Saturday 23rd November 2024
Concert 8pm, workshops 3pm-4.30pm
The Carlile Institute, Meltham, Huddersfield
Thanks to everyone who came out for a thoroughly fabulous concert, despite the appallingly bad weather!
I’m delighted to announce a fitting finale to our 2023-24 series, featuring two amazing performers from the USA, Evie Ladin and Sophie Wellington. A generation apart, both grew up deep in the traditional folk music and dance scenes in the Eastern USA. Exploring an extensive shared repertoire of old-time and American roots music, as both percussive dancers and multi-instrumentalists, Evie and Sophie make a powerful duo. As well as performing together, combining their extravagant talents on banjo, fiddle, guitar, voice and percussive dance, Evie and Sophie will lead afternoon workshops in body percussion (Evie) and old time fiddle (Sophie). Check out this amazing recent video of the two of them together, and read on for more info. We’re delighted to present the excellent Sugarwell Hill duo from Leeds to open the show too. This one is absolutely not to be missed!
Multi-talented musician, singer, songwriter and dancer Evie Ladin has been playing banjo from the age of eight and clogging since she was just five! Based in California, Evie is a 2020 Jubilation Fellowship recipient, awarded to artists with an exceptional talent for bringing joy to people through music and movement. She has toured all over the world with the Evie Ladin Band, with the Stairwell Sisters, in a duo with Keith Terry, and as a solo performer, and has released numerous albums. On previous UK tours with Keith, Evie has received glowing reviews for performances at WOMAD Festival and Edinburgh TradFest among many more. Our very own Sheffield Greystones gig with Evie & Keith, in a double bill with Foghorn Stringband, was one of our most exciting ever! She is a director of the International Body Music Festival, the leader/choreographer of all-female Bay Area contemporary dance company MoToR/dance, and a leading proponent of the art of body percussion. Evie is a simply sensational live performer, as well as being an in-demand teacher of dance, singing and banjo, online and in person at camps and festivals all over the USA. Evie will lead an afternoon workshop in body percussion – loads of fun and no prior experience required!
Originally from Virginia, Sophie Wellington is an exciting young American musician and dancer who draws inspiration from old time fiddle music, percussive dance, and jazz improvisation. Like Evie, Sophie was brought up steeped in community music, attending contra dances, festivals and camps from a young age. Sophie attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and since graduating she has released her debut solo album. Sophie is passionate about teaching and sharing her perspective on the connection between movement and music – she has taught fiddle and step dance at many venues including Virginia’s Blue Ridge Old Time Music Week and the Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia. She has competed at various fiddlers’ conventions, placing and winning in categories including old time fiddle and flatfooting. In addition to her solo work, Sophie plays in several bands and has been touring with roots music sensation Willi Carlisle this year, contributing fiddle, guitar, harmony vocals and percussive dance. Sophie will lead an afternoon workshop in old time fiddle – suitable for all fiddle/violin players of early intermediate standard & up.
This is going to be a fabulous celebration of Appalachian (and beyond) roots music and dance, and a stunning collaboration between two very special artists. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Evie and Sophie perform together here in the UK, on their only Yorkshire date.
Evening concert 8pm (doors 7.30pm).
Workshops 3pm to 4.30pm approx. Body percussion will be taught by Evie Ladin and old time fiddle will be taught by Sophie Wellington.
This event is part of True North Music’s 2023-24 live music series, supported by National Lottery Project Grants funding from Arts Council England. Many thanks to them for supporting grassroots live music, enabling us to continue to bring world class artists like this to our local community venues. We also want to thank our series sponsor Dark Woods Coffee for their support. There will be a licensed bar run by the volunteers of the Carlile CIC.