Gigspanner Big Band

Gigspanner Big Band
Weds 15th April 8pm
St James Church, Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10 7DP

🎫 Tickets on sale now at Bookends and Harbour Records in Emsworth village, at The Westbourne Cafe in Westbourne Village, and online at https://wegottickets.com/WemsFest

“As collaborations go, it doesn’t get much more mouth-watering than this.” 🎻🔥

The Gigspanner Big Band is more than just a folk group; they are a unique force in British music. Led by the legendary Peter Knight, this ensemble blends virtuosity with high-energy innovation, creating art that FRUK calls “some of the most important and exhilarating” in the genre.

From traditional roots to experimental heights, they’ve captured the hearts of fans and critics alike—from The Telegraph to The Wire.

The Powerhouse Line-up: ✨ Peter Knight (Violin) ✨ John Spiers (Melodeon – Bellowhead co-founder) ✨ Edgelarks (Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin – BBC Folk Award Winners) ✨ Roger Flack (Guitar) & Sacha Trochet (Drums)

👇wegottickets.com/gigspannerWemsFest

Heading to the show? Here is everything you need to know:

⏰ Timings: Doors open at 7:30 PM | Show starts at 8:00 PM.

🪑 Seating: Unreserved (arrive early to pick your spot!).

🍺 The Bar: Fully licensed and stocked with Langham Brewery beers, as well as local cider, wine, and soft drinks.

🤝 Our Mission: We are proud to reinvest all profits from our bar and tickets back into the local community.

✨ Accessibility: We want everyone to enjoy the show! If you have mobility difficulties or need assistance, please reach out in advance: 📧 adwemsfest@gmail.com 📞 07802 500 050

Barry ‘The Fish’ Melton & his band

Founding member of legendary Californian psychedelic rock band Country Joe & The Fish – Barry ‘The Fish’ Melton on lead vocals and guitar, plus Rob Beckinsale on keyboard and vocals, Canadian guitarist Natalie Martel on rhythm guitar, Steve Browning on bass, Parisian Stephane Missri on guitar and vocals, and Bernie Fox on drums.

A rare opportunity to savour some of the music of one of the finest psychedelic rock bands in the world, in an incredibly intimate venue in the heart of Chichester !

Over fifty years ago, during the “Summer of Love” – 1967 – Barry “The Fish” Melton celebrated his 20th birthday in June 1967. A few days later, he and his band, “Country Joe and the Fish,” were rocketed onto the world stage at the Monterey Pop Festival with such luminaries as the Jefferson Airplane, the Mamas and the Papas, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, Simon and Garfunkel, The Who and a relatively unknown guitarist named Jimi Hendrix. And fifty years ago, in 1969, Barry appeared at the historic festival in Woodstock, New York and also appeared in the movie bearing the same name: “Woodstock.”

Barry began the 1970’s with an album for Columbia Records produced by legendary guitarist Michael Bloomfield, Barry took up part-time residence in the United Kingdom and recorded two albums at Rockfield Studios in Wales; and he toured extensively in the U.K., France and the Netherlands; Barry and ultimately returned home to San Francisco to record his fifth album of the decade.

In the 1980’s, Barry put together San Francisco’s historic supergroup, “Dinosaurs,” featuring Barry and John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, guitar), Spencer Dryden (Jefferson Airplane, drums), Peter Albin (Big Brother and the Holding Company, bass), and Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead songwriter, guitar). Other members of the band later included Merl Saunders and Papa John Creech. “Dinosaurs” recorded its debut album and opened for Tony Bennett at the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge celebration in 1987.

In 2025, WemsFest adds The Havana to its quiver of venues. The Havana is an atmospheric subterranean venue in the heart of Chichester. Easily accessible by public transport, come enjoy an evening out in Chichester’s premier grassroots music venue. The Havana’s licensed bar and cosy (unreserved) seating will ensure you are comfortable. Apologies however that this venue is not wheelchair-accessible.

Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm start

Tickets available at Bookends and Harbour Records in Emsworth village, and online at www.WeGotTickets.com/WemsFest 

 

Feast of Fiddles (note early start time 7.30pm)

The clue is in the name !

Born in Nettlebed on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off special concert, Feast of Fiddles has done 29 spring tours, 26 festivals and has 7 CDs to its name. Not bad for a bunch of old folk-rockers!

This is a band of friends that puts on a show of huge dynamic range performed with passion, joy and a liberal dose of fun. Fiddlers Garry Blakeley (Band of Two), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Marion Fleetwood (Trad Arr, Sandy Denny Project), Tom Leary (Joe Brown), Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band), and Simon Swarbrick (Merry Hell) bring a large range of fiddle playing styles to the rock back-line – all held together by legendary drummer Dave Mattacks, Martin Vincent on guitar, Dave Harding on bass, and genial host Hugh Crabtree on accordion.  This is a live music entertainment like no other on the circuit which is guaranteed to be enjoyed by even the most doubting of friends dragged along!

“Absolutely awesome!” – Sue Marchant, BBC East

“Britain’s fiddling supergroup” – Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

“The best fiddle players of a generation” – Ian A Anderson

** NOTE EARLY START!!** Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Licensed Bar helps support WemsFest – As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery 🍻 as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, and soft drinks.  All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested in the local community.

Tickets available now at Bookends and Harbour Records and online here

Please don’t try to park on Church Path or the other small local roads – there is plenty of free car parking in local car parks.

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.

Oysterband – A Long, Long Goodbye Tour! (SOLD OUT)

 

Going out on a high!

Since they started as a noisy, politicised ceilidh band in the late Seventies, Oysterband have remained true to their beliefs and never wavered as they’ve worn their hearts on their sleeves whilst delivering a plethora of acclaimed albums, winning multiple awards, and travelling the world.  Now they’re taking the tour bus out for it’s last ride – and stopping in Emsworth on the way!

John Jones (vocals & melodeon), Alan Prosser (guitar), and Ian Telfer (violin) are joined by longtime producer Al Scott (bass), Adrian Oxaal (cello & guitar) and Sean Randle (drums)

Let’s give them the send-off they deserve !

“We’re hanging up our travelling shoes, but we’re taking a year or so to say goodbye to our lovely live audience.  And we mean to enjoy every minute!”

Emerging in the early 80s from their folk club and ceilidh band days, Oysterband infused both the tradition and their own songs with a passion and energy that was electrifying for the time. Polkas, politics and a heaving dance floor seemed just right for Thatcher’s Britain. Signing to new roots label Cooking Vinyl, headlining English Roots Against Apartheid, playing Glastonbury and the Fleadh several times each, touring with The Pogues in Europe and Billy Bragg in North America, hosting the Big Session Festival….. all gained them a large and loyal international following.

Their collaboration with June Tabor in 1990 produced the cult-classic album Freedom & Rain, and it was renewed 21 years later for Ragged Kingdom, one of the best-selling folk-rock albums of the new millennium.

Winners of several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including Best Band twice, Oysterband’s song-writing has never stood still, and classics such as The Oxford Girl, When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down), Everywhere I Go and Put Out The Lights have entered the folk canon.

“It’s been a long, tough, joyful journey, but the time has come.  In the words of our own song Granite Years, we’re waving you a long, long goodbye…..come help us celebrate!”

Licensed bar helps support WemsFest – As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery 🍻 as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, and soft drinks.  All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested in the local community.

Tickets available now (well – there are about 5 left at the time of posting!) at Bookends and Harbour Records and online here

Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm start

Please don’t try to park on Church Path or other local roads – there is plenty of free car parking in local car parks.  Better yet, take the bus or train!  St James Church is less than 5 minutes’ walk from either.

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.