SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: St Mark’s Church

Saturday 16th November, 2024

7:00pm

Event information

Willy, although best known for his partnership with John Otway, has had a long and varied career. He has toured with artists as diverse as Madness and Steeleye Span, and his wonderful acoustic guitar playing is featured on The Contemporary Folk Guitar album alongside Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Gordon Giltrap & Ralph McTell.

This trio gives Willy the chance to really showcase his acoustic guitar playing. The group’s singer, Jane Williams, has worked with some of the best in the business (including Van Morrison) and adds a wonderful burst of energy to this quirky ensemble. Her effortless but highly emotive vocals draw you in and leave you wanting more.

Mary Holland imparts warmth and sensitivity with her cello weaving beautifully in and out, adding both melody and bass to the arrangements. If you’ve never seen this group before, come prepared to be entertained with a wide variety of musical styles. Willy’s off-the-wall humour has audiences laughing out loud between numbers, as the group perform original material on instruments including the guitar, cello, fiddle, banjo, ukulele and keyboards.

Support: Bob Collum

Across two decades and 6 fine albums Oklahoma-born Essex-settled Bob Collum has cut a swathe through the UK Americana scene, bringing fistfuls of well-crafted originals, superbly re-imagined covers and pin-sharp Tulsa-meets-Southend musicianship to venues up and down the country.

His current band – now simply monikered the Bob Collum Band - features Mags Layton on fiddle and vocals, Martin Cutmore on bass and vocals and long-serving sideman Paul Quarry on drums and squeezebox. A formidable live unit, they bring the swing of a Tulsa bar band to every venue they play.

St Marks is a BYO venue. Any cans or glasses that you bring with you into the venue please be respectful and take them with you as you leave.