Andover Museum Loft Singers are delighted to celebrate ther 21^st Birthday at the Whitchurch Folk Club!

Founded by the legendary Roger Watson, from their inception the Andover Museum Loft Singers have embedded themselves in and wholeheartedly supported local events and organisations – a ‘community choir’ in every sense. Presenting songs from Hampshire and the region, they have performed at concerts, charity functions, fetes, fairs, festivals (including a recent appearance with Faustus at the Ham in Sidmouth, as well as performances of Living By the Sea, by Paul Sartin and Mathew Crampton), dances and weddings, and have even been known to raise their voices in places of worship ... and hostelries.

As a sizeable proportion of the choir and their director Paul Sartin are Whitchurch residents, it’s only fitting that they should hold their 21^st birthday party at Whitchurch Folk Club. The choir will be inviting some very special guests – friends of the choir, and musicians with whom they have worked over the years.

Watch a video of the Andover Museum Loft Singers in action here.

THIS EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE... 

Belshazzar's Feast 

‘Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals), “one folk’s odd couples”,  have for nearly 25 years  stunned audiences around Europe, The States and Australia, with virtuoso musicianship tempered by wry humour. With extravagant lifestyles to support, as well as a love of music, their candle looks set to burn for a good few decades more.

Singer, oboist, cor anglais player, swanee whistle afficionado, violinist and pianist, Paul Sartin is a BASCA-nominated composer, arranger, performer and teacher. A founding member of the BBC award-nominated ensembles Belshazzar’s Feast and Faustus (German Critics Award 2017) and the late Bellowhead, he is Director of the Andover Museum Loft Singers; his latest publication is ‘Community Choirs Folk’ for Faber Music. Paul arranged and directed the music for the 2017-18 revival of ‘The Transports’ (Guardian *****). He was awarded a First for his Masters in Traditional Music, and in 2007 received a 75^thAnniversary Award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

Paul Hutchinson is the founder member of the innovative and progressive folk band, The Playford Liberation Front. His highly successful folk trio Hoover the Dog has recently morphed into the Pagoda Project. Paul's own compositions were published in 2012 (Food For Thought) and a second volume is in the pipeline.  He is the resident accordion tutor at Cecil Sharp House and is a seasoned tutor at Folkworks and Halsway Manor and leads ensemble workshops far and wide.

Belshazzar’s Feast start with traditional English folk music, throw in a bit of pop and classical, sprinkle over a few TV and movie themes, and top it off lashings of laughs for a unique live experience. Belshazzar’s Feast received a coveted nomination for Best Duo at the BBC Folk Awards.Belshazzar’s Feast have appeared live with Claire Balding (BBC Radio 2), Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music), on In Tune (Radio 3), and on St George’s Day 2018 they were guest musicians on BBC Radio 2’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

‘Few can match this duo in concert for entertainment and great music’ - Independent

‘One of folks great odd couples – The Feast’ - The Independent On Sunday 

‘Duo known for their sense of humour as well their impressive musicianship’ - Guardian

Watch a video of Belshazzar's Feast by clicking here.

Mad Magdalen

Whether on the main stage, around a camp fire, or plugged into a sun, wind or pedal powered amp or two, Mad Magdalen (pronounced "Mad Mawdlin") offer traditional English music with attitude. We sing songs and play tunes about sex, death, dancing and magic with a sprinkling of the history you were never taught at school. Born around a kitchen table, with good food (probably curry) and wine combined with the English tradition of getting together with friends and playing old songs, Mad Magdalen have gone on to play at festivals and gatherings all across the South of England.

Mad Magdalen features artists with a solid background in the English Folk Tradition. Ali and Graeme played folk clubs and festivals as  "Devil's Elbow" - known for their sensitive and creative arrangements of traditional songs and tunes, Claire sings with the Paul Sartin's Andover Museum Loft Singers, and Paul is known for his satire. At any event they're just as happy to be starting an impromptu folk club, maybe teaching a few kids (young and old) to juggle, even offering a singing workshop (or tai-chi session!) as well as performing their own particular brand of energy packed rocking folk guaranteed to get people dancing, and even crowd surfing...

See the Mad Magdalen website by clicking here.

Sheepstealers

Sheepstealers play (mostly) traditional English folksong and dance tunes accompanied on four saxophones - baritone, tenor, alto and soprano. All past or present Loft Singers, Sheepstealers take their name from a song collected by the Hammonds from Mrs Edith Sartin of Corscombe, Dorset around 1906. Collectively and/or individually they also play in orchestras, rock, jazz and ceilidh bands, and a workers’ dub-step collective.

Watch a video of Sheepstealers by clicking here.

KleArWay

KleArWay are mainly an a cappella trio who perform at their local folk club in Andover. Between the three of them they sing with the Andover Museum Loft Singers, the Harmonium Singers and Overton Folk Club. They decided to have some fun with their own harmony arrangements of existing material, resulting in the trio that will be performing at this anniversary event. 

KELTYKE

KELTYKE are Tom (he's the Celt from Ireland ) and Gill ( she's the Tyke from Yorkshire). They have been involved in the local folk scene for over 30 years, participating in sessions, folk clubs, mummers and Morris sides. They started the Overton Folk Club, a thriving club which is about to celebrate its 10th birthday. Their repertoire consists of anything that takes their fancy, from traditional to contemporary.

Look out for information on other artists and performances at this event, to be published on this page soon.