THE MUSIC PLAYERS
The THIRD Acoustic Rotherham.
Held at The Monkwood, Rawmarsh. APRIL 2009.
Acts Appearing.
THE BAR STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONIGAN
EDWARD (TEDDY) MIKALSKI
TO PLAY AN ACOUSTIC ROTHERHAM
(Rotherham and Sheffield)
Do you really want to know? Here’s what they say of themselves.
Wyrd Wych and The Mad Frog are………. Phoebe Taylor-
Phoebe’s influences range from Mozart through traditional Orcadian tunes to White Snake and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
She has sung Opera (both light and serious) and been in various Scottish Folk Bands, including Willow. She also plays piano and fiddle.
Phoebe and Myke met on the Sheffield Folk scene some years ago, although it is only recently that they have ventured out as a duo.
Myke, as if you need telling has been in virtually every folk band worth writing about, notably Rhiannon and it’s component side shoots, Whale Of A Time and Jig For A Kiss” and was a founder member of the notorious Sheffield cult support band Earthtales.
Some might spot a strong resemblance to Myke Masher, this is purely co-
Their current set includes material from thirties jazz, fifties rock ‘n’ roll, folk rock, instrumentals, monologues and unaccompanied ballads. (Should make for an interesting mix).
THE BAR STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONIGAN (BARNSLEY)
THE BAR-
As the story goes, estranged brothers Scott and Danny Doonican, met by chance for
the first time on-
Little did they know at the time, that their efforts at genealogy would reveal to them a very well kept secret. This revelation led them along the righteous garden path towards making their mark on the world of music and (very) light entertainment.
In the same way in which they were driven together, they were both compelled to follow in the footsteps of a legendary TV musician and entertainer, very close to their hearts.
Determined to follow in these immortal footsteps, the ‘Bar-
Allegedly, according to Barnsley's very own King-
Accept no imitations, the BS/VD are on a mission to bring Barnsley into the 18th Century! And when they do people are going to party like it's 1799!
CONTACT: www.myspace.com/thebarstewardsons
Phil bought his first guitar way back in 1967 at the grand old age of just fourteen before teaming up with school mate Rob Gittins, who was also new to the guitar. Phil and Rob were later joined by Alan and Graham Rowley and "Victoria" , a successful Rock & Pop band touring the clubs and Odeons of the North East UK, was born.
These days he has moved away from his manic rock and roll roots and now performs
contemporary folk influenced by the likes of Christy Moore, Richard Thompson, Neil
Young, The Saw Doctors etc. Running alongside Phil's solo act he has also teamed
up to form a band -
His second album, Strange Kind Of Way, although merely a personal project with some imperfections, has been featured on Radio Newcastle's Breakfast Show as well as Tyne Tees Television and BBC TV's Look North.
He is also the resident guest on Terry Ferdinand's Folk Show which is aired at 9pm every Monday on www.bishopfm.com.
Aside from his music, Phil manages FILMAR Photography www.filmar.co.uk
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THE ACOUSTIC ROTHERHAM AMAZON STORE -
TO PLAY AN ACOUSTIC ROTHERHAM
My first guitar, circa 1964, was a “no name “ electric that I bought from my auntie’s catalogue club. Learnt five or six chords,[ eat your heart out Swifty ] and formed a school band. We weren’t very good but we did get an offer to play at Pete Stringfellows Mojo club needless to say we declined.
After leaving school I didn’t play much, until one day, on holiday in Wales, I came
across an EKO jumbo 12 string and played it all week in this pub. On my return home
I bought a new one for about £37.00. [A week’s wages at the time.] Learnt several
new chords and also learnt a bit of finger style.
A Few years later I discovered No Smoke Folk, (Chapeltown, Sheffield) and just having stopped smoking I went along.
Several more years later, I was playing at the Booit Straps folk club, also at The Commercial Chapeltown but Monday night when I was asked to join Lou Marriott’s Travelling Folk which consisted of six or seven individual acts.
I then formed a duo with one of the acts, Tony Dargan, and this lasted a couple of years until last year when I found myself solo again.
Ed. Note – Alan is very modest. He has performed around the Folk Clubs of South Yorkshire to much critical acclaim, and his recent link up with Gary Wells for the Rotherham Open Arts Festival Folk Club Showcase was a must see.
So expect some great covers and self written material from this guy.
Contact: www.myspace.com/alangill
Jane is an accomplished singer, guitarist and songwriter who writes and plays a blend
of music derived from folk, jazz and blues roots, occasionally peppered with Latin
influenced rhythms. Her songs have been described as tough, compelling 
and powerful,
tempered by a sensitive soulfulness that has an uncanny tranquillity about it. Her
lyrics have been strongly influenced by her own and others experiences, overheard
conversations, politics, social issues, books, poems, etc her songs tend to focus
on social and political issues, as well as relationships.
At the age of 14 Jane began singing and playing traditional English Folk Music, which
has had a major influence on her guitar style and rhythmical translation of the songs
she now plays. She has played at many venues, folk clubs, festivals, Open Mic nights
and other gigs throughout the country. She plays an acoustic guitar and uses a rather
unique, self-
CONTACT: www.myspace.com/janebeacher
EDWARD (TEDDY) MIKALSKI (DENMARK)
Edward ‘Teddy’ Mikalski is originally from Chatham in Kent but has since travelled
throughout the world, guitar in hand, playing his unique style of song. He has visited
countries such as India, New Zealand, France, Germany and Australia. Wherever he
goes, Teddy always enchants his audience with his genuine presentation and story-
style.
