Heat 3, Thursday 17th March
Karmadillo (Acoustic/Folk/Pop) www.myspace.com/karmadildo
Lexie Green (Acoustic/Folk) - www.myspace.com/lexiegreen
Alex Holmes (Jazz/pop/Soul)- www.myspace.com/alexholmesmusic
The Willows (Acoustic/Folk) - www.myspace.com/thewillowsbandmusic

The Cambridge Band Competition boasts an eclectic mix of performers this year. From over 75 entries, we’ve narrowed it down to 16 acts. Now it’s time for that crucial public vote…

Every Thursday evening in March you’ll get a chance to see the cream of the local music crop in the contest heats at The Portland Arms. Your vote will help us decide which band bags that plum spot on the main stage at Strawberry Fair this year.

The Contest Heats are every Thursday in March at The Portland Arms (129 Chesterton Rd, CB4 3BA/ Tel: 01223 357 268). Entry £5. From 7.30 till 11pm.

Do your bit to support community arts and music. Get down to The Portland and make your vote count.

http://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk/band-competition.php

Quite frankly, the best band in the world right now - Channel 4

Lau" is the sensational trio that brings together three exceptionally talented musicians. Kris Drever (guitar and vocals) from Orkney, Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle) from Oban and Martin Green (accordion).

In 2004, sat around a kitchen table in Edinburgh, Lau took their first musical steps. Now, to have achieved so much, in so few years, is staggering. The warmth and excitement they generate with each new release, and at every gig, has culminated in armfuls of plaudits, including three consecutive years of being crowned 'Best Group' at theBBC Radio Two Folk Awards.

Lau come to the Maltings, Ely as part of our ADEC live! Autumn programme. Online tickets now on sale.

A unique opportunity to see a truely incredible choir from Tbilisi Georgia. Shavnabada returns after a brief visit to Cambridge in May 2009 where they were seen as outstanding. One of the Patriarch's choirs, Shavnabada makes accessible to an English audience Georgian traditions, song, (both chuch and folk), dance and culture through an English narrative and exciting performance.

Lead by Davit Tsintsadze the artistic director and inspiration behind the choir of 12 strong male voices, Shavnabada's passions lie in resurrecting Monastery and Folk Music that had all but disappeared from Georgian culture as a result of Georgia being part of the Soviet Union. Davit has made it his life's work to find, record and film examples of traditional Georgian singing in order to preserve, resurrect, sing and celebrate it across the country and across the world. Shavnabada have been schooled by the great Anzor Erkomaishvili, who founded the Rustavi ensemble and it is within this spirit Shavnabada now perform and teach otherwise previously unheard Georgian folk and church music.

Shavnabada will be giving a workshop at St. Paul's church Thursday 11th November 7:00-10:00pm

Dustbowl Records Presents:

THE MISERABLE RICH
http://www.myspace.com/themiserablerich

The Miserable Rich's name was inspired by an experience they had playing at the wedding of two ultra-rich aristocrats in Rome. The folk-pop string quintet was formed intending to produce 'unusual acoustic modern music'. Their music has been revered by Bearded Magazine as 'pop music that could soundtrack a nursery rhyme created by Tim Burton', and seduced the well-tuned ears of NME, Drowned in Sound and Q.

ADELAIDE'S CAPE
http://www.myspace.com/adelaidescape

Unlike The Miserable Rich, the name Adelaide's Cape has no story behind it. This hasn't stopped folk troubadour Sam Taylor from embarking on tours with Alessi's Ark and First Aid Kit already this year, as well as his own month-long headline tour of the UK and Ireland. Tipped by everyone from the BBC to For Folk's Sake and already for a range of this year's festivals, including Secret Garden Party, Adelaide's Cape is one of the UK's most exciting emerging artists.

JAY LEIGHTON
http://www.myspace.com/jayleighton

The wonderful Jay Leighton completes the lineup of this wonderfully folky evening. After an extensive European tour with Lou Rhodes, the Cambridge local plays The Haymakers just ahead of a slot at Secret Garden Party in July.

Tickets £4 advance from WeGotTickets.com, more on the door.

CB2 Café (basement), Norfolk Street, Cambridge 8pm Sunday 18 April 2010
Fundraising for Oxfam - an evening of acoustic music from Beth Walthew, Lucas & Chris, Karen Johnson & Tony Clark, and Pandora's box, and poetry from Andrea Porter.

Moving Tone, in partnership with the Jewish Music Institute, SOAS (http://www.jmi.org.uk) is delighted to announce a workshop and masterclass in Yiddish song on Sunday 28 February.

Yiddish, a language of the Jews, has a flavour all of its own. Rooted in Eastern Europe with close ties to the German tongue, it continues to influence the world of music through its living traditions of theatrical, folk and art songs. Its vibrant rhythms and captivating melodies, along with compelling tales of life and love, create song that enraptures the listener.

Song workshop – 10am-12noon
In this song workshop Hilda will teach a number of Yiddish songs, explain their meaning, and discuss how to interpret the songs in performance. The workshop is aimed at the novice learner so no previous knowledge of Yiddish music or language is required.

Song masterclass – 2pm-4pm
This masterclass is for vocalists who wish to enhance their performance skills through the medium of Yiddish song. It is aimed at experienced singers who perform, or teach singing voice.

Leader – Hilda Bronstein (www.chiribim.com)

The day of Yiddish song will be led by Hilda Bronstein. She is one of Europe’s leading interpreters of Yiddish song. She was the winner of the 2008 Mira Rafalowicz Prize for the Best Yiddish Song Interpretation at the Amsterdam International Jewish Music Festival.
She has performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Spiro Ark, London. In 2007 she released her first solo CD to great critical acclaim. A lover of Yiddish song since childhood, she trained in voice at the Royal College of Music, London.

Hilda will be joined in both sessions by accompanist Yair Schleider, an experienced performer of Yiddish and Klezmer music.

Booking: 01223-262519 or infomovingtone.com@googlemail.com

The greatest Celtic harpist of our age"- Live Ireland.
“Virtuosic, fascinating, dramatic, original, inspired, gloriously adventurous, dazzling, brilliant, stunning, impassioned, electrifying, bewitching, moving, achingly beautiful , influential, revered, unique...” The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Irish Times, The Scotsman, Folk Roots.

The brilliant, innovative harping of Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001, and the astonishing virtuosity and versatility of English guitar wizard Chris Newman, has been heard all over the world: now they come to The Maltings, Ely for the first time with their addictive and stylish cocktail of powerhouse Irish dance-music, gorgeous airs, evocative old songs and striking new compositions - with shots of hot jazz and bluegrass thrown in!

Tickets ADeC Box Office, Babylon Gallery, Waterside, Ely. online www.adec.org.uk also in person Burrows Bookshop & The Maltings.