The Stables Theatre Stockwell Lane Wavendon Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Box Office: 01908 280800 www.stables.org LISTINGS FOR MAY, JUNE, JULY 2008 MAY Thursday 1 May, 8pm Katzenjammer The Four Hands On One Piano Music & Comedy Duo Katzenjammer is a piano duo with a difference. Both classically trained pianists and comic song-writers, Kevin Farrell and Steven Worbey have developed their own unique, virtuosic and acrobatic style of performing that can only be described as spectacular, very funny and highly entertaining. With a modern twist on a traditional genre, they will dazzle you with their own arrangements of Liszt, inspired by Tom & Jerry and Tchaikovsky! They will have you laughing as they marry together favourite classics with top ten pub tunes. With the resulting tangle of hands and arms, the keyboard is projected onto a large screen so that the mesmerising gymnastic display of their playing can be marvelled at! Tickets £14 www.katzenjammer.biz Friday 2 May, 8pm Mostly Autumn Mostly Autumn are hailed as the band rock fans have been waiting years for. From heavy guitar riffs to the most delicate heart-felt ballads, from atmospheric sonic landscapes to hook-driven melodies that revolve in the head for days, this is a band that deserves to be heard. “York’s finest.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 Tickets £15.50, £16.50 www.mostly-autumn.com Friday 2 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 World Stage – Mor Karbasi Described as a purveyor of spine-tingling Gypsy music, London-based Israeli singer Mor Karbasi sings in Ladino, Spanish, Hebrew and on rarer occasions, English. Fortune has brought her a wonderful singing voice and she puts it to most excellent use. Not many songs still survive from 1492, when the Ladino speaking Jewish population in Spain fled the Inquistion, but Mor is bringing some of these songs back to a wider public. Her writing has been considerably assisted by her interesting lineage – her mother has Moroccan Jewish descent and her father Persian Jewish descent. She is an avid supporter of flamenco which provides a strong flavour throughout all her songs. Her performances are full of verve, power and her distinctive musical vision. Tickets £9.50 in advance £11.50 on the door www.myspace.com/morkarbasi Saturday 3 May, 8pm The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Direct from the West End, the world’s greatest bard busters invite you to join them on a rollercoaster ride, putting the rattle ‘n’ roll between Shake ‘n’ speare, and proving in their own hilarious way that there’s no abridgement too far. Loosen your doublets, sort out your singlets and prepare to see all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in just 97 minutes. Take a look at Hamlet performed forwards, backwards and sideways, Titus Andronicus as a galloping gourmet and a rap Othello! “Wildly imaginative, thoroughly affectionate and infectiously fun.” Metro Tickets £15.50, £17.50 www.markgoucher.com Saturday 3 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Pete Du Pon Pete Du Pon is an English singer-songwriter making waves as an up and coming unsigned artist touted as the next James Taylor. With a voice that sends shivers down the spine and lyrics which melt hearts, Pete has been earmarked for great things. "Look out for hotly-tipped singer-songwriter Pete Du Pon… we think he has what it takes." The Daily Mirror Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.myspace.com/petedupon Sunday 4 May, 11.30am-1pm Stage 2 Jazz Matters Tickets £5 www.stables.org Sunday 4 May, 8pm Voulez Vous Abba – The Story Voulez Vous have been performing the music of Abba for over 16 years. In ABBA – The Story they will perform ABBA’s greatest hits, visually enhanced by multi-screen projection and voice over narration telling the story of Abba’s rise to stardom to their eventual split. Dust off your platforms, dig out your flares and enjoy an unforgettable night of Abba’s music! Tickets £18.50 www.voulez-vous.u-net.com Monday 5 May, 8pm Peter White Over the past 16 years, as Peter White has kept thousands of smooth jazz fans worldwide enthralled by his spirited melodies, soulful grooves and inviting, instantly recognisable acoustic guitar tone, he’s always had a blast finding unique ways to bring his modern sensibilities to cherished pop classics. Smooth jazz radio playlists are saturated with Peter’s recordings, a consecutive four-time winner of the Guitarist of the Year award at the National Smooth Jazz Awards. Tickets £16 www.peterwhite.com Tuesday 6 May, 8pm Jo Brand – SOLD OUT One of Britain’s best loved comediennes in a brand new show that is sure to take the country by storm. Expect an evening of sharp, perceptive, quick witted humour. Known for her numerous live shows and television appearances, Jo has more recently received great critical acclaim for her “farcical, witty and wise” (The Times) novel, Sorting Out Billy. With support from Andy Robinson. “Jo is the best female comic in Britain.” The Mirror Tickets £17.50 www.offthekerb.co.uk Tuesday 6 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Jazz Stage – The Meier Group Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier is one of the rising stars of a vibrant British jazz scene, his trademark sound a mixture of Methenyesque jazz and spicy Turkish and world music rhythms. Already well known in Europe, where his Meier Group has toured extensively and shared the bill with such illustrious names as Elvin Jones, Brad Meldau, Trilok Gurtu and Bill Evans, he recently won the prestigious Grand Prize Of The Jury and 1st Prize Jazz Guitar at Jazz A Juan Revelations 2006 a competition for the finest new jazz musicians and bands in Europe run by the legendary Jazz A Juan Festival. "Nicolas Meier leads a group featuring a phenomenal line-up and his latest album, "Orient", mixes jazz with Middles Eastern spice." Metro Tickets £9.50 in advance £11.50 on the door www.meiergroup.com Wednesday 7 May, 8pm Melody Gardot Melody Gardot has a hauntingly smooth voice that can melt even the coldest of hearts. Drenched in a sublime vapour of mellow blues, eclectic folk and the faintest essence of jazz, her roots as a piano player in nightclubs of Philadelphia undoubtedly set the framework for developing her post-midnight sultry sound. Realising her debut album Worrisome Heart at the age of 22 she has been compared with Norah Jones or Diana Krall, and she was recently invited by Herbie Hancock to sing Joni Mitchell’s song Edith and The Kingpin for the Live from Abbey Road TV series. But equally her performances might evoke echoes of Peggy Lee or even Tom Waits. “Downbeat, lovelorn and passionate, Gardot's songs echo Norah Jones's pacey, soft-spoken sound; at their best, they approach the world-weary maturity of Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.” The Guardian Tickets £14 www.melodygardot.com Thursday 8 May Tashi Lhunpo Monks Art and Dance Workshops 11am – 12.30pm Schools Concert 1.30pm – 3pm Thursday 8 May We are delighted to welcome the Tashi Lhunpo Monks to The Stables for a day of Tibetan cultural experience