AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ALL THE MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS WHO WILL BE PROVIDING PRE-SCREENING ENTERTAINMENT AT BRANCHAGE 2011, THESE PEOPLE ARE THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL, THANKS!
BALAFONICS BENDA BILILI!, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
Jim Kennedy of the Balafonics began to study the Ghanian xylophone (the Balafon) about six years ago and soon found other members of Jersey's drumming community to join him. The current lineup includes Jim's long time musical partner Monika Jurkewitz on 2nd balafon, drummer/percussionist Alex Glendinning and flautist/percussionist/singer Naomi West.
CALLY NOEL ARCHIPELAGO, SOCIETE JERSIAISE
Cally Noel is a Jersey musician specialising in Medieval and Tudor Music played on Early instruments and plays regularly at events all over Jersey, as well as neighbouring Channel Islands and France. She has often been seen playing at various historical performances in wonderful settings such as La Hougue Bie and is the Medieval Musician for Jersey's Medieval Re-enactment Group The Companie of the Dukes Leopards, who can be seen regularly at Mont Orgueil Castle. Cally has recently been invited to perform a Medieval Concert at the Sheremetev Royal Palace Museum in St Petersburg in 2012, which for her is an honour and she will be 'flying the flag' for Jersey. Her performance will include a few songs on the Psalterie, Lap Harp & Tabor Pipe.
CANTABILE ENSEMBLE OF GODS AND MEN, ST THOMAS'S R.C. CHURCH
With a repertoire including music from the Renaissance to the present day, The Cantabile Ensemble is a mixed choir of 16-24 voices formed at the end of 2004. Specialising in “Church Music” the choir operates on a freelance basis and is regularly invited to give concerts and sing for special services in local churches and at other notable events in the island. They also tour occasionally to sing in UK cathedrals.
CHRIS GEORGE MRS CAREY'S CONCERT, JERSEY OPERA HOUSE
Born in Jersey, George studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since returning to Jersey in 2004 he has been teaching and performing regularly on the island and overseas, and also performs locally with the Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Jersey Chamber Orchestra.
DIDGERIDOO CIRCLE PROJECT NIM, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
Everyone has at sometime heard the didgeridoo - the unique instrument that originated in Northern Australia. But all too often it is woven in with other instruments and blended down into the background. Take this opportunity to listen to solo didgeridoo rhythms and drones and experience this instrument from a different perspective. Bruce has been playing didgeridoo for over 15 years and will use a variety of authentic eucalyptus didgeridoos from Australia.'
ELLIOT SAMPHIER AROUND CAPE HORN, HIDDEN CHAPEL
A finalist in Jersey's Musician Of The Year 2011, Elliot Samphier is only 16 but is the most promising violinist that has been seen in Jersey for more than a decade. He will be performing before the live soundtrack to Around Cape Horn and will be accompanied by cellist Gerard Le Feuvre.
GRACE MACDONALD LOVE LIKE POISON, SECRET VENUE
Grace sings, plays piano, sax, flute, a little guitar and has just acquired a Ukulele. She attends Musical Originals School of Singing and has been taking lessons since she was 8 years old. In 2010, she won the Junior Vocal Section of the Jersey Eisteddfod and has most recently been singing as part of female vocal group,’Tre’.
HELIER MORRIS MEN THE WAY OF THE MORRIS, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
Formed in 1976, the Helier Morris Men are regularly seen out around the Island. They have also danced with many Sides in the UK at dance meetings and festivals and danced at Sark's Folk Festival this year. Their style of dance is mainly from the Cotswold tradition, but they have a darker (and noisier!) side - their black faces and rag coats - when dancing the Border tradition!
JERSEY BOB SOUND IT OUT, WHITE LABEL RECORD SHOP
Jerseybob aka Bob Vincent, is possibly Jersey’s most prolific song writer. With over 15 CD releases and various local collaborations with Bruce Carnegie and Kevin Pallot over his chequered 14 years as a singer/songwriter. From songs of local interest to throwaway classics such as Super Kayleigh and La Moye Garage. Timeless Folk music played by a Jersey Legend.
JULIETTE HART TABLOID, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
Poet Juliette Hart has most recently been published in the anthology Wavelengths (Holland House Editions). She has performed all over the island, including Mont Orgueil Castle, The War Tunnels and a former abattoir, and in London at the Torriano Meeting House and the Troubadour Café. She is currently writing about D-Day, but continues to produce poetry influenced by her G-Spot.
KIT ASHTON SENNA, OGIER RECEPTION
Kit Ashton is a Jersey-born singer-songwriter, now based in Brighton, UK. He has toured with Mercury Prize nominee Thomas White (Electric Soft Parade, Brakes), and soul diva Carleen Andersen amongst others. His debut album ‘Reveal or Steal’ was produced by Mark Edwards (producer and renowned jazz pianist known for work with Terry Callier, Paul Weller and more), and partly mixed by Brit award winning producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, Foals).
LINDA ROSE PARKES A SEPARATION, SOCIETE JERSIAISE
Linda Rose Parkes has published two full-length collections: 'The Usher's Torch' and 'Night Horses' with Hearing Eye, and has collaborated with singer-songwriters, helping to found, alongside of the Arts Trust, the first singer-songwriter/poets' festival in Jersey, Agapanthus Lyrical.
