12 Silk Handkerchiefs - Reg Meuross 'live': Winter 1968. Three Hull trawlers sink. 58 men di
REG MEUROSS – 12 SILK HANDKERCHIEFS – ‘LIVE’ IN THE UK
The 12 Silk Handkerchiefs show video trailer: https://youtu.be/NyJNApyRqgo
(Supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England).
Reg & Brian W. Lavery are available for interviews. Further images on request
12 Silk Handkerchiefs, Reg Meuross’s 13th album inspired by Brian W. Lavery’s book ‘The Headscarf Revolutionaries’, opens a window on Hull’s Hessle Road fishing community in the aftermath of the Triple Trawler Disaster of 1968. After three sell-out performances in Hull that recreated and expanded upon the original song cycle, the singer-songwriter is now taking the show on a national tour this Autumn supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Joined on stage by stalwarts of the Hull folk scene, musicians Mick McGarry and Sam Martyn, Reg’s powerful songs are interwoven with narration from author Brian W. Lavery and an audio/visual show that includes rarely seen archive footage, photos and audio from the time of the disaster. Three Hull trawlers, the St Romanus, the Kingston Peridot and the Ross Cleveland perished and 58 men died in what became known as the Dark Winter. Fighting fishwife Lillian Billoca’s subsequent successful campaign for improved trawler safety; sole survivor Harry Eddom who returned to sea just 11 weeks after the sinking; and the superstitions, lives and deaths of all those affected: all of these stories are contained within a fascinating and moving work of social and political history described as Meuross’s “most important work to date” by Pennyblack Music. Reg himself says: “12 Silk Handkerchiefs is a classic tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and the mighty strength of the human spirit. For years the Hull trawlermen and their families fought for survival in the harshest of working conditions: frozen seas with very little safety or protection. It took Lillian and her fellow revolutionaries to fight the companies who were exploiting this community’s poverty and need for work. They took on the Government itself until desperately needed changes in the safety laws were made. "If ever there was a story of survival vs. greed, honour vs. entitlement, courage and bravery vs. careless exploitation this is it. I believe such a story in living memory needs to be told now, and remembered for the future." Those fans of Reg’s music so accustomed to seeing his intimate solo performances at folk clubs and festivals across the land will be stunned by the power of this show, and those new to him will find it impossible not to be moved by this emotional and humbling tribute to the many, many lives lost to what was once the most dangerous industry in the world.
AUGUST
FRIDAY 16 - SEAHOUSES METHODIST CHURCH NE68 7EG
DOORS 7.00pm PERFORMANCE 7.30pm TICKETS £8 from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/476676
call/text 07832 200980 to reserve or email katie@fromthewhitehouse.com
SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY 13 - GRIMSBY FISHERMAN’S CHAPEL Grimsby DN32 7EG
DOORS 6.45PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £10 BOX OFFICE 01472 355025
SATURDAY 14 - WEST KIRBY ARTS, WIRRAL CH48 4EL
DOORS 7.00PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £12 online from www.westkirbyartscentre.org.uk
MONDAY 16 - GREENWICH THEATRE, LONDON SE10 8ES
DOORS 7.00PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £16, concessions £13.50 (inc booking fee)
www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk or BOX OFFICE 020 8858 7755
WEDNESDAY 18 - ALDEBURGH THE JUBILEE HALL, IP15 5BN
DOORS 7.00PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £12 online – www.aldeburghjubileehall.co.uk BOX OFFICE 01728 454884 or in person from Aldeburgh Cinema
THURSDAY 19 - LOWESTOFT THE SEAGULL, NR3 0JH PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £7-£10 from www.theseagull.co.uk BOX OFFICE 01502 589726
SATURDAY 21 – BARTON-UPON-HUMBER, ROPERY HALL, THE ROPEWALK, DN18 5JT
DOORS 6.30PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £13 online from www.roperyhall.co.uk
BOX OFFICE 01652 660380
SUNDAY 22 – NEWCASTLE, THE CLUNY 2, NE1 2PQ
DOORS 7.00PM PERFORMANCE 7.30PM TICKETS £10 adv from www.thecluny.com
BOX OFFICE 0191 2304474 *NB solo fundraiser for Humber Rescue
REG MEUROSS
Folking.com Soloist Of The Year 2019, singer, songwriter, storyteller Reg Meuross is described by BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe as ‘a brilliant singer-songwriter with a social conscience’. Reg first emerged onto the acoustic music scene in the 1980s with the fast paced duo Panic Brothers and then went on to form the band The Flamingos which featured ex Graham Parker guitarist Martin Belmont, Bob Loveday from The Penguin Cafe Orchestra & Bob Geldof’s Band & Alison Jones of The Barely Works. They recorded one album called ‘Arrested’.
In 1996 Reg decided to go solo and has since released 13 highly acclaimed studio albums. Over the years, solo as well as with many other acclaimed artists, Meuross has toured the length and breadth of the UK and also in the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Accompanying his soulful tenor vocal with guitar, harmonica and dulcimer, Reg Meuross paints pictures in words and music that resonate long after the song has been sung. Protest songs, love songs and historical characters all feature in his extensive repertoire.
“A deep well of compassion and insight into the human heart and spirit.” Mike Davies, Folk Radio UK
"One of the most talented storytellers of our generation" Pennyblack Music
"Powerful and moving songwriting" Martin Chilton, The Telegraph
"A mighty songwriter and an equally fine singer" Martin Carthy
“Meuross has achieved something rare and important: he has reanimated a valuable piece of history, and he has done so with great sincerity and emotional depth. 12 Silk Handkerchiefs is a fitting tribute not just to Lillian Bilocca, but to the power of individuals to bring about change for the better.” Thomas Blake, Folk Radio UK "A finely spun tribute… rich in honest emotion, deep humanity, resonant lyrics and infectious melodies." Mike Davies, Folking.com “..further confirming Reg Meuross as one of the most eloquent and compelling singer-songwriters ever.” David Pratt, Fatea Magazine
All tour details and more info www.regmeuross.com/12SH
