Grateful Fred's Bijou Cinema Sessions
Firtsly, thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed a great sell-out concert last week with Mean Mary and brother Frank.
After an absence of over three years, due to the great Covid unpleasantness, Mary was on top form. She was also kind enough to ask my bandmates and I, (The Wanderers), to join her onstage for the final three songs of the evening.
If you werent’ there or couldn’t make it, I am sure that we will be welcoming back Mary and Frank in the near future.
So, on to our next Grateful Fred Bijou Cinema Session…
Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira
By now, I think “Fredheads” know that I like to bring to Grateful Fred’s concerts the best and most original musicians that I can find. Different types of music and musical genres and acoustic artists from all over the world.
So, one month it can be a singer-songwriter or Americana duo and the next it can be a old-timey string band. A Nashville based artist or an Italian duo who sound like they come from deepest Mississippi. (Max & Veonica).
So, this month, on Thursday the 22nd of May, I am really looking forward to our next guests, Jocely and Ellen, award-winning musicians who perform throughout the USA, Canada and Europe on cello and violin. And who’s harmonies are just as good as their virtuoso musicianship.
They are also bringing “step dancing” to us for the first time at the Bijou Sessions.
Jocelyn and Ellen have performed at globally acclaimed festivals such as our own “Celtic Connections”, they have been featured on BBC Radio 3 and in 2024 were awarded the “Traditional Album of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
”From Canada and the USA, Jocelyn and Ellen are a dynamic fiddle & cello duo. Fusing traditional and contemporary music styles, they create a powerfully uplifting and soulful performance, weaving a rhythmically driving and textured sound. Complemented by lively stepdancing, they bring life and fire into original tunes, songs, and high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia. Each an accomplished musician in their own right, with extensive performance history and accolades.”
Here are just a couple of reviews of what we can look forward to…
“Performers who ticked just about every box you can think of, providing a packed and appreciative audience with an evening of sublime music-making. If this made-in-heaven duo ever come onto your radar, stop whatever you're doing and go to see them. They gave us a magical evening: you too will be spellbound.”— Tykes Stirrings Magazine
“Top-flight musicians. Jocelyn and Ellen absolutely charmed the socks and stockings off the packed audience. The fabulous interplay between Jocelyn’s fiddle and Ellen’s ‘cello is unique; the music runs rich with French Canadian, Cape Breton, old-time American and Celtic folk styles, and those lovely harmonies just cannot be beat.”— FolkWales Magazine
You can read more about Jocelyn and Ellen on their website:
And…if Jocelyn and Ellen’s beautiful music isnt’ enough, I am delighted to welcome to the Grateful Fred Bijou Sessions for the first time, singer-songwriter Naomi Campbell.
I know Naomi from my days playing at Liverpool’s Irish House bar on Renshaw Street where she often performed solo. She then went on to co-found the brilliant band “Motel Sundown” who have also performed at Grateful Fred’s in the past and have now gone on to great success nationwide.
Naomi moved from a small town in Ireland to Liverpool in 2014 and has since supported Chris Helme (the Seahorses), John Calvin Abney, Campbell/Jensen, and Muireann Bradley, playing venues such as the LIverpool Philharmonic Music Room, Roisin Dubh, Galway and London’s folk hub, the Betsey Trotwood.
Away from the Motel Sundown, but still a big part of their success, Naomi is developing her solo career and I am so pleased she is coming to the Bijou Sessions as I know you will really appreciate her voice and songs.
You can heaar more of Naomi’s music on her website:
https://naomicampbell-music.com
Please come and join us on the 22nd for what I promise will be an evening of some beautiful, live acoustic music in the comfort of the Bijou Cinema. And if you can tell your friends and family about the Bijou Sessions I’d be very grateful.
You can get tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/southport-bijou-cinema/t-jznrrop
In the meantime…
Peace and Love,
Grateful Fred
www.facebook.com/gratefulfreddie