Last updated 16th May '97.
Details will be added / updated as the artists supply us with information.
An evening of blues to start the festival.
A last minute replacement for the Jukes, Roger Carey (bass guitar) has brought together some of the musicians he has played with in other formats. Rick Pentecost is playing piano and keyboards, and Steve Demetri, drums. They will also be joined today by Simon Shaw on guitar.
Roger and Steve have worked together during the last two years both as a unique duo, and as rhythm section for diverse musicians like Liane Carroll, Pete Prescott, Spencer Jones and Dave Blackman. Roger and Rick teamed up for regular gigs a year ago and recently combined with Steve for an exciting new trio featuring rock, blues, jazz and funk. They are joined on this date by special guest Simon Shaw, an excellent guitarist known especially for his work with the "Bolivians". This will be an energetic and enjoyable start to the festival.
A blues band led by Louis and Jem Turpin who last year released a CD recorded at Paul McCartney's studio.
Louis Turpin (acoustic guitar and lead vocals) is a successful artist who has had many one-man exhibitions throughout the country and has paintings in public and private collections around the world. He has also been a blues guitarist and singer since he was seventeen, playing in pubs, clubs, universities and festivals. He has performed duo gigs with various musicians and fronted several bands which have had a strong local following. He formed the Turpin Brothers six years ago.
Jem Turpin (harmonica and vocals) gigged in St. Louis whilst studying at Washington University. He has played in many local bands and duos, performing with musicians such as Roger Hubbard, Jon Cleary, drummer Chris Slade, and Liverpool guitarist John Pearson. He has also recorded for Invisible Studios, and with John Pearson on the album 'Grasshoppers In My Pillow' released in 1994.
Derek Heffernan (electric guitar, lead and rhythm) toured Europe with the Virgin Prunes. He recorded four albums with Paul Roland and completed a number of tours to East and West Europe with Paul Roland. He also composed a song for Rosin Sheeron, as an entry for the Irish National Song Contest which was performed by the R.T.E. Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with a number of bands on the pub and club circuit performing in a variety of styles ranging from Country to Thrash Metal.
Colin Gibson (bass guitar) has played and recorded with numerous bands, including Skip Bifferty, Griffin, Ginger Baker's Airforce, Simpsons' Pure Oxygen, Snafu, Radiator, The Movies, Van Morrison, Moire Music and Buick Six. He has also played many freelance recording sessions, working on albums for Stefan Grossman, Alan Hull, Steve Howe and Alan White of Yes, as well as touring with Joe Cocker, Kevin Coyne and Zoot Money. He also founded Invisible Studios with Kenny Craddock, composing and producing for films and T.V.
Jack Peach (drums) was for many years a leading session musician who drummed for all the main studios, though principally for E.M.I. and Decca. He worked on countless film and television scores, and the list of performers that he has backed reads like a musicians 'Whos Who'.
A three-piece blues band featuring the slide-guitar and vocals of Roger Hubbard, joined on bass by Colin Gibson (see above - Turpin Brothers), and on drums, Liam Genockey. Their last CD was released at the beginning of 1996.
Liam Genockey's drumming has enlivened the performances and recordings of many fine musicians, including Paul Brady, Gerry Rafferty, John Martyn, Ian Gillan, Elton Dean, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Heron, Richard and Linda Thompson and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He has completed tours of the United States and Australia with Steeleye Span. He has also worked in a number of bands with Colin Gibson, including saxophonist Trevor Watts' Moire Music and their offshoot The Drum Orchestra, with whom they toured Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico and Venezuela.
Saturday is "folk reunion day", the annual reunion of the Black Horse Folk Club. In addition to the musicians, there are morris dancers and jugglers. For the younger people, there is a Punch and Judy show and face painting.
We have a special beer promotion sponsored by Shepherd Neame - Casey's Irish Stout at £1 per pint!
Daisy Roots are a women's side from Hastings. They wear a distinctive rag coat style kit in shades of green with a daisy on the back. They dance dances from the Cotswold tradition.
A new group of Appalacian dancers from the Hastings area.
Two voices, melodeon and concertina.
