Where to see the wonderfully wacky Mandolinquents this weekend
Remember when the Mandolinquents were regulars in Newbury, up at the former New Greenham Arts venue and Arlington Arts? They one had a big following here for their fun gigs.
Well, fans will be pleased to hear those top-quality virtuoso musicians Simon Mayor and Friends are back in the area with their Christmas Special .
They play Goring Village Hall on Saturday at 7.30pm.
Simon Mayor’s Mandolinquents play all manner of mandolins, they are ‘an illustrious, witty and virtuosic collective playing everything from beautiful folk ballads to Carolan, Vivaldi, hot-swing fiddle, tangos and rags… and a comic ditty or two!’ featuring mandolins, mandola, mandocello, mandobass, violin, violoncello, classical guitar and voices.
Tickets are £20, booking at www.mayorandjames.com/gigs
The programme will include Simon's setting of Shakespeare's Winter - watch the video: https://youtu.be/d1OK8Fxf-Fs
Simon Mayor, mandolin, violin, guitar, vocals
‘One of the world’s great mandolinists’ (BBC Radio 3), as well as a fine fiddle player, guitarist, composer and wit, Simon’s many-faceted career has taken in two nights at Wembley Arena as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra, his own series on BBC Radio 2, an album in the Classic FM Top Ten chart, causing mayhem at a Canadian humour festival, having a song featured on The Simpsons, and, most memorably, a trip through the square window on BBC TV’s iconic Play School!
Florence Petit, violoncello and mandocello
An innovative and exciting young violoncellist, and the recipient of a diverse host of awards, Florence has appeared many times on BBC Radio 3, and is in huge demand in the world of baroque music. She joins the Mandolinquents adding the mandocello to her armoury.
Richard Collins, banjo, guitar, mandolin… and banjo jokes!
One of the hottest and subtlest 5 string banjo players around, three time UK banjo champion, Richard Collins first picked up a guitar at the age of nine and within a couple of years was stunningly adept on a number of stringed instruments including the mandolin, guitar and bass. Richard is also In much demand as a session musician; he’s a regular face on the West End stage and at the National Theatre.
Elias Sibley, guitar, mandolin, mandola, ukulele
Given his consummate skill as a classical guitarist, it’s easy to overlook Elias’ other talents. He’s one of the finest finger-style ukulele players of his generation, and an authority on classic banjo (pre-bluegrass styles of ragtime and early jazz). Going back a few years, Elias was a young musical prodigy feted for his fine mandolin playing. Now, after a long absence he’s been tempted to pick up the instrjument again by Simon…. Vivaldi’s Double Mandolin Concerto beckons!
Hilary James, voice, mandobass, guitar
‘One of Britain’s finest voices’, Hilary has recorded six solo albums, including collections of Scottish, English and Irish folksongs; traditional blues and forays into French chansons, Berlioz and Irving Berlin. She has featured on Radio 4 (Woman’s Hour), Radio 3 (In Tune), Radio 2 (top ten playlist) and Classic FM, as well as stations from Los Angeles to Latvia. As well as her fine singing she plays guitar on anything from Vivaldi to an Irish jig. She also has an unlikely taste in bass instruments, most famous amongst them is her mighty mandobass!
Gerald Garcia, guitar
Gerald is equally at home at the Wigmore Hall or Glastonbury Pop Festival. One of the world’s finest guitarists, he’s toured with the likes of John Williams and Paco Peña, appeared with such diverse talents as Michel Legrand, Barbara Streisand, Larry Coryell, Wayne Shorter, and guitarist John Williams. He has six solo albums out on the Naxos label… and has the wackiest sense of humour!