aimed at KS2 groups. Interactive workshops in art and dance will enable participating pupils to experience traditional Tibetan forms of artistic expression up close and under the tuition of a Tibetan monk master. A matinee performance, in which monks perform processions, dances and chants, will be followed by an instrument demonstration and discussion session between the performers and the audience. Throughout the day pupils will have opportunities to consider questions relating to the expression of meaning, interactions between religion and culture, and religion’s relationship to human rights. Pupils attending the workshops and concert should bring a packed lunch. Places on the workshops are limited Tickets: £3.50, £6.00 (includes workshops) www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk Thursday 8 May, 7.30pm Tashi Lhunpo Monks The Power of Compassion – Sacred Sounds from Tibet The sacred world of Tibet is filled with the chanting of Buddhist texts, the recitation of mantras, the ringing of bells, the clash of cymbals, the booming of the great long horns and the beating of drums. Eight Tibetan monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India, offer a dramatic presentation of their unique sacred dances, music and prayers, with colourful traditional costumes and ceremonial masks. Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama in the 15th Century, and the seat of the Panchen Lama, is one of the most important monasteries in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Now re-established in exile in South India, the monastery is once again becoming one of the major centres of learning, best known for its artistic tradition of masked dances and sacred music. The performance offers a rare opportunity to witness a unique and endangered culture. Tickets 12.50, Under 16 £10, Family Ticket for four people £40 Meal Deal £22.50 www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk Friday 9 May, 8pm Tim Vine Punslinger Tim Vine is here partners – riding in to The Stables on a sand storm of laughter with all puns blazing! The star of BBC1’s Not Going Out, and brother of Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine, will capture you with a posse of jokes – tell your kinsfolk! “No one else will give you as many gags for your money. Vine is superb, as clever as anything being done today.” The Guardian Tickets £15 www.timvine.com Saturday 10 May, 8pm The Meat Loaf Trilogy Steve Steinman returns with his epic adventure delivering the best of the best from three of the world’s top selling albums of all time – Bat Out of Hell 1, 2 and 3. Known the world over for his performance in the hit show Vampires Rock, Steve has a fan base most rock stars would be proud of. Discarding the pretence of wigs and make up for his new show, Steve lets his voice and the performance do the talking. With its videoprojected scenes, incredible stage set, superb band and Steve Steinman’s unique sense of humour and stage presence, the show will have you up on your feet and dancing in the aisles to all the greatest Meat Loaf hits such as Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth and Anything For Love. Tickets £21, £23 www.themeatloaftrilogy.com Sunday 11 May, 11.30am-1pm Jazz Matters Tickets £5 www.stables.org Sunday 11 May, 8pm Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall Concert 1938 Recreated by Pete Long’s All-Star Goodmen Orchestra with Joan Viskant Regarded as the finest jazz spectacle ever, the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert of 1938 is revered by big band fans worldwide and recordings continue to sell today. Ex Jools Holland arranger and star soloist Pete Long doesn’t have Gene Krupa, Harry James, Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson in the All-Star Goodmen Orchestra, but he does have the cream of London’s big band players, guaranteeing to provide all the passion of the original concert. All the repertoire from the Carnegie Hall concert will be featured, including Don’t Be That Way, Body & Soul, One O’Clock Jump and China Boy. An added bonus will be the American vocalist Joan Viskant. Tickets £17.50, £19.50 www.joanviskant.f9.co.uk Tuesday 13 May, 8pm The Tannahill Weavers This dynamic quintet plays Scottish traditional music at its best. The band’s potent mixture of traditional ballads and fiery instrumentals leaves their audiences spellbound. As tight and versatile as any band in the Celtic music scene, the Tannahills can summon rock and roll intensity or haunting introspection. "An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new." New York Times Tickets £12.50 www.tannahillweavers.com Wednesday 14 May, 8pm Robben Ford Robben Ford, voted in the top 100 guitarists of the century, is particularly known for his blues playing, but is equally at home in a wide variety of musical contexts. With a string of Grammy nominations to his name, including one this year for his album Truth, he has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bonnie Raitt and Michael McDonald. “Not only can he conjure both stinging and smooth-as-butter tones while employing sophisticated phrasing that straddles both blues and jazz, he also has pop songwriting savvy and a sweet singing voice.” Guitar Player Tickets £17.50 www.robbenford.com Wednesday 14 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Comedy Stage – Screaming Blue Murder Screaming Blue Murder at The Stables presents the comedy stars of tomorrow, today! Compère Dan Evans will introduce rising star Gary Delaney and headline act Rob Deering. The headline act will perform a special extended set and the compère will also present a ridiculous joke competition! Line-up may be subject to change. Suitable for those aged 16+. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door Like this? Try this: Brendon Burns 5 July Thursday 15 May, 8pm John Power Band John Power from The La’s (best remembered for the hit single There She Goes) released his new solo album, Stormbreaker, in January 2008. Alongside the mythtouched songwriter Lee Mavers, John Power was the other constant member of the legendary Liverpool band. Leaving The La’s in 1992, he went on to take charge of Cast, a formidable live four-piece band with whom he sold bewildering amounts of records – 1995’s All Change was famously the biggest and fastest selling debut album on the Polydor label of the nineties. Tickets £14.50 www.johnpower.uk.com Friday 16 May They Will Rock You! They Will Rock You! is a spectacular musical extravaganza that has been thrilling capacity crowds throughout the UK. This tribute takes music fans on a musical journey through the decades, back to a time when queen topped the charts with Bohemian Rhapsody, Anouther One Bites The Dust and We are the Champions. They Will Rock You! – Prepare to be entertained, exhilarated, and rocked till you drop. Tickets £17.50 www.easytheatres.com Friday 16 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Horses Brawl Horses Brawl has been causing quite a stir with their cutting-edge take on early and traditional music. With a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show to their credit, Laura Cannell and Adrian Lever have performed widely throughout the UK and received much acclaim for their second album Dindirin. With roots firmly in traditional English and early music from Europe, they experiment with their instruments to create contemporary arrangements on guitar, bowed guitar, double barreled recorders, crumhorn and fiddle. