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MARTIN STEPHENSON
The Violet Chimes + Anne-Marie Sanderson + George Boomsma + Ian Bartholomew + Lee Maddison + Steve Pledger + Beano
Presented by: DownByTheRiver| 0 | DURHAM: Dunelm House |
|---|---|
| P | Saturday 1st June, 2019 |
| N | 6:45am |
Event information
ALL TICKET SALES FROM THIS EVENT WILL BE DONATED TO RTProjects (RT).
RT work creatively with those in our community who experience depression and anxiety. They use Art to Save Lives. However, like everything it costs money to provide this kind of support and like many essential services these days funding is a major challenge.
A chance meeting a year ago between DownByTheRiver (DBTR) and the folks who run RT sparked an alliance; their aim being to bring together the north east music community in order to generate some much needed funding for RT. DBTR approached several of the musicians they had worked with and asked them to donate a track to a compilation CD and their time to this launch event.
Fittingly, Jamie Harwood of The Violet Chimes and headliner Martin Stephenson agreed to be a part of What if? Jamie’s mum (who was also Martin’s aunt Tommi) attended RT Projects during her later years. Martin dedicated an album to his aunt in 2018 and the track ‘Thomasina’ features on What if? We are honoured to have Martin and Jamie involved in this project.
Just to make the album extra special critically acclaimed musician Steve Pledger and RT’s manager, Beano got together to record a track, especially for the project. That track, which is also the album’s title track was written from Beano’s own experience and is intended to reach out to people who may be desperate and to give hope or inspiration. As Beano says ‘the whole point of RTProjects is to save lives using art and this track is an extension of that philosophy, my hope is that a life will be saved by What if?
Martin Stephenson was born in Durham and brought up in nearby Washington. He has been one of the UK’s most perceptive songwriters for over 30 years. Martin formed The Daintees in his teens and their debut single Roll on Summertime was issued by Newcastle’s seminal Kitchenware Records in 1982. Nowadays, Martin is something of a spiritual traveller with a unique style. For him the highest level of achievement is kindness, the greatest currency goodwill. As the NME said of Martin; ‘he builds bridges between love and hate, cradle and grave, folk and pop, past and present’.
‘Singer /songwriter Lee Maddison weaves one of the most beautiful tapestries imaginable’. – Maverick Magazine
Ian Bartholomew is a member of Teesside based folk band Peg Powler, described by Bob Fischer on BBC Tees as 'beautifully dark and twisted folk music with a macabre streak a mile wide.’
‘Anne-Marie Sanderson makes songs that ripple peacefully, delicate, but by no means flimsy folk.' - The Portland Mercury
Americana-UK described the songs of Steve Pledger as ‘poetic, knowing, clever, thoughtful and melodic’.
George Boomsma – ‘Heartfelt writing, heart-stopping vocals and a perfectly poised performance – Tom Robinson BBC 6music
Venue information
DURHAM: Dunelm House| 0 | Durham Students Union New Elvet Durham City DH1 3AN |
|---|---|
| > | www.durhamsu.com |
| ! | 01913341777 |
| ` | The venue has disabled access. |
