The Simon Hopper Band in the Media
'His songs are topical, wordy and intelligent.'
British folk/roots artists rarely get the air-play they deserve and Simon Hopper is no exception. His songs are topical, wordy and intelligent. They do not pull any political punches and they try their damnedest to seek a deeper context or reference point in a quest for understanding. They fearlessly draw upon instruments and rhythms from outside the accepted canon.
The title track, for example, is a traditional picker's ballad about immigration. The media's knee-jerk responses to Eastern European migration are countered by a timely reminder that Britain has always been a cultural melting pot: be it an influx of West Indians in the 1950s; the Nineteenth Century Irish navvies who constructed much of our Victorian infrastructure, or as far back as the Celts and Anglo Saxons who've all contributed to and are part of a nation that loves to wrap itself in the cross of St George. Yet all at one time or another were regarded as foreigners.
Elsewhere, in Bodies in the Way he urges us to physically oppose oppression. Pertinent references to Kristelnacht, bloody dictatorship, sadism and religious zealots distance this music from the usual folk offerings. The protest songs are punctuated by more typical tales of love and loss, often with a stinging twist to the tale.
'hi-fi+ Magazine'
Live interview on BBC Radio
Download and listen to the band's interview and live set on BBC radio with Mark Seaman on their website. Full versions of the comments above can also be found here.
Live at the Southwell Folk Festival on YouTube
See the band play Jeffrey and Robert and I at the Southwell Folk Festival 2008
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wAFLfQkXLWM&feature=related
Telling new stories through new songs...
...with a craftsman's eye and a poet's fist. Old England is new England, and it hurts. The songs are influenced by British Folk, Joni Mitchell, Loudon Wainwright, Ron Sexsmith & Dylan. Simon has shared the stage with Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Clive Gregson & Iain Matthews, among others. Clive and Iain have gone on record in praising his craft. File, if you must, under jazz-influenced, acoustic, soul-based folk rock... or better still, just listen.
(For other songs, see
their website.)
Buy The Less Blessed
The Simon Hopper Band's new cd (The Less Blessed) is distributed by Proper Music Distribution and can be ordered from any high-street record store - or online from Amazon.
(It is also available by mail order directly - see
their website.)
Are You A House Concert Host?
From summer '08, TSHB will be performing a new kind of concert - in fans' private homes. If you would like to host a concert, please contact us and let us know - the email address is available at http://simonhopper.co.uk/contact.html.
First, though, you should read the points below - you need to know what you would be letting yourself in for!
Accommodation
You should be able to fit around 30 people in your space – more if possible. It doesn't have to be a concert seating arrangement - a combination of sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, cushions-on-the-floor and standing would be fine.
Charges
We would not charge an entry fee – but we would make a collection to cover costs. (We wouldn't expect a further contribution from those who purchased cds!)
Food and Drink
We wouldn’t expect hosts to provide refreshments – but would suggest a BYO approach on the part of attendees.
Guests
While we would expect hosts to invite friends and relatives if they wished, we would also invite people from our email list and publicise the concerts locally. Attendees would have to email us for a downloadable ticket in order to attend – and numbers would be limited.
Concert Atmosphere
We would have to insist that the evening was clearly identified as a dedicated TSHB concert – and not a private party with incidental music. If that took place afterwards, that would be great – especially if we could attend! The main purpose of the evening, however, must be clear to attendees.
We hope that there can be a win-win situation. We get to play in a friendly environment to a friendly audience and extend our audience reach. The host gets to have some real music played by real musicians in their own home. We trust it would be a great experience all round.
TSHB. 06.08
Upcoming Dates '08
..May..
..Jun..
SUNDAY 1st - SUFFOLK FOLK FESTIVAL - 4.00 pm
Main Stage / Trio
Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge
http://www.traditionmagazine.com/SFFSuffolkFolkFestival.htm
FRIDAY 6th - GATE TO SOUTHWELL FOLK FESTIVAL - 8.00 pm (tbc)
Second Stage / Trio
http://www.southwellfolkfestival.org.uk/
..Jul..
