The legendary English band BLOWZABELLA in again on tour and it begins in Europe here in Belgium with a

BLOWZABELLA DAY

In addition to the great folk bal, there will be a full day of activities with the musicians.

The Blowzabella Day is the annual musical highlight for the band and a special treat for folk music lovers, instrumentalists and dancers! Those who have never experienced the band live shall not miss out this unique opportunity.

Blowzabella is a genuinely unique band that makes an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and sheer feeling. They compose their own music which is influenced by English and European traditional dance music. All the band members compose and many of their tunes are “standards” in the modern British/European folk repertoire and are played by people all over the world. Bands across Europe who experiment with folk music often cite Blowzabella as a major influence. Much loved and respected, there is no one else quite like them.

And for closing the evening, we are inviting AIOL, a duo father and son. Herbert at the accordion and Kay at the hurdy gurdy, will make you danse on trad music and new compositions.

Agenda

• 10:00 - 13:00 : workshops
  • Dance wokshop with Jo Freya & Dave Shepherd
    • With the rest of the band providing the music. Some great English traditional dances and some of the European couple dances that Blowzabella have popularised over the last 30+ years. The aim of the workshop is to help people get the most from a Blowzabella gig. All ages and abilities welcome. There’s plenty for experienced dancers to learn too.
  • Music workshop FOLK BIG BAND with Paul James
    • Using simple, catchy folk dance tunes as a starting point, this workshop is about working together as a team to make a mighty big band noise that is more than the sum of its parts. Suitable for all ages, abilities, any instrument. No prior knowledge of folk music necessary. The aim is to create imaginative arrangements - using harmonies and riffs, textures and dynamics - that are interesting and fun to play, dance and listen to. You need to be of a standard where you can play a simple folk tune through at the right tempo, either by ear or by reading music. The Folk Big Band will perform at the evening dance.
• 14:30 - 17:00 : workshops
  • Bagpipes workshop with Jon Swayne
    • Introducing participants to English bagpipe repertoire, both traditional and recently composed, working mostly by ear, but music is available at the end. Work on technique and ornamentation relevant to that repertoire can be included. If time allows and the appropriate instruments are available, the workshop can enjoy playing polyphony with two, three or more lines, a form with which Jon has considerable experience. Suitable for conical bore mouth or bellows blown bagpipes in G (for example, border, Flemish and French pipes).
  • Hurdy gurdy workshop with Grégory Jolivet
    • Gregory is an experienced hurdy-gurdy teacher both in the traditional techniques and repertoire of central France and in more contemporary and improvisational approaches to playing the instrument. The basic standard required to get the most from this workshop is to be able to learn a simple folk dance tune by ear and play it at the right tempo with others.
  • Diatonic Accordion & melodeon (G/D) workshop with Andy Cutting
    • Suitable for intermediate and more advanced players. The basic standard required to get the most from this workshop is to be able to learn a simple folk dance tune by ear and play it at the right tempo with others.
  • Singing workshop with Jo Freya
    • Taking traditional songs and singing them in harmony as a group. All ages and abilities welcome. No need to be able to read music. The emphasis is on creating a great sound by arranging beautiful songs for the voices there.
  • Violin workshop with Dave Shepherd
    • Mostly English traditional tunes and tips on rhythm and style. The basic standard required to get the most from this workshop is to be able to learn a simple folk dance tune by ear and play it at the right tempo with others. Some music is available on the day.
• 20:00 - 24:00 : 
  • Folk Bal with Blowzabella
  • Folk Bal with AIOL