I Got Music

Helen and Karen at Wimborne

KAREN Wimhurst and Helen Porter first met in the late 1990s, working together on Common Ground’s Confluence project, mapping the river stour from its source to its meeting the sea. Clarinetist Karen, who lives in Shaftesbury, was Composer in Residence for the project, and singer and teacher Helen was the animateur. Their musical relationship grew…

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Marine’s global music month finale

FANS of global music have had a treat at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis during September, and the final event comes on Sunday 29th. The focus moves to South America, when Jazz by the Sea welcomes in Alvorada, a Brazilian instrumental quintet introducing their latest album, Faz Tempo. It is a bold and rich…

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Sarah McQuaid in Bath

CORNWALL-based singer and songwriter Sarah McQuaid  comes to the Ustinov Studio at Bath Theatre Royal on Monday 30th September. Sarah’s been mentioned in a quiz question on BBC Radio 4’s Counterpoint, featured on the O2 Music Map, supported by the Arts Council, presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her guitar work, and earned critical…

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Musical walks with Ninebarrow

DORSET’s much-loved folk duo Ninebarrow – James LaBouchardiere and Jon Whitley – are almost as well known for their love of walking as they are for their beautiful harmonies and charming original songs. For some years they have been leading walks and writing books to introduce their fans and fellow-walkers to different areas of their…

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The hard life of the herring fishers

THE hard life of the North Sea herring fishermen was memorably captured in a 1929 documentary film which has been reissued with a new live score by the sound artist, nature beatboxer and composer Jason Singh. The film, Drifters, with Singh’s soundtrack and a new film is being shown at two Dorset venues on 15th…

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A folk ode to Dorset’s quarrymen

THE Mowlem Theatre at Swanage, close to some of Purbeck’s ancient quarries, was the setting for a film and recording of a new song, Drop The Hammer, described as a “captivating ode to quarrying in Dorset,” written and performed by the West Country folk and shanty band, The Longest Johns. The song was commissioned by…

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