Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....

Subject: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: GUEST,C Stuart Cook
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 03:57 AM

At Jez Lowe's Winter Almanac show last night in Halifax [fantastic performance] Benny sang "The snows they melt the soonest". Heard many times by many fine singers but Benny moved onto a different level of performance.
Absolutely stunning.
Sting sang it on a recent edition of the Culture Show and made a good job of it but he needs to take in Benny to hear how it should be sung. Case of 'knows all the words, doesn't know the song'.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: GUEST,Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 04:10 AM

I heard Benny singing 'Carrying Nelson Home' recently.

As you say - stunning.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 08:33 AM

I was also in Halifax last night and agree that Benny's singing was really enjoyable and that the performance of this song in particular was spine-tingling. WOW.

And on a more general note I thought the whole gig was absolutely fab and was particularly impressed with guest Andrew Cadie.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 09:26 AM

What's Benny's surname? is his rendition of this song on Youtube?

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: SylviaN
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 10:40 AM

Benny's singing is always great.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: GUEST,maryrrf (lost cookie!)
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 10:45 AM

Yes are there any sound clips of Benny available? I'm intruiged...

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 11:21 AM

I believe his surname is Graham - as per thread title.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 11:29 AM

AKA Benny the Whale. Great bloke. Beautiful singer. Most underrated. Glad to hear he is getting about.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 11:35 AM

I've just been memorising TSTMtS - and in doing so what's struck me was how utterly un-melancholic the lyrics are, compared to the standard revival treatment that's - arguably - been imposed on it. Strikes me as quite a being quite an upbeat thing at heart. Cocky anyway.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 08:42 AM

I've been introducing it in concerts as a milking shanty' recently, mainly as it was sung during the BBC version of 'Tess' by the milkmaids while they were at work *grin*

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: Brian Peters
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 10:26 AM

Benny is a really terrific singer, but will probably never get a mention in any folk poll or award list. It's a reminder that people from the less fashionable end of the folk world can hold their own with, and sometimes outperform, those with a coating of stardust.

Subject: RE: Benny Graham - The Snows They Melt....
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 11:09 AM

Just noticed that he is touring with Jez Lowe and the bad pennies through December 2009

"GEORDIE'S WINTER ALMANAC RADIO ROADSHOW" Kindly supported by the Northern Rock Foundation. Various dates Dec 9-27
Jez Lowe returns to his North East roots in a special seasonal presentation that harks back to the old Tyneside radio shows of the 1950's, entitled Geordie's Winter Almanac Radio Roadshow. Gather round the winter firesides of the cottages and terraces in the shadow of the dockyard cranes and the pit-wheels, for an evening of songs, tunes, recitations and comedy, with a backdrop of archive film and photographs. Jez, hailed for his contributions to the recent SONY Award-Winning BBC Radio Ballads, and who's songs have been covered by the likes of Fairport Convention, The Dubliners and hundreds more, will be joined by his long-time band The Bad Pennies, with Kate Bramley (vocals/ violin), Andy May (Northumbrian Pipes) and David De La Haye (bass), plus special guests Tyneside balladeer Benny Graham and young multi-instrumentalist Andrew Cadie for a night of homespun revellry, Geordie Style.


Wed 9 Dec- Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland DN14 7NP 01388 602610 8pm Tickets £8/ £6 concessions www.bishopauckland.org.uk

Thu 10 Dec- Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, 10 Square Road,   Halifax HX1 1QG 01422 349422 8pm Tickets £12/ £10 concessions www.squarechapel.co.uk

Fri 11 Dec Tower Arts Centre, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5PW 01962 867986 8pm Tickets £12 www.ticketweb.co.uk

Sun 13 Dec Shamrock Acoustic @ Mellor Brook Community Centre, Whalley Road, Mellor Brook, Blackburn BB2 7PR 07871 153880 7.30pm Tickets £10 available from Britannia Art Gallery www.mellorbrook.org

Tues 15 Dec Thorganby Village Hall, Main Street, Throganby, York YO19 6DA 01423 339168 8pm Tickets £10/ £8 concessions www.badappletheatre.com

Wed 16 Dec Saltburn Community Theatre, Albion PTerrace, Saltburn TS12 1JW   01287 622623 8pm £8 www.badappletheatre.com

Thu 17 Dec Brewery Arts Centre, 122a Highgate, Kendal LA9 4HE 01539 725133 8pm Tickets £12.50/ £11.50/ £11fob www.breweryarts.co.uk

Fri 18 Dec Reeth Memorial Hall, Arkengarthdale Road, Reeth, North Yorks DL11 6QX 01748 884759 8pm Tickets £15 on door, £13 advance. Available by phone or in person from Reeth Post Office.

Sat 19 Dec Concordia Centre, Forum Way, Cramlington NE23 6YB 01670 715106 8pm Tickets £8/ £6 concessions www.cramfolk.co.uk

Sun 27 Dec The Sage Gateshead, St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays NE8 2JR 0191 443 4661   Afternoon concert 2pm start. Tickets £10 with concesssions available www.thesagegateshead.org