The media seems to have its full attention on SHIRLEY COLLINS at the moment. Yesterday, there was a long feature on America Over The Water on the highly prestigious "Today" programme on BBC Radio 4. If you did not hear that at the time, you can listen to it on the BBC's "Listen Again" facility by clicking here

Then today there's a cover photo and a 2 page- article by Jude Rogers in today's Guardian Music & Film supplement This has already been mentioned in another thread but you can read by clicking here

Next Tuesday, March 25th, 11.30am, BBC Radio 4. there's a programme with Shirley entitled Love, Death and the Lady


.... and of course, on that day the days of celebration of Shirley's career starts at The South Bank in London. The full details of all the concerts and talks are as follows:-
TUESDAY 25 MARCH
MARTIN SIMPSON WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHRIS WOOD
Two of England's finest interpreters of traditional and contemporary music.
Queen Elizabeth Hall 7.45pm

FRIDAY 28 MARCH
ALASDAIR ROBERTS
The Scotland-based folk singer and guitarist performs songs from his new album The Amber Gatherers.
Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall 7.45pm

SATURDAY 29 MARCH
SOUNDS OF THE SOUTH:
A COLLECTION OF ILLUSTRATED TALKS WITH SHIRLEY COLLINS and Pip Barnes

    ROMANY RAI
    Gypsy songs and singers of Southern England. An original and beguiling performance with readings, illustrated with recorded music and pictures.
    Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall 2pm

    A MOST SUNSHINY DAY
    A passionate and timely look at the traditional songs and singers of Sussex, illustrated with recorded music, pictures and dance.
    Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall 4.30pm

AMERICA OVER THE WATER
    Shirley Collins presents an enthralling and unique show based on her book America Over the Water, with readings, field recordings and rare pictures.
    Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall 8pm

SUNDAY 30 MARCH
CATHERINE BOTT
SWEET IS THE SONG - A woman's life and loves in song   

As a tribute to her friend Shirley Collins, soprano Catherine Bott performs medieval French love songs from her acclaimed album "Sweet is the Song" and traditional English songs in the much-loved arrangements by Dolly Collins.
Shirley joins Catherine on stage to co-present the recital.

"Dolly's stately and tender arrangement was wonderful to sing to. As with so many of her settings, her music simply gathered me up and gave me a perfect launch into the song."
(Shirley Collins, 2006)

"Shirley and Dolly got there first"
(BBC, 2003)

"Sensual and smooth on the surface, Catherine Bott's vocalism also digs into the text with a rare commitment worthy of spoken theatre. Rather than merely singing a few old songs, she brings an entire medieval world to life."
(review of Catherine Bott's album Convivencia, Gramophone Magazine, February 2007,)

"…an emotional immediacy that will catch the breath in your throat."
(Convivencia review, London Evening Standard, November 2006)

Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall 5.30pm

CLOSE OF PLAY
Featuring Rattle On The Stove Pipe, Linda Thompson, Lisa Knapp, Martyn Wyndham-Read with No-Man's Band, John Kirkpatrick, Brighton Morris, Hot Vultures 3 and Ned Oldham.
Queen Elizabeth Hall 7.30pm

....And I can tell you that a great deal of work has gone into improving and polishing the three talks on Saturday. Hope to see a lot of you there! You see more details of these events and book on-line by clicking here