Compton Area Guide

A Showcase of some of our Finest Solo Performers

Featuring Performances from some of our Senior Outgoing Musicians alongside the Charterhouse Chamber Ensembles

Nigel McIntyre and Gareth Watson presents Hamza Yassin: My Life Behind the Lens 'My mission is to get people outside and experience the wonder of the natural world. Immersing yourself in nature is an effective antidote to the anxieties of modern life' Join wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin on a new adventure as he takes to the stage to share his infectious sense of wonder and most precious memories both in life and in nature. Hamza brings a fresh perspective to the natural world and truly believes that by engaging people in the joy of Mother Nature and what she has to offer, we can all gain a fresh perspective on the world around us and how we can protect it together. Packed with breath-taking footage, fascinating insights, charming personal stories, and with a deep passion for nature, he invites audiences of all ages to reconnect with the wild world around them. This unique live experience offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of one of Britain’s most beloved natural history storytellers.

MC Hammersmith is the world’s leading freestyle rapper to emerge from the ghetto of middle-class West London. He presents an hour of improvised comedy raps based on your suggestions. Featuring brand-new routines for 2025! You’ll leave astounded at the speed of his brain, the spontaneity of his punchlines, and the stability of his upbringing. Jaw-dropping, hilarious, utterly unbelievable. Tour support for Jason Manford. 200 million views online. As heard on BBC Radio 4, as seen on Beta Squad.

Folk, hip hop and reggae singer-songwriter from Bristol.

Bird Tunes Musicians Workshop 2:00 - 4:20 pm Concert 7:30 - 9:30 pm Bird Tunes is, very simply, utterly beautiful. Nature and music in perfect harmony. Tradfolk Featured on Front Row, BBC Radio 4 andThe Breakfast Show BBC Radio 3 (live from Slimbridge Wetlands Centre) With bird song as its peak in May, we felt it is the perfect time to presentMiranda Rutters exquisitely crafted Bird Tunes! The beautiful nave at St Marys Church will provide the perfect acoustics for her birdsong-inspired compositions. In the afternoon, she and Rob Harbron will be teaching a Bird Tunes workshop for musicians - we think this is going to be rather special! Concert - 7:30 - 9:30 pm (doors 7:00 pm) Fiddle player and composer Miranda Rutter is joined by Rob Harbron on concertina to presentBird Tunes, an exquisite new suite of folk tunes with birdsong at their core. Miranda has crafted every tune in the project out of fragments of birdsong which she recorded during woodland walks near her home. The suite is both a love-song to the intricacy and beauty of birdsong, and a timely reminder of the struggles with habitat loss and human-made dangers faced by migrating birds today. Miranda explains: This is a suite of tunes inspired by birds and their song. Ive become so entranced by birds, Ive found myself recording them in the woods, fields and wetlands near my home. Excitedly bringing home these slivers of sonic magic, I transcribed or learnt to play snippets of these birds songs on the fiddle, then wove these fragments of melody into folk dance tune forms my other musical fascination. In some of these tunes, Ive purely pieced together birds phrases, in others Ive written answer phrases to their questions and in others Ive written the whole tune but been inspired by a bird in some way. I follow in a long line of musicians through from prehistory, whove been inspired by birdsong it being such an enchanting wonder of the world! For me, listening deeper, discovering intricacies and learning to recognise birds by their song has made me care even more about birds and their habitat. As so many species are struggling in this rapidly changing, human-dominated world, I hope that my contribution can help spark intrigue, spread awareness and in turn, generate action to turn the tide of fortune for these awe-inspiring creatures. Bird Tunes Workshop for Musicians 2:00 - 4:20 pm (includes 20 minute break) We will learn a tune by ear (but have dots available if anyone is struggling) and explore how to play it with life and energy! We will then look at a harmony and chord options for all instruments and work it into an arrangement. Suitable for players of all melody instruments and also guitar and other strummed instruments, but not percussion players. We can make it accessible for a range of abilities but not beginners. Ideally, you should be able to play your instrument at a level where you can pick up a tune and/or chords and be able to play at least a tune or two. MIRANDA RUTTER Miranda Rutter is a folk musician, fiddle and viola player, composer, performer and teacher. She performs with Methera who focus on making folk music through the voice of the string quartet. She has also performed with the English Acoustic Collective and Morris Offspring in On English Ground and with Chris Wood in his Listening to the River. Miranda also regularly performs with Rob Harbron and Sam Sweeney forBoss Morris. She is a much sought-after tutor, having taught on Newcastle Universitys Folk Music degree course, at Folkworks Fiddles on Fire Festival, as part of the English Acoustic Collective Summer School team and as a core tutor for theNational Youth Folk Ensemble. ROB HARBRON Rob Harbron is a uniquely skilled player of the English concertina, described by The Guardian as a concertina wizard and renowned for his highly individual and harmonic style of playing. He is a member of Leveret (alongside Sam SweeneyandAndy Cutting), with whom he has toured extensively and released six landmark albums. Known for his work with a wide range of artists including Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Emily Portman, Emma Reid and The Full English, he has also worked with theRoyal Shakespeare Company. His debut solo album Meanders was released in 2019 and was followed by a tunebook of original compositions. Rob leads the English Acoustic Collective Summer Schooland is regarded as an inspiring and supportive teacher. He has been extensively involved with theNational Youth Folk Ensemble as a tutor. Both the concert and workshop are suitable for all ages (we offer a 20% discount to under 25s. Although there are no age restrictions, all under 18s must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult). If you have any questions, please contact us through our website https://www.folkinspiration.org/contact-us or email us at [email protected].