Tom Kitching & Marit Fält - Concert of Stories and Music ‘Where There’s Brass’ book and album launch tour Thursday, 6 June 2024, 7:30 pm The Boathouse, Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3XJ Tickets: www.folkinspiration.org
Tom Kitching’s new book and album, Where There’s Brass, documents the six months he spent living in the London waterways community, making the long journey across England from Manchester on a traditional narrowboat built in 1937. His words, interwoven with a specially composed suite of music, tells the story of the contemporary London waterways; a floating slum at worst, a bohemian, alternative, vibrant community at best. It is a love letter to the waterways, and a rallying cry for what they can be in the future.
What to expect: Tom is an engaging story-teller, full of gentle humour and witty, sometimes off-the-wall, observations (The writings of Bill Bryson spring to mind.) His fiddle-playing style is English at heart, whilst encompassing elements of many other traditions. It is a unique, vibrant style full of exuberance, energy and wit, yet capable of expressing extraordinary emotional depth. Tom will be joined by his long-time accompanist, the brilliant Nordic mandola player, Marit Fält.
'Where There's Brass' builds on the success of his previous work, 'Seasons of Change', recounting his 18 months busking around England. In reviewing Seasons of Change, well-known Folk Show broadcaster Mike Harding said : "I'm devouring the book, not just reading it. The lad is one of the best fiddlers I've ever heard - he breathes life into the tunes. I didn't know he was also a very fine writer indeed."
Find us
Soulspace at The Boathouse, Guildford, Millbrook, Guildford