OKEHAMPTON-based Wren Music, Devon?s folk arts development charity, presents an evening of music and dance, on Saturday, April 30, at the America Hall, Pinhoe, Exeter. The gig is to raise travel funds for Exeter-based youth choir Hocus who have been invited to perform at the Artscape Schools Music Festival, in South Africa, in August, and to conduct a series of singing workshops in schools and communities in Cape Town and in the surrounding townships and countryside. Hocus is an ensemble of young people from Devon, all between the ages of fifteen and nineteen, who sing in harmony and a cappella. Over the last ten years, they have amassed a hugely varied repertoire of traditional and original songs, and have a passion for singing that is infectious. Nurtured by Wren Music since its inception, Hocus is going from strength to strength. Their new CD of freshly researched and arranged 19th century Devon folk songs from the Baring-Gould collection has just been recorded, (due for release in June) and they have been leading workshops based on these songs in schools across Devon, as part of their ?Young Sing Old Songs? project. Hocus will be performing at the ceilidh, which will be lead by The Snack Band ? one of Devon?s finest bands specialising in traditional English folk music for dancing. Their repertoire is drawn predominantly from the Westcountry, with the occasional diversion into more exotic musical territory. They have a particular love for the 18th and 19th century dances of North Dartmoor, which were collected by Bob Cann. All the dance steps are explained, and then called over the music, so that young and old alike can join in with an enjoyable evening of dances stretching back through the generations. Marilyn Tucker (vocals and calling) and Paul Wilson (accordion, fiddle and vocals) are the founders and Directors of Wren Music, with over twenty-five years experience in performing on three continents. Matt Norman (mandolin and fiddle) is gaining an impressive reputation as one of the most interesting artists of the younger generation. David Faulkner (English pipes and calling) is one of the country?s most respected bagpipers. Tickets for the ceilidh are available from Wren Music, I St James Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1DW, tel 01837 53754, or email [email protected]">[email protected]
