Special Guest - Johnny Handle, England
Johnny Handle (legendary accordion player with the High Level Ranters) and singer, Chris Hendry, are making a brief visit to Australia to perform at the Gulgong Folk Festival
Johnny Handle is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He founded the Folksong and Ballad Club in Newcastle’s Bridge Hotel with Louis Killen in 1958 – the club is still running on Monday nights and last year celebrated its 50th anniversary. He has recorded many albums, both with the ‘High Level Ranters’ and as a solo musician and singer. (The Ranters visited Australia twice back in the ‘80s.) Johnny plays accordion, keyboards, banjo, whistle and the Northumbrian pipes. He enthrals his audience with the aural picture he paints of the life of mining communities. With his dry Geordie humour he is a thoroughly engaging entertainer with a good line of patter.
Johnny will be performing with his wife, singer, Chris Hendry and they will be featuring their new CD, Heather and Sweet Smoke. Chris Hendry is a fine singer whose musical heritage included the Scottish traditional singers such as Jeannie Robertson and the Stewart family; she has a wide repertoire that ranges from the great ballads to rural and industrial songs. She tutors in singing skills at the NewcastleUniversity.
Chris and Johnny have been performing together for about 20 years and their sets include songs tunes and verses from Johnny, and Chris singing, usually accompanied by Johnny on piano or piano accordion, and a few duets. Themes range from rural and mining songs, Jacobite songs, songs by Robbie Burns, songs about the Tyne, etc. Tunes include hornpipes, airs, waltzes, rants, and jigs either traditional or Johnny’s own compositions
SPECIAL SYDNEY GIG ...
They will also be appearing in the new year at the Gaelic Club in Sydney on Friday 8 January, along with special guests, and firm favourites in the folk scene in Australia – Bob and Margaret Fagan.
The Gaelic Club is on Level 1, 64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills - just a few short steps from the south eastern exit from Central Station. Parking is usually available in side streets.
Margaret and Bob Fagan are brilliant performers, their names synonymous with excellence. Their repertoire is firmly rooted in the folk tradition with songs from Australia, USA & the British Isles; their choice of songs is always uplifting, and their arrangements – with tasty guitar and fine harmonies – linger on in heart and mind. www.thefagans.com.au
Enquiries and bookings for the Sydney concert: Margaret Walters 9698 2206 or mobile 0427 958 788
AND - NOTE regular weekly singing sessions will be starting at the Gaelic Club on Friday nights following Politics in the Pub.
Johnny Handle is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He founded the Folksong and Ballad Club in Newcastle’s Bridge Hotel with Louis Killen in 1958 – the club is still running on Monday nights and last year celebrated its 50th anniversary. He has recorded many albums, both with the ‘High Level Ranters’ and as a solo musician and singer. (The Ranters visited Australia twice back in the ‘80s.) Johnny plays accordion, keyboards, banjo, whistle and the Northumbrian pipes. He enthrals his audience with the aural picture he paints of the life of mining communities. With his dry Geordie humour he is a thoroughly engaging entertainer with a good line of patter.
Johnny will be performing with his wife, singer, Chris Hendry and they will be featuring their new CD, Heather and Sweet Smoke. Chris Hendry is a fine singer whose musical heritage included the Scottish traditional singers such as Jeannie Robertson and the Stewart family; she has a wide repertoire that ranges from the great ballads to rural and industrial songs. She tutors in singing skills at the NewcastleUniversity.
Chris and Johnny have been performing together for about 20 years and their sets include songs tunes and verses from Johnny, and Chris singing, usually accompanied by Johnny on piano or piano accordion, and a few duets. Themes range from rural and mining songs, Jacobite songs, songs by Robbie Burns, songs about the Tyne, etc. Tunes include hornpipes, airs, waltzes, rants, and jigs either traditional or Johnny’s own compositions
SPECIAL SYDNEY GIG ...
They will also be appearing in the new year at the Gaelic Club in Sydney on Friday 8 January, along with special guests, and firm favourites in the folk scene in Australia – Bob and Margaret Fagan.
The Gaelic Club is on Level 1, 64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills - just a few short steps from the south eastern exit from Central Station. Parking is usually available in side streets.
Margaret and Bob Fagan are brilliant performers, their names synonymous with excellence. Their repertoire is firmly rooted in the folk tradition with songs from Australia, USA & the British Isles; their choice of songs is always uplifting, and their arrangements – with tasty guitar and fine harmonies – linger on in heart and mind. www.thefagans.com.au
Enquiries and bookings for the Sydney concert: Margaret Walters 9698 2206 or mobile 0427 958 788
AND - NOTE regular weekly singing sessions will be starting at the Gaelic Club on Friday nights following Politics in the Pub.
The Collier Lad - a North East England song by Johnny
about the "Lads" Working down the pits.
about the "Lads" Working down the pits.
Johnny Handle helped start one of the first folk clubs in the country at the
Bridge Hotel in Newcastle Upon Tyne which is now 50 years at the one venue.
Bridge Hotel in Newcastle Upon Tyne which is now 50 years at the one venue.
Folk music festival at Blaydon Gateshead June 2007 with High Level Ranters.