Concert guitarist Richard Durrant returns with his 20th anniversary 'Songs of the Solstice'
Richard Durrant’s annual Christmas tour is his heartfelt expression of a British Isles Midwinter in music.
The show, which returns to Scopwick's Holy Cross Church, this year on December 12, has become a Christmas tradition for audiences, who have grown to love the unique, Durrant mash up of Early Music, British Folk, Classical, Pagan and Christian seasonal songs.
For this year’s Songs of the Solstice tour Richard is once again joined on stage by singer Amy Kakoura, harpsichordist Howard Beach and two of Richard's musical children Daisy Durrant and Django Durrant.
The band’s vocal sound is led by Amy’s unique voice with Daisy’s accordion, Django’s percussion, Durrant on guitars and Beach on keyboard.
A new album, Ice Garden, coincides with the musician's Songs of the Solstice tour featuring live recordings from across Richard's 20 years of touring with several different line ups.
Says Richard: “The past twenty winters have been the most magical part of my life spent playing music and watching my four wonderful children grow up. As toddlers they would join me on stage and sing along. Now, variously, they come with me on the tour and contribute new songs and ideas. We all share a respect for both the Pagan and Christian aspects of midwinter and love spending these mystical weeks with Amy and our extended musical family.”
At each Songs of the Solstice gig you will hear the oldest carols, seasonal folk tunes, Christmas chart music and a wealth of new material contributed by every member of the band. This year the band will include the recently rediscovered Barnsley Carol which also features on the album.
Written in 1933 by Barnsley bottle maker Arthur Godfrey it was then lost for the best part of 100 years. Arthur’s four part manuscript is complimented by the silver tones of Richard’s tenor guitar in what the group call their own 'unbeatable' version.
Richard will be playing his Gary Southwell guitar made from a 5,000 year old English bog oak. Audiences will also hear the custom made Uffington tenor guitar especially built for Richard by Sussex luthier Ian Chisholm including a silver inlay depicting the White Horse of Uffington. Richard will also play JS Bach on an Ashworth tenor banjo.
Tickets for the show are available from: richarddurrant.com/events