourth solo album.
Paddy is playing at the Corn Exchange. Visit his website here and his MySpace page here.
In the year following his graduation from Kings College with a music degree, Paddy was introduced to Gerry Bron, signed a deal with Bronze Records and recorded the highly original album Walking On Eggshells. This, his second album, was recorded mainly at Gallery Studios with encouragement from the studio's owner and Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. Taken from the album, the first single ‘Unsquare Dance’ is a riotous and truly original arrangement of Dave Brubeck's classic, and has received accolades all around. Brubeck himself said, "I love it wouldn't change a note". The video to the single ‘You Think You're So Damn Funny’ gained coverage on French and German TV, helping to propel the album to the No.1 Bestselling Jazz/Blues album in France in May 2005. As well as Paddy's songs and arrangements, the album features five songs co-written with iconic lyricist Pete Brown, most well known for his collaborations with Cream.
His most recent album, Based On A True Story, was released in May 2007. The album includes the rarely covered Beatles classic ‘Hey Bulldog’ and a characteristically quirky reworking of the Violent Femmes' ‘Blister In The Sun’. Paddy has just completed recording his fourth solo album.
Paddy is playing at the Corn Exchange. Visit his website here and his MySpace page here.
Jess Upton
Jess Upton is Dorset’s best keep musical secret. Since fronting her first band, the stunning Jess Upton Soul Band, at the age of 17 she has captivated audiences and received great plaudits from those lucky enough to hear her sing. Her voice is as versatile as it is beautiful, having worked with big bands, an a capella trio and a Pink Floyd tribute band (featuring her extraordinary performance of Great Gig in the Sky!) She is currently working with Steve Wilson on her first solo album. Together they have worked on and off since 1995 when they appeared cast as country singers in a play by Lindsay Ingram, entitled The Grievous Angels. Since then they have shared a love of alt. country /folk and acoustic roots music and a residency at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage has seen them develop their unique style and cement their working relationship.
Jess is playing with the Guilty Pleasures at the Corn Exchange. Visit Jess and Steve's MySpace page here.
Jess is playing with the Guilty Pleasures at the Corn Exchange. Visit Jess and Steve's MySpace page here.
The Crack
Formed in Weymouth in 1995, The Crack have grown into one of the UK's favourite party bands. Playing regularly in London as well as mainland Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East, they have become renowned party specialists with their versatile set list, which encompasses music for all ages. The Crack will be performing at the Corn Exchange. For more information, visit their website.
Andy Grant
Andy Grant performs dynamic acoustic songs with infectious riffs, bluesy vocals and astounding guitar work. His live shows never fail to entertain whether as a solo performer on acoustic guitar, vocals and stompbox, or when fronting ‘The Andy Grant Trio’, backed by double bass and drums.
Andy’s new release, ‘Hole In The Sky’ (2008), is an 11 track collection of original songs that celebrates the human state of being, questions the decisions made on our behalf and instills our hope for the future, all delivered in a raw, funky and inflective way.
Andy will be performing at the Corn Exchange. For more information, visit Andy's website or check him out on MySpace.
Andy’s new release, ‘Hole In The Sky’ (2008), is an 11 track collection of original songs that celebrates the human state of being, questions the decisions made on our behalf and instills our hope for the future, all delivered in a raw, funky and inflective way.
Andy will be performing at the Corn Exchange. For more information, visit Andy's website or check him out on MySpace.
Graham Moore
Dorset-based Graham is a singer, songwriter and writer of social, historical and folk musicals. Accompanying himself on guitar or English concertina, Graham has earned a reputation for quality performance at festivals and arts venues throughout the country, singing original, traditional and contemporary songs. His own songs, such as 'Tom Paine's Bones' and 'Tolpuddle Man', have been enthusiastically adopted by the folk community around the world and recorded by the some of best English folk performers such as Dick Gaughan, Roy Bailey and Mick Ryan. For more information, visit Graham's website.
Michael Finnissy
London-born Michael Finnissy studied at the Royal College of Music and in Italy and began performing his own compositions as a solo pianist across Europe in the late 1960s. He was a member of the classical groups Suoraan and Ixion through the ’70s and ’80s, and later joined the British section of the International Society of Contemporary Music, serving as its President from 1990 to 1996.
