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Community Corner

James Keelaghan and Jez Lowe come to Woods Hole

The Woods Hole Folk Music Society’s 42nd season will continue
Sunday, October 13 with a double bill by acclaimed
singer-songwriters James Keelaghan of Canada and Jez Lowe from the
North of England. 



Canadian singer James Keelaghan is one of the most
distinctive voices on the international music scene, his warmly resonant
baritone accompanied by driving rhythm guitar. Born in Calgary and now based in
Winnipeg, Mr. Keelaghan’s original songs balance the lighter and heavier
sides of life while bridging traditional folk music with roots
revival and Celtic influences. Writing with humanity and honesty
as well as a keen sense of history, his powerful vocal delivery is
supported by a commanding stage presence, courtesy of his thespian background.
Many of his lyrics focus on social issues of justice and equality,
such as "Kiri's Piano" about the internment of Japanese
Canadians, and the critically praised "October 70" about political
kidnappings in Quebec in the 1970s. Among his other acclaimed originals
are "Fires of Calais" and "Cold Missouri Waters,"
along with "My Blood," written with Jez Lowe in recognition of their
communal Irish heritage.



Mr. Keelaghan's mastery of storytelling in song has, over the
course of nine recordings, earned him numerous nominations and awards
including a coveted Canadian Juno; his newest album, a comprehensive CD/DVD
retrospective entitled “History,” has just been released. His songs have been
covered by performers from Roy Bailey to the band Cry Cry Cry. He tours
regularly, playing a wide variety of venues from large festival main
stages and concert halls to intimate folk clubs, and has been known to invite
the audience out for a beer after his performance. Terry Wickham, producer of
the Edmonton Festival, calls James Keelaghan "a brilliant tunesmith who
has become one of the most engaging performers of our time."  

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Jez Lowe has built a strong international reputation as a
songwriter, performer and musical ambassador for his native North East England,
singing poignant and incisive originals accompanied by guitar, cittern,
mandolin and harmonica. Through fifteen albums and countless live appearances,
he has become one of the busiest and most in-demand performers on the acoustic
music scene. His songs have been recorded and performed by many other groups
including The Dubliners, Cherish The Ladies, The Tannahill Weavers and Fairport Convention 



Though his early roots were in Irish and Scottish music,
Mr. Lowe developed a deep affinity for traditional music from the North
East of England where he was born. Many of his original songs, such as
"The Famous Working Man, "Black Diamonds," and "Pit
Boy," reflect the struggles of the working class and particularly the coal
mining community from that region.

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 Jez Lowe first attracted attention in the late '70s, singing with
Ged Foley of the Battlefield Band who played Northumbrian pipes and guitar. Mr.
Lowe continued to perform as a soloist and later as a duo with Jake Walton on
hurdy-gurdy. In 1989 he formed his own band, the Bad Pennies, with which he
still performs. 



Mr. Lowe has since played around the world, both solo and with The
Bad Pennies, with festival appearances from the US and Canada to Ireland,
Denmark, Spain, and Australia. He has received numerous awards and was
nominated for BBC Folksinger of the Year in 2008. A principle songwriter for
BBC radio, he earned two Sony Awards for his work on the Radio Ballads series,
in which original voices are incorporated directly into the script. His success
as a writer for BBC led to further commissions including a musical program for
the 2012 Olympic Games.  



Like many songwriters, Jez Lowe seeks the solidity and simplicity
of the longest-lived traditional songs. In his words, "Traditional songs
have been distilled by a thousand voices so that all the superfluous bits have
gone, and that's exactly what I'm trying to do when writing new songs."



The concert begins at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 PM. Admission is
$15 with discounts for members, seniors, youth and children. Community Hall is
handicapped accessible. There is no charge for street parking after 6 PM.



Upcoming performances include: October 27, Australian-English
singer Martyn Wyndham-Read; November 10, Bluesman Geoff Muldaur; November 24,
Irish band Comas; January 19, New England Cowboy Bill Staines; March 30,
Close-harmony trio Finest Kind. 



The Woods Hole Folk Music Society is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to fostering enjoyment of folk music in all its forms. Concerts are
generally held two Sundays per month from October through April. They are made
possible by support from its members, season subscribers, volunteers, and
performers. More information is available at www.arts-cape.com/whfolkmusic or by calling
508-540-0320.



 
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