Sold out !!

"Where Steve Earle and Richard Thompson collide" (The Guardian).



Phil’s instrumental skills on acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle and mandolin are well documented and been utilized by countless artists over the years, including The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley.

He was for many years lead guitarist and singer with the Albion band, and co-wrote many of their songs. He has also made forays into film and television music as well as finding time to produce albums for other musicians.

Phil is, of course, one part of Show of Hands (with Steve Knightley) who have developed a huge following - sold out the Royal Albert Hall three times - headlined festivals from Glastonbury to WOMAD - played Europe, America, Australia and India.

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Top of the tree blues.

If you look on YouTube for this man, you'll see that his first five listed videos have received, between them, seven hundred thousand views. That's no mean feat!

Have a look at our video of Matt's last visit to Broseley's Birchmeadow, which undoubtedly is becoming one of Shropshire's leading music venues. And as you'll see, he was just astonishing. 'Perfect pitch', our lighting man (Richard Robey) said of Matt's singing, in all its moods and volumes (and he's been playing in bands for decades, so knows what he's talking about).

Matt's website is called 'stubby fingers' - but stubby or not, the way they worked his guitar was nothing short of breathtaking. If you miss this one, you're off your rocker.

Support from Sam Cooper from Jackfield, who writes much of his own material and has been here before, supporting previous performers.

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Take a look at Matt's website!!

Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

Yet another great night ahead !!!

Shropshire-based charity invites you to an evening of sparkling entertainment at our sixth annual Grand Charity Concert. It will showcase Shropshire talent at its best.

We are very excited to introduce youth band Thin Vision from Bishop’s Castle, described by BBC Radio Shropshire as “a very, very talented bunch of lads”.

Also performing will be the Democratic Republic of Djembe, whose driving African rhythms could tempt you to dance in the aisles. Pan Afrique, with the amazing voice of Diane Drummond from Wellington, play spine-tingling jazz and blues. Telford-based women’s acapella group Malenka are known for their delightful close-harmony singing entertaining you with songs from around the world.

Every penny raised will go to the Conakry Refugee School in Guinea, West Africa, which provides an education and hope for a positive future for 500 refugee children who were forced to flee from their homes in neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia to escape brutal civil wars.

It's Agatha Christie, but will it be murder?

It all starts during a romantic weekend at The Hollow, the home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell. They've invited friends and family to a lovely break.

At the centre of the brewing storm is Dr. John Cristow, who's there along with his mistress (Henrietta). Also there is his ex-mistress (Veronica), and Gerda, his wife. To further complicate matters, another guest is Edward, who's in love with Henrietta. And then there's Midge, who's in love with Edward!

Such a turbulent cauldron can produce but one thing - but will it be murder?

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Top of the Shrop singer-songwriter.

From just down the road at Jackfield, we bring Bill Caddick to Broseley. He's a great, but sadly oft underrated English songmaker, crafting sensitive songs which seem to be both timeless and of their time. Bill's written a remarkable body of songs - many of love and loss, but above all songs that speak for the outsider and the marginalised in society.

"John O'Dreams" is one of Bill's most well-known and oft recorded songs. The beautifully evocative lyrics are set to a melody by Tchaikovsky.

Bill's folk club career began with the ground breaking folk theatre group Magic Lantern, and theatre has continued to feature in Bill's work. At the end of the '70s he performed a show about the circus with Peter Bond and Tim Laycock. He was a charter member of the Albion Band and the Home Service during both ensembles' glory years at the Royal National Theatre. In the past decade he has continued to write magical songs, and to make regular appearances in clubs and at Festivals.

Interesting that our YouTube link shows more people covering his songs than him playing them - we'll change that though, if we can catch a good video from his show at Broseley.

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Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

Live music from local young talent.

An evening that brings together five of the support acts that we have had at the Birchmeadow over recent months.

Josh Cotterill from Wellington - he supported Otis Gibbs last time, and is a very talented young musician who writes much of his own material. He got through to last year's National Open Mike competition and in December he performed in the heats in Bedford.

Sam Cooper from Jackfield writes much of his own material and has also covered songs from some of our previous performers. He supported Peter Case in May2011.

COAL - Chris Williams, Ollie Southern and Bredon Patter, all from Broseley. They've played in various formats over the years and they played support for the Tom Hingley gig last November.
A short video.

Two Dials - Richard Hayes and Daniel Silverwood are a guitar/fiddle duo who Caroline spotted playing at an open mike night in Bridgnorth. Now away at university, they got back together to give splendid support Rod Clements in January!

Rhianna - local teenager packed with talent who's played for us before, and played amazingly competent duo-support with Fionne for Michael Weston King in October.

Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

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Birch becomes Albert Hall?

Not quite there yet, but there'll be a rousing Albert Hall sound at Broseley's Birchmeadow this evening. As part of the events going on in the town over the weekend to mark St George's Day, the City of Wolverhampton Brass Band is putting on a concert for us this evening.

Come and join in. Have as much fun as we so often do for St. Patrick's Day or for Burns' Night. Enjoy some memorable music to celebrate being English. Allow yourself to feel proud to be British. Bathe yourself in feeling good about being human.

