Artists 2026
JAN 29th -
lISA KNAPP & GERRY DIVER
MUSIC FOR MIDWINTER
JAN 31st IDRîsî ENSEMBLE
The renowned vocal ensemble takes its name from the Islamic cartographer, Muhammad al-Idrîsî (1100–1165), who was born in Ceuta, educated in Cordoba, and invited to the court of Norman King Roger II of Sicily to reimagine what would become a revolutionary map of the known world.
Playing and singing ancient music from all over the Mediterranean, this spellbinding ensemble will warm you to your very core with dynamic plainchant, and mystical harmonies with their new programme, Trinity & Quadrivium. Join us for a candlelit concert in the magical acoustic of Christchurch in St Leonards.
CHRISTCHURCH, SILCHESTER ROAD, ST LEONARDS
DOORS 7PM, MUSIC 7.30PM
feb 28th - saied silbak & Ana silvera 'songs we carry'
christchurch, silchester road, st leonards on sea - Doors 7pm//music 8pm
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Acclaimed British singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera and Palestinian composer, Oud virtuoso and singer Saied Silbak join creative forces for Songs We Carry, a new collaboration exploring the common ground between their heritages - the emotive, melancholy of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music and the rich Maqams and intricate melodies of Arabic song.
For Ana Silvera, this project is deeply personal, rooted in her family's history as Jewish refugees of the Spanish Inquisition, who resettled in Aleppo (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the 18th century. Ladino, the language that Ana sings in is a UNESCO endangered language, and many of the songs she shares have been almost completely lost in time - until now. Silvera’s resurrection of these ancestral songs offers a glimpse into the resilience and beauty of her heritage; her talent for rendering these ancient melodies afresh also gestures to her work as a singer-songwriter, a path that has earned her praise from discerning critics including The Guardian, who have lauded her work as "stunning... magical storytelling.”
Meanwhile, Saied Silbak's journey from Shafaa’mr, a city located in the lower Galilee of occupied Palestine, to the cosmopolitan landscape of London infuses his artistry with a profound understanding of diverse musical traditions. With virtuosity honed through a lifetime of exploration, Silbak masterfully melds Arabic, Turkish, and Indian influences with Western styles, crafting a signature sound that transcends borders.
mar 21st - malin lewis
the stade hall, hastings - doors 7pm//music 8pm
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Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, a dynamic duo, fuse their deep-seated love for English and Irish folk traditions into a vibrant project that's as grounded in tradition as it is daring in innovation. With Knapp's distinctive voice and her skill in weaving the ancient with the contemporary, alongside Diver's fiddle virtuosity and trailblazing production, they're crafting an auditory journey that honours the past while boldly stepping into new musical territories.
STUDIO 27, WHITE ROCK THEATRE, HASTINGS
DOORS 7PM, MUSIC 8PM
JAN 30th - FRIDAY FOLK TRIPLE BILL
TAREK ELAZHARY//MIKEY KENNEY//ANNA RHEINGANS
Tarek Elazhary, an Egyptian oud player and composer, graduated from the Arab Oud House in 2014 under the mentorship of the renowned Iraqi oud player, Nasser Shamma. Tarek, along with English multi-instrumentalist and composer Tamsin Elliott, released their debut album, “So Far We Have Come”; which brilliantly explores similarities and unique aspects of Egyptian and English folk traditions, to foster cross-cultural connections.
Mikey Kenney is primarily a respected fiddle player, singer, songwriter and composer from Liverpool, but he is also a multi-instrumentalist, often performing many of the parts on his recordings. Embracing duality, Kenney is very much the musical outsider artist; he is hailed by many as an important conduit of both English and Irish traditional fiddle music and yet he is constantly composing alternative and progressive music of his own.
Anna Rheingans is an award-winning musician, composer, songwriter and textile artist from the Peak District. Based in the UK and France, Anna performs with various projects, regularly tours across the UK and Europe. She plays violin, 5-string Banjo, Tambourin à Cordes, Flabuta, and sings.
THE CROWN HOUSE, ST LEONARDS
DOORS 7PM, MUSIC 7.30PM
In a trailblazing new solo work, innovator - award winning - multi-instrumentalist Malin Lewis deep dives into a hypnotic envisioned world of ancient Scottish folk music on fiddle and a newly invented, self made bagpipe.
Exploring laments, improvisation, circular melody, jigs and reels, Malin performs an entrancing cycle of melodies that deconstruct and re-define the traditions they grew up within. Having toured across the UK, Canada and Europe, Malin released their celebrated debut album Halocline in May 2024 on Hudson Records. A Halocline is a visible layer that forms between salt and fresh water and is home to a unique microbial ecosystem.
Malin's unique timbre is born from the deep connection that comes from making and composing for their own instrument. Their one of a kind two-octave Smallpipe creates a whole new world of sound, captivating audiences at every opportunity.
Inspired by the likes of Martyn Bennett, Duncan Chisholm and Sharron Shannon their music is as lively as it is thought provoking and sensitive. Recently Malin has been recording music for The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan, composing for contemporary dance and theatre and has been learning the tradition of the extinct Finnish Bagpipes.
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