We extend a big welcome to all musicians, poets, comedians, storytellers and any other performers to come down and show your talents in the Ropemakers Open Mic Night. Hosted by the talented Chris Deacon.
The Scribes are a multi award winning hip hop three piece whose unique blend of beatboxing, off the cuff freestyling and genre-spanning music has created a live show quite unlike any other on the scene today, with appeal ranging far beyond traditional hip hop fare. The Scribes are sponsored by independent, ethical and fair trade clothing company THTC (www.thtc.co.uk) alongside artists such as Ed Sheeran and Foreign Beggars and are signed with American record label “Kamikazi Airlines”, based in LA and co-founded by Dizzy Dustin of legendary hip hop act Ugly Duckling, as well as releasing material on UK based label “Reel Me Records” (Laid Blak). The Scribes are also proud winners of both the Exposure Music Award’s “Best UK Urban Act” and the EatMusic Radio Award’s “Best Live Act”, and have provided original music for BBC and Channel 4 television, as well as being featured regularly on both national and local radio and media including BBC 1Xtra and BBC Radio 1 Introducing.
London-Irish Psycho-Ceilídh Rockers... The bastard love child of Joe Strummer and Shane MacGowan, Neck inhabit a musical niche rich in traditional Irish tunes but liberally dosed with a strong punk ethic. Firm favourites across the live circuits of the UK, Europe and the good old US of A, Neck drag any crowd into the party with their infectious reels, powerful riffs and fantastic lyrics. You don’t have to be Irish to love Neck - but it helps!
The lead singer with popular local band, Look Around Corners, this afternoon we have the delightful voice of Alex Green singing some beautiful acoustic songs.
The March Cheese Club is here with six cheeses from White Lake Cheese in Somerset for you to try and compare. These are produced by a single farm and made in small batches. These will come served with tasting notes, crackers and accompaniments. With each Cheese, Palmers Wine Store have selected a drink to further enhance your enjoyment of the cheese and these are available at an extra cost. The cost for the cheese platter is £7.50 per person. Booking is absolutely essential as these evenings are very popular. There will be three sittings, one at 7:30pm, one at 8:00pm and one at 8:30pm. Booking and pre-payment are essential for this event.
Bridport based Rocksteady band with a little Latin infusion. 7 piece band guaranteed to get you moving
Muddy Summers and the Dirty Field Whores are a radical feisty folkpunkswingpop band based in the UK. Described as ‘a musical melange that draws in left-bank swing, Balkan gypsy dreamscape, jazz waltz fusion and cowgirl reggae-hop, all bound together with sentient political verse with a razor edge that feels no need to growl before it bites’, and fronted by the irrepressible Gail Something-Else, they bring catchy rhythms, urgent poetry and beautiful harmonies.
Ropemakers Cyclathon for Turkey and Syria As most of you will be aware, tens of thousands have died and millions of people have been displaced or adversely affected by the huge earthquakes that occurred on 6th February. We at the Ropemakers are getting on our bikes in order to raise money to help these poor people with both staff and customers involved. For this we will need to borrow some exercise bikes so if you have one available for 11th to 13th March. We will be doing the Cyclathon on 12th March raising money for Unicef Please contact us if you can help
Hailing from sleepy Devon come BlimeyOhRiley. A collective of musicians who have shared the stage with the likes of Noel Gallagher, Frank Turner, & Megadeth, to name but a few, each member has journeyed individually in a vast range of genres ranging from funk to grind-core. Together, they speedball more genres, styles & influences into a single punk fuelled Reggae, Ska show than you could shake a rhythm stick at! This cheeky trio are not afraid to take songs from all through the ages, put them in a blender, give it a stir and sing them back to their audience.
The Curst Sons play original material inspired by American traditional roots genres from the pre-Rock n’ Roll world of Blues, Gospel and Old Time – given a jolt of electricity and a kick-ass stomp. They gnarl and twist together elements of bluegrass, rockabilly, country and blues and spew forth a sound that is instantly recognisable as their own. What may be overlooked is the fact that the Curst Sons are damn fine songwriters as well as potent lyricists. If it is true that the Devil has all the best tunes, then he must undoubtedly have nicked some of them from The Curst Sons.
Ma Polaine have been described variously over the years, with references to Billie Holiday, Tom Waits and a “moody Mary Margaret O’Hara”, yet Ma Polaine’s sound is very much their own. Beth’s effortlessly distinctive vocals and evocative lyrics coupled with Clinton’s understated guitar underpin the songs. Playing live as a duo the songs become sparse versions but they achieve a surprisingly full sound. Beth’s electric and double basses anchor the sound, with occasional accordion and harmonica, leaving Clinton to play with the space between the vocal, sometimes with rich, warm chords or gritty distortion.
The Sunset Cafe was a top night-spot on Chicago’s infamous South Side. Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there. The Sunset Cafe Stompers do play the music of that period... great tunes from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller... but the band’s wide repertoire also features songs made famous by artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe, the Inkspots, Fats Domino... even Elvis. Beneath it all, one can sense the elusive, shifting, pulse which defines the sound of New Orleans. In that city, ever since the 1900s, bands have been hired to attract a crowd, or to add spirit and generate excitement for all kinds of occasion. Throughout the last twenty years we have followed in that tradition: playing jazz clubs, concerts for churches, arts centres, village dances, weddings, festivals, funerals, garden parties... from our Dorset/Somerset base, down to Cornwall and up to Cumbria
Folk Sessions with Chris Deacon
Shelby’s Elbows are an acoustic duo, made up of Dorset musicians Martin P. Davies and Phil Jeffs. Formed after meeting in various Open Mic nights in 2008, Shelby’s Elbows have developed into a locally well known entertainment duo, playing a variety of instruments and producing an instantly recognisable sound that surprises people when they discover that there’s only two people making it. Starting out as a covers band, they are now writing and recording their own original music from a wide variety of influences gained from their covers set – from Nirvana to Neil Young, Seal to Skynyrd, Dire Straits to Turin Brakes and anything in between. Shelby’s Elbows are an exciting, dynamic duo, delivering a deep filled sound that punches well above the level which their numeric deficiency should allow. Inspirational lyrics and catchy conundrums for those who like to rock their fun but socially-aware world with guitars, exuberance and honesty, along with the misuse of inappropriate and inaccurate presidential quotes.
TwoManTing was formed in 2004 when Sierra Leonean drummer Jah-man Aggrey, and guitarist Jon Lewis were playing together as part of dance band, Le Cod Afrique, at venues such as Montreux Jazz Festival and WOMAD. The duo immediately became a hit on the UK festival circuit with their brand of bouncy “Sunshine Afro-roots”. Shows have included Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness and Green Man Festivals to name but a few. Using guitar, live loops and percussion the duo creates a highly danceable full band sound and their reputation has earned them recent support slots with the likes of Tinariwen, The Oyster Band, Edward 2 and Dub Colossus. Their music is often featured on BBC Radio 3 and 6Music. Shows feature palm-wine, acoustic dub and highlife grooves with thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics on subjects ranging from childhood memories, political protest and er….duvets.
Perfect Sunday afternoon chill-out session with this local extremely talented singer songwriter.
Swinging out of Bristol, Cut Throat Francis are interactive, raucous and pinpoint accurate. Watch four musicians juggle eight instruments to create a sweaty, eastern European flavoured jazzy fiesta – complete with whoops, wit and earworms. From songs about improving cheap wine with coke to their exploits with the circus, expect to be taken on all sorts of journeys. Will the short one play the big alto sax? And what does Francis grow in his garden?
