Acoustic Club Information

Wednesday 10th November 2021

The Horn at the Half Moon
31 North Street, Bishop's Stortford. CM23 2LD

Hello Acoustic Clubbers

Tonight we are delighted that the unique talent that is Jo Ash is returning to the Acoustic Club. Jo is one of those musicians who impresses on both the conscious and the deeper parts of the brain.

Just some advanced notice of a few things extra in this weeks Newsletter
First the draft programme for the first six months of 2022 is now available. The details are almost complete and what a line up we have for you

Second, on Wednesday 17th November sees the welcome return of the Kazans to the Bishops Stortford Arts Centre for a one off gig

Finally Chris Rivett is planning a Christmas Spectacular at the Dog and Duck on Monday 13th December. The usual fun and frolics are assured with an entry qualification for each player to bring along a Christmas Song -  Be prepared for not hearing White Christmas or Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer!!

Bill

10th November 2021
Jo Ash

Jo Ash is a working musician with a wealth of capability: critically-acclaimed, award-nominated, instantly recognizable, unique vocals, intricate piano, strong melodies and dramatic songs.  Her music is immersive.  Her songs comment on life as she observes and experiences it, sometimes with wry humour, sometimes with heart-felt introspection, and sometimes with both.  And when her imagination takes flight into the world of the unexpected they tell engaging stories of vampires, magicians and buried treasure! Audiences can’t get enough.

The Musician’s Union reviewed her debut album ‘Constellations’ and came up with 23 words that brilliantly sum up Jo and her art: “Singer-songwriter Jo Ash’s debut demands that we take notice. Jo’s balladry is unapologetically dramatic with swooping vocals perfectly suited to her gothic tales”.  

Jo is a consummate professional.  She has appeared on the BBC and other independent radio stations, and performs widely and regularly across the UK at festivals and other music venues.  Her live appearances have a sense of theatre which she has honed over the years, and a measure of the strength of her audience appeal is that whenever she performs somewhere new she is always asked back.

Bill Tarran Host and MC
Pete Croft
The Maystones
Jo Clack
Greg Camburn
We have a couple of spots free, so if you would like a spot please contact Geoff as soon as possible

As usual doors open at 8.30, music starts at 9.00pm and Jo Ash will take the stage at about 10.30 so we should finish at around 11.00pm.

Admission is £5 on the door  and as ever all players are guaranteed free admission 

Please remember we are cash only as we are still in the financial dark ages! 

Last time we welcomed back to the Long Room the award winning Country Rock American Duo Tennessee Twin. Well that is one very apt description but I would prefer a grown up duo who play some really great songs, almost all of which they write and deliver in a style that is immediately enthralling and enjoyable. It is a great talent to have and Victoria and Geoff exude it in abundance. Their whole performance is professional and is so accessible to audiences of every age.  For a second time they were the Headline Act at our regular Young Players nights and they had the rapt attention of not only the adult audience but the young players as well.

They bring their own standard and skill to every performance and this time was no different. A full set that just flashed past in the wink of an eye. Many thanks to Victoria and Geoff for a wonderful set and we are looking forward to the next time

As it was Half Term Week we were delighted to welcome our young players. With many of our regular young players moved onwards and upwards - its amazing how quickly they grow up and move onto University - we had the pleasure of meeting a new crop of players.

Just so you know them for the future, when you can say in 5-10 years I saw them at the Moon before they were famous!!
 

Our young players are from top left
SOFIA GATLAND accompanied by Hanako Ward, a great bass player who gave us two distinctive tunes with her friend Hanako;
INDIA PURTON accompanied by Stuart Purton, such a stylish singer with stunning a vocal range;
ELEANOR HEWINS, a singer/songwriter who writes songs of such maturity and elegance that belies her tender years;
HANAKO WARD accompanied by Geoff Carpenter, our longest serving young player who performed an acoustic version of Layla that will cause Eric Clapton concerns for his position as the GOAT guitarist;
ARCHIE EASTLAKE accompanied by Geoff Carpenter, who plays a Gibson SG guitar which is almost as long as he is tall with such verve and style rarely seen in such a young player.

Congratulations to all our players. What talent, what ability!!! Which prompted Geoff from Tennessee Twin to remark that live music in Stortford is safe for the future in their hands.

We all heartily agree

WHATS ON SOON

24^th NOVEMBER 6 Acts x 4 Songs
MARK GAMON                            MARCUS LAMPRELL
CRAYON ANGELS                      CIDER AT YOURS
TERRY HISCOX                           GEOFF CARNES

NOW THATS WHAT I CALL A LINE UP FOR AN EVENING!!!!!