He has been attached to CoMA (Contemporay Music Making for Amateurs) since its inception, and been in residence as composer to the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne and to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. Michael has taught at the Royal Academy of Music, Winchester College, the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven and at the Universities of Sussex and Southampton. His work is widely available on CD. Michael is performing at durnoVibe 09 with the Great Western Instrumental Ensemble as part of the Classical Collection. For more information, visit his website.
He has been attached to CoMA (Contemporay Music Making for Amateurs) since its inception, and been in residence as composer to the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne and to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. Michael has taught at the Royal Academy of Music, Winchester College, the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven and at the Universities of Sussex and Southampton. His work is widely available on CD. Michael is performing at durnoVibe 09 with the Great Western Instrumental Ensemble as part of the Classical Collection. For more information, visit his website.
Simon Swarbrick and Kenny Watkins
Nephew of legendary Fairport Convention fiddle player Dave, Simon has successfully conquered folk, jazz and almost any other style possible. He has been performing and recording since the ’70s and recently formed an acoustic five-piece band including Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders, Paul McCartney Band), performing mostly his own compositions. Lesser known is Simon's virtuosity on guitar and mandolin.
Kenny is a self-taught singer, guitarist and banjo player – as well as natural comedian and raconteur – who began his career in a skiffle band in South Wales before moving onto folk music. A move to Dorset in the '70s led him to hook up with Simon, culminated in the Ken’s album, Fine Friends.
Simon and Kenny will be performing at Tom Browns. For more information, visit their MySpace page.
Kenny is a self-taught singer, guitarist and banjo player – as well as natural comedian and raconteur – who began his career in a skiffle band in South Wales before moving onto folk music. A move to Dorset in the '70s led him to hook up with Simon, culminated in the Ken’s album, Fine Friends.
Simon and Kenny will be performing at Tom Browns. For more information, visit their MySpace page.
The Great Western Ensemble
Based in Dorchester, the Great Western Ensemble comprises 25 players and is to all intents and purposes an orchestra but without so many stringed instruments. Most of the woodwind players double; for example flute and piccolo, bassoon and contrabassoon. The brass contingent is pretty big for this size of ensemble but, with the players here, this is a real treat. The string section comprises just eight players. To complete the ensemble there is a harp, timpani and a colourful array of percussion. As part of the Classical Collection, the ensemble will be playing music written specially for it.
The director of the ensemble is Rick Birley, the founder and chief organiser of durnoVibe, who has lived, worked, played, composed, conducted and taught in and around Dorchester for over 20 years and has worked with or taught just about everyone involved in the local music scene.
The director of the ensemble is Rick Birley, the founder and chief organiser of durnoVibe, who has lived, worked, played, composed, conducted and taught in and around Dorchester for over 20 years and has worked with or taught just about everyone involved in the local music scene.
The Occasional Singers
Performing as part of the Classical Collection. This Dorchester-based choir was founded with the principal aim of singing the music of founder, Rick Birley, beginning as a one off-choir singing in Milton Abbey in December 1994. The Occasionals are a non-profit-making choir whose membership is made up of local people from the Dorchester area. They have sung a lot of Rick’s compositions over the years as well as a vast amount of music, sacred and secular, covering many styles and spanning many centuries. The present directors of the choir are Rick Birley and Richard Hall. The choir's spiritual home is St Mary’s Church in Edward Road, Dorchester. For more information, visit their website.
The Tree Fellahs
The Tree Fellahs can best be described as a 'loose arrangemen' of traditional style musicians based around accordionist Mike McDaid and guitarist/singer Paul Openshaw. With the wonderfully talented Nina Garcia on fiddle and vocals, they come together periodically to play ceilidh's, festivals, pubs and parties, with a wide repertoire of tunes, covers and self penned songs. The Tree Fellahs are playing at Tom Browns.
Bob Kirkpatrick
Bob is a folk musician who runs the Sunray Folk Club every fourth Thursday of the month at Broadmayne Village Hall. Bob is playing at Tom Browns. To find out more, visit www.bobkirkpatrick.co.uk or www.sunrayfolkclub.co.uk or email bob@sunrayfolkclub.co.uk
The Flying Squad
Performing as part of the Classical Collection. Photo and biographical information to follow.
Fungus
Performing at the Corn Exchange. Photo and biographical information to follow.
Fingerz 'n' Fretz (Jerry Bird & James Findlay)
Performing at Tom Browns. Photo and biographical information to follow.
Chris Sarjeant
Performing at Tom Browns. Photo and biographical information to follow.
Dave Bowen, Mike Botterill and friends
Performing at The Junction. Photo and biographical information to follow.