Sweet sounds of the mountains as new-time trio brings Old Time Appalachian to Newbury

The next gig at ACE Space on Friday (February 21) brings a taste of the southern states with old time Appalachian music from three of the most accomplished performers of this style of music. This is the trio of Hannah Read, Michel Starkey and Vera van Heeringen.

Fiddler and singer-songwriter Hannah Read met banjo player Michael Starkey at an Appalachian old time session in Edinburgh in late 2019. The moment they first struck up a tune together there was an immediate meeting of musical minds. They have since become a dynamic fiddle and banjo duo, playing repertoire deep from the old time tradition as well as newly self-composed tunes and songs. Their compelling sound can be heard on the critically acclaimed debut album Cross the Rolling Water released on Hudson Records in June 2022.

Members of the ACE Space team saw Hannah and Michael at a gig in Winchester in 2023 and immediately resolved to bring them to Newbury.

Hannah is an award winning Scottish musician based in Brooklyn, NY. She moved stateside to study American fiddle styles and to immerse herself in the thriving string music scene. She has toured extensively, performing solo and collaborating with musicians far and wide including Sarah Jarosz and Jefferson Hamer, as well as being one part of the BBC Folk Award winning Songs of Separation.

Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, music teacher and old time banjo enthusiast living in Scotland. His mission as a musician is to keep things simple - clear melody lines underpinned by solid, infectious rhythm. Recent collaborations include with Wayward Jane and Faultlines.

On this tour Hannah & Michael are joined by Vera Van Heeringen. Originally from The Netherlands, she is firmly rooted in transatlantic traditions. Her emotionally astute songwriting is underpinned with an understated rich instrumental craft on guitar and mandolin. Vera was part of the brilliant comedic New Rope String Band and has toured with several Cajun and old-time greats such as Eddie LeJeune and Dirk Powell.

Opening the evening will be Ben Baron, a singer and banjo player from Newbury but now living in Glasgow. Ben has impressed audiences at ACE Space’s regular Unplugged open mic nights and has previously opened for The Kirals and Sarah McQuaid. His music, influenced by Delta Blues, Country, and Folk, is performed in the old-time ‘clawhammer’ style.

Tickets are £16 and available from www.WeGotTickets.com or by emailing events@acespace.org.uk or calling 078911 76940.