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.horsesbrawl.co.uk Saturday 17 May, 2pm The Elves & The Shoemaker From The Theatre of Widdershins Elvis Schumacher, cobbler and craftsman, has worked all his life creating the most beautiful footwear. But now he’s hit hard times… Everyone’s buying boring shoes from the evil businessman, Bunyan Sole-less. Time is running out for Elvis. With one piece of leather left and Bunyan’s factory growing, can anyone help him? Inspired by the exquisite Ladybird book, which all parents will remember, Theatre of Widdershins brings you another classic fable using magical puppets, intricate design, original live music and the simplest of dialogue. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse make this show a magical mustsee. Suitable for ages 4 + Tickets £6.50 children, £8 adults, £26 family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children) www.theatre-of-widdershins.co.uk Saturday 17 May, 8pm Barry Cryer Still Alive Barry Cryer invites you to join him in a decorous orgy of nostalgia as he takes a trip down memory lane, pausing only for tea and macaroons at the Stannah Stairlift Café! Join Barry, and pianist Colin Sell, as they wander through his life with jokes, songs and stories. You even have the chance to shout out a page number from one of his books and he will relate the story thereon! Tickets £16.50 www.allelectricproductions.co.uk Sunday 18 May, 11.30am-1.45pm Live Jazz Matters Tickets £8 in advance, £9.50 on the door www.stables.org Sunday 18 May, 8pm Glenn Miller Orchestra Swing your way down memory lane with the official Glenn Miller Orchestra, directed by Ray McVay. The orchestra remains faithful to Miller’s original stage line-up and has his greatest hits such as Moonlight Serenade, Pennsylvania 65000 and Little Brown Jug in its repertoire. If you have a particular favourite you’d like to hear on the night you can email the band in advance with your request at requests@glennmillerorchestra.co.uk and they will do their best to include it. Tickets £19.50 www.glennmillerorchestra.co.uk Tuesday 20 May, 8pm King Creosote Never a fan of the obvious or the easy, Kenny Anderson, the large musical brain behind King Creosote and The Fence Collective has honed his craft over the past 20 years. From his first band Skuobhie Dubh which featured KT Tunstall on backing vocals to his current incarnation as KC, Anderson has continued to expand his musical horizons from canny indie rocker to Highland balladeer. His latest album Bombshell has catapulted him from the realms of fringe-folk into the mainstream. “Remarkable… a must have album” The Mail on Sunday Tickets £12.50 www.kingcreosote.com Wednesday 21 May, 10am – 11am; 11.30am – 12.30pm and 1pm – 2pm Music Mites Pre-school Workshop Come along and join in the Music Mites fun! Choose from one of three sessions aimed at children aged 2-5 and their carers. Led by Cathy Kelly and young musicians from the Birmingham Conservatoire, the workshops include lots of music-based activities along with the opportunity to meet musicians and learn more about the instruments they play. Places are limited and early booking is advisable. Tickets £6 www.stables.org Wednesday 21 May, 8pm Dominic Miller & Neil Stacey The pairing of Sting’s guitarist Dominic Miller, one of rock’s finest musicians, with the jazz inspired genius of fellow guitarist Neil Stacey works brilliantly due to the wealth of experience both men have in performance and recording, plus those rare abilities necessary to work in any genre of music. Since recording the album New Dawn together, they have played many concerts worldwide, sometimes performing late night shows following on from Sting’s concerts. The combination promises distinctive music of great taste and emotion, and a fine display of controlled technique. Tickets £17.50 www.dominicmiller.com www.neilstacey.com Thursday 22 May, 8pm Counterfeit Stones The ‘It’s Phoney Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Tour As the name of the tour implies, the band lovingly (and laughingly!) covers the history of the Rolling Stones from 1963 through to the stadium gigs of the 1980s. The show blends stunningly accurate live renditions of the Stones’ music with the replica (and sometimes unintentionally hilarious) costumes, the trademark dance moves, much onstage banter and, of course, the wigs! Tickets £21.50 www.thecounterfeitstones.net Thursday 22 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Chris Corney & Karen Nash Following the success of our double headline shows in Stage 2 earlier in the year we are proud to present this transatlantic session with each artist presenting a 45 minute set. 31-year-old Hertfordshire born singer-songwriter Chris Corney has had a busy couple of years, both with his band the Ravines and with solo endeavours. Now signed to Universal, he is currently in the studio recording his debut LP, a mixture of acoustic altcountry with pop-laden hooks. Chris will be joined by various friends tonight including pedal steel player Rob Bond and Australian singer Trysette Loosmeore. American altcountry singer-songwriter Karen Nash plays roots music with the skillfully crafted turn of phrase and topical content of a great folksinger. Known for her impassioned songs of loneliness and broken love, she has captivated audiences from coast to coast. Tickets £9.50 in advance £11.50 on the door www.myspace.com/chriscorneysongwriter www.myspace.com/karennash Friday 23 May, 8pm Ian Shaw Sings Ray Charles With special guests Juliet Roberts & Guy Barker A soulful musical journey with Ian Shaw, the two-time winner of the BBC Jazz Awards. This show features the music of the legendary Ray Charles, from his early jazz influences and collaborations with the likes of Betty Carter (Baby, It's Cold Outside), through his gospel and soul years (Georgia On My Mind, Unchain My Heart) to his pop duets (Heaven Help Us All). Along with his regular trio, Ian is joined by UK soul diva, Juliet Roberts and multi award-winning composer and trumpeter, Guy Barker. This concert has sold out ten shows at Ronnie Scott's and has been a huge hit at festivals throughout the country! Tickets £19.50 £17.50 www.ianshaw.biz Saturday 24 May, 8pm Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes Voted Guitar Player magazine’s Best Country Guitar Picker five times, Albert Lee has at various times been a member of Chris Farlowe’s Thunderbirds, Country Fever, Head Hands & Feet, Eric Clapton’s band, Emmylou Harris’s Hotband, The Crickets, and also toured for many years with The Everly Brothers. When not on the road with his band he performs as a member of Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Albert co-wrote his signature classic Country Boy among other great classic songs. Hogan’s