Echoes of England: The Margate Songbook
Live gigs will feature more than 80 songs from the community
The Snottledogs will perform live.
England’s rich musical heritage has long carved a riotous arc through the nation’s identity narrative and continues to inform our diverse and vibrant subcultures.
Now, the culmination of a fascinating research project which explores perceptions of England through music will be staged as four brilliantly entertaining concerts celebrating anything from Britpop to Punk.
Echoes of England: The Margate Songbook will feature more than 80 songs which have been previously collected from the community at public spaces such as the International Food Centre, care homes, and the Dalby Café.
Organiser Morag Butler, who is also at the helm of Cliftonville folk venue, Rosslyn Court, says the public response has been exceptional. She said: “The depth of conversation has surprised me, and it was just so wonderful how willing people were to give up their time to chat to us.
“We even had somebody chase us down the street saying, ‘I have a song for you!’ “
Fresh from supporting The Libertines at their recent Lido gig and performing Fairytale of New York with Carl Barat at his new venue, Justine’s, Morag says it’s time to reclaim English identity as a force for good.
She said: “We have a proud musical heritage and currently with rightwing protests and everything happening in the world we need to champion England’s national identity as a positive, inclusive and gloriously diverse place.
Morag Butler introduced by Peter Doherty at The Lido gig
“We would love to hear from all members of our community and the songs can be from any heritage as long as they live in Margate - come and join us at the concerts after, it will be truly special.”
As well as street collections Rosslyn Court sound engineer, John Beetham has been collating songs in care homes. Expecting submissions of Vera Lynn and Land of Hope and Glory, the musician was surprised by the wide-ranging genres which included Blur’s Parklife and songs by Pulp – there are now plans for a Morris Dancing/Parklife collaboration at one of the concerts.
The team, which also includes Thomas Wood from sea shanty band The Snottledogs and folk legend, Gerry Colvin, has now programmed most of the concerts.
Morag said: “They are going to be so much fun, we have some seriously talented musicians who will perform their own interpretations of the songs and all the concerts will be compered by stand-up comedian, Charlie Partridge, so we are all really excited about it.”
The newly opened ARK in Cliftonville, Libertines hotel The Albion Rooms and Rosslyn Court are confirmed venues. There will also be private concerts held in care homes.
Acts Include: Gerry Colvin, Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter, Charlie Hannah, John Beetham, Bob Kenward, The Snottledogs, Bower Street Morris Dancers, Josh Flowers, Ben Faira, Paul Grant, Phian O’Phian, Harmony Bo, Ruby Tipple, Morag Butler and others.
Concerts
Free to people who have provided songs or £10 otherwise.
February 17th - ARK
February 23rd - The Albion Rooms
April 13th - Rosslyn Court
April 27th - Rosslyn Court
visit margatesongbook.com and visit @rosslyncourt socials for times, submissions and to book tickets.
Bower Street Morris Dancers to perform live
