Problems reading this email? Then read it online.

FiddleBop's logo

NEWSLETTER 28 (2 July 2019)

Hi XXXX! Surprise!!!

Here it is: the first FiddleBop newsletter since September 2017. Yaaaay!!!

Lots has happened in the almost-two-years since the last FiddleBop newsletter. Both bad and good. So first: let's catch up with the news.

The final gig by the first version of FiddleBop, on 3 December 2017 at the Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth
The final gig by FiddleBop (version 1). Click to enlarge

Back to September 2017 then... Jo and Dave had just moved from rural Oxfordshire to a remote barn in glorious green hills near the Brecon Beacons. We were busy rearranging furniture, mowing the grass, and acquiring some rudimentary DIY skills. (And trying to acquire some rudimentary Welsh. We're still trying.)

FiddleBop (comprising Jo Davies, Dave Favis-Mortlock, Roger Davis and Martin Crowder) was as busy as ever. With gigs here and there (but not everywhere), and Jo and Dave commuting to gigs from Wales.

Lightning (but not from a clear sky)
Lightning (but not from a clear sky)

But then, like lightning from a clear sky, like the proverbial "bolt from the blue"... the bad news.

Not long after the newsletter, FiddleBop suffered from a parting of the ways. The final gig for the first version of FiddleBop was at the Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth, on 3 December 2017. Thumbs down

The final gig by the first version of FiddleBop, on 3 December 2017 at the Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth
More from that final gig. Click to enlarge

But wait! Here's the good news! (Tho' I wouldn't be surprised if you've guessed it already, given the Sherlock Holmes-like calibre of our readers.)

As the saying goes, “The king is dead, long live the king”. Yes folks, we have a new FiddleBop. From the ashes of the old FiddleBop, a new band, phoenix-like, has arisen!

Version 2 of FiddleBop is now ready and gigging. Thumbs up


So who comprises this nouvelle FiddleBop?

Jo Davies of course, on rhythm guitar and vocals; along with Dave Favis-Mortlock, on violin, viola, flute and vocals.

And two newbies.

Keyboard wizard Paul Stevens
Keyboard wiz Paul Stevens, tickling those ivories. Click to enlarge
FiddleBopper Graeme Lamble
Honey-smooth bassist Graeme Lamble in a mirthful moment. Click to enlarge

Welcome to FiddleBop, Paul and Graeme!

So what does the new FiddleBop sound like? Well, compared with FiddleBop (first version) we’re a little wider, a little broader. And I’m not talking about my waistline here, folks. Smiley

Yup, the new Fiddlebop has expanded a bit, in terms of both repertoire and mood.

FiddleBop’s Gypsy jazz roots mean that we can still, most definitely, be hot unto cooking. We'll get those feet stomping and get that heart thumping (in a good way, of course) for the traditional Gypsy tune "Dark Eyes", when we're searing though Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia", and for our funky version of oldie-but-goodie "Sweet Georgia Brown". Yaaay! But FiddleBop-neu also has a sweet and chilled side: such as our delicate instrumental explorations of John Coltrane's exquisite "Naima", or our tender and nostalgic close-harmony vocals of Sir Paul McCartney’s "Here, There, and Everywhere".

Curious? Then — until we get some recording done — the best thing to assuage that curiousity is come to one of our forthcoming FiddleBop gigs.


Almost finally: we're all excited about FiddleBop v2! But, of course, it's a mistake to go forward without acknowledging where you've come from. (If you think that sounds like some deep and ancient wisdom, you're wrong. I just made it up.)

So Jo and I would like, most sincerely, to thank Roger Davis and Martin Crowder for all that we've learned from them over the years. (However, we're still trying to forget some of Martin's jokes.) And we'd like to thank them, too, for all the fun and laughs which we shared, at uncountably many FiddleBop gigs (now why does that remind me of the Rollright Stones?)

Ta v much, and the very best of luck, Roger and Martin!


Finally, I need to check something with you. Because of GDPR and all that.

Do you wish to continue to receive FiddleBop newsletters?

If you do not, then click here to unsubscribe, or send an 'unsubscribe' email to info@fiddlebop.org, and I’ll remove your email address from our mailing list. If you don’t send an email, then I’ll assume that you are happy to receive future FiddleBop newsletters.

Thank you!


OK, that's the lot for now. Next newsletter in a couple of months! Until then:

Welwn ni chi cyn bo hir, mewn gig FiddleBop, XXXX?

(In English: See you soon, at a FiddleBop gig, XXXX?)

All the best!

Dave

Gypsy jazz re-imagined!

Future FiddleBop gigs!

This list of gigs is correct at the time of writing, but the list on our website is always up to date.


The gig! When is it? Venue, occasion, whatever... Where is it?

FiddleBop at Pilgrims Tearooms, Brecon Cathedral, 10 August 2019
Free entry

5 pm, Saturday 10 August 2019

Brecon Fringe Festival

Pilgrim's Tearooms
at Brecon Cathedral

Cathedral Close
Brecon
Powys LD3 9DP

Phone01874 610610

FiddleBop at The Globe At Hay, 17 August 2019
Benefit gig for
Hay Cat Rescue
Free entry, donation requested

8 pm, Saturday 17 August 2019

The Globe At Hay

The Institute of Art and Ideas
Newport Street
Hay-on-Wye
Hereford HR3 5BG

Phone01497 821762




For the latest and greatest, most up-to-the-second info on FiddleBop's small doings (do you really want to know?), see our Facebook page. All the best!

The FiddleBoppers (Jo, Dave, Paul, and Graeme)

Website: https://fiddlebop.org
Email: info@fiddlebop.org
Twitter: @fiddlebop

Gypsy jazz re-imagined!
Emailinfo@fiddlebop.org  Phone01982 560726  Mobile Phone07968 950870 
FiddleBop on FacebookFiddleBop  Get our email newsletterGet our email newsletter  Creative Commons License

PS We hope that you are happy to receive these FiddleBop email newsletters. If not, then click here to unsubscribe. We'll shed a tear at your leaving...

PPS Or how about forwarding this email to a friend? Or updating your mailing list profile? (You might want to do this if you will be changing your email address soon, for example, and you can't bear the thought of missing future FiddleBop newsletters.)

PPPS Want to say hello? You can email FiddleBop at info@fiddlebop.org, phone us, or even write to us.