Heroes comprises some of the best known and most respected rock and roll and country musicians in Great Britain. Tickets £20 www.albertleeandhogansheroes.com Sunday 25 May, 11.30am-1pm Stage 2 Jazz Matters Tickets £5 www.stables.org Sunday 25 May, 8pm Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain The Ukulele Orchestra is a group of all-singing, all-strumming Ukulele players, who use instruments bought with loose change and who believe that all genres of music are available for reinterpretation as long as they are played on the Ukulele! What started out as a bit of fun in 1985 has grown into a world-wide phenomenon that has seen them appear as special guests at Glastonbury and on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. From Tchaikovsky to Nirvana via Otis Reading, the Orchestra takes you on a world tour with only hand luggage. "Subversive, rare and very precious. Catch them before the Government slaps an injunction on them in the name of anti-terrorism. Frighteningly talented and awesome." Time Out Tickets £17.50 www.ukuleleorchestra.com Monday 26 May, 8pm Melanie With guitar in hand and a talent that combined amazing vocal equipment, disarming humor, and a vibrant engagement with life, Melanie was booked as the first solo pop/rock artist ever to appear at the Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera House, the Sydney Opera House, and in the General Assembly of the United Nations. In the years that followed Melanie continued to record and tour and Jimi Hendrix's father introduced her to the multitude assembled for the 20th anniversary of Woodstock. Her records have sold more than 80 million copies to date and her songs – such as Brand New Key, Ruby Tuesday, and Look What They Done to My Song Ma – have been covered by singers as diverse as Cher, Dolly Parton, and Macy Gray. Melanie will be performing accompanied by her son Beau on guitar. Tickets £25, £27.50 www.melaniesmusic.com Tuesday 27 May, 8pm Electric Strawbs The Strawbs first hit the charts in the UK in the early 1970s with Grave New World and Bursting At The Seams. From the mid-1970s they concentrated their attention on the USA where their albums, including the classics Hero and Heroine and Ghosts, spent over 52 weeks on the Billboard charts. The Strawbs return in their electric format with songwriter David Cousins, guitarist Dave Lambert, keyboardist John Hawken, bass player Chas Cronk, and drummer Rod Coombes – the classic 1970s line-up of Britain’s most successful international folk-rock band. Tickets £19.50 www.strawbsweb.co.uk Wednesday 28 May, 8pm Jimmy Tarbuck Jimmy Tarbuck returns with a show which takes the audience on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. From being at school in the same class as John Lennon to playing golf with the legend Bing Crosby, Jimmy uses photos and video footage to illustrate his stories which are steeped in quickfire Liverpool wit and street-corner cheek. He delivers comedy for grown-ups rather than adult material – a master comedian at work. Tickets £17.50, £19.50 Wednesday 28 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 World Stage – Samay Samay is a unique collective of musicians exploring new ways of understanding and making music. Taking the traditional music of India as a base for constructing original arrangements and improvisation, as well as using their previous experience in jazz and various world folk styles, the musicians create a distinctive sound thus far unknown to the western or eastern world. At the heart of Samay is a unique blend of merging styles and instruments. The band features five highly accomplished musicians from India and Europe – each brings their own culture and unique style. This young and talented collective combines traditional forms with a range of contemporary influences to reinvent the sound of Indian music – jazz, flamenco, samba, funk and chill out are effortlessly combined to create powerful and dynamic arrangements. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.samay.co.uk Thursday 29 May, 8pm The BossHoss The BossHoss is a band from Berlin with attitude and a growing world-wide fan base thanks to incredible live performances. Incorporating stereotypical American cowboy style with Stetson hats, tank tops, large sunglasses and whisky bottles their quirky covers of pop, rock and hip hop such as Toxic by Britney Spears and Hey Ya! by outkast are peppered with ye-haw yells in true country trash punk rock style. Tickets £14.50 www.thebosshoss.com Friday 30 May, 8pm Acoustic Alchemy With the release of their latest album, This Way, Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale celebrate a remarkable two decades since 1987’s Red Dust And Spanish Lace established the British ensemble as an ever evolving, powerhouse force in contemporary jazz. The current line-up is Greg Carmichael on nylon stringed acoustic guitar, Miles Gilderdale on guitars and vocals, Greg Grainger on drums, Fred White on keyboards and Julian Crampton on bass guitar. Tickets £17.50 www.acoustic-alchemy.net Friday 30 May, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Ned Evett Ned Evett brings a raw physicality to a historically cerebral instrument – the fretless guitar. Performing on custom glass-fingerboards, Ned is the winner of the 2003 North American Rock Guitar Competition, and Guitar Player Magazine refers to him as “the world's first fretless guitar rockstar.” "Ned Evett plays a mirrored glass fingerboard in a totally new and exciting way.” Joe Satriani Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.nedevett.com Saturday 31 May, 10am – 4pm Waves and Raves Adult Workshop John Bowman’s popular one-day introduction is ideal for beginners or those who want a refresher. Join us in The Stables’ rehearsal room and control room for this music technology workshop and hands-on studio session. Admission includes a resource pack and CD. If you play an instrument, please bring it along for the afternoon recording session. Suitable for those aged 15+. Please bring a packed lunch. Places are limited and early booking is advisable. Tickets £28 www.stables.org Saturday 31 May, 8pm Cara Dillon Cara Dillon’s crystalline vocals have been winning her acclaim ever since she won the All Ireland Traditional Singing Trophy at the age of 14. Her solo albums have had astonishing critical success and she's been showered with accolades including two BBC Folk Awards. Born in 1975 in County Derry, Cara grew up in a close, musical family. Whilst she was still a teenager she went on to sing with Oige, De Dannan and then Equation. It was in this band that she met her husband and musical collaborator Sam Lakeman. The combination of Cara's expressive vocals with Sam’s lyrical piano and fresh production squeezed new life into ancient material and their partnership has developed a distinct musical identity of their own that has led to chart success with There Were Roses and Never In A Million Years. "Quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice." Q Magazine Tickets £15 www.caradillon.com JUNE Sunday 1 June, 11.30am-1pm Stage 2 Jazz Matters Tickets £5 