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My Band 'Greenman Rising'
Folk / Alternative.
Steve Bentley / Bodhran.
Sophie Matthews / Vocals.
Andrew Wigglesworth / Melodeon.
Anne Bowden / Flute.
Gerry Bailey/ Guitar.
Music
I Play Bodhran with 'Firedaze' & 'Greenman Rising,
Founder & originator of the band 'Greenman Rising'. Grew up on the edge of Exemoor in Somerset within a community who still 'brewed' Cider in old bath tubs, sang songs outside the Pubs (I know now this to be trad. material!!, at the time I just thought it had more to it than the crap on the radio.....), saw Morris & Maypole Dancing as a 'normal' part of Village life & also all turned out to see off the local hunt on Boxing Day. It was here he was first seen on stage in a production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Wood Nymph), not knowing that this would lead in later life to forming & becoming ' Producer/Artistic Director' of the 'Warwickshire Players' Theatre Company. Taking up the 'Bodhran' & delving deeper into folklore & traditions , the next 'project' was the 'Battle of Worcester Folk Club'; run for 5 years & host to many of the leading lights of both the British & international folk circuit as well as presenting Radio Wyvern's Folk Show (dropped for refusing to play Country & Western!!!) Playing in a number of bands, breaking into the Festival Scene as a member of 'Trad' 4 piece the 'Pagan Pigs'. After the dissolution a brief spell followed playing with the 'Aqua Sisters' (Deb Sandland... Phil Beere Band) then session work (inc. playing with Chris Green, ('Isambarde') & Mick Bisseker, '(Band of Rack & Ruin).
The World is now wide open for adventure . . .
Movies
Cerano De Bergerac, anything with Reece Witherspoon....
Television
Jam & Jeruslem, NCIS, CSI New York, Black Books,
Books
Shadow of the Wind, Lords of the North, Captain Correlli, Sharpe, Shakespeare, Milton, Marlow,
Heroes
Maya Evans, you spoke out whilst we stood in silence, we as a country should hang our heads in shame.
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Sitting with my back resting on a Standing Stone within a sun dappled wooded glade, watching the dying embers of a Beltane fire, Tamlin close by strumming quietly to himself,
a Stag is calling for a mate deeper within the trees, the Green Knight slowly honing a long two handed sword jokes about the times spent with Bodica and Arthur, Alfred and Harold.
Rochester and Byron emerge from the gloom arguing over a syntax whilst Dante Rossetti captures the scene in oils....
A long avenue of oak leads to the glade from an ancient earthwork overlooking the wood, a fort from which Caractcus rode forth to challenge the might of Rome and from where Druids would process to perform mystic rituals.
Now a solitary Maiden makes her way along the avenue towards the glade, a low cut dress of finest silk the hem wet from trailing in the early morning dew, a belt of gold beads on gold thread hugging the waist, a belt brought back by a long forgoten ancester,spoils of war from a misguided crusade to the cradle of civilisation, a belt once worn by Cleopatra as she led the ceremonies in celebration of Ra. A light chiming accompanies her every step as the bells around her ankle brush against the uncut grass. Her dark hair stirs gently in the light breeze caressing the perfect skin of shoulders glowing in the early light. Who she is is unknown, strangely she is expected, all who see her know that once she arrives within the glade nothing will ever be the same again....
Those who passed through the flames and joined the Beltane dance had long since returned to the local settlements... the Maiden starts a chant with the tune quickly picked up by Tamlin, I reach for the Bodhran and add a deft beat to Tamlin's playing and the otherworldly lyric floating around us, caressing the very air. Before long a second chant starts to break the beauty of the moment, growing ever louder, a Dozen Monks cowelled in black led by a Priest in White enter the glade, their chant reaches a crescendo as they form a perfect circle around the edges of the area. The Priest strode to the circles centre and stood before the maiden and with a raised voice he dmanded silence. The Maiden continued her song, the harmonies echoed in the wind between the trees and the brook bubbling over the pebbles. The Priest venting his fury screamed that all who stood in the way of the true path would face retribution, the embers of the fire flare answering the call striking the glade in momentery blindness on all within.
As our eyes clear 12 dark Stones surround the glade a 13th, lighter in color, standing just off the centre, the Maiden laughs and is gone, a Raven soars into the early morning air. Rossetti paints on............
Who I'd like to meet: Mike Scott.... then maybe I would find out why there were Bodhrans on Stage at Wolverhampton so close and yet so far... sometimes the urge to join in the groove comes on so strong.......
Hiya, Hope you are well. I wanted to let you know that, my single 'Lost Innocence' is out now. You can get it from itunes, and on cd and limited edition vinyl
We hope to chart this week and every single sale counts, it would be great if you would buy the single, that would be fantastic, and even better in all 3 formats! Your support is much appreciated!!!
Just stopping by to say hello and give you some news. The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Hi, Thanks for joining my "Myspace Friends, always nice to make new friends. Please be sure to visit my Profile, any comments are most welcome. Always happy to chat....
Joe O’Donnell and Friends in concert at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Friday 29th May, 8pm start. Tickets: 02476 553055 – great night of music with line-up of 24 musicians.
