Huntington Hall, Worcester

Liane Carroll has been hailed by critics and fans alike as one of our very finest jazz singerHaving picked up just about every British jazz award going in the last few years, including the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Musician Of The Year, s. She has worked with an extensive roster of international artists, such as Gerry Rafferty, Gerry Donahue, Long John Baldry, and Sir Paul McCartney, as well as the fast soul outfit London Elektricity. Since 2003 she has released four critically acclaimed jazz albums, one of which, Slow Down, was voted by The Times as one of the top five jazz albums of 2007. With a huge vocal range, a prodigious musicality and an unerring sense of musical honesty, her live set is one of the most emotionally exciting to be found on the UK jazz circuit and covers a broad repertoire from the contemplative Tom Waits and Lauro Nyro, through to familiar jazz standards, as well as Liane’s self-penned original material.

“Close to musical perfection” Jazzwise

“Utterly brilliant” Time Out

“World-class” John Fordham - The Guardian

Steve Knightley Solo Tour 2012 with Special Guests Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin

Steve Knightley is the song writing force behind Show of Hands, widely acclaimed as the finest acoustic roots duo in England and with three Royal Albert Hall sell-outs to their name. He is renowned for his strong, trademark narrative songs, which reflect the escapades, hopes and fears of people not only in his native West Country but also beyond, as he pulls no punches writing highly literate songs about bigger, global issues. Show of Hands, which also features multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer, won the Best Duo in the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Steve won the best original song for Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed. Steve continues his success as a solo artist with his annual tour and has released 4 solo albums the latest Live in Somerset was recorded in early 2011. His Special Guests on the tour are young up-and-coming musicians from the South West, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin.
www.myspace.com/steveknightleymusic www.philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk www.showofhands.co.uk

Does anybody love anybody anyway? So asked insane, Welsh, poet philosopher Howard Jones in 1983. Finally someone dares to answer. Having sorted out religion (Christ on a Bike), politics (Hitler Moustache) and penises (Talking Cock), the star of the award winning podcast As It Occurs To Me and Radio 4’s Richard Herring’s Objective seeks to defne and destroy love. Before love destroys him. Again Does Richard’s dry-cleaner genuinely love him? How could a romantic gesture involving Ferrero Rochers get dangerously out of control? Herring’s twentieth Fringe.
“Stimulating and Exhilarating…. Utterly Hilarious” ***** Chortle

The internationally acclaimed pianist, Charles Owen, plays a recital of Classical and Romantic repertoire.“In Bach’s ‘Partita no. 4’ we sensed Owen exultingin his physical virtuosity: there was a bright brillianceto his sound, an expressive warmth and clarity of articulation; this was a stunning performance” - The Independent
www.worcserenade.co.uk

When the music press describes someone as ‘Probably the Best and Most Original Young Acoustic Guitar Player and Composer in Britain’ and ‘Peerless’ and when people like Jean-Christophe Novelli and Madonna are booking that same someone for their private parties, then you know that something pretty special is going on. Welcome to the world of UK acoustic guitar phenomenon Clive Carroll. With his astonishing mastery of techniques and antecedents from Benjamin Britten to Nick Drake and from Renbourn through Giltrap to Pat Metheny, join this stunningly virtuosic guitarist on a joyful fairground ride of instrumental styles spanning the fields of traditional, classical and jazz with inspirations running from newgrass and fusion jazz to Irish stylings.