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Sam Slatcher
Simon Wood + Jordan Kirkup
Presented by: DownByTheRiver| 0 | DURHAM: The City Theatre |
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| P | Sunday 15th April, 2018 |
| N | 4:00pm |
Event information
It’s always amazing when a musician seemingly comes out of nowhere, writes a fantastic song, posts it on the internet and in a very short space of time it finds its way into the lives of thousands and thousands of people. That’s exactly what happened when (without any industry backing) SAM SLATCHER released his song ‘CITY OF SANCTUARY’ and accompanying self-made video. Says Sam, ‘I'm completed overwhelmed that the video has been viewed over 60,000 times (and counting), provoking so many memories, nostalgia and love for Durham City.
The song's title comes from a national based refugee support organisation - City of Sanctuary - and grew out of Sam's involvement in the Durham branch of the support group. The song was originally written as a response to his feelings of unease at the outcome of the Brexit referendum and the negativity the ‘Leave’ campaign created around immigration. By showing that Durham has always welcomed those seeking refuge - from St Cuthbert to recent refugees, Sam’s hope is that his music can give encouragement to all who find a home within Durham’s ancient streets. ‘I'm touched that it seems to have connected with so many people who feel a sense of sanctuary in Durham’
Sam’s music is firmly in the roots/acoustic/folk tradition, drawing inspiration from artists such as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. This special event in the heart of Durham City gives Sam the perfect opportunity to showcase material from his forthcoming EP and to celebrate the success of City of Sanctuary.
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SIMON WOOD is a master of The Hang Drum - an amazing modern creation that somehow manages to sound ancient and contemporary at the same time.
In 2006 whilst passing through Vondel Park in Amsterdam Simon heard a distant chiming sound combined with a deep sonorous bass. Rounding a corner, in front of him was a dreadlocked man; eyes closed playing his heart out on a UFO shaped instrument. ‘I sat and listened and when he stopped I asked him about his instrument. He told me it was called a Hang and was invented in Switzerland in the year 2000 by two people called Felix and Sabina’.
It was the start of a new journey for Simon. For ten years he had been a student of percussion; he had been to West Africa to study the djembe, trained in facilitating drum circles and had begun to learn Indian Tabla drums but that encounter in Amsterdam changed everything.
Simon discovered the drumming techniques he had learned were transferable directly onto the Hang and somehow he found a way to use the otherworldly sound of the instrument to enchant the listener with a gentleness not usually associated with the hardness of steel.
Seen live, he performs a kind of alchemy. By adding beats with his feet and playing multiple hand-pans he conjures up a beautiful chilled out acoustic magic which he combines with an uplifting melodic groove. Highly original music influenced by the sounds Asia, Arabia and Africa... it is almost like being hypnotised in Narnia!
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JORDAN KIRKUP is a 21 year old musician and student of music technology from East Durham. Jordan is influenced by the classic era troubadours such as John Martyn and his opening set is not to be missed, especially the song ‘Painting Pictures’, the beautiful composition he wrote to articulate his feelings for his Aunt who suffers from memory loss.
Venue information
DURHAM: The City Theatre| 0 | Fowlers Yard Back Silver Street Durham DH1 3RA |
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