Help Broseley to see the weekend out in good spirit, with good wishes for everybody, everywhere !!

The Society's website - patron H.M.Q.

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Live music.

Want to get a bit of a flavour, then have a look at our own video from his last visit. It's performers like this that are helping make the Birchmeadow one of the best places around for top class live music.

We're really looking forward to hosting once more this all-round top-rate musician, teller of tales, and tongue-in-cheek comedian.

Peter was closely involved with quite a few rock bands as a teenager, having taken a walk away from high school when he was fifteen.

He's been making music ever since, with great success and a very substantial following. Bands he's been a central part of include The Nerves (their "Hanging on the Telephone," was recorded by Blondie) and The Plimsouls.

And here's a link to Peter's website where you also can read his very readable blog.

A recent reviewer writes - What a treat. For more than two hours, song stylist Peter Case offered us a stroll through folk-blues originals new and old, expert roots-savvy covers of tunes by Mississippi John Hurt, Leadbelly and Bob Dylan, and readings from his book. It was all performed with a stage demeanor as leisurely as it was authoritative. It's all true!!

Supported by BML-Hayley, Telford, whoseTerry Pincher sent us this link.

Bridgnorth Music Festival

Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

Four hundred Village Halls, BBC 1, BBC 2, the Edinburgh, Ludlow, Leominster, Barmouth & Much Wenlock Festivals, half a dozen tents, an opera house and three cowsheds can’t all be wrong!

Who are they, for goodness sake?

They are multi-instrumentalist, songbird and storyteller Sally Tonge, BBC broadcaster and raconteur Chris Eldon Lee and satirist, songwriter and Shropshire dairy farmer Martin “Monologue” Jones.

They’ve performed to over 45,000 happy people in all sorts of odd places ... and got away with it every time.

They sing silly songs and tell topical tales about the pleasure and pain of rural living ... and they tour with the amazing Freda the Female Farmer, agriculture’s answer to Dame Edna Everage.

Have a quick look.

If the sounds of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra and many more are good to hear, then you need listen no further than Broseley's Birchmeadow and Pete Jones, who'll be with us for this 'let's look back' evening.

Pete has a vast array of experience with this type of music for many years, as a singer and entertainer. He wears the uniforms of the day to enhance his presentation and for your entertainment, and you are warmly welcomed to dress the part too. We want it all to be very warm and friendly, so all manner of garbs are great [but we'd prefer to be without nazi nonsense].

You may have one of grandma's gowns (?) in the wardrobe, but if not, you could always try Masquerade, which is run by Di Kaiser, our local costume queen. She's got some pukka stuff - 882684.

And now for something completely different, broadening the Birchmeadow's reputation !!

Fordante is Shropshire's award winning Crossover Classical Ensemble, playing original and film music. The group of five highly experienced classical musicians is inspired by a popular blend of world music styles, baroque and classical music, emotive themes and passionate melodies.

Above all, Fordante create and perform original, accessible, 'easy listening', light classical music. Their repertoire includes some of the best music from film soundtracks, including Schindler’s List, Gabriels Oboe (from The Mission) and Glasgow Love Theme (from Love Actually).

In 2010 Fordante were proud to be awarded Best New Music at the Buxton Festival Fringe.

Live music.

Need we say more than to simply give you a couple of quotes to read? You know, this Birchmeadow place is really getting some phenomenal people (and that's just the audience!)

"One of folk music's new and exciting artists, with a beautiful, mellifluous voice that seems to spring forth from the depths of a trance, like rolling mist over Scottish glens. Gorgeous, folkish music, with an alt-country feel" - Edinburgh Festival Review

"Jake Cogan's version of Rain and Snow is one of the greats" - Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Bridgnorth Music Festival

Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

This is the third time that Otis has been to Broseley's Birchmeadow. His first two shows were very well attended - and he was warmly and enthusiastically received. Well, no wonder !

Otis has got a delightful, enjoyable, and amusing way of presenting himself. Despite his gentle and un-pushy style, his songwriting and musicianship leap out, and are worth every penny of the tiny ticket price.

"Otis Gibbs has the kind of voice that suggests that he has been around forever. Deep, wise, cracked and bitter, it is the sound of a man that has seen it all. He has all the conviction of a man who, when a boy, sang to pay for his uncle’s alcohol."

Thanks for sponsorship support from BML-Hayley.

Niall Teague and the Fast Company are a set of friendly faces that's rapidly becoming reknowned as an outstandingly talented example of the Irish music scene. In the short space of time they have been together they have put their own stamp on the traditional and folk genre, toured extensively and recorded their debut album, 'Niall Teague and The Fast Company'.

Their music has garnered praise from both sides of the Irish Sea and from further afield. Certainly, when they were here last year at Broseley's Birchmeadow, they were unanimously regarded as great. Their album has been hailed as a "simply sensational release ~ it's folk it's country it's Irish, it's bluegrass, it's great" ~ so said Phil Brown on BBC Radio Lancashire.

You can listen to them on YouTube (click the photo), or by visiting MySpace.

Thanks for support from BML-Hayley.