De legendarische Engels band BLOWZABELLA is weer op tournee en het begint in Europa hier in België met een

BLOWZABELLA DAY

In aanvulling op de grote bal folk, zal er een dag vol activiteiten met de muzikanten zijn.

De Blowzabella Day is de jaarlijkse muzikale hoogtepunt voor de band en een speciale traktatie voor folk muziekliefhebbers, muzikanten en dansers! Degenen die nog nooit van de band hebben ervaren levend zal niet missen deze unieke kans.

De band heeft een geheel eigen, opzwepende, van bourdons doordrongen klank gespeeld met een fantastisch gevoel voor melodie, ritmische expertise en pure feeling. Ze schrijven hun eigen muziek die beïnvloed wordt door Engelse en Europese traditionele dansmuziek. Alle bandleden componeren; veel van hun nummers zijn inmiddels "standards" in het moderne Engelse / Europese folkrepertoire en worden gespeeld door mensen over de hele wereld. Bands in heel Europa die experimenteren met volksmuziek noemen Blowzabella vaak als belangrijke inspiratiebron.

En aan het einde van de avond verwelkomen we AIOL, een vader en zoon duo. Herbert aan de diatonische accordeon en Kay aan de draailier, zullen jullie maken dansen op traditionele muziek en nieuwe composities!

Agenda

• 10:00 - 13:00 : workshops
  • Danswokshop met 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.