Arts at the Old Fire Station
40 George Street
Oxford
OX1 2AQ
01865 263980
www.oldfirestation.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release, 13th August
Oxford folk singer, James Bell, releases traditional songs
from the depths of the Bodleian Library archives
James Bell and the Half Moon All Stars Album Launch –Joy & Jealousy
21st September, 7.30pm
Theatre at the Old Fire Station
This September, local folk singer, James Bell and The Half Moon All Stars will be performing songs from
his new album of traditional English songs and tunes — Joy & Jealousy.
The album features new discoveries taken from the depths of the Bodleian archives. Some of these may
not have been performed in well over 100 years and they’re now being dusted off and performed here at
the Old Fire Station with a contemporary twist. There will be songs about jealous lovers, devious
doctors, lethal mermaids and transvestite highwaywomen, as well as reworkings of some well-known folk
songs and tunes.
James Bell comments on how exhilarating it is to find songs buried in the archives;
"This is the first time I've ever tried digging in the vast resource of the Bodleian archives for folk songs,
rather than learning them from someone else - and it's highly addictive! You initially find yourself
looking at a very old and very cheaply produced 'broadside' song sheet, that's hard to read and written
in an old and opaque English, and you wonder if there's anything interesting in there at all.
Then, like a piece of archaeology, you dust it off, clean it, gently polish it, until suddenly you're faced
with a glittering gem, and it sinks in that you're probably the first person alive to discover it."
But this is not your average folk music. The music on the night is from a long tradition of English popular
music, from trashy broadside songsheets to sentimental Music Hall love songs to dark true-story murder
ballads. It’s the disposable music of yesteryear, written to be played loud and sung along to.In typical
folk fashion, audience participation is more than welcome as James and the band sing catchy choruses.
Jeremy Spafford, Director of Arts at the Old Fire Station comments,
“We’re excited to have James Bell launching his album here at the Old Fire Station and to have this
opportunity to support a local artist. It is also wonderful to be able to hear songs that haven’t been
performed in over 100 years”.
Check out some of James Bell’s previous gigs and performances on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6MZolxaug&list=UUS3I_IG-yTKA8qpOn3sOOeQ
ENDS
Notes to Editors:

James Bell and the Half Moon All Stars is at the Old Fire Station on Saturday 21st September 2013
at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £9 (Concessions £7) and can be purchased online via
www.wegottickets.com/location/8116 or on the Door

High resolution images and interviews are available upon request - contact Anna Munday / 01865
263988 / anna.munday@oldfirestation.org.uk

Arts at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ. 01865 263980

For more details on James Bell, visit his website – www.jamesbellcentral.net
Arts at the Old Fire Station
Arts at the Old Fire Station is a charity and social enterprise offering performances and exhibitions for all
to enjoy, support for emerging artists and enterprising ways to sustain and develop art as a business. We
have a shop, a gallery, a theatre and a studio and we work closely with Crisis Skylight Oxford to enable
homeless people to access training and work. We aim to help artists make and showcase work, to
entertain and engage the public and to help homeless people develop skills and confidence.
Address: 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ
Website: www.oldfirestation.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook/artsattheoldfirestation
Twitter: @ArtsatOFS and @ShopatOFS