THE PITMEN POETS - UK TOUR JAN 2016 Billy Mitchell, Bob Fox, Jez Lowe, Benny Graham
THE PITMEN POETS – THE RETURN; UK TOUR, JANUARY 2016
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AUDIO SAMPLER HERE: http://www.thepitmenpoets.co.uk/press/pitmenpoetsaudiosampler.mp3
After two sell out UK tours in 2011 and 2013, The Pitmen Poets planned world tour was put on hold when Bob Fox was offered a starring role as The Songman in the West End production of Warhorse. Now that Bob has stopped horsing around for a while, it is time for the Poets to ride again.
Since the first Pitmen Poets tour in 2011, Sam West's revival of the seminal ‘Close the Coalhouse Door’ has completed a triumphant UK tour and Lee Hall's ‘Pitman Painters’ has been a hit in the West End and also on Broadway. Interest in the North East's mining tradition has never been more intense. What better time could there be for an opportunity to experience the brilliant entertainment of The Pitmen Poets?
The Pitmen Poets celebrate the songs, humour, and culture of North East England's Coal Mining tradition, bringing together four of the region's leading champions of it's musical heritage. Ex-Lindisfarne & Jack The Lad singer and writer Billy Mitchell, song man from London’s west end musical Warhorse, Bob Fox, leading exponent of Tyneside song Benny Graham, and much-covered BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominee songwriter Jez Lowe - individually and collectively, The Pitmen Poets.
With archive footage and photographs, this is a journey through the centuries of a once-great industry, from the songs that saw it thrive and dominate, to those that saw it's demise and the resulting aftermath
“The stark setting of New Hartley's Memorial Hall was transformed into an emotional hothouse during the concert by the Pitmen Poets. The audience sang along, laughed and also shared moments of sadness as the combined talents of Billy Mitchell, Jez Lowe, Benny Graham and Bob Fox took them on an epic journey through the life and times of the Northumberland and Durham coalfields. What a great night!” (Brian Coles – Rock of the North).
“…it was most definitely standing room only as the audience filled the room (and beyond) to be equally moved and amused by songs spanning two centuries”. (Living Tradition Review, Costa Del Folk)
THE PITMEN POETS, ONE BY ONE:
Billy Mitchell
Billy spent much of the 70s touring Europe with much-missed folk-rockers Jack the Lad before becoming 50% of the hilarious Maxie & Mitch. When Lindisfarne knocked on his door in 1996, he fronted the band until they retired in 2003. Continuing to perform solo and with his band, he has more recently been touring The Lindisfarne Story with his pal and Lindisfarne co-founder, Ray Laidlaw. www.billymitchell.co.uk
Bob Fox
Bob has twice been nominated as Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Through his masterful interpretation of traditional and contemporary songs he's become a favourite on the national and international folk circuit. Recently he's played the role of ‘Songman’ in The National Theatre’s West End production of Warhorse and the UK, Ireland and South Africa touring production. www.bobfoxmusic.com
Jez Lowe
From Easington Colliery in County Durham, Jez is a much-covered and much-travelled songwriter and singer, with around twenty albums to his name, as well as a long-running role as a principle writer for the award-winning BBC series, The Radio Ballads. His latest album, The Ballad Beyond, was released last year, to much acclaim. www.jezlowe.com
Benny Graham
Benny served his musical apprenticeship in the folksong clubs of The North East, developing a love of rural songs, and the music which grew from the heavy industries of coal, steel and ship building. Following years working in the UK and Europe as a solo performer, he's recently been working as an actor & songwriter. www.bennygraham.com
JANUARY 2016
6th Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre 0845 127 2190
7th Chesterfield Pomegranate Theatre 0124 634 5222
8th Blackwood Miners Institute 0149 522 7206
10th Consett Empire Theatre 0120 721 8171
12th Ammanford Miners' Theatre 0845 226 3510
13th Porthcawl Grand Pavilion 0165 681 5995
14th Brecon Theatr Theatr Brycheineog 0187 461 1622
15th Derby Guildhall 0133 225 5800
16th Barnard Castle Witham Hall 0183 363 1107
17th Settle Victoria Hall 0172 982 5718
20th Stafford Gatehouse Theatre 0178 561 9080
21st Leeds City Varieties 0845 644 1881
26th Doncaster Cast 0130 230 3959
27th Alnwick Playhouse 0166 551 0785
28th Coalville Mercury Theatre 0153 027 8444
29th Barnsley Civic Theatre 0122 632 7000
30th Newcastle Tyne Theatre 0191 243 1171
31st Durham Gala Theatre 0191 332 4041
