Stranger Songs Festival

6 September 2008, The Frog and Fiddle

Stranger Songs is a not-for-profit festivalette, taking place over one day in the Barn at The Frog & Fiddle. The day will be headlined by the American singer/songwriter Micah P Hinson. Joining him will be many of the brightest stars in the independent alt-folk scene from Leeds, Bristol, London, Devon, Brighton and even New York.

Thomas Truax, also from The United States, will bring his uncanny collection of self-made instruments like his now-legendary “Hornicator” and a motorized mechanical drum machine called “Sister Spinster”. He employs these bizarre contraptions in a catalogue of exceptionally crafted, witty songs, and is easily one of the best singer/songwriters in the world that you’ve never heard of.

Brighton based songstress Mary Hampton, who will be also performing at the Stranger Songs Festival, has just received the Folk Album of the Month in MOJO Magazine, while Bristol-born Caroline Martin, who is no stranger to Cheltenham, having played at both *Calmer and the Cheltenham Literature Festival, has five BBC Radio One sessions to her name.

The Stranger Song Festival will also feature the old-time duo from Leeds Serious Sam Barrett & David Broad. Sam draws heavily on English, Irish and Scottish folk music and arranges his own unique versions of traditional songs.

And rounding off the bill are a collection of critically-acclaimed local talent – Electronic experimentalists Longstone, free music duo Chris Cundy & Stuart Wilding, and singer -songwriters Men Diamler, Z+ and Freeze Puppy.

Tickets cost £10 in advance (£12 on the door), available from Cheltenham Town Hall Box Office on 01242 227979. Start at 1pm.

LINE-UP
MICAH P HINSON
THOMAS TRUAX
MARY HAMPTON
BENJAMIN WETHERILL
CAROLINE MARTIN
LONGSTONE
SERIOUS SAM BARRETT+DAVID BROAD
CHRIS CUNDY+STUART WILDING
MEN DIAMLER
FREEZE PUPPY
Z+

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide. For other Cheltenham gigs please see our MySpace calendar.