An ex-resident of the Black Horse Folk Club, now playing solo, returns following her successful appearances in previous years.
Originally vocalist with the folk/rock band Better Days, John will be providing a selection of unaccompanied songs, a task for which his voice is well suited.
Alias Tymon Dogg.
A new combination of local musicians who have all played at the festival in previous years. The Sedgwick brothers, Pete (mandola, guitar, vocals) and Paul (uilleann pipes) have played with Garry Blakeley in the Irish trio, Brian Boru, for many years. They have now teamed up with Charlie Gask (bodhran), Oliver Bootle (fiddle, a Young Tradition Award finalist), and Jeremy Lucas (guitar, bass).
The ubiquitous Garry makes his first solo appearance at the Black Horse. His CD "Out Of The Shadows" was released at the end of 1996 to critical acclaim. Also playing with The Tabs this evening.
Regulars at many festivals and dances around the country, this Hastings band made an appearance at last year's Black Horse Festival and have been given a more substantial spot in this year's program. Their previous CD, "Chaos in One", has been very successful; a new CD is currently being recorded.
An infectious mixture of Australian and Cajun material. This four piece is guaranteed to get the feet tapping. Includes Bob Tipler, the melodeon player whose picture is used for this years poster design.
A last-minute addition to the program, Abner is a singer, guitarist and piano player (and a lawyer!) from the USA.
The self-styled "Native American Jewish Scot" was kicked out of every high school he attended and, after a string of odd jobs, he studied law at the age of 30 to become a successful and prolific trial lawyer. But the law didn't get in the way of his love of music, and he opened for Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and George Thorogood as leader of The Burners. Burnett went on to play as a solo artist, playing venues in San Antonio, Boulder and Washington DC. He played in various blues bands around Texas featuring on the celebrated Houston Music Showcase. His spot at the Black Horse is his first UK gig, and Burnett will be playing in London, the North of England, Holland and Ireland before returning to Mexico.
THE Mr Dransfield - returns to the Black Horse. Since his last appearance (1995) he has played at many top festivals and clubs throughout the country and released two successful CDs. This year also already seen the re-release of the classic "Fiddler's Dream". This is one of his few festival appearances this year.
The Tabs started working together in November 1994. Folk musicians Pete Fyfe and Garry Blakeley (aka Band of Two) teamed up with rock musician Roger Flack to combine contemporary styles and rhythms with traditional melodies and their own self-penned songs and tunes. They added electric bass and drums as a permanent feature in a line-up that has played at many festivals. Pete has now left and has been replaced by Dave Pellett. A successful afternoon appearance at the 1996 Black Horse Festival made them a natural to finish this year's folk day.
This afternoon's event is supported by a grant from East Sussex County Council.
The name of the band is derived from a living yew tree thousands of years old. Sacred to the British people of the old religion, a meeting place for thousands of generations, currently in danger of being felled to make way for a golf course. In 1993 an experiment in the recording studio produced an as yet unfinished album featuring a series of musicians including Jeff Beck who at the time played the most beautifully haunting guitar. However, on the advice of Jeff Beck's management, David Cutmore decided to create the unique formula live on stage, resulting in the eight piece band Deva Daru. The experiment in essence was about music from the inner psyche, instinctive music written on the edge of sleep, the belief that we carry with us a part of us that is thousands of years old and can be explored like an inner archaeology.
Steve Wilding - Keyboards; David Henry Cutmore - Composer/ Writer/ Guitarist; Looby Varley - Vocals Andy Ellis - Percussion; Simon Moon - Percussion; Wendy Swain - Vocals; Dirk Campbell - Piper; Jane Bowler - Cello.
Experience the exotic rhythms of Africa! Assem Ni play a brand of music from Ghana called "High Life" which, explains Nana, "is a cross-mix of colonial influences" and closer to traditional African music than the kind of happy, "dancing" popular guitar tunes from countries like Zaire and Zimbabwe.
Nana is a Ghanian percussionist and multi-instrumentalist who received his basic musical training from the Ashanti Cultural Centre in Ghana. Hailing from a family of musicians, he was socially involved in traditional music as a child prodigy drummer from the age of nine years, when playing for the "elders" and on festive occasions. After being educated in America and England, he later found that music was a natural and obvious means of expression for him.