www.stables.org Sunday 1 June, 8pm The Swingcats Sophisticated Ladies If you could browse through the vast number of major record label catalogues produced in the 30’s 40’s and 50’s, it would soon become apparent to you that there was never a time when a female vocal trio was not included. From The Boswell Sisters to The Andrews Sisters, those girls provided some truly inspirational music. That era has been re-created by the glamorous Swingcats with swing, jazz and standards in three-part harmony. Reminiscent of The Puppini Sisters in style, The Swingcats pay tribute to the female vocalists from the jazz and swing era. From big band singers - Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee, to leading ladies of the silver screen - Doris Day and Judy Garland. Tickets £15 www.theswingcats.co.uk Tuesday 3 June, 8.45pm Stage 2 Jazz Stage – Shifting Sands Quartet Deborah Winter (vocals) and Joanne Lander (keys) both trained as classical musicians but their shared passion for jazz and influences such as Miles Davies, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Evans brought them together as a jazz duo initially. They have now been joined by Mick Hutton on (bass) and Paul Robinson (drums) and the result provides a seamless presentation of cool pared down music. “Deborah Winter's soft, silky, and tantalizing tone that conjures up notions of a warm ocean breeze. They navigate through lightly-tapping swing grooves via a calorific gait the quartet purveys a sense of mystery.” Jazz Review Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.shiftingsands.biz Wednesday 4 & Thursday 5 June, 8pm Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel After 34 years of touring the world, Steve Harley still says, "Playing Live is the biggest thrill there is. Every night is different. Every audience and every town have their own personality, and I am a relentless explorer." The list of hits is considerable, including Judy Teen, Mr Soft, Here Comes The Sun, Mr Raffles, Love's a Prima Donna, but the biggest of all is, of course, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). His last album The Quality of Mercy has been described by many as possibly the best album Steve has ever made and this show will feature hits spanning his career. Tickets £29.50 www.steveharley.com Friday 6 June, 8pm Lenny Henry – SOLD OUT Where You From? Previewing brand new material before an extensive Australian tour Lenny Henry delivers an electrifying mix of stand-up and character comedy guaranteed to blow your socks off. Ever since he burst out of our TV sets in the mid 70’s Lenny has risen to become one of Britain’s best-known and loved personalities. Comedian, impressionist, singer and serious actor, his appeal is classless and ageless. He’s made numerous series of his own BBC show usually supported by a cast of his unforgettable characters, as well as television specials, documentaries and films. “He’s seriously funny” The Observer Tickets £15 www.lennyhenry.com Friday 6 June, 8.45pm Stage 2 The Park Bench Social Club The Park Bench Social Club is part of a new generation of string bands that mix musical genres with abandon and considerable skill. Traditional Celtic fiddle tunes, bluegrass, gypsy jazz, bhangra and old time Americana are all standout influences. Their music is characterised by an amazing energy and fun. Featuring Ross Couper (fiddle & guitar), Will Lang (bodhran, cajon & tabla) and Aidan Curran (guitar, mandolin and vocals) each player comes individually with a wealth of awards and accolades but together they are so much more than the sum of their parts. “This is modern music with roots… a band to keep your eyes, and ears on.” The Living Tradition Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.theparkbenchsocialclub.com Saturday 7 June, 10am – 4pm Waves and Raves 2 Adult Workshop Aimed at those who have attended the Waves and Raves Course or who already have some experience of music technology, this follow-up course will introduce microphone technique, samplers, effects, processing, mixing and mastering. The course is based in our recording studio and led by John Bowman. Admission includes a resource pack and a copy of a CD that participants will create during the session. If you play an instrument, please bring it along for the afternoon recording session. Suitable for those aged 15+. Please bring a packed lunch. Places are limited and early booking is advisable. Tickets £28 www.stables.org Saturday 7 June, 8pm Sarah Jane Morris Sensual singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Morris straddles rock, blues, jazz and soul with a goosebump-raising four octave range that rumbles from the heels of her size nine shoes to the tips of her flame-red mane. Famed for her huge hit Don't Leave Me This Way with The Communards in the eighties and infamous for a banned rendition of the classic Me & Mrs Jones, she has always attracted as much attention for her politics as for her souldriven, seismic voice. Sarah Jane is celebrating her 25-year career with the release of a double-CD, After All These Years. Tickets £16 www.sarahjanemorris.com Sunday 8 June, 11.30am-1pm Stage 2 Jazz Matters Tickets £5 www.stables.org Tuesday 10 June, 8pm Candido Fabre Candido Fabre is one of Cuba's leading musicians and is considered one of the most versatile and ingenious soneros of Latin America. His improvisations have helped to build his reputation as an artist of great charisma and authenticity. Cubano Soy is Candido's current album, featuring his 14-piece group performing the finest Cuban rhythms. “Candido is a first-class salsa singer, loved as much for his earthy charisma as his infectious dance music.” Songlines Tickets £15, Meal Deal £25 www.tumimusic.com Thursday 12 June, 8pm Eric Bibb Born in New York, Eric has toured the world captivating audiences with his deftly accomplished, soulful and gospel infused folk-blues. A Grammy nominee, and nominated for Acoustic Artist of the Year in the 2008 Blues Music Awards, his latest album Get Onboard was recorded in Nashville and has been called his most ambitious to date. His live world tour will feature renowned players such as Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa) on stand-up bass duties, drummer Larry Crockett and Eric’s daughter Yana on backing vocals. Support will be provided by Emily Maguire. “Trademark six-string skills, and cleverly-topical songwriting” Sheryl & Don Crow Tickets £28.50 www.ericbibb.com Friday 13 June, 8pm Jive Talkin’ The Bee Gees Story Featuring the stunningly convincing vocals of brothers Darren and Gary Simmons as Barry and Robin Gibb, as well as Jarrod Loughlin as Maurice Gibb, the Jive Talkin' band recreates with perfection the extensive Gibb Brother’s repertoire, such as Massachusetts, Words, Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever. The show also features a stunning acoustic medley of some of Bee Gees earlier hits showcasing the uncanny voices of the three lead singers, creating a truly emotional musical journey. Tickets £17.50 www.beegeestributeband.co.uk Saturday 14 June, 8pm Mundo Jazz Mundo Jazz is a spoof world music band whose mission