Teddy’s voice has a gentle timbre that also has power – his song-
The reason for his current UK tour is to promote his CD, made after a renewed friendship
that started again in 2007 – after a 30-
http://www.myspace.com/edwardmikalski
READ A REVIEW OF TEDDY’S CD HERE
"Freespirit an ever changing band with different musicians"
Acoustic Folk with Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki, and Mandolin mainly!! On recordings there is Flute, Violin, Banjo, Drums and Percussion
We Freespirit have played to 500 people in Switzerland (2005) and 20 people down the local pub.We have played as a duo or as a full band, we do it all. We will play anywhere at anytime......
Graham has been playing music for almost 20 years, playing on the streets all over 38 European Countries, and playing in the Singer/Songwriter clubs in West London. Then he moved to Graz in Austria. He met other musicians, and has made several bands/projects. Has giged in Many Countries in Europe including Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, Austria, Turkey, Croatia, Bosnia, Ireland U.K. and even N. Ireland.
Graham has made 4 solo albums about love, war, travelling, destruction of the North
American Indians, Ireland, The Great Hungar in 1845 -
Since 2003 when Freespirit started, with Graham (Vocal,12 String Guitar Mandolin, Bouzouki, Mouth Harmonica). Freespirit has had many musicians,we have been on the road in Austria, Switzerland (2005),Ireland(2006,2007),Germany(2006,2007),Holland (2006),Croatia (2007) and next year (2008) to U.K. (February) Germany (April) Ireland (July),and (August) U.K. again!! and Germany again in (October). I’m planning now a U.K. tour in (April/May 2009).
After a few violin players David joined Freespirit in October 2003,and now 4 years later in the same month he has left to do his own music projects, although he said "He be back sometime, maybe having a years brake". Together in 2004 Freespirit made the first Freespirit cd, "Communicate Please", with 19 songs mainly about Ireland and travelling.
Josephine, started being the driver, and selling the merchandise, in 2005,and our first tour out of Austria to Switzerland.
Josephine started to learn the Bass Guitar, and picked up on the Mandolin, and by the January Germany Tour 2007,had mastered the bass to play her first Tour, and she also played Mandolin on our 2nd Ireland Tour of that year. Now at the moment plays mostly Bouzouki, because Graham thinks it fits more with Freespirit than the Bass Guitar, especially if there are no drums.
In 2006 Freespirit met Rüdiger,who started out playing Mandolin,Mandola,but soon felt he wanted to play drums. Rüdiger joined the September Germany and Holland Tour 2006 playing some drums. Freespirit now had a full band,but because of family commitment Rüdiger left, and David, Joey and Graham had to do the January Germany 2007 alone.
In the past on Tour in Ireland and German, Freespirit have met other musicians, like
Dave, who we met in Ireland in Dublin, who plays Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar and he
will be joining us on our U.K Tour in February, and also joined us on the 3 weeks
tour in Ireland -
Also there has been Seanin who joined us on the Germany Tour in April 2008 for some gigs, playing Mandolin. We had much fun.
The Future of Freespirit
Graham speaking -
Well as I said before David has left,and we have soldiered on the best we can without a genius on the violin.Lou and Symbella were not suitable,and now Morris seems that he doesn"t want to play drums in Freespirit,although like me has now moved into Vienna.But this basically leaves Josephine and I in Austria,and when we play in U.K. or Ireland Dave,and maybe Seanin in Germany.Josephine has just started another job,and seems that Josephine will stop playing with Freespirit shortly.
But it doesn"t mean that Freespirit is just me "Graham",I"ve contacted a few people,friends,and Rüdiger,who played back in 2006 wants to play again,when he has sorted some things out in his life.So we"ll see what happens.I"m always meeting other musicians,so at the moment Freespirit again could be a duo,or like the last gigs,Toni & Rubina of Living Läche from Vienna have joined Freespirit,as they both have recorded some instruments like Banjo,Drums,Flute and Mandolin on the NEW Freespirit cd,which is being recorded @ Toni"s studio,and he is mixing,and mastering it.
Look at www.freespirit.net.tc
also look at www.myspace.com/josephineart
CONTACT: www.myspace.com/freespiritgraham
She has enthusiasm, Charisma, and 
pure naturalism in her performance. She is a singer
and a songwriter.”
"....STEPH SHAW = Voice of an angel!! When this girl sings you can't help yourself from facing the stage and listening!!..."
DEMO TRACKS FOR FREE DOWN LOAD FROM MANY OF THE ARTISTS FEATURED HERE
FIND FOLK CLUBS / OPEN MICS / AND JAM SESSIONS TO PLAY AT ON THE ACOUSTIC ROTHERHAM DIARY AND LISTINGS PAGES
I am a Singer/ Songwriter from Sheffield. I first started out on the folk scene in
Sheffield way back the 1990s when someone started a session in my local pub, the
Castle Inn at Bradway. I was 
immediately hooked. Soon I was asked to join a band
formed by two of the people hosting the night to become the lead vocalist/guitarist.
This band was called “Hair Of The Dog” and I was with them until late in 2006, when
having grown tired of singing the same old (mainly Irish and Scottish) songs I decided
to leave the band. I took a break from music for a while, feeling that I needed to
re-
Early in 2008 I decided that what I needed was a set of songs that I could call my
own and so I began to write and perform some original songs. This has resulted in
the making of my first album of original songs: Words And Music” which I recently
released via CD Baby and i-
I am currently writing more songs and hope to have another album ready by this time next year. My songs can also be heard at my page on MySpace
Contact : www.reverbnation.com/philliphartley
FEATURE PAGE: HERE
BUY HIS CDS HERE
CD REVIEW HERE