8^th DECEMBER   THURSDAY’S BAND and 8 Floor spots

One of the UK’s most intriguing acoustic bands - a unique combination of guitars and strings bringing to life intelligent original songwriting. Their repertoire has been described as spine-tingling, spellbinding, and ‘the most beautiful music I’ve heard in years’. 
Coming from an eclectic background that includes folk, country, blues, cajun and orchestral music, the band includes Mark Gamon (guitar, vocals and songs); Matt Kelly (fiddle, viola, mandolin, vocals and songs); Rhys Wilson (guitar and vocals); and Abby Wollston (cello). 
Thursday’s Band have released two full albums, and are available from www.clunkandrattle.com and www.thursdaysband.bandcamp.com

22^nd DECEMBER    Christmas Special
This week is a fund raiser for our favorite local good cause

Bill Tarran, Jono, Blues Inc and Tom Ryder, Joe Hazel and Greg Camburn
A cracking night of live music is planned with three Bands given a full 30 minute spot
Mince Pies and fancies with all profits from the evening going to help with the most worthy of causes.

WHAT A WAY TO FINISH THE SEASON!!!!!

For further details and advanced notice of next years plans find out by clicking the link below

<<WHATS ON SOON>>

COVID COMMONSENSE AND THE HORNS

In conjunction with our Landlords please read the following information from them. It just makes sense!

Following the announcement by HM Government that all legal restrictions for social contact measures will be lifted from Monday 19 July. It's been 16 very long months since our last gig without any restrictions, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back to gigs without social contact restrictions, and we will continue to make them as safe as we possibly can. Covid isn't going away anytime soon and we are committed to keeping everyone - you, our team members, our crew and all the artists, safe. We see this as a partnership with you, our friends and our community, to try to keep everyone safe from the risk of Covid infection. So please read these...

Six ways to enjoy a safe visit to The Horn at the Half Moon.

1. Please don't come if you have Covid symptoms, or believe you may have been exposed to infection. If you are suffering from Covid symptoms or fear you may be an infection risk and therefore shouldn't attend, we will be able to offer you a refund for your ticket.

2. Before coming to one of our events, we recommend that you do everything you can to make sure that you personally are not infectious. You can do this by:
-Getting vaccinated
-Taking a lateral flow test
-Registering that you are immune (due to previous Covid infection)

To be clear; we don't believe that we should operate a policy of excluding you from our venue because you haven't done those things. We will NOT be operating a certification or passport model to enter our shows. There are lots of reasons to not do this, not least the large numbers of people who have not had the opportunity for both vaccines and vulnerable people who cannot be vaccinated. But you, personally, can make sure you aren't adding to anyone's risk by keeping your record of immunity up to date, getting vaccinated when you are able and taking a free lateral flow test before you come. No one is forcing you to do this. We are just asking you to be kind and thoughtful and do it for the safety of everyone else and for our team members.

3. Some of our team members will be wearing face coverings during events. They are doing this because face coverings work. We aren't going to have a big social media debate with anyone about it, wearing a face covering inside an enclosed space like OUR VENUE reduces the risk of direct droplet transmission, so our team members may choose to wear them. If you want to reduce your contribution to the risk of droplet transmission, you can choose to wear a mask whenever you like during the event.

No one will force you to wear a mask, you can be kind and thoughtful and choose to wear one when it isn't inconvenient. If you are vulnerable, we strongly recommend that you wear a mask if you are able, and avoid close contact with gig goers who have chosen not to wear a mask.

4. The Half Moon is an intimate venue and whilst the operating margins for our events are very tight we will be reducing the number of tickets we sell for gigs to allow for increased comfort when in attendance. If at any point you don’t feel comfortable with being in an enclosed space with multiple people without restrictions please let a member of our team know. We also ask that you consider that other audience members may be anxious about returning to these environments, please help us ensure that everyone’s experience is as safe and enjoyable as it can be.

5. Service from the bar will return, however due to the great feedback that you’ve given we will continue to offer service using the app to order food and drink directly to your table. We are also planning to have collection points on the bars including collection only in the venue bar on all shows.

6. We will be deep cleaning the building very regularly including wiping down all surfaces. There are hand sanitiser stations around the building, and we ask you to please play your part in keeping the building clean from contact risk by regularly washing your hands and using the sanitiser.

We are a Grassroots Music Venue, we are also a community. Please always think of the safety of others and look after yourself at the same time.

TO ALL OUR PLAYERS
DIARY OF EVENINGS UNTIL JULY 22
 

The New Year is fast approaching and having confirmed the dates with the Management of the Horns, we are now finalising our plans for next year.

If you would like to be considered for any of the dates and would like to confirm a date, please contact Geoff (acousticclubstortford@gmail.com) as soon as possible.

To help identify the evenings we are running and whats on, please click the link below

Acoustic Club Programme to July 2022