SUMMER TOUR
England
SUNDAY 13th - PRIDDY FOLK FESTIVAL - 12.30 pm
Club Tent / Trio
http://www.priddyfolk.org/
MONDAY 14th - FORRESTERS ARMS FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Forresters Arms, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, DL1 3LU
Main Guest / Duo
01325 315679
TUESDAY 15th - CRAMLINGTON FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.cramfolk.co.uk/
WEDNESDAY 16th - OTLEY FOLK CLUB - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.otleyfolkclub.org.uk/
THURSDAY 17th - BLACK SWAN FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk/
FRIDAY 18th - ROBIN HOOD'S BAY FOLK CLUB - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.bayfair.co.uk/folkclub.html
SATURDAY 19th - WHITE HART FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
The White Hart, Mickleby nr. Whitby
Main Guest / Duo
0191 287 3135
SUNDAY 20th - GUISBOROUGH FOLK CLUB - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.guisboroughfolkclub.ukforum.com/
MONDAY 21st - BRECON FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Smiths Arms, Castle Dene, Chester-le-Street
Main Guest / Duo
0191-584-4282
Scotland
MONDAY 28th - GLENFARG FOLK CLUB - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
http://www.glenfargfolkclub.co.uk/
TUESDAY 29th - WEE FOLK CLUB - 7.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
1, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh
http://www.royal-oak-folk.com/
WEDNESDAY 30th - IRVINE FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
http://www.irvinefolkclub.co.uk/
THURSDAY 31st - THE ACOUSTIC MUSIC CLUB KIRKCALDY - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
Polish Club, Bennochy House, Forth Park Drive, KIRKCALDY
Contact: 01592 653645
..Aug..
..Sep..
SATURDAY 6th - CHARITY FUNDRAISER FOR PANCREATIC CANCER - 6.00 p.m.
One of several acts / Trio
Tyler Hill Village Hall, Tyler Hill Road, Canterbury
..Oct..
SATURDAY 4th - TENTERDEN FOLK FESTIVAL - time tbc
Marquee Stage / Trio
http://www.btinternet.com/~folkspots/
SATURDAY 11th - DAY FOR PALESTINE - 7.30 p.m. (tbc)
Part of day-long event / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
Friends Meeting House, Ordnance Rd, Southampton - 02380 220 273
FRIDAY 24th - THE SONG LOFT - 8.30 p.m.
Cock Hotel, High St, Stoney Stratford
Main Guest / Duo (poss Trio - t.b.c.)
http://www.stonyarts.org.uk/M_SongLoft/SLoft_Gigs.htm
MONDAY 27th - FOLK AT THE PROSPECT - 8.30 p.m.
Prospect Inn, Weston Village, Runcorn
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.folkattheprospect.co.uk/index.html
TUESDAY 28th - ACOUSTIC COLLECTIVE - 9.00 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
Old General, 73, Crescent Road, Dukinfield, SK16 4EU
Contact: 07930 340260
WEDNESDAY 29th - BROMBOROUGH FOLK CLUB - 8.30 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
Bridge Inn, Bolton Road, Port Sunlight
http://bromfolk.com/
FRIDAY 31st - LEIGH FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m.
Main Guest / Duo
http://dwelch.me.uk/folk/
..Nov..
SATURDAY 8th - GOTHENBURG - time tbc (evening)
Main Guest / Trio
Venue tbc - House Concert
Details as available
SUNDAY 9th - GOTHENBURG - time tbc (lunchtime)
Main Guest / Trio
Venue tbc - Bar Gig
Details as available
..Dec..
TUESDAY 9th - HOY AT ANCHOR FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m. (TBC)
Main Guest / Duo - Poss Trio tbc
The Ship Hotel, New Road, Leigh on Sea
http://www.ridgeweb.co.uk/hoy.htm
Upcoming Dates '09
please note that any performances booked well in advance
are subject to confirmation closer to the date...
..Jan..
MONDAY 26th - CROYDON FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m. (TBC)
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.croydonfolksongclub.org.uk/
..Oct..
FRIDAY 23rd - FO'C'SLE FOLK CLUB - 8.00 p.m. (TBC)
108 Portswood Rd, Portswood, Southampton SO17 2FW
Main Guest / Duo
http://www.focsle.org.uk/
New cd due for release in June '08
The work on the new cd has been completed. It will be released in June. Its title is The Less Blessed; a line from Traveling People, one of its tracks. Other tracks include; The Terrorist, The Ballad of the Suffolk Five, The Last Song, Seven Sisters, Pilgrimage, John Matthews and Backwards Man.
|