is to teach us about peace, the environment, racial harmony and love. What can one say about a band whose songs convey the dangers of environmental degradation, the importance of racial harmony and the inherent evils of capitalism with subtlety and intelligence? One can say they are called Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Mundo Jazz, however, preach peace, love and understanding with all the subtlety of a brick hitting butter, through their ridiculously catchy songs, awful dancing, thunderously crass poetry and catastrophic onstage telephone conversations with the Whitehouse. A beautifully subtle satire on the likes of Bono and Bob Geldof, Mundo Jazz are also superb musical and comic improvisers, frequently creating songs on the spot and veering off into spontaneous chaos. Tickets £14 www.mundojazz.co.uk Sunday 15 June, 8pm Lucy Kaplansky Having started out singing in Chicago bars, Lucy Kaplansky headed for New York and soon found herself collaborating with a fertile community of singer-songwriters that included Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin and Nanci Griffith. In 1994 Colvin produced Lucy’s album The Tide to rave reviews, then came her back-to-back hit albums that both picked up the Association for Independent Music’s Pop Album of the Year award. Her latest album Over the Hills rediscovers her acoustic musical roots with stellar songwriting that is pure Americana. “A truly gifted performer with a bag full of enchanting songs.” The New Yorker Tickets £16.50 www.lucykaplansky.com Tuesday 17 June, 8pm Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff Over the past 20 years The Wonder Stuff have notched up 5 top 20 albums and played to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the UK. Best known for their number 1 single with Vic Reeves, Dizzy, the band have performed hundreds of TV shows with their 17 top 20 singles and made 2,000,000 sales worldwide. In 2006 founder-member and lead vocalist, Miles Hunt, and fiddle player Erica Nockalls recorded the incredible album Not An Exit, which is has been heralded as Miles’ finest work. Now, in 2008 Miles and Erica are back out on the road playing classic Wonder Stuff songs in an acoustic show. Tickets £12.50 www.thewonderstuff.co.uk Wednesday 18 June, 10am – 11am; 11.30am – 12.30pm and 1pm – 2pm Music Mites Pre-school Workshop Come along and join in the Music Mites fun! Choose from one of three sessions aimed at children aged 2-5 and their carers. Led by Cathy Kelly and young musicians from the Birmingham Conservatoire, the workshops include lots of music-based activities along with the opportunity to meet musicians and learn more about the instruments they play. Places are limited and early booking is advisable. Tickets £6 www.stables.org Wednesday 18 June, 8pm Stacey Kent Acclaimed jazz singer Stacey Kent returns to The Stables with songs from her new album, Breakfast On The Morning Tram, which includes a mixture of classic standards as well as new songs written by husband and saxophonist, Jim Tomlinson, in collaboration with award-winning novelist, and now lyricist, Kazuo Ishiguro. “Her voice is sometimes a whisper, sometimes a confiding murmur, sometimes an exhilarated exclamation; but whatever the idiom or the mood, individual listeners frequently feel that Stacey’s music was intended for their ears only." The Guardian Tickets £19.50, £21.50 www.staceykent.com Thursday 19 June, 8pm Beth Rowley Fusing a vintage sound & sensibility with a joyous, contemporary edge, Beth Rowley’s debut album Little Dreamer, largely co-written with saxophonist Ben Castle (Duke Special) is essential listening for 2008. Born to British parents in Peru and raised in Bristol, the 26-year old singer/songwriter defies expectation with her towering vocals and sophisticated, gospel-tinged sound. “She sounds like an amalgam of Karen Carpenter and Aretha Franklin” The Independent Tickets £12.50 www.bethrowley.com Friday 20 June, 8pm Sandi Toksvig Available Sandi Toksvig brings her new one-woman show Available to The Stables and introduces audiences to the many worlds of her work. As host of Radio 4's perennially popular The News Quiz, Sandi is renowned as a witty and astute comedian but she may be less well known as a prolific writer with four new books coming out in 2008 alone. Her catalogue of work ranges from children’s books to best selling novels and newspaper columns. Available gives Sandi the chance to share some of her worldwide adventures through conversation, comedy, questions and answers and the odd wry observation on life, love, families, fashion, politics and people. Tickets £17.50, £19.50 Friday 20 June, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Paul Liddell At only 25 years old, Paul Liddell has already released two solo albums and an EP with his band Delphians. His second album A Lighthouse Keeper’s Diary was released on his own label Regulus Music. His one-man show and self-effacing style, combined with his powerful and unpretentious delivery, has seen Paul play on the same bill as Sting at the Piperine Free Festival in Milan. In 2007 he undertook his first tour of America and has since seen Paul’s song Brighter Lights selected for a folk compilation CD to be distributed nationally throughout the US. His new project, New Thing Coming, was released in October 2007 as a download only EP, available through iTunes. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.paulliddell.com Saturday 21 June, 8pm Chas & Dave Chas & Dave return to The Stables to perform their greatest hits. Expect to hear firm favourites including Rabbit, Ain’t No Pleasing You, Gertcha, Sideboard Song, and many more. The legendary cockney duo has a cult following of young and old and even appeared at Glastonbury in 2005. Tickets £19.50 www.chasndave.com Sunday 22 June, 8pm Dave Kelly & Christine Collister With The Travelling Gentlemen World renowned blues-man Dave Kelly and Christine Collister (who according to Mojo "can sing the birds down off the trees") make a rare appearance together, along with their brilliant band. This is a unique opportunity to experience a fabulous evening of stunning voices, irresistible music and marvellous musicianship. A wondrous, powerful, melodic and infectious set of soaring vocals and eclectic material, which includes irresistible dancing soul music, rootsy R&B with a touch of hillbilly and country. Tickets £16 www.gtamusic.co.uk Wednesday 25 June, 8pm Concert For Christine Fundraising concert in aid of Willen Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support A fantastic evening of entertainment raising money for charities. All proceeds from the event, which is sponsored by T-Systems UK Limited and supported by the Lions and Rotary clubs, will be donated to Willen Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support. Three local bands – The Reposessions, Asha and Sunfly – will be playing a mix of rock, folk, soul and jazz covers. Tickets £12, £8 for students and senior citizens Thursday 26 June, 8pm Steven Isserlis Steven Isserlis is a cellist whose passion for music transcends conventional divisions. Acclaimed