Durham Brass 9th July & BBC Proms 2nd August

Trimdon Concert Brass Band perform a new work by Kathryn, based on the jolly Bobby Shaftoe tune! at Durham Brass Festival this Saturday, 9 July, 2pm, at the Miners’ Gala. Also, a reminder about tickets for the BBC Proms, 2 August, hosted by Kathryn: an adventurous romp through Percy Grainger’s work performed by the Kathryn Tickell Band, June Tabor, The Wilson Family, the BBC Singers and Northern Sinfonia, conducted by John Harle. 10.15pm at the Royal Albert Hall, tickets £12 — £16. For booking information go to BBC Proms.

If you can’t make it, listen live on BBC Radio 3 (listen online for 7 days after broadcast. Watch on BBC Four on 14th August (watch online for 7 days after broadcast).

A lovely feature on Kathryn is coming up in BBC Music Magazine: ‘Music that Changed Me’ where she chooses five pieces/performances/composers who have changed her musical life. On sale from 12th July.

Durham Brass Festival

On Monday 4th July, 7.15pm, Kathryn will be interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Front Row’. She will be talking about her new piece for the Trimdon Concert Brass Band, to be performed at the Miners’ Gala as part of Durham Brass Festival.

The festival thought of asking Kathryn to write a new tune as they knew her grandfather worked at Bowburn Colliery. The Durham Miners’ Gala (pronounced ‘gaila’) grew out of miners’ trade unionism and the first Gala was in 1871. At its peak 300,000 miners, their families and friends attended, marching each colliery’s banner through the streets, accompanied by brass bands. In The Journal Kathryn recalls going to the Gala with her grandparents (plus photos from a recent band rehearsal). The Trimdon Concert Brass Band will play the new piece at Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday 9th July at 2pm.

Kathryn at the BBC Proms

Kathryn heads an evening at the BBC Proms on 2 August. She’s had Percy Grainger in her sights over recent months and was invited by the BBC Proms to select work for ‘a fresh look at the prodigious activities of this wild colonial boy’! The evening features the Kathryn Tickell Band, June Tabor, The Wilson Family, the BBC Singers and Northern Sinfonia, conducted by John Harle. Booking opens on 7 May. The performance will be live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded for broadcast on BBC Four on 14 August.

New show touring this autumn

Northumbrian Voices is based on interviews and recordings Kathryn has done over the years with rural Northumbrians, including her own family members. Tunes and songs feature alongside witty and moving anecdotes delivered by Kathryn, her father Mike Tickell and a superb ensemble of musicians and singers. The show promises an evening that is genuine, inventive and as lively as the communities from which the material has been gathered. With three generations of musicians on stage, this is very much a personal project for Kathryn – and we’re delighted it’s supported by the Arts Council of England. See Live Dates for autumn shows confirmed so far.

Concerts coming up: Sheffield, Abergavenny, Canterbury, Shrewsbury

All venues getting full so do book sooner rather than later. And if you’re there, please share! Comments much appreciated. The rather super Amy Thatcher (accordion, clog dancing), also of The Shee, joins the band for these dates.

Kathryn with the Penguin Cafe

Kathryn is special guest with the Penguin Cafe, Sunday 20th February, at Sage Gateshead. A memorable evening is promised with some of her favourite collaborators. ‘This is so much more to me than just a band.’ Kathryn interviewed in The Guardian, Sept 2010.

North Yorkshire 4 & 5 February

Concerts on 4th Feb at The Shed and 5th Feb at Settle Victoria Hall are both sold out. If you’re at either of these concerts please let us know what you think by posting a comment. Always good to know about audience reaction, the venue or just random musings on the tunes and songs! Tickets for the Sheffield Cathedral concert (10th March) have just gone on sale. The Cathedral has hosted a number of very successful concerts in recent months (and in case you’re wondering, there is a bar!) Some tickets are available from the Cathedral if you go along in person; tickets available online or via the box office — see Live Dates for details.

A few more concert dates will be added to the website soon. A newsletter to the mailing list will go out just prior to this, so to be the first to know, do sign up!

Hope to see you at a concert soon.

Concert dates, early 2011

Performance dates for early 2011 have been added to the Live Dates section.

Some great comments from audiences at recent Kathryn Tickell Band gigs – thank you! There are a couple of the band’s backstage photos in the Gallery. Other news items…

Kathryn’s been recording with the Penguin Café Orchestra this month, for their next album.

She has been commissioned to compose a new piece for Folkworks’ ‘Fiddles on Fire’ festival concerts at Sage Gateshead and Kings Place London 27 April – 2 May 2011. Details to be confirmed.

Kathryn will also be performing at Bath International Music Festival in May, details to be confirmed.

2011 live dates to be added soon…

Many thanks for the lovely comments on the recent few concerts (See ‘More News’ for these contributions). Early 2011 live dates will be on the site soon. These will be emailed to the mailing list subscribers first though, so… subscribe! Your email address and a little click to the right should do it! Be in touch soon.

Worcester, Wales, Devon, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Liverpool

The Kathryn Tickell Band play Worcester, Aberystwyth, South Petherton, Bristol, Nettlebed, Liverpool. Post a comment about the gig! All comments gratefully received by us here and direct to Kathryn’s WhyiPod (spelling?!). Hope you all have a great evening.