NAOMI WEST IN A BETTER WORLD, CINEWORLD
Naomi Refault West is an experimental and adventurous flautist. After living abroad in several countries over the past decade, Naomi returned to the island in 2009 and has played with several local music groups including Ashiki, Balaphonics, Jersey Bob's band, Celestial Harmonies Flute and Harp duo and Folk to Fire. She plays a range of styles including Middle Eastern, Celtic and African but her heart lies in going to the edges with improvisation and sound play. She is also a djembe drummer and singer running African drumming classes in Jersey.
NICKY MESCH & NARELLE O'CONNOR THIS SIDE OF THE MOON, EBENEZER CHURCH
NICKY MESCH - Nicky Mesch's poetry has been described as having an easy natural rhythm, with startling images and lyrical descriptions. Most recently her work has appeared in the anthology Wavelengths (Holland House Editions). She regularly participates in local music and poetry events.
NARELLE O’CONNOR - Since the age of 4, Narelle has been dancing. Studying Ballet, Modern, Tap, National, Greek, Commercial and Contemporary, she has performed in numerous shows and pantomimes around the North West of England and has competed all over the UK in dance competitions winning awards, trophies and bursaries. Since graduating from Dance College last year, Narelle moved to Jersey to pass on her teaching knowledge to the pupils of First Tower School of Dance and is enjoying taking part in local performances around Jersey.
RYAN HERVE INTO THE CHANNEL, NUTZ SURFBOARD FACTORY
Biography on the way!
SIONANN O'NEILL, JAMES BELL & CHRIS WACKROW THE BEAT IS THE LAW, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
SIONANN O’NEILL - Sionann O'Neill aka Bad Kitty lives in Paris. She spends most of her time doing English subtitles for French films but does enjoy making a little music whenever possible.
JAMES BELL - Having played in local bands for aeons, James now focuses his musical visions via the guitar in a myriad of styles.
CHRIS WACKROW - One third of The Pantalons + One quarter of Velofax - Thre quarters of The Oscillation = WACKROW
SHADOW CABINET PARIS IS BURNING, SOCIETE JERSIAISE
Having made it through the last days of Disco at the Paradise Garage, ‘The Shadow Cabinet’ re-emerge to turn the handle of the fabulous NYC Ballroom scene. Presenting themselves as elegant, realness women with sidewalk style who move with the hip-swinging slouch of runway models this is underworld urban glamour. Not being the kind of Banji girls that like to hide in the darkness of the closet, expect to be read and feel some shade from the house of ‘The Shadow Cabinet’. Warning: Adult Themes.
STANLEY FORBES JUST DO IT, SOCIETE JERSIAISE
...lives mainly alone with very insular mystical thoughts on the relationship between light, time and space, inspired by pot dreams and Wikipedia nonsense. His real name is not Stanley Forbes.
SUE DU FEU THE ARBOR, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE
Sue is a Jersey born professional actor/writer working mainly in the UK until returning to the Island 12 years ago, and is about to produce her first short film.
THE ALL HUMAN TRAINWRECK INTO THE CHANNEL (2ND SHOWING), NUTZ SURFBOARD FACTORY
Steve Bouchere is a singer/songwritter/producer, he makes electro tunes, under the alias The All In Human Trainwreck, and also has a band under the same name. He's also lead singer and guitar player for the band The Morves. He made the A.I.H.T.W(Electro Edit) EP a couple of years ago as an experiment and hobbie after dispanding from The Morves. Even though The Morves are back together now he's still pursuing other solo material as The All In Human Trainwreck...... Electronic, and acoustic. The song that is featured on Into the Channel is "Fake Handshakes" from the The All In Human Trainwreck (electro edits) EP.
THIS IS THE KIT LE QUATTRO VOLTE, SECRET VENUE
Formed by Kate Stables, This is the Kit are a folk band based in both Bristol and Paris. They first came to public attention in 2006, as part of Rob Da Bank’s Folk Off compilation, before releasing singles on Da Bank’s Sunday Best label. Their debut 2008 album was produced by PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish, and their 2010 release Wriggle Out the Restless was recorded with guest Bristol musicians and produced by Jesse D Vernon.
TRE ARCHIPELAGO, SOCIETE JERSIAISE
Tre are a female, singing trio who sing acapella folk, classical numbers or pop songs. Classically trained singers Chloe Jackson, Grace Macdonald and Liberty Spears love of singing and music has brought them closer together after accomplished a great deal in the year they've been together. The girls hope to grow, and expand their repertoire as well as continuing to experiment with different genres of music.
WAYNE STEWART DONOR UNKNOWN, JERSEY ARTS CENTRE / THE GRAND
Jersey-Born Wayne has been performing comedy since 2003. He started his own comedy night when he was 19 and has since performed all over London and even New York. Wayne now runs his own business “Comedy Rocks” promoting comedy events which has played to some of comedy’s finest including Paul Foot, Simon Munnery and Adam Buxton.
WILL BURNS CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, CINEWORLD
Will Burns was born in London in 1980 and raised in Buckinghamshire. He formed the band Treecreeper with his brother in 2005 with whom he has released two studio albums. He is a regular contributor to the literary website Caught By The River and his work focuses on intimate portraits of the kind of semi-rural life he grew up with, imbuing the lost, lonely figures on the fringes of middle-England with dignity, hope and life.