Nana has worked professionally with a vast range of musicians from traditional African music through to jazz and pop. These have included Oumou Sangere, Fela Kuti, Andy Hamilton, Ali Farka Toure, Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukuwana, David Murray and Nick Mason.
A Brighton-based band chosen by the Dharmas as their support.
Previously regulars at the Black Horse, they didn't play last year, but we've given them the Sunday night this year. It's always been a busy night before, so as this is their first gig in Hastings for some time, get there early! (Doors open at 7pm.) Their new single was featured on "The Chart Show" (Meridien TV) recently.
What do they sound like? Quote: "The closest description I can give you of our sound is Funk-flavoured Psychedelic Pop, With Glitzy Guitars, Boombastic Bass, Devastating Drums, Voluptuous Violins, Hot Hammond, Palpitating Percussion and Velveteen Voices."
The Dharmas have played at Glastonbury, the Heineken big tops, the Harvest Fayre, Ponterdawe, Gosport, Trowbridge, Guildford and many other festivals in the U.K. Loads of information on their home page - check it out!!
Steve Riv and his band who always sound good with a great mixture of African, Spannish and Latin-American songs.
The line-up for this gig is as follows: Steve Riv, guitar and vocals; Colin Gibson, bass; Jack Peach, drums; Richard Blascoe, guitar; Nana Tsiboe, percussion. Several of these musicians are appearing in other bands during the weekend, so check out the details for Turpin Brothers, Assem Ni and Buick 6. Is Colin Gibson after Garry Blakeley's title of the musician appearing in the most bands at the Black Horse Festival?
A return visit to the Black Horse for this R&B band, now trimmed down to a three-piece.
A new and highly
original band from the Hastings area, U-genix are currently recording an album.
There music has been related to John Lennon & Paul McCartney, the B52s,
Blondie and Oasis but they don't want to be pigeon-holed. The music is certainly
fun, new, melodic, hypnotic rock and groove. This is one of a number of festival
appearances for the entertaining band this year. Their last major appearance in
Hastings was at last year's Bonfire Society fireworks event when they played to
5000 people.
Tasha Simes (vocals, guitar, keboards, percussion and dancer) and Nic Monaghan (vocals and guitar) write the songs. Completing the line-up are: Duncan Pope (vocals, saxophone), Alan Pecorini (bass guitar), Ian Tullet (drums) and Malcolm Levon (keyboards and guitar).
This evening's event is supported by a grant from Rother District Council.
Blues from two members of the Blues Band, plus other musicians of note.
Dave Kelly is recognised as one of the top bottleneck guitarists. Professional since 1966, beginning with acoustic and moving to electric, he played and recorded with great US blues artists such as Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Son House and Buddy Guy amongst others. Dave is also known for his film and television soundtracks and jingles. In 1993 he released, to very good notices, his solo album "When The Blues Come To Call" on Hypertension/BMG/Ariola records, promoted by a three week tour of Europe with his new band "The Blues Call" in November `94. Dave has toured successfully as a solo artist around the world and was voted best acoustic blues performer in both 1992 and 1994.
The Blues Call includes the following musicians; Pick Withers (Dire Straits, Bob Dylan), Peter Filleul (Climax Blues Band, the Blues Band), Marcus Cliff (Notting Hillbillies, Eric Clapton, Al Green, Paul Young), Peter Emery.
Paul Jones is in constant demand for his television, film, radio and theatre work and is an expert on the blues (he is ranked amongst Britain's most accomplished harmonica players). As a leading figure of the 60's London R&B scene, he wrote for, played with and sang with Alexis Korner, Brian Jones, Jack Bruce et al, and went on to join and score many chart hits with Manfred Mann. Earning acclaim with his solo musical career and theatrical successes (the impres sive list includes: Cats, Beggar's Opera, and Guts and Dolls both at the National Theatre and Kiss Me Kate for the R.S.C.) Paul is also a successful DJ presenting BBC Radio 2's Rhythm & Blues Show as well as a Saturday morning blues program for Jazz FM. He is also a noted songwriter.
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