I’m really excited to say we’ve got four more courses starting in the next few weeks, so loads more opportunity to shanty, old time fiddle, flatfoot or play folk tunes for a dance.  There’ll also be a jazz band this Thursday 19th in the bar at Chats Palace so feel free to come down and socialise with us

We’re starting up again this Thursday 19th at Chats Palace with two more six week courses.  First of all you’ll be able to come down and stamp your feet on the floor with Alice Cade in her flatfooting courses.  I’ve been busy in the wood shop and I’ve made ten new flatfoot dancing boards for people to use during the course.  The boards will be available to buy at the end of the six weeks so people can keep on dancing and we’re hoping to see more people carrying strangely crafted squares of wood around London in the future.

Meanwhile in the room next door we’ll be learning folk tunes and working up towards the opportunity to play for a big dance at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green on Saturday April 25th.  This course is going to be a little bit different to previous ones as it’s going to culminate in an opportunity to play for a dance with the public.  We’re going to have to work hard, but it’ll be worth it. Anyone who’s done the play folk tunes course before is welcome to join us for any or all of the sessions and come and play for the dance.

STOP PRESS: We’ve also just had confirmation that Trad Academy alumnus band The Hedge Pigs (who play a lot of repertoire they learned on the tunes course) are coming down to play on April 25th too.  They’ve told me “We have edge, we have hips – we are hedge pigs!”

Meanwhile, down the road, we’ve got visiting American fiddler Brittnay Haas teaching an Old Time fiddle workshop at the Harrison.  Brittnay is over to perform with Lena Jonsson from Sweden and it should be a great gig.  The workshop will take place in the Harrison basement before the concert so come on down and learn a new tune.  The last workshop with Emily Schaad was really popular and great fun.  There was a really good late night tune sessions afterwards too.  Thanks to everyone who came down.

The shanty choir are settling into their new rehearsal space at the Round Chapel and they’re so prolific right now it’s hard to know where to start.  They’ll also be coming to sing at the big event at the Museum of Childhood on April 25th and are planning to have their album launch in the Round Chapel later that night.  The choir are also going international and sailing to a shanty festival in Paimpol, France this August.  Watch this space for details.  The new term starts on Thursday 16th April so if you want to join the choir, save the date in your diary.  If you’re already a member you can check out details about coming to sing with choir at the Round Chapel here and note the choir now operates a new payment system.

As usual there’s more details about the courses below.  Feel free to drop me a line if you’ve got any questions or want to reserve a place on any courses.

Take care and look forward to seeing all of you for music, dancing and singing soon!

Ed

Flatfoot Dancing – March and April 2015

Play Folk Tunes – March and April 2015
Thursdays ∙ 7:00pm – 8:30pm ∙ 19 March 2015 to 23 April 2015
£10 a session or £50 for all six weeks (email us for information about concessions)
Chats Palace, Hackney
With Ed Hicks
Please email us to reserve your place

Sea Shanty Choir – February to April 2015
Thursdays ∙ 7:30pm – 9:30pm ∙ 26 February 2015 to 2 April 2015
First session free then monthly/quarterly subscription
The Round Chapel
With Pete Truin
Please email us to reserve your place

Old Time Fiddle Workshop with Brittanny Haas
6:30pm – 7:30pm, Wednesday 25 Mar 2015
£10 for the workshop £12.50 for the gig (email us for information about concessions)
The Harrison Pub, Kings Cross
With Brittanny Haas
Please email us to reserve your place