Dave Arthur & Dan Stewart, Lewes 20 July

Subject: Dave Arthur & Dan Stewart, Lewes 20 July
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 02:13 PM

Dave Arthur and Dan Stewart sing & play American old-time songs & tunes on banjo, melodeon, guitar & harmonica. They both play with the excellent Rattle on the Stovepipe.

In the morning from 10.45 - 12.30 Dan Stewart leads a mixed-ability five-string banjo workshop. Places are £15. If you'd like to come, email me on [e-mail] so that I can send you the advance music by email. The workshop is for US old-time claw-hammer 5-string banjo. Dan will teach a couple of straightforward tunes & move onto more advanced right-hand techniques for people to take away & apply to their own playing.

In the afternoon from 1.30 - 4.45 Dave Arthur leads a workshop on Magic, Superstition & The Supernatural in Folk Tale & Ballads.
Dave writes: 'There will be songs/ballads and stories from me, plus field recordings of traditional storytellers from around the British isles telling tales of witchcraft, the Devil, ghosts, & fairies. They are stories that I collected myself thirty or forty years ago, or have been given by other collectors, & material I used in various series in the 1970s & 1980s when I was working as a scriptwriter, researcher & presenter for BBC Radio 4 & TV. We'll look at the background to the modern Wicca phenomenon, how it relates to traditional witch beliefs, & how these are represented in traditional song in the British Isles. We'll also, given time, look at fairy and ghost belief in ballad and story & listen to traditional examples. And finally the Devil in song & story.' Places are £20. Email [e-mail] to reserve a place and bring the right money in cash on the day. You are invited to nominate a song or story which you might contribute.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Dave Arthur & Dan Stewart, Lewes 20 July
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 04:37 PM

Originally half the duo Dave & Toni Arthur, Dave is a fine singer, musician & storyteller. He collects, edits & researches English & American song, music & folklore. For 20 years edited the EFDSS magazine English Dance & Song & received the Society's Gold Badge in 2003.

Dan plays banjo & guitar with the excellent Rattle on the Stovepipe Dave Arthur, Dan Stewart, Pete Cooper) and the Long Hill Ramblers (Ben Paley, Dan Stewart, Tab Hunter, Laura Hockenhull). An outstanding teacher, he is a tutor for banjo workshops at Cecil Sharp House, London, & also gives private lessons.

Entrance is £7 tonight. We have a loyalty card. Six visits earn you £5 off an evening when admission is £5 or more.

Valmai (Lewes)