worldwide for his musicality and technique alike, he is equally at home drawing the audience into his circle of friends for chamber music or in a recital; delving into the historical archives to emerge with a forgotten gem; or on the concert platform with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and conductors. He plays the Feuermann Stradivarius of 1730, kindly loaned by The Nippon Music Foundation of Japan. His programme of Schumann will include Fantasiestücke op 73; Violin sonata No 3 (arr Isserlis); Romances op 94; Stücke im Volkston op 102; and Adagio and Allegro op 70. “The music world – and music itself – is infinitely richer for the presence of Steven Isserlis.” Gramophone Magazine Tickets £12.50, £17,50, Under 25 £5 www.stevenisserlis.com Friday 27 June, 8pm Larry Miller Larry Miller is one of the UK's premier 'rockin' blues' guitarists. His legendary performances have won him acclaim around the world. The heads-down guitar rock artistry of the late Rory Gallagher and Taste, Gary Moore, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix was the stuff that turned Larry Miller’s head and hands to the guitar at the age of seven. After building a reputation to those pioneers unadulterated rock and blues is very much Larry’s style. He is joined by Scott Hunter on drums and Allan Penford on bass guitar. “One of the fieriest, fruitiest, ballsiest guitarists you're likely to hear, drenching his smart, self-penned tracks with blood and sweat, and ensuring you believe every last note. Being bad never sounded so good” - Classic Rock Magazine Tickets £12.50 www.larrymiller.co.uk Saturday 28 June, 8pm Midge Ure Uncovered By the time Midge Ure’s single If I Was went to number one in 1985 he had already crammed several music life times into a professional career that speaks volumes with Silk, The Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage, Ultravox and of course the most famous one off group in musical history, Band Aid. He has gone on to produce some work on some of the biggest charity fundraising events in the world. Uncovered is his latest live incarnation. Combining his own classic hits with a selection of songs that have been a major influence him along with a smattering of personal reflections, all done in an acoustic format. Tickets £20 www.midgeure.com Sunday 29 June, 8pm DFour DFour are Peter Lamarr, Patrick Alan, Rohan Delano Turney and Victor Bynoe – join them for a night of sweet soul music with heavenly vocals, choreographed footwork and fluorescent stage suits! These great singers and band have been wowing audiences across Europe for the past 20 years. Don’t miss this new show featuring favourites such as Up On The Roof, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin’ In the Back Row, Saturday Night at the Movies, Come On Over to My Place and many many more of your favourite soul classics. Tickets £21.50 JULY Tuesday 1 July, 8.45pm Stage 2 Jazz Stage – Toscha Comeaux Born in Connecticut, Toscha Comeaux’s grounding was in the church in the tradition of so many great American singers. She obtained a bachelors degree in choral performance, however her main love has always been mainstream jazz, soul and R&B. She has shared the stage with such greats as Lou Rawls, the late Ray Charles and Diana Ross but now she is making a mark in her own right with the release of her debut album, This Could Be Love, a collection of brand new songs from this knockout artist. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.zenithrecords.com Wednesday 2 & Thursday 3 July, 8pm One Night With Elvis The Legend Continues Voted winner of Canada's annual prestigious Elvis Festival 2005 – this show takes you on a journey from the early days of hip-swivelling rock n roll through to Elvis’ time in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas style production features Lee ‘Memphis’ King backed by an orchestra/band and backing singers. Tickets £22.50 www.elvis-theshow.com Saturday 5 July, 2pm Three Billy Goats Gruff & Other Furry Tails From The Theatre of Widdershins Our storyteller is on the run from those three-headed monsters, trying to bring you the most fantastic tales from the Magic Land of Three. Are you really sure what happened to the wolf and those three little pigs? What about Goldilocks? Why was she walking in those woods? And as for the three Billy Goats Gruff – how did they really deal with that troll? All will be revealed in this beautiful show, from the Theatre of Widdershins, using puppets and props. It’s full of fun and laughter and has an exciting gypsy soundtrack that you won’t be able to stop singing long after the show has finished. Suitable for everyone aged three and up and their pet trolls! Tickets £6.50 children, £8 adults, £26 family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children) www.theatre-of-widdershins.co.uk Saturday 5 July, 8pm Brendon Burns Under Educated Fresh from his triumphant run at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he was awarded comedy’s highest accolade, The If.comedy award (formerly the Perrier Award), Brendon Burns is taking his acclaimed show on the road. Brendon uses his confrontational and up-front style of comedy to capture his audience with a proverbial slap in the face. He is neither politically correct nor incorrect making him a rare sociopolitical comic willing to oppose all schools of thought. Brendon has courted controversy wherever he’s been – he once got banned from BBC television for snogging a goat live on air! Suitable for 16+ He's honestly the best thing I've seen in a long long time.” The Guardian Tickets £12 www.myspace.com/brendonburns Saturday 5 July, 8.45pm Stage 2 Acoustic Stage – Afterspark Hailing from the vibrant Brighton music scene, Cate Ferris, one of The Stables’ Leverhulme Artists, and Adam Staff are Afterspark. They are currently touring with their self-funded debut album Sometimes We Forget. Crystalline vocals soaring over a dynamic, acoustic based collection of songs that range from the tiny sublime to the beautifully unflinching, this is a duo with a lot of talent and momentum. “It’s quite astonishing how two people can make such atmospheric songs” badrobot.co.uk Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.myspace.com/afterspark Sunday 6 July, 7.30pm The Rock Experience Concert Introduced by Pete Hemsley, this concert will showcase local bands who have taken part in The Stables’ 2007 Rock Experience course. All performers have taken part in five weeks of workshops to develop their technique and rehearse material for their set. For more information on Rock Experience Workshops contact Stables Education on education@stables.org Tickets £5 www.stables.org Tuesday 8 July & Wednesday 9 July, 8pm 10cc 10cc return to The Stables for two nights after a storming performance last year showcasing the staggering number of hits they produced during the ‘70s that have gone on to form the soundtrack of many lives in love. With classics such as Donna, Rubber Bullets, Life Is A Minestrone, I’m Not In Love, Dreadlock Holiday and of course The Things We Do For Love you can’t fail to sing along. Tickets £32.50, £35 