Songs, stories and traditions

A new series of folk music concerts, workshops and illustrated talks on all things English. Hilary James and regular contributor Simon Mayor welcome high profile guests from the national folk scene.

For further information and to buy tickets, visit:
The MERL website , call 0118 378 8660 or email : merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Click here for directions to MERL

£15 & £12 concessions
Book all 3 concerts for £36/£30 concs.
Tel: 0118 378 8660

16 March 2010, 7.30pm | £15 & £12 concessions
A very welcome return to MERL by popular writer and BBC broadcaster Tim Healey, exploring the colourful and raffish side of English social life during the tumultuous era of the Civil War and Restoration.
Music by Hilary James and Simon Mayor.

18th May 2010, 7.30pm | £15 & £12 concessions
BBC Folk Musician of the Year, singer, melodeon and anglo-concertina maestro, John Kirkpatrick (as seen on BBC 2’s ‘Victorian Farm’) takes his audience on a remarkable journey through the country calendar in music and song.

The Victorian village band
Pre-concert Workshop
18th May 2010, 6.15 - 7.15pm FREE
Whatever your ability, bring an instrument, join in
the fun, and become part of the Victorian village
band. John will improvise an arrangement to suit all.

22 June 2010, 7.30pm | £15 & £12 concessions
Previewing her forthcoming album, Hilary traces the history of English Rural Life in song: bell-ringing, country dancing, high days and holidays, love, lust, loss, landscape and labour. Virtuoso accompaniment on guitar, fiddle, oboe, accordian and mandolin plus a hearty dose of wit and repartie from the assembled company.

In conversation with
Belshazzar’s Feast

22 June 2010, 6.30 - 7.10pm | FREE to concert ticket holders
Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson are one of the most popular traditional duos in England. Paul Sartin appeared with Bellowhead at the
2008 Proms and the duo featured in a 2009 BBC4 TV Christmas Special.