Most of my events in the physical world have been either cancelled or postponed – but I am still hosting and performing in lots of events online!
Taking The Tradition On Returns Tuesday 6th October Over lockdown I have been hosting a storytelling talk show – most of my guests are eminent storytellers, but there are all sorts of interesting figures – folklorists, authors, balladeers, archivists…I have taken a break over August, but you can find past episodes my YouTube channel, Taking The Tradition On
Get A Word In Online – Second Thursday of the month, September-December Get A Word In Edgeways Spoken Word Festival has asked me to host an autumn series of spoken word concerts. Join us for an evening of poetry, storytelling, author readings, collaborations and a celebration of the spoken word. These are live events – just like going out to a concert, you will need to get your drinks ready, log in and get comfortable for the start of the concert – we won’t wait for you – and you won’t be able to watch later! You will be able to join in on the chat – and please do applaud our guests and tell them what you think!
BLAST! Beautiful Lies and Startling Truths Performing Storytelling Club – Second Friday every month Incredible storytellers from all over the world – all in the comfort of your own home. Bring your own drinks and cake and put your feet up for an evening of wonder. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start – announce your arrival in the chat bar and have a catch up with everyone. Tickets are £5.80 via Eventbrite for a zoom link to the evening.
Tuesday 22nd September – IN PERSON GIG!!! But you can still come on Zoom 7.30 – 9.30pm The Quad, Derby I’ll be In Conversation with Simon Heywood talking about Duncan Williamson and Scottish Traveller Tradition. Lots of Duncan stories, songs, riddles and a few clips of the man himself. Free Event – but you need to register – https://www.derby.ac.uk/events/latest-events/travelling-together/
Tuesday 6th October, 8-9pm Taking The Tradition On Returns!!! More details to follow, but Amy Douglas will be back in conversation with tradition bearers, archivists and pivotal people in the storytelling scene. Free. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84172092718?pwd=ZGNZejVHa1NwQXU1N0piV2tSSDltQT09
Passcode: 960138
Thursday 8th October, 8-10pm Get A Word In Online A celebration of the spoken word with Member of America’s Storytelling Circle of Excellence, Janice Del Negro (a favourite from our August BLAST! – you heard her here first!), who we have asked to do a rather special collaboration with visual artist, Katherine Soutar-Caddick, resident artist for The History Press Folk Tales series. For tickets click here
Friday 9th October, 8-10pm BLAST! Fred Versonnen and Kasper Sorrenson
28th November 2020 – Travelling Toghether, Fonkelvogel, Belgium. This will hopefully be a real life performance! The unusual combination of a whimsical teenager and a down-to-earth Scots Traveller. Reminiscences of learning to drive, make pegs, drink special brew and cope with sleep deprivation alongside an ever-present flow of story, song and history. Amy Douglas remembers her apprenticeship with Duncan Williamson and shares a glimpse into an unusual friendship; the journey of a storyteller and the transmission of a tradition from one culture to another
2-4 July 2021, Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival, Dinefwr Park, Carmarthenshire, http://www.beyondtheborder.com
9-11 July 2021, Get a Word in Edgeways Festival, Much Wenlock I’ll be discussing and performing work arising from my current Arts Council England bid, digitising reel-to-reels recordings of Duncan Williamson. I’ll be in conversation with David Campbell, talking about our friendships with and stories and ballads from the Scottish Traveller Tradition.
BLAST! Beautiful Lies and Startling Truths
I run a series of storytelling concerts over the winter months in Bishops Castle Town Hall. We are currently hoping we can return to the Town Hall, but if not, we will carry on online. Dates for the storytelling series are included in the list below, usually the 2nd Friday of the month. http://www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk, Shropshire, SY9 5BG 01588 630023
Friday 11thSeptember – Blue Moon Rising – Cat Wetherill. A sparkling collection of new stories from Cat to celebrate twenty years telling tales. Bold, intimate, playful, loving and cinematic
Friday 16thOctober – Of Sea and Shore – Helen East and Rick Wilson Story and rhythm, percussion and song weave shore and sea together, from Indonesia to Iceland and Wales to Scotland. Tales of selkies and mermaids – the danger and wonder of the sea.
Friday 6th November – Where Dragons Lead – Suzanne and Jake Tumnus Between the Corve and the Neen, home to the Clee Hills, three artists celebrate their landscape. Maps and memories, boundary stones and boulders, the land tells its tales
Friday 11th December– The Grateful and the Dead – Ben Haggarty. Hares and hags go hand in paw; the Bull Horned King of the Demons reigns supreme, and a good companion may be both a blessing and a curse…fierce, fast, and unashamedly magical
Friday 8th January – Stories from the Bristol Channel and Beyond – Steve Killick and David Ambrose Pitched sea battles and royal welcomes; pirates and mermaids; sailors and slaves. Strange cargoes, stranger stories and Sabrina, the river Goddess rides the Severn Bore
Friday 12th February – Journeywoman – Amy Douglas. A treasure trove of tapes, a year of listening later, Amy shares her frustration over missing ends of stories; the intimacy of eavesdropping on 50 year old conversations as well as stories, ballads and memories of one of the greatest traditional storytellers, Duncan Williamson
Friday 5th March – Scottish tales of the Supernatural – Heather Yule. A folklorist’s daughter, Heather grew up with Jack, the fairies, water kelpies and music…but these stories are for grownups…an otherworldly adventure of dark tales and bittersweet harp.
Doors open 7.30pm for 8.00pm start Tea, beer and homemade cake available
Tickets: individual £8.00, group £25 (4 people) season ticket £40
FB: BLAST! Beautiful Lies and Startling Truths www.b-l-a-s-t.co.uk