www.myspace.com/tencc Thursday 10 July, 8pm Debashish Bhattacharya Debashish Bhattacharya is an Indian musician, renowned for his compositions on slide guitar. His technical prowess allows him to play complex passages at blistering speeds. He first began strumming a guitar at age three and at the age of nine he left his parents for ten years to study under the pioneer of Indian slide-guitar Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra. He invented his own slide-guitars, unique to his compositions, which he calls the Trinity of Guitars and his originality as a musician has earned him global admiration. “He uses a unique three-finger picking technique that gives him lightening speed and creates hypnotic flurries of notes that it would take a battery of special effects to produce from a western Guitar. The results are as beautiful as they are extraordinary.” The Times Tickets £14.50, £16.50 www.debashishbhattacharya.com Friday 11 July, 8pm G2 Definitive Genesis G2 Definitive Genesis pays tribute to the vintage period in Genesis’s long and colourful history – the four-man era, sometimes referred to as the ‘intermediate years’ (1975-78) which spawned the live album Seconds Out. Hits such as Dance On A Volcano, Ripples, Entangled, Los Endos, Blood On The Rooftops and Afterglow are mixed up with the classics of the Gabriel years such as Firth Of Fifth, Cinema Show, I Know What I Like and the infamous Supper’s Ready. Vintage Genesis performed by G2 to a level Genesis themselves would be proud of! Tickets £16 www.g2online.co.uk Saturday 12 July, 10am – 3pm Harmonica Workshop – Improvers Adult Workshop Have you participated in one of The Stables’ Beginners’ Harmonica Workshops? Are you keen to take your harmonica skills further? If you answer ‘yes’ to both these questions then the Improver’s Harmonica Workshop is for you. Harmonica tutors Con O’Neill and Joff Watkins return to The Stables for this follow-up session aimed at those eager for further expert tuition in harmonica technique and blues improvisation. The workshop is open to adults aged 15+ Participants will need a 10 hole harmonica in C. Please bring a packed lunch. Tickets £25 www.stables.org Saturday 12 July, 8.45pm Con O'Neil, Joff Watkins & Mark Ryan Harmonica gurus Con O’Neill and Joff Watkins join forces with British guitar and Dobro master Mark Ryan for a no-holdsbarred evening of top quality musical entertainment. Expect a range from mellow sophisticated jazz to raunchy lowdown blues, via footstomping bluegrass. Joff and Mark feature on Acid Jazz’s ‘Testament of Folk’ album. Tickets £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door www.stables.org Saturday 12 July, 8pm LA-33 Like the "salsa dura" from the 70's La-33 was born in an urban environment, to be more precise in the city of Bogotá, Colombia on 33rd street, which gave the band its name. The 11 piece salsa band produced their first album in 2004 to global success in particular thanks to their recording of La Pantera Mambo, which includes an adaptation of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther theme. Since then they have toured all over the world with their vibrant and energetic shows and this will be a dance event at The Stables so get those hips a swinging! Tickets £17.50, Meal Deal £27.50 www.myspace.com/la33 Sunday 13 July, 6pm Rockschools Summer Concert Rockschools was created over 13 years ago to help 6-18 year olds realise their musical potential. Currently it has over 40 bands, ranging from the Cosmic Chicks to the Deadly Demons and everything in between! They all have one thing in common though – they make great rock music! Tickets £8 www.rockschools.co.uk Thursday 17 July, 8pm Antonio Forcione Quartet Hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar”, multi-award-winning Antonio Forcione is considered one of the most charismatic and inventive performers to come out of Europe in recent years. He breaks the mould of most conventional, popular guitar sounds, be it in the field of jazz, Spanish, African, Brazilian or improvised music. Artistic, intense, and formidably inventive, Antonio Forcione is a performer of genuine distinction. The concert features his dynamic international quartet – Brazilian master-percussionist Adriano Adewale, cellist Jenny Adejayan, and Nathan Thomson on double bass and flutes. “Passion, grace, fire.” The Times Tickets £17.50 www.antonioforcione.com Friday 18 July, 6pm Rockin’ At The Rectory & Swingin’ At The Stables Join us for canapés and entertainment under the Pavilion in the Rectory Gardens, followed by an evening of dancing in The Stables with The John Dankworth Big Band. Tickets £27.50 including canapés www.stables.org Sunday 20 July, 8pm New Amen Corner’s Summer Of Love Featuring The Summer Of Love Orchestra The ultimate psychedelic sixties show – turn on and tune in to a musical trip that changed the world. From Carnaby Street to San Francisco this show takes you on a magical mystery tour like no other. To recreate this ultimate sixties experience the band encourage the audience to dress up in flares and kaftans – but don’t worry as dressing up is not compulsory! Listen to classic hits such as Whiter Shade Of Pale, Little Help From My Friends, Bend Me Shape Me, California Dreaming, Jesamine, Young Girl, Flowers In The Rain, Happy Together, Out Of Time, Itchycoo Park, Nights In White Satin, and many more. Tickets £18 www.newamencorner.com Friday 25 July, 8pm Andy Fairweather Low Andy Fairweather Low’s pedigree is the stuff rock dreams are made of. He first came to prominence at the vanguard of the new youthful expression of music as the lead singer in Amen Corner. A world tour as musical director with Roger Waters’ band, then a European tour with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings might be difficult to top for most people – but not for Andy Fairweather Low. He just segues smoothly to a solo tour with some of the world’s finest musicians in his band – Geraint Watkins, Dave Bronze and Paul Beavis complete the line-up. His new show includes songs from his whole career as well as the current Sweet Soulful Music CD. Tickets £21.50 www.andyfairweatherlow.com Saturday 26 July, 8pm Nanci Griffith Grammy Award-winning Nanci Griffith swept Nashville off its collective feet with what Rolling Stone later described as her unique form of “folkabilly” music – merging country with folk and pop music. She has penned some of country music's most enduring compositions, including Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson's Gulf Coast Highway, Kathy Mattea's Love At The Five And Dime and Listen To The Radio, and Suzy Bogguss's Outbound Plane. Nanci’s most recent album, Ruby's Torch is an intriguing experiment that brings together both Griffith originals and a selection of material from some of her favourite writers. Tickets £32.50 www.nancigriffith.com Music In The Garden – The Wavendon Festival Friday 21 June – Sunday 20 July Set in the gardens of Sir John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Lane For the whole programme of events please go to www.stables.org and